Nusa Penida & Lembongan Diving

Nusa Penida Diving – Nusa Penida is the largest (17km long) of 3 islands; the others being Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan that lie the other side of the Bandung Strait from Bali’s east coast.

The water here is fairly cold, due to a cold upwelling from a deep ocean through south of Bali. But it is often startlingly clear, with gorgeous corals and prolific fish and some turtles, Grey reef and Silver-tip sharks. In July to mid-November, Mola-Mola, the weird and wonderful Ocean sunfish, can be seen here. 

Nusa Penida is about 40 minutes speedboat ride from Sanur, and has several divesites. One is a great spot  for seeing Manta rays, either feeding or being cleaned, with close encounters more than likely. Another divesite is world-famous for finding Oceanic Sunfish – MolaMolas. Other sites have great coral, deep walls, and currents making good drift-dives; you need a very experienced guide to dive safely here, and get the benefits of these dive-sites

Manta Point

The name of this dive site is derived from the Giant Manta Ray patrols around it, often found by the divers and almost all the year around. To get this site is a must to cruise 50 minutes longer compared to other sites in Nusa Penida. Its location is the most south of the island.

Crystal Bay

Crystal bay is famous for seeing MolaMolas. In the bay is really nice coral, with many reef dwellers; then the coral turns down into a wall as you get further out into the channel between Penida and Ceningan. You need to be quite an advanced diver to go to see the molas out on the wall, as there can be strong currents here both going out into the blue, and going down. If the conditions are good, there is a cave to swim into, and plenty to explore!. 

Toyapakeh

The coral is beautiful here, from 5 m sloping down into the blue of the channel – which is very deep! Toya Pakeh is slightly sheltered, not getting the direct currents which run along the north coast but still getting some; it has mostly hard coral due to the currents washing  over it several times a day, bringing nutrients from the deep. Not too strong, it often gives a nice drift-dive, and you can see both deep-water fish and reef dwellers

Sekolah Dasar (SD)

Batu Nunggul

The capital city of Nusa Penida Island, offshore is the local harbour where the public boats come from Bali to embark the passengers and dock the boats. Further east of the main entrance of this a small bay. Anchored the floating buoy to be used by the dive boats. The dive is begun, once descending to 5 meters of water a huge boulder stands on the steep slope bottom contour to deep blue water. To fin along the edge towards the east, the reef pattern quite similar in its composition to boulder rocks, coral heads and bommies are extended until an outcrop, which is a mile away from the entry point. Whenever the current flows downward it is simply just to follow it and will end up in the wall continues to the slope rubble reef. Look close to the reef to see number of colourful Nudibranch, tropical reef fish and even pelagic like Manta Ray and Eagle Ray in the deep water. The current flows can be unpredictable they change intensity and direction, good coordination with the skipper must be done before the dive, so by the end of the dive the skipper does not make a mistake in providing pickup services. The water temperature can be 26 degrees C or even lower whenever up current occurs

 

Gamet Bay

This is actually a small bay located between the Crystal bay and Toya Pakeh, its open directly to the channel of Nusa Penida. Boat divers are anchored in the bay where the diving is begun, the bottom well covers with soft corals, once move out to the channel about 12 to 14 meters water bush of Stagehorn Corals healthy growth continue to the steep slope of the channel. To dive in this site needs to check water condition, when the waves lapse the bay then the diving is nearly impossible due the water stirs up and strong current occurred in the channel. Plat water in the bay and doesn’t notice the swell from surface is the favourable condition to dive. Great number of fishes like big pelagic, coral reef fishes and many more are common here. A long the steep slope of the channel is interesting colourful reef to dive but just be careful as the current in the channel is unpredictable changing its strength and direction. Visibility is roughly excellent while the water temperature is little cold. Prepared suitable exposure suit is very important to keep the body warm.

 

Blue Corner-Lembongan

This dive site is real adventure dive, suited only for experienced divers, where the current is unpredictable changing its strength and direction. The bottom composition is short polished corals due to strong current flows down slope until to the overhang in 25 meters, continues to deeper water.

If suddenly caught by massive current safely hide in the overhang, wait there while viewing the variety of schooling fish like Marble Sting Rays, Sweetlipped fish, Tunas and many other creatures, which they stay against the current for prey. Afterward start to move away scrolling along the bottom towards shallow water.

When the air in the tank shows 75 bars find the ideal place to do safety stop. The water temperature roughly cold as the thermocline occurs quite often, it can reach 20 degrees C, be well prepared to dive at this point is a must like BCD, Regulator and Wet Suit.

The adrenaline will rise up faster than any other dive sites. Malibu Point. The reef at this point isn’t different than the dive sites on the north shore of Nusa Penida, gradual slope reef to 18 meters then sharper slope to deeper water. The reef grows short with many Sea Whips spreading along the slope and its length can be over 2 meters, these are the indication of the current sweeps frequently from mild to moderate.

The diving descends down current until the corner of the most eastern tip of the Island, once close to the corner, current shifts toward open sea. The sea creatures have been reported to see are Reef Sharks, Manta Rays and other big pelagic, surely variety of tropical reef fishes. To get to this point will take another hours cruise from common Nusa Penida points like SD or Peed. Water temperature is about average 28 degrees C, and a safety stop is recommended to float up the sausage to be used by the skipper to get you after the dive.