The Best Bali Scuba Diving Sites

Located in the Indo-Pacific basin, on the edge of the China Sea, Indonesia is bathed in waters of incredible richness and clarity. During your diving trip, find the best scuba diving sites in Bali and you will have the chance to come across authentic living treasures in its seabed, not found elsewhere…

Open your eyes and pay attention, you are about to encounter one of the most impressive and rare microfauna in the world! The many diving spots along the coast of Bali are full of unique specimens: nearly 3000 species of fish and 700 species of coral.

Bali dive sites by region

Here are the best Bali scuba diving site:

Menjangan – Pemuteran

One of the best dives of Menjangan in Bali.
Discover the most beautiful dive sites on the island of Menjangan. Deer Island in the Bali Barat National Reserve is renowned for the richness and beauty of its drop-offs.

Menjangan island. Lakshmi Sawitri, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Amed

The best dive sites from Amed to Bali, pyramid, coral garden, drop off, bunutan, Japanese wreck, gili selang.
Amed in the North-East of Bali is a charming village which has kept its relaxed atmosphere. Discover Amed’s dive sites, its drop-off, its drifts…

Soft coral. Shooted in Bali near Amed. AlexeiAVA, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Common

Gilimanuk Bay (Menjangan, Pemuteran, Lovina)

Secret Bay or Gilimanuk is West Bali’s Muck dive site. Atypical dives that will surprise you with an unsuspected fauna and flora.

Menjangan island. Lakshmi Sawitri, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tulamben

The best dives of Tulamben in Bali, liberty wreck, coral garden, drop off, alamanda, batu kelebit, emerald, seraya secret, kubu.

Tulamben with the wreck of the Liberty is Bali’s unmissable diving village. Tulamben is about fifteen dive sites, from the wall to the muck, everything is possible.

Part of the USAT Liberty shipwreck in Tulamben, Bali and how it is overgrown with hard corals and sponges. Inhabiting fish looking for food or shelter. Tilonaut, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Some fish couldn’t resist but pose in their natural frame of the USAT Liberty shipwreck in Tulamben, Bali. Tilonaut, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Padang Bai – Candi Dasa

Padang Bai, Blue Lagoon, jepun, jetty, Gili Mimpang, Gili Tepekong dive sites.
Padang Bai and Amuk Bay in East Bali are full of surprising dive sites. From easy diving suitable for baptism to dives reserved for experienced divers.

Thornback Cowfish has a pair of large spines that are forward in front of the eye. This species lives in tropical waters, and some of the warm climates of the Indo-Pacific ocean.
Has a unique poison compared to other fish poisons; Pahutoxin (formerly called ostracitoxin), is a neurotoxin that is present in the mucous secretions of the skin of these fish (Ostraciidae), and appears when the animal is under stress. The picture was taken in the waters of Padang-Japan Bay, Padang Bai. victorius eps, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Chaetodon guttatissimus, Peppered butterflyfish (left) and Chaetodon punctatofasciatus, Spotband butterflyfish (right) amongst Acropora corals. Underwater photograph, Padangbai, Bali, Indonesia. Bernard E. Picton BernardP, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Padangbai harbour. Magul, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nusa Penida – Lembongan

map of the best dive sites of Nusa Penida, Lembongan and ceningan
Nusa Penida and the two small islands of Lembongan and Ceningan offer an exceptional playground for divers. Discover the most beautiful dive sites in Nusa Penida.

Mola Mola Sunfish. Roland Unger, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nusa Penida, Manta Point. Andrepiazza, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bali Scuba Diving Reviews

Diving in Bali is mostly done from shore, or on a day boat. Normally the spots are never far away. There are a few liveaboards that offer departures from Bali at certain times of the year.

3 Main areas for scuba diving in Bali:

• South of Bali (Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Sanur).
• East coast of Bali (Padang Bai, Candidasa, Tulamben, Amed).
• North West coast of the Island (Island of Menjangan, Permutaran, Lovina and Gilimanuk).

Best dive sites in Bali are:

• The wreck of the USS Liberty in Tulamben, one of the most beautiful wrecks in the World!
• Manta Point in Nusa Penida to admire the superb Manta rays.
• Crystal Bay between Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan to encounter the rare Mola Mola (Moonfish).
• Secret Bay in Gilimanuk for underwater macro photography fans.

Sources: VillaCarissaSeminyak, PinterPandai, Blue Water Dive Travel, Travel Triangle

Photo credit: lpittman via Pixabay