Bali is one of the highest dive destinations in the globe. And it is manageable to see why. It is a relatively small island that- offers over 100 dive spots and is found in the so-called Coral Triangle. 95% of the world's corals can be found in this relatively unexplored area between Bali, the Philippines, and the Solomon Islands. The type of marine life is outstanding here. But with 100 dive sites to select from, which area do you pick for your dives?
Other Dive Sites to Fit Different Needs
The dive locations across the island are all very distinct. The north side of the island also presents more relaxed, easy diving with attractive walls. The diving around the east side of the island, on the other hand, can be more developed with drift dives and pelagic fish. I will underline all the top Bali dive shop locations below.
North-West Bali – Comfortable Diving and Impressive Wall Dives
The most famous dive location in the North-West of Bali is Menjangan Island. This island in the Menjangan National Marine Park shows some of the most stunning scenery underwater. The walls are colorful, full of ocean life, and boast rich corals. You can see turtles, garden eels, barracudas, and plenty of little fish here. It can be reached by boat and is also famous for snorkeling. Menjangan Island has a handful of dive sites. As there is barely current, dives are super easy here.
Nusa Penida - Exhilarating Drift Dives
One of the most famous dive sites in Bali is the area around Nusa Penida. An Island just off the beach of Bali. There are plenty of dive sites to select from here. Many of the dives are drift dives which can be quite exhilarating at times. Nusa Penida is the place to be for the favorite mola-mola (sunfish). The mola-mola only comes up to shallower waters when the water is cold sufficiently (generally between July and October). You can also see Manta Point here, a manta cleaning station. The number of mantas you will experience will depend of course, but groups of 8-9 mantas are not uncommon here. Bear in mind though they're not still there. Nusa Penida can have some challenging currents, so some of the Bali diving sites are for developed divers only. Other dive sites, such as Manta Point, are great for newcomers too.
East Bali - Amazing Variety in Dive Sites
The dive spots around Padang Bay, Candidasa, and Amed are all quite distinct. The Padang Bay dive sites are all relatively close to the shore and are excellent for exploring. You can encounter reef sharks, stingrays, sea horses, frogfishes, and cuttlefish here. Dives here are usually painless, but the current can gather at times. South East of Candidasa, you can see some great dive spots. At Gili Biaha just example, you can look at reef sharks in the shark cave. Winds and surges can be active in this part of the island, so these are dive spots for the developed diver. Diving around Amed tends to be a bit more comfortable as the current is limited. It used to be one of the most suitable dive locations in Bali.
Diving on the Popular USS Liberty Wreck in Tulamben
The USS Liberty Wreck in Tulamben is likely one of the most popular dive locations on the island. The USS Liberty, a cargo ship in WWII, was torpedoed by the Japanese in 1942. It has been in the water at Tulamben since 1963. The wreck is covered with corals and houses a mixture of marine life. The ship is about 120 meters long, and you can swim through it. The current is usually calm here. It is, therefore, a great dive for beginners and advanced divers alike.
How to dive on Bali
As Bali is not very big, you can comfortably dive into all locations if you have some moment during your holiday. Most of the dive centers offer day trips to each of the spots. It is not recommended for a day trip to the North-West of Bali when you are located in the South, as it is a bit far. The most comfortable way to see it all is through a dive safari. Eventually, as Bali offers some extremely advanced dive sites, make sure you choose a dive center carefully.
