Bali is one of the world’s top diving destinations. And it’s easy to see why. This relatively small island offers more than 100 diving spots and is located in the so-called Coral Triangle. 95% of the world’s corals are found in this relatively unknown area between Bali, the Philippines and the Solomon Islands. The variety of marine life is unprecedented here. But with 100 dive sites to choose from, which area do you choose for your dives?
Different dive sites to suit different needs
The dive sites throughout the island are all very different. The north side of the island, on the one hand, offers more relaxed, easy diving with beautiful walls. Diving around the eastern side of the island, on the other hand, can be more advanced with drift dives and pelagic fish. I’ll highlight all the top dive spots below.
North West Bali – Easy Diving and Awesome Wall Dives
The best-known diving spot in northwest Bali is the island of Menjangan. This island in the Menjangan National Marine Park offers some of the most beautiful underwater scenery. The walls are colourful, full of marine life and rich corals. You can see turtles, garden eels, barracudas, and lots of small fish here. It can be reached by boat and is also popular for snorkelling. Menjangan Island has a handful of snorkeling spots. Since there is hardly any current, diving is very easy here.
Nusa Penida: Exciting Drift Dives
One of the most popular diving spots in Bali is the area around Nusa Penida. An island off the coast of Bali. There are plenty of dive sites to choose from here. Most of the dives are drift dives, which can be quite exhilarating at times. Nusa Penida is the ideal place for the famous mola mola (sunfish). The mola mola only goes up to shallower water when the water is cold enough (usually between July and October). You can also find Manta Point here, a blanket cleaning station. The number of mantas you will find will depend on the course, but groups of 7-8 mantas are not uncommon here. Keep in mind, however, that they are not always there. Nusa Penida can have some challenging currents so some of the dive sites are for advanced divers only. Other dive sites, like Manta Point, are also great for beginners.
East Bali – Impressive variety of dive sites
The dive sites around Padang Bay, Candidasa and Amed are quite different. Padang Bay’s dive sites are relatively close to shore and are excellent for exploring. You can find reef sharks, rays, seahorses, frogfish, and cuttlefish here. The dives here are usually easy, but the current can increase at times. South east of Candidasa you can find excellent diving spots. On Gili Biaha, for example, you can watch reef sharks in the shark cave. The currents and swells can be strong in this part of the island, so these are dive sites for advanced divers. Diving in Amed tends to be a bit easier as the current is limited there. It used to be one of the best diving spots in Bali. Unfortunately, Amed was hit hard by El Niño. It’s slowly recovering, but it’s not back to its former glory yet.
Diving the famous USS Liberty wreck in Tulamben
The USS Liberty wreck in Tulamben is probably one of the most famous diving spots on the island. The USS Liberty, a cargo ship in World War II, was torpedoed by the Japanese in 1942. She has been in the water at Tulamben since 1963. The wreck is covered in coral and is home to a variety of marine life. The ship is about 120 meters long and you can swim through it. The current is usually gentle here and therefore it is an excellent dive for both beginners and advanced divers.
How to dive in Bali
Since Bali is not very big, you can easily dive everywhere if you have some time during your vacation. Many of the dive centers offer day trips to each of the locations. However, it is not recommended to take a day trip to the northwest of Bali when you are in the south, as it is quite far. The easiest way to see it all is on a diving safari. Finally, as Bali offers some very advanced dive sites, be sure to select a dive center carefully.