Nusa Lembongan

Nusa Penida (Balinese: ᬦᬸᬲᬧᭂᬦᬶᬤ, romanized: Nusa Penida, lit. 'Penida Island') is an island located near the southeastern Indonesian island of Bali and a district of Klungkung Regency that includes the neighbouring small island of Nusa Lembongan and twelve even smaller islands. The Badung Strait separates the island and Bali. The interior of Nusa Penida is hilly with a maximum altitude of 524 metres. It is drier than the nearby island of Bali. It is one of the major tourist attractions among the three Nusa islands.

Diving in Nusa Lembongan

Location: off of Bali’s eastern coast, crossing the Badung Strait.
From Sanur: 45 minutes on a speedboat
Dive type: best suited for experienced divers – boat diving
Visibility: 20-30 meters
Average depth: 7- 40 meters
Current: mild to strong – warm water to cold water in the season (July-Oct average water temperature drop to 19C)
Entry: Speed Boat entry.
Minimum dive license: Introductory dives and guided snorkeling are permitted ( some sites only). Minimum of Open Water Diver certified in some areas, Advanced Open Water is advisable and had experienced in the current dives.

Nusa Lembongan Dive Sites

Crystal Bay
This Bali dive site is named after crystal visibility of 30-40 m+ on a good day. It’s known to be one of the most popular sites for viewing the Mola-Mola (Oceanic sunfish) from August to October. The shallows are covered with dense soft and hard corals, including at the steep drop-off, which starts at the rock in the middle of the bay. Aside from the Mola-mola, there’s a lot to see at this dive site, like reef fishes, turtles, sea snakes, reef sharks, nudibranchs, and corals.
Manta Point
This is an all-year-round manta sighting location. It functions as a cleaning station and a regular sighting can reach 7-8 mantas in one dive. They can be detected on the surface even for Snorkelers. Aside from the mantas, you can see turtles, nurse sharks, bamboo sharks, and blue-spotted rays as the sea bottom are fairly sandy. It’s subjected to swells and suitable for all level divers.
SD Point
SD Point is an abbreviation for ‘Sekolah Dasar’ or elementary school. It’s arguably the most diverse collection of corals and sponges in Bali. It’s less steep compared to Blue Corner, with larger corner heads. Currents drift divers have been reported to see Green and Hawksbill Turtles, Marble Rays, Sea Snakes, Octopus’, White Tip Sharks, amongst others.
Toyapakeh
The ‘jewel’ of Nusa Penida. A lining of schools after schools consisting of red tooth triggerfish, giant trevallies, and batfishes. Drop off reaches an impressive 190 meters, also the coral, sponges, and fish density are incredible. Pygmy seahorses are occasionally spotted by keen sighted divers. Larger pelagics are also seen such as the hammerhead sharks, mantas, and sunfish.
Mangrove Point
Mangroves, with small bommies and table corals, are home to the small creatures. Often marble rays and larger species are found in deeper waters within the area, with the occasional sights of sharks.

Experienced Or Advanced Diver Only !

Batu Nunggul
This small bay is located east of the main boat port from Bali, Batu Nunggul. Closer to the reef, you can see colorful nudibranchs, tropical reef fish, and pelagics like Manta and Eagle Rays in deep water. Currents intensity and direction change abruptly, hence a good boat captain is required for the trip.
Blue Corner (Highlight)
Available for experienced divers only, due to the heavy currents. The dramatic topography drop reaches 50 meters to overhanging terraces, home to white tips and black marbled rays. This Bali dive spot is also a great location for mola-mola (Oceanic sunfish) sightings during its season, also visitors such as eagle rays, wobbegong sharks, tunas, and regular passing schools of snappers and jacks.
Tugu Point
The seaside in from of the Tugu, or small shrine in Balinese, is the descending point to the colorful coral’s reef, boulder rocks, and swirling tropical reef fishes. Sunfish sightings at steep slopes have been reported, as the location is suitable as a cleaning station by Banner Fish.
Gamat Bay
This bay can be a memorable site and located at the Toyapake Strait. Slopes can reach 50+ m. Being rich with marine life, Gamat is the spot you would examine rather than just explore. The area has plenty of bommies, overhangs, and small caves, enough to explore in a full dive.
Batu Abah
The furthest and toughest dive site. The site faces the ocean and is subjected to huge swells. It’s a location for mola-mola (Oceanic sunfish), mantas, turtles, sharks, lobsters, and nudibranchs.