Nusa Penida Bali Dive Sites

Nusa Penida Bali Dive Sites 

 

It’s located across the Badung Strait from Bali’s Southern Tip, offers some of the best diving to be found anywhere. But conditions around Penida and its two sister islands-Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan- can sometimes be difficult, with unpredictable currents reaching four or more knots. This is not a place for beginner divers and inexperienced boatmen. Also, upwelling current from the deep water south of Bali, which keep the water crystal clear and makes the water uncomfortably cold. Due to the currents sweeping past Penida means just about every single dive turns into a drift, it is worth bearing in mind the following points:

 

• Always stick close to the reef seek protection behind coral heads and bommies, and the currents that flow right up against the reef is always less fierce.
• Overall, it is not the most rewarding place for photography as its currents are unpredictable, they can shift and turn into strong currents.  Anyway as its waters are crystal clear, videographers will find these sites more satisfactory to their needs.
• Because of the strong currents and its unpredictable change in its intensity and course, this can potentially cause the divers to easily separate from the group, it is recommended to bring an inflatable signal device, which it helps the skipper to see you f you become separated from the group.

Nusa Penida’s dive sites spread along the north and northeast coast, and the detail describing will be presented as below:

Toyapakeh. Is a small Muslim village on North Coast of the opening bay that separates Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan. Colonies of Acropora coral dominates, growing in shallow water. Down the slope along the edged reef grows short corals and leather soft corals, which in this part frequently swept by the currents. A variety of reef fish and even big pelagic fishes are abundance at this site. Around the end of June up to September, offers Sunfish cleaning station at the depth from 15 meters to 25 meters as the highlight of Toyapakeh and the water turns into cold roughly 20-24 degrees C. Also, Black Jacks and Turtles are frequently found here. The local dive operator sometimes call this place - coral garden-, and if the current starts from southwest is best descending from the edge between Bay and the Channel and fin along the edge to northeast under the jetty’s pillar, don’t go further as the swirl current often occurs, exit and end the dive is best option.

Sekolah Dasar (SD). Stands for an elementary school in local language. The reef offshore is named SD point by the local dive operators. This site stretches as long as the coastline, it offers a pristine healthy coral reef with a number of reef fish mainly pelagic fish, as the reef is extends from the east marked by the white fibre buoy to the most west marked by the jetty, which it separates from Toyapakeh. It is best to do a drift dive because the shore currents are always flowing with uniform direction miles away and the coral heads spread along the slope bottom and make us easy to stop or hide behind them. Reef Shark, Sunfish (Mola-Mola) and even Manta Ray have frequently been seen. Experiencing a drift dive in Bali is best taking SD point at Nusa Penida.

Peed Point. Its named after the temple on the shore of the Peed village, apart from that on this beach was put the concrete wall to protect the beach from erosion. Descending right at the front of the wall in 5 meters water will lead toward the steep slope along the coastline, composition of the coral reef is mainly colonies of Stag Horn coral, coral heads and bommies rich with marine fishes, even pelagic like Sunfish often visits this site. The reef stretches east to west and both directions are interesting, best to begin the dive in the up currents. The water temperature is unpredictable changing and can drop to 22 degrees C whenever up current occurs.

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.

Crystal Bay. Situated in the bay of Penida Village, which widely opens into Ceningan Channel between Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan (the smallest island amongst 3 sister islands). Inside the bay is anchored permanent floating buoys that are used to anchor the diving boats, and right in the middle of the bay stands the huge lime rocks on the edged of the channel as to mark this diving site. From the place where the anchor is, the plated sand bottom with some bommies are well covered by soft corals, keep swimming on the right side (north) from a huge single lime rock toward the channel, you will end up in a wonderful cave underwater in 11 meters of water leads up to the surface under rugged lime cliff, suddenly will be heard the voice of roosting of bats clinking on the sealing of the cave. It is absolutely amazing being inside it where the sunlight goes through between the cracked rocks to make even more beautiful scene. Sometimes single White Reef Tip Shark mostly baby one hides in the cave. After few minutes surfacing then descending again out to the channel might swim against the current otherwise it puts into deep water as the result of the current from the channel and the current out from the bay. Keep the coral reef on left hand side as you swim along the slope, and keep looking toward the deep you may see big pelagic fish cleaning in the edge of a overhang in 25 meters. At this dive site there are two cleaning stations for the Sunfish, in 18 meters and in 30 meters or deeper on the sand bed toward the bay. These fishes are quite friendly and the most calmest creatures, but they afraid with the bubbles of divers and best not to get close to them by approaching from the tail (actually is no tail but body extension) or well controlled breathing which is results in very small bubbles. The highlight of this site beside the cave also the Sunfish cleaning stations and are best to discover them from the left of the huge lime rocks offshore, lead directly into the cleaning stations. The Sunfish appearances are dependant on the season, July to September. Good luck to see them and remember to be well prepared with exposure suits due to cold-water temperature.

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.      

    

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; potentially hazardous its big surges, which could affect the technique of entry procedure, sometime starts from deep water. The maximum depth would be 15 meters, mostly stay in 4 to 6 meters where Manta Rays patrol along the line of the cliff, no further deeper than 15 meters. The bottom composition is huge boulder rocks are stretching along the edge of the cliff, further left to the cliff do not exceed the ragged wall, where the current picks out up to the deep beside there will be no Manta Rays as well. And to right will continue slope bottom, the current gets stronger between two huge boulder rocks headed out on the surface. The best place to see Manta Rays are at the left corner about 5 meters beside the huge boulder rock, stay calm then Manta Rays will get closer and closer to swim around in small school of 3 to 6 Manta Rays.

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.

Tugu Point. Tugu is ‘a small shrine’ in Balinese word and its function to be used to pray The God as Guardian of the Balinese property like ocean, houses etc. Tugu on this site is just about the water line lapses the shore. Descending is begun from the front of Tugu to the slope a long the coastline depends on the current direction, offers colourful reef with some boulder rocks headed and tropical reef fishes are swimming around. Many divers have also reported to spot ‘Sunfish’ in the steep slope where is suited for cleaning station of this creature, Banner Fish does clean it. Water clarity is average up to 15 meters distance, temperature is warm likes bathing water. If supposes to dive toward the small village’s harbour is better to end up the dive before it regarding the safety of the group, the local skippers are not familiar with the diver rule of thump.

Ceningan Wall. Ceningan Island is one of the smallest out of three sister islands of Nusa Penida, it offers a sheer wall dive with the healthiest reef, soft corals and table corals are well grown into Nusa Penida channel. To carry the dive activity at this point is a must to pick up the slack high tide where the water condition is full and calmness contrary will unable and unsafe to dive at it. Several of pelagic types are common countered a long the wall and their sizes are rather bigger compared are found in the other location around the Island. The diving boat will then is anchored at the north tip of Ceningan Island from where group of divers descend to discover the wall and exit out down current in the channel. As the current is changeable its strengths and direction, to apply safety first is judgement as a crucial action to be taken by diver as personal or leader of the group. The water temperature is roughly cold as much as 25 C, sometime even lower as water from the deep rises up to the surface, well prepared of exposure suit is a must to be able to keep the body warm.