0 Manta Point Dive Site

Manta Point Dive Site offer journey to this legendary Bali diving site is an experience one doesn't easily forget. With the dive boat we are leaving Bali in the morning mist from Padang Bai south bound with course to the channel that separates Nusa Penida from Nusa Lembongan / Ceningan. Inside the channel which also has some superb diving if currents allow, one can make out scenic little tranquil bays with picturesque white beaches. While Bali disappears at the horizon behind us the spectacular cliffs of the south coast of Nusa Penida lie ahead at the exit of the channel. 

Here we have to make the decision whether the diving conditions for Manta Point are alright. Now we're heading for the open Indian Ocean which with it's sometimes gigantic waves sculpts the sheer cliffs of Nusa Penida's south coast. Along the way we are passing bizarre rock formations and little rocky islands standing in the tremendous currents, water falls cascading down from the heights of the cliffs towards the ocean. After approximately 1 hour we arrive at our dive site Manta Point. The actual diving site lies well protected from currents by a rocky cape. Many times we can make out the giant bodies of the Manta Rays already from the surface. 

Huge rock formations make out a bizarre under water landscape that slopes down gently down to unfathomable depths. During the dive we just hang out around the giant rocks which are home to an army of cleaner fishes, without doubt this is the reason why this gentle giants come here. The Manta Rays cruise around the rocks, some just hover above the cleaner stations and the enjoy the treatment they receive. Even snorkelers get a good view of the Manta Rays since most of the action here happens in fairly shallow water. And those who don't dare to go in the water can witness the spectacle from the boat.

0 Gili Biaha Dive Site

Gili Biaha Dive Site is island of rock, with a rounded cap of grass and it is the most remote of the Amuk Bay sites, located about four kilometres northeast of Tepekong. It is a beautiful steep drop-off reef, nicely fissured and terraced in places, rings most of the island, going to a slope in the north. The inside of the island’s curve is always protected from the current, but heavy swell can make things worse up near the reefs wall face, particularly for your boat captain who picks the divers up. End of the rugged and terraced reef wall will lead into blowhole where a number of Reef Sharks can always be found under the overhang of the blowhole wall, inside also lives abundance of lobsters in between the cracked wall.

To dive into blowhole should you carry a quality light, inside it is really dark. There are swarms of reef fishes at this site, the beautiful Mayer’s Butterfly fish are rare through out of Bali reefs, is common in this site. It is the only possible penetrating into blowhole when a small surge laps the reef wall and water is pounded out from blowhole. The swirling current can occur at some places of the site, to be safe, is to stay close to the reef wall face and ascend a little distance from the reef wall face. The water temperature dips as below as 20 degrees C, so get ready with the proper wet suit to stay warm.

0 Mimpang Dive Site

Mimpang Dive Site is the vast amount of sea fans offers some superb underwater scenery. Mimpang (also known as Buti Tiga) consists of four big rocks and another half dozen smaller ones and located in Amuk Bay between Padang Bai and Candidasa, 15 minutes by Speedboat from our diving center. The topography of Mimpang is diverse with sandy area beginning at - 5m, sloping reef going down at 45° angle, wall which goes from -30 / -50mtrs, craggy rocks covered in hard and soft corals and big gorgonians and the southern end is one of the richest in Bali. Visibility is around 30 m.

The current can be strong and tricky depending on the moon phases. The dive is for more experienced divers In addition to the typical variety of coral fish like unicorn fish (Naso), snappers (Litjanidaes), a lot of blue spotted rays (Dasyatis kuhlii), Napoleon Wrasse (Cheilinus undulates), trumpet fish (Aulostomus chinensis), trigger fish (Balistidae), butterfly fish (Chaetodontidae), moray eels (Muraenidae) and est. on this dive site you have the best chance of seeing sharks in Bali. White tip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus), the occasional black tip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus), shoals of snappers (Litjanidaes), mackerels (Scombridar), tuna (Scombridar thunnus), sometimes manta rays (Mobulidae) and from July to October the oceanic sunfish (Mola-mola) shows up regularly.

0 Tepekong Dive Site

Tepekong Dive Site is located in Amuk Bay Eastern part of Bali and offers some of the most impressive diving in Bali. Great walls, the canyon, strong currents coupled with superb coral and marine life makes this a dive for experienced divers only. On these excellent drift dives you can expect to see all kinds of pelagics such as grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrinchos), eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari), barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) and the mighty oceanic sunfish (Mola-mola). The currents bring in a lot of new water so you can normally expect excellent visibility. Conditions here are very changeable so a good guide is essential. If conditions are too rough, there are a number of other sites close by that also offer excellent diving.

Dive Sites
Canyon / Pinnacles:
On the west side of the small rocky island of Tepekong the bizarre lava mass stretches into the deep and forms a small canyon. We follow the inner edge of this canyon towards the west until we reach an twin peaked seamount: The Pinnacles. In general the Pinnacles are exposed to a mild current. This currents can at times get immensely strong and earned this dive site the nickname "The Toilet". Lots of schooling fish are home in this currents and attract pelagic hunters like Tunas, Barracudas and Sharks. The great variety of hard and soft corals provide shelter for many reef fishes like the Angler fish on the picture on the right. Turtles are regular visitors to this spectacular dive site as well as the legendary Mola Mola on the picture below.

Tunnel:
The east side of Tepekong consists of a slope rich with hard and soft corals and sponges. Between 18 and 24 meters are coral bommies under which Reef and Nurse Sharks can be found as well as Lobster and Sting Rays. At the southern end of the slope we find a tunnel / cave at 18 meters which exits on the other end at 28 meters in a 50 meter vertical wall.

0 Tulamben Dive Site

Tulamben Dive Site is located on the eastern part of Bali is one of the best wreck dives with regular sightings of giant barracuda, bumphead parrot fish and abundant reef life. The wall drops off to 60 metres, has large barrel sponges, and is characterised by 3 main spurs and an overhang at 18 metres. There is 1 magical, purple gorgonian fan at 27 metres. This gargantuan is over 3½ metres tall and in perfect health.

Dive Sites
The USAT Liberty Wreck : One of Bali's favourite dive site. Built circa WWI this cargo ship was equipped with guns for WWII. Torpedoed by the Japanese off Lombok; despite attempts to tow the ship to North Bali it was taking on too much water so was semi-beached at Tulamben. Over the years anything reusable was removed. In 1963, with the earth tremors from the last eruption of Mount Agung, the wreck slid further down the slope where it still lies (as close to the beach as it can be and still be underwater!). You can also snorkel on the wreck - the highest point of the stern is about 4m below the surface. The Liberty lies approximately 30m offshore almost parallel to the beach on the sand slope and is suitable for all levels of qualification and experience.

The wreck lies in depths from -9 / -30m; the shallowest part of the wreck, where it touches the sand slope, is at -5 / -10m. Depth along the middle of the wreck is -16 / -20m. The lower edge of the wreck, ie: furthest down the slope, is -28m (at high tide). The wreck is 120m long, it's pretty broken up (no penetration possible) but you can still see the guns, toilets, boilers, anchor chain, etc. It is a lovely dive site, possibly the world's easiest wreck dive. Visibility is usually 18-25m, lower when it has been raining. There is rarely a current present, at most it will be mild. During the 3 days before the full moon, there are usually waves. The air temp is 25-32degrees, the water 26-28degrees.

The Drop Off : This site, an old lava flow from Mount Agung, is at the opposite end of the bay from the Wreck . The dive starts off on a steep san d slope with nudibranches, flounders (Platichthys flesus), goby (Sin Ghiozzus) and shrimp sets. At -12m are sponges with many varieties of shrimp, Leaf Scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus) abound and there are many crinoids, often with attendant Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus). Continuing round to the right, the slope develops into a reef with very impressive topography, becoming a vertical wall from -15M and descending to below -60m. Visibility - best in the morning - is usually 15-20M and, because of the location, it is rare that there is a current, even a mild one. The wall has profuse sponges, corals, black coral bushes, gorgonian fans - at 30M there's one that reaches 2M in width that we visit for the Deep Dive on Advanced Courses. The wall, the lava spur, then reverts to being a steep slope.

Coral Garden : Running along the middle section of Tulamben beach is a shallow reef (averaging - 8 / -12m so also excellent for snorkelling) of mainly table (Acropora pulchea) and fire corals (Millepora dichotoma) interspersed with anemones as well as barrel (Xestospongia muta) and other sponges. The fishlife, as with the Drop-off and the Wreck, is very diverse. It is here that you can see a surprising number of Blue Ribbon Eels (the juveniles are black) and octopus, the variety of shrimp is surprising too along with the different anemonefish. The bigger fish seen here are Bumphead Parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricantum) and Black Tip reef shark.

The depth and location make the Coral Garden a very good, and popular, Night Dive on which you may see Spanish Dancers (Hexabranchus sanguineus) and flashlight fish (Anomalopidae). In fact the diving actually extends much deeper than 12M, if you carry on down the sand slope, you'll find barrel sponges with many surprises: juvenile Emperor Angelfish, Two-spot Lionfish, maybe a school of juvenile catfish; cleaning stations with shrimp and wrasse, a shoal of Razorfish swaying in their hiding place. If you continue along the slope, towards the start of the Drop-off, you'll come to a dry river bed, scooped out into a bowl-shape, marked by ridges radiating outwards. These ridges are often the best places in Tulamben to find unexpected specimens. Although it is certainly not an area for divers looking for a profusion of marinelife!

0 Padang Bai Dive Site

Padang Bai Dive Site is also known as a good spot to find frog fish (Antennatus striatus) and leaf scorpion fish (Taenianotus triacanthus). For those divers who have just started out, through to the experienced diver, the 5 dive sites (Jepun, Turtle Neck, Blue Lagoon, Temple, Ferry Channel and White Sands) located just off the beach at Padang Bai will provide something for everyone.

Padang Bai - Bali starts at our house reef, the Blue Lagoon, which is only a few minutes away from our Dive Center. The 5 different dive sites are easily accessed by local traditional outrigger boats called "Jukung". Between dives we return to the Dive Center for the surface interval. The dive sites of Padang Bai offer a great variety. From the novice diver to the diving professional, there is something for every experience level. Padang Bai is a haven for UW photography with a myriad of species that will pose for a portrait (Morray Eels, Leafy Scorpionfish, Anglerfish, Stonefish, Indian Walkman...).

Dive Sites

Tempel: This shallow (5 to 9 meters), well protected from currents dive site is full of beautifully overgrown coral bommies. Many different soft and hard coral species can be found here. The sandy bottom then slopes down gently from 9 to 50 meters+ with more coral bommies which provide shelter for all kind of reef fish. Cuttlefish can be seen laying eggs in the staghorn fields and Sting Rays dig in the sand for food. Flatheads, Nudibranchs, Flounders and Scorpionfish are common encounters.

Wall: To the north east the Blue Lagoon is seperated from the next bay (Jepun) through a rocky cape which continues under water as a sheer wall that bottoms out at 30 meters. Along the wall we are diving on to the next bay. The wall is home to hundreds of Featherstars, Lionfish, Scorpionfish, Urchins and a variety of Shrimps. With a bit of luck we find Anglerfish (photo above was taken here) and the night active Coral Cat Shark.

Tanjung Sari: This dive site marks the southern end of the Blue Lagoon and stretches along the cape which separates the Blue Lagoon and the Padang Bai Ferry Harbour. An extended Reef top with bizarre volcanic rock formations slopes gently down to about 30 meters where it ends in a sandy bottom. Due to it's location this reef is exposed to currents caused by tidal movement which in turn brings in a great number of schooling fish. Her we also have a great chance of watching some patrolling White Tip Reef Sharks. Eagle rays, Napoleons and Tunas are regular visitors to this reef as well as the legendary Mola Mola. The reef with it's rock and coral formations also offers shelter to Morray eels, Lobster, Octopus and many a times a Nurse shark can be found sleeping. Even Wobbegongs can be found here in the dry season (may to september) when the water is generally cooler. In the shallower part of the reef a rugged labyrinth of rocky canals provides us with shelter against the currents to dive our way back into the Blue Lagoon.

Ferry Channel: Just outside the green beacon which marks the east side of the narrow channel where the ferry to Lombok runs in and out we decend down the steep slope to about 15 meters. Many a times we find there in horizontal crevices sleeping White Tip Reef Sharks. The crevices are also providing shelter for Lobster. A great opportunity for U/W photographers to take some close ups. A few meters deeper are some nicely overgrown coral bommies with a cleaner station frequently visited by giant Morray Eels. On our way along the slope a huge Gorgonia tells us on our way that it is time to return to shallower water and to dive east towards the Blue Lagoon. A great variety of Nudibranchs are another highlight of this dive site and encounters with Turtles often happen in the shallower parts at the end of the dive.

Bias Tugal: This dive site is located right in front of the beautiful white sand beach named "Bias Tugal". The entire bay consists of a flat bottom which is greatly covered with soft coral and bommies with hard coral strewn in between. At the outer edge of the bay the bottom slopes down steeply to about 50 meters where it ends in sandy bottom. On the slope Nudibranchs and Stingrays can be found as well as Turtles. At a depth of 30 meters are horizontal crevices which are always good for a surprise encounter with large Stingrays, Nurse Sharks and Lobster. On the way back to shallow water we are passing giant Fan Corals and Barrel Sponges. before we reach some big bommies which reach close to the surface, ideal for an extended safety stop.

0 Nusa Penida Dive Site

Nusa Penida Dive Site is Less than 30 minutes on speedboat and we are ready to jump in crystal the clear waters of Nusa Penida 4 drift dives. The reef here is incredible and of a similar stracture all along the stretch: a slop of hard corals that runs to -50m. There is always current here from pleasant 1 knot to a roaring 4 knots, which keeps the water clear all year round. Because of the proximity of deep water and the strong current, this is a good area to see the large “pelagic” such as giant trevallies (Caranx ignobilis), sharks, eagle rays (Dasyatis kuhlii) and turtles (Chelonidae). On all dive sites described here the special animal to find here is the rare giant ocean sunfish (Mola-mola). Sunfishes normally live up to 300 meter deep. But around Nusa Penida they come close to the surface between August and October each year.

Dive Sites
S.D. has a good growth of Staghorn Acropora in the shallows and a ice structure of Bommies in medium depths. It is also one of the few places where you can still find big Tridacna claims. The deep here is a bit barren compared to the sites further east.

Ped is perhaps the most popular site along the North Nusa Penida cost. This reef like the entire cost here is a slope of hard corals punctuated in the deeper areas by black coral spirals and sponges. Because of the steady current spirals lie almost horizontal.

Sental is the central of Nusa Penida reef and the bottom here forms the kind of bowl, and is somewhat protected from the current. The profile here is the steepest of anywhere along this cost, making it probably the best place to see “pelagic” fish.

Buyuk offers perhaps the best combination of features of all the sites here – very healthy Staghorn Acropora in the shallows an a deep slope nearly as reach as Sental and also offers a good chances to see “pelagic”.

0 Crystal Bay Dive Site

Crystal Bay Dive Site is one of the cleaning stations where the oceanic sunfish (Mola-mola) surfaces from the depths of the ocean. During the period between July and October, the encounters with this huge creature are very frequent. Upon entering this small bay, we head for inland shelter and then descend directly down to the reef, which is at -5 / -12M. This hard coral reef has a white sand base, and is covered with anemones. It can be quite surgey in the bay. The marinelife includes Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus), Sweetlips (Lethrinius miniatus), many butterfly fishes (Zanclus cornutus). 

Following the impressive topography north side of the bay, we come to the Bat Cave: enter from underwater, surface inside the cave (which is open to the sky) where bats sleep overhead. Sometimes 2 small reef shark are in the cave, but they leave when you arrive! Continuing along the (very deep) wall from the Bat Cave at -20 / -24M, the hard corals provide homes for a lot of lobster. This area is in Ceningan Channel, and because of the currents and the new water from the Indian Ocean, there is definitely the opportunity to see white tip reef shark (Trianeodun obesus), eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari) and also, if you're lucky, leopard shark (Stegostoma fasciatum).

0 Menjangan Dive Site

Menjangan Dive Site is famous for having Bali's most beautiful wall-diving and the walls descend to varying depths, ranging from 20m - 60M+. These walls offer the greatest diversity of gorgonian fans in Bali, the sites generally start at around 10m in coral reef flats and then slope down. These flats have experienced some damage due to a number of reasons. This shouldn't put anyone off as the walls make up for it.

 

Conditions in Menjangan tend to be very gentle with visibility getting up to 50m at certain times of the year. The reef scenery, coupled with the marine life is perfect for those wanting to get photos. The dramatic backdrop of the walls and plethora of fish life makes is easy for photographers. It is unusual to see many large pelagics in this area due to the island being protected from the cold currents coming in from the sea. The more popular dive sites at Menjangan are: The Eel Garden, Pos II and, for the more experienced, a deep dive (40M) to the Anker Wreck, a 150yr old wooden boat.

0 Amed Dive Site

Amed Dive Site is located on the right side of the bay which takes approximately 5 minutes by Jukung. The depth ranges from 10 - 35 metres and although the wall itself is a relative small part of the dive, here you can usually find white tip reef sharks, napoleon wrasse, school of batfish, and some big trevally. Once you pass the wall you will find a deep slope which is rich in corals. If you turn right towards shallower water, you will see big bommies on the sand, covered with gorgonians.

Dive Sites

Pyramids: 5 minutes from the main beach in Amed, Pyramids is a sandy slope that leads down to a series of man-made pyramids- hence the name! The pyramids are made out of a mixture of tires and metal boxes and house some extraordinary macro life. If you get far enough along the site for you to turn the corner, the sandy bottom turns into a beautiful wall where there is sometimes a good chance of spotting turtles.

Jemeluk: A 2 minute boat ride from the main beach in Amed, Jemeluk is probably one of the most spectacular wall dives of Bali.

Bunutan: A 10 minute boat ride from the main beach on Amed, Bunutan is a sandy slope with occasional large coral bommies. Moray eels, lion fish and nudibranchs can easily be found here.

Amed Ghost Bay: From Divers Café we simply walk to the beach and dive Amed Ghost Bay, where you can see the artificial reef. Rare species like the clown frog fish (Antennarius maculatus), different kinds of ghost pipe fish (Solenostomus paradoxus), mimic octopuses (Thaumoctopus mimeticus), huge stone fishes (Synaceia verrucosa), amazing crabs, tiny juvenile lion fishes (Pterois volitans), pigmy seahorses (Hyppocampus bargibanti), razor fish (Aeoliscus strigatus), just to mention a few, can be found at Amed Ghost Bay. Photographers from all over the world come here to take pictures of these rarely found species.

Jemeluk Kayu Putih: From Amed village we board a Jukung (the traditional outrigger boat), which will take us to our dive spot. Jemeluk Kayu Putih is a drop off, about -25m deep and just perfect for a second dive. The highlight is a pinnacle, which erects from a depth of -25m forming a scenic swim-through at -20m. The -5 m safety stop is highly entertaining. This dive is a drift dive with a mild current. The following boat picks the divers up and makes the dive very comfortable.

Amed Wall: From Amed village we board a Jukung to Jemeluk where we start diving in a shallow area of -3 to -8m in a wonderful coral garden. You may see turtles, parrotfish and a huge variety of smaller creatures. A moderate current will guide us in about 10 minutes to the drop off, which drops to a depth of -35m. It is beautifully grDiving in Baliown with soft coral and any possible species of reef fish can be found there. White- and black-tip reef sharks pop in occasionally to patrol their feeding ground. At a depth of -27 m is a sandy field highly populated with blue-spotted stingrays (Taeniura lymma). 

The coral garden starts right off the beach in Jemeluk and is one of Bali's best snorkelling areas. Barracuda Point: We approach Barracuda Point with our speed boat. We jump into the water at an extensive eels (Heteroconger hassi) garden and dive down to a depth of about -35m. Between large sponges we drift through a remarkable spectacle of fish. Huge barracudas outnumber and outsize the reef sharks that don’t seem to be too shy to come and have a closer look. Large moray eels and stingrays inhabit the reef and even the sunfish (Mola-mola) occasionally appears here. This dive site is just a must for all lovers of big fish.