Best Diving Sites in Bali

The first thing that comes to mind when one hears Bali is the beautiful calm beaches and the clear blue water. Over the years, the island has become a hotspot for water sports lovers as well with scuba diving and snorkelling taking the lead. And why not? Bali has a very rich and exotic marine life that can be explored only by going under the water. Scuba divers from across the world make it a point to go to Bali to try diving from some of the best diving sites in Bali and the world.

Before you plan your trip to Indonesia, it is helpful to know which are the best diving spots in Bali.

Here is a list that will help you plan your diving itinerary:

1. USS Liberty shipwreck, Tulamben: One of the most famous and best diving sites in Bali is the USS Liberty Shipwreck. The USS Liberty was a cargo ship that was attacked by Japanese torpedoes in the Lombok Strait. The ship was towed to Tulamben beach where she sat until the Mount Ayung Volcano erupted in 1963. This is when the ship sunk underwater and soon became home to a plethora of marine flora and fauna and a massive artificial coral reef. The shipwreck lies just 3 meters below the water, which makes it an easy scuba diving spot as well as an accessible snorkelling spot.

2. Crystal Bay and Manta Point, Nusa Penida: Nusa Penida is a diving universe and the stars of the universe are Crystal Bay and Manta Point. The Manta Point is one of the best diving sites in Bali thanks to the Manta Rays that frequent the bay area of Nusa Penida. From Crystal Bay, you can spot the oceanic sunfish or mola-molas as they are locally called. You can explore the vast coral reefs from these diving spots as well. While beginners can dive in the Manta Point, Crystal Bay is primarily meant for advanced scuba divers.

3. Eels Garden, Menjangan: Located in the West Bali National Park, Menjangan island is a very popular spot for scuba diving and snorkelling. The Eels Garden is perhaps among the best diving sites in Bali and Menjangan island, which is home to many diving sites. Expert divers can explore the gorgonian sea fans of Bali just at a depth of 26 m. You can also watch garden eels popping out of their sand mounds, and a variety of marine fauna like Flounder Fish, Angel Fish, and Eagle Rays underwater.

4. Wall, Amed: Located on the east coast of Bali, Amed is a small village that is not thronged by a big crowd on most days. This makes it a very good spot to dive from in Bali. Local Jukung boats take divers to the diving site where you can see sea turtles, octopuses, Ghost Pipefish and Reef fishes. On a lucky day, you can also spot stingrays and sharks. Amed, unfortunately, is only meant for expert scuba divers.

5. Shark Point and Blue Lagoon, Padang Bai: You can enjoy the best diving experience in Bali at Padang Bai’s Shark Point and Blue Lagoon diving spots. Swim with the sharks in Shark point where white-tip sharks float alongside you. As the name suggests, the water in the Blue Lagoon is crystal clear making it easier to spot a host of marine life like Frogfish, Peacock Mantis Shrimps, Leaf Scorpionfish, etc. Because of the clear water, Padang Bai is a magnet for underwater photographers and one of the best diving sites in Bali.

6. Ghost Bay, Amed: Another popular diving spot at the quiet fishermen’s village of Amed, Ghost Bay is still considered a popular diving site among scuba enthusiasts and even beginners can dive here. The depth of a dive in Ghost Bay ranges between 10 to 30 feet. Interestingly, Ghost Bay is also home to many shipwrecks that give the diver a chance to explore more than just the marine life in Amed.

7. Secret Bay, Gilimanuk: While Gilimanuk as a town does not have too many things to offer to tourists, the Secret Bay located here is definitely a diver’s paradise. Secret Bay is one of the best scuba diving sites in Bali and attracts many underwater photographers. It is a great place to explore the underwater mangrove. Secret Bay starts at just 10 meters and can be explored by even beginners.

8. Seraya Secrets, Tulamben: This is another well-known diving site in Bali and a haven for underwater photographers who go there to explore the black sand reefs. It is popular among divers who like muck diving, which means diving in a muddy seabed formed with volcanic sand deposits. Seraya Secrets is the best place to spot nudibranchs also called sea slugs and a host of other marine life like Seahorses and Pipefishes. It is definitely one of the best diving sites in Bali.

9. Mangrove, Nusa Lembongan: The Nusa Lembongan diving site is located off the north coast of Nusa Penida. You can explore the mangrove forests underwater that protect the plethora of wild marine life in the area. This is another great spot to explore the Mola-Mola or oceanic Sunfish and a massive coral reef. If you are lucky, you can also spot some Manta Rays, Marble Rays, and sharks. The Nusa Lembongan diving spots can be accessed by speed boats from Padang Bai. The current in this diving spot is supposed to be strong, hence, only experienced scuba divers should dive from Nusa Lembongan.

10. Temple Garden, Pemuteran: The Temple Garden in Pemuteran is perhaps one of the most unique yet best diving sites in Bali. It is actually confused as a temple as there are statues of many Gods like Buddha and Ganesha underwater. However, it is only a diving spot artificially created by Australian aid-funded projects with local diving centers. With time, it has become home to a coral reef sustained by the many statues lying underwater. It is a great diving site for advanced scuba divers.