Nusa Penida Diving - Nusa Lembongan - Dive with Manta Rays

Manta Point Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan

Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan are Bali’s hidden gems for Manta diving, encounter the rare Mola Mola and snorkeling. Thanks to their unique geographical locations, these sites are home to one of the world’s major ocean currents. This is great for coral growth and promotes vibrant marine life, making Manta Point a must-visit all year long.

The abundance of big fish, including sharks, combined with excellent visibility and captivating coral formations, create an awe-inspiring diving experience in Nusa Lembongan/Nusa Penida. With over 20 distinctive dive sites, such as Crystal Bay, Manta Point, Mangrove, Toyapakeh, S.D Point, and Pura PED, this region stands as a world-class destination for divers seeking remarkable underwater adventures.

Before deciding to go diving in Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan, it’s important to consider the weather conditions, water conditions, and level of skill required for diving in those locations.

Weather and Temperature

The temperature varies based on the season.
From July to October, expect colder waters ranging between 16-21°C.
During other months, the water is warmer but can experience thermoclines.

Because of this temperature, all divers must have experience before. At least the capability to handle itself and bring comfort to the situation. Having good skills, certificates for diving, and being able to do negative back roll entries is the key. Especially when the Mola-Mola season. But no need to be worried. Of course, we want you to have a good experience with us. Come and try your luck!

Skill Level Required

Beginner

Ideal for first-time or non-certified divers.

Dive with an instructor or join a Discover Scuba program.
Maximum depth: 12 meters.
Calm, safe dive sites like SD Point or Toyapakeh (when conditions allow).
Guided every step of the way with close supervision.
Great for learning and enjoying marine life slowly.

Intermediate

For certified Open Water divers with some experience.

Dive up to 18–30 meters depending on certification.
Can explore areas with mild to moderate current.
Sites like Crystal Bay or Mangrove Point are suitable.
You’ll start to enjoy drift diving and deeper coral reefs.
Ideal if you’re ready to level up from beginner dives.

Advanced

For divers with 30–100+ logged dives and confident in current.

Depths can reach up to 40 meters.
Currents may be strong or unpredictable.
Access to sites like Blue Corner, Gamat Bay, or Batu Abah.
Good buoyancy control and situational awareness required.
Best chance to see Mola-Mola during season.

Nusa Penida Diving

Diving with Mola Mola in Manta Point Nusa Penida

Join us for Mola Mola Diving in Bali during it’s season on July – October. Best month recommendation: September and October.

When the Mantas are swimming gracefully in their cleaning station most of them just stay in the shallow water, then it makes it easier for the snorkelers as well to approach them and take shots.

Do not chase the Mantas, do not touch and scared them away, just swim or hover they will sometimes come to you, and just be ready with your pre-focus camera/videos.

Trips to Nusa Penida

Join our day trips to Nusa Penida and explore some of the best dive spots in Bali. We visit Manta Point to see manta rays, Crystal Bay for clear water and the chance to spot mola-mola, Toyapakeh for coral gardens, SD Point for drift diving, and Mangrove Point for its unique underwater environment. Each location offers something special for divers. If you prefer a more private experience, we also offer custom boat trips. You can choose the dive sites and schedule based on your group’s experience and interest. Just let us know what you prefer, and we will help create a memorable diving adventure!

In our small groups, divers of all certification levels are welcome. Yet, if you have not dived recently, it is highly recommended to undergo a scuba review with us in Tulamben or Padang Bai before diving in Nusa Penida. Due to the strong currents in the area, it is advisable for less experienced divers to consider hiring a private guide for a safer and more enjoyable experience. Our team is always available to provide guidance and support to help you make the best decision for your dive.

To those who love snorkeling, Nusa Penida is suitable for you with a guided snorkeling activity.

HOW TO GET THERE?

the boat ride from Sanur to Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan

Getting to Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan is quick and easy from mainland Bali:

Departure Point: Sanur Beach, East Bali
Boat Type: Speedboat
Duration: Around 45 minutes across the Badung Strait
Arrival: You’ll land directly at Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan depending on your diving plan

Most of our dive trips include round-trip boat transfers, so you don’t need to worry about booking it yourself. Just be ready at the meeting point in Sanur, and we’ll handle the rest.

Capture the Moments

How to approach and take a picture with Mantas and Mola Mola?

It is forbidden to touch these two gentle giants. Please respect the ocean and its life. Diving and Snorkeling with the ocean hearts and minds.

You can’t chase them, the more you chase the more they will swim away from you. Never to try it, they swim so fast and even you see them swim gracefully and slow.

Prepare your underwater camera and set to autofocus, our suggestion is you may set the pre manual focus on 1 -1,5 meters, you may capture when they swim or just passing by not doing the cleaning position (stationary), bubbles scared them away, find the good angle and see where it goes, keep calm, do not moving or finning too fast.

Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan Dive Sites

Crystal Bay

This Bali dive site is named after crystal visibility of 30-40 m+ on a good day. It’s known to be one of the most popular sites for viewing the Mola-Mola (Oceanic sunfish) from August to October. The shallows are covered with dense soft and hard corals, including at the steep drop-off, which starts at the rock in the middle of the bay. Aside from the Mola-mola, there’s a lot to see at this dive site, like reef fishes, turtles, sea snakes, reef sharks, nudibranchs, and corals.

Manta Point

This is an all-year-round manta sighting location. It functions as a cleaning station and a regular sighting can reach 7-8 mantas in one dive. They can be detected on the surface even for Snorkelers. Aside from the mantas, you can see turtles, nurse sharks, bamboo sharks, and blue-spotted rays as the sea bottom are fairly sandy. It’s subjected to swells and suitable for all level divers.

SD Point

SD Point is an abbreviation for ‘Sekolah Dasar’ or elementary school. It’s arguably the most diverse collection of corals and sponges in Bali. It’s less steep compared to Blue Corner, with larger corner heads. Currents drift divers have been reported to see Green and Hawksbill Turtles, Marble Rays, Sea Snakes, Octopus’, White Tip Sharks, amongst others.

Toyapakeh

The ‘jewel’ of Nusa Penida. A lining of schools after schools consisting of red tooth triggerfish, giant trevallies, and batfishes. Drop off reaches an impressive 190 meters, also the coral, sponges, and fish density are incredible. Pygmy seahorses are occasionally spotted by keen sighted divers. Larger pelagics are also seen such as the hammerhead sharks, mantas, and sunfish.

Mangrove Point

Mangroves, with small bommies and table corals, are home to the small creatures. Often marble rays and larger species are found in deeper waters within the area, with the occasional sights of sharks.

Dive Sites for Experienced or advanced diver only!

Batu Nunggul

Batu Nunggul is known for its vibrant marine life, including colorful nudibranchs, tropical reef fish, and pelagics like Manta and Eagle Rays in deeper waters. However, the currents here can be highly unpredictable, changing intensity and direction abruptly. This makes diving at Batu Nunggul challenging and necessitates a skilled boat captain to navigate safely. The fast drifts can be thrilling but also require divers to have good buoyancy control and experience in handling strong currents.

Blue Corner

Blue Corner is notable for its dramatic drop-offs reaching depths of 50 meters, with overhanging terraces that are home to white tip sharks and black marbled rays. The site’s strong currents and sudden changes in depth make it suitable only for experienced divers. This site is also famous for seasonal mola-mola (oceanic sunfish) sightings and encounters with other large marine life like eagle rays, wobbegong sharks, and schools of snappers and jacks. The challenging conditions demand excellent dive skills and the ability to manage deep dives.

Tugu Point

At Tugu Point, divers descend along colorful coral reefs and large boulder rocks. The site’s steep slopes are a cleaning station for sunfish, attracting these gentle giants. However, the site is exposed to strong currents that can be difficult to predict. The combination of steep slopes and variable currents means that only experienced divers should attempt this dive to ensure safety and maximize the enjoyment of seeing rare marine species.

Gamat Bay

Gamat Bay, located in the Toyapakeh Strait, offers a rich underwater environment with slopes reaching over 50 meters. The site is filled with marine life, including bommies, overhangs, and small caves. The complex topography and the presence of strong currents make this site more suitable for experienced divers who can navigate the underwater terrain and handle the challenging conditions.

Batu Abah

Batu Abah is one of the toughest and most remote dive sites in the area, facing the open ocean and subjected to large swells. It is a prime location for spotting mola-mola, mantas, turtles, sharks, lobsters, and nudibranchs. The site’s strong and unpredictable currents, combined with surges, require divers to have significant experience and excellent control. Diving here is challenging but can be extremely rewarding for those with the skills to handle the conditions.

Note about Diving in Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan :

Due to specific requirements of underwater conditions and the environment. It’s strongly advisable to dive with a trusted dive center with credible local DMs and boat crew/captain.
Our team of experienced dive professionals is familiar with all dive sites and will guide you through an enjoyable and safe diving experience. We kindly ask that you trust the judgment of our dive professionals and boat captains. Please understand that we prioritize safety and may choose not to dive at certain sites if conditions are deemed too dangerous.
The temperature may vary. July-October, the water can range around 19-22 degrees Celcius, while during February, the water can reach 27-29 degrees Celcius. Please bring your own hood and gloves, we do not rent this due to variants of sizes. However, let us know if you need to rent a long 5mm wetsuit rental as an extra.
Definitely, recommend you to bring your underwater camera or GoPro. You would want to record the magical experience of meeting the majestic Manta Ray and Mola Mola during your Bali Diving trip.
Well check your preparation, equipment, and if you have any motion sickness you can have your seasick pills consumed after breakfast, the journey is sometimes quite choppy or rough, and the whole day will be spent on the boat.
For Manta Point, we can’t guarantee that you can jump in the water until we arrive at the sites. Due to swell conditions/wind and the topography on manta dive area is off cliff area and also the cleaning station is quite close to the rocks and cliffs. When the swell is big, it is impossible to do snorkeling.

itinerary for Scuba Diving in Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan

Hotel Pick up 7.00 – 7.30 AM – arriving 4 PM at the beach in Sanur
5 minutes to Sanur Port from our Diving Centre and 50 minutes speed boat ride from Sanur to the Manta Diving Site
Diving 3x – speed boat diving – Lunch and Drinking water, refreshment provided on board.
Hotel Drop – arriving around 4.30 PM at your accommodation (depends on your location and traffic)

FAQs About Manta Point Nusa Penida Diving

Manta Point in Nusa Penida is a haven for those seeking to marvel at the grace of manta rays in clear waters. Unique for its cleaning stations, divers and snorkelers can observe these creatures up close, engaging in their natural behaviors in a serene underwater setting.

Visitors should anticipate an exhilarating boat ride to Manta Point, followed by the chance to dive or snorkel in areas frequented by manta rays. The experience is awe-inspiring and humbling as you share the waters with these gentle marine giants.

Yes, Manta Point accommodates all levels of divers, non-certified and snorkelers. Beginners can enjoy shallow snorkeling or scuba spots, while certified divers have the opportunity to explore deeper waters under the guidance of experienced professionals.

In Nusa Penida, particularly to view the Mola Mola, the best period for diving is between July and October when the water temperatures are lower, which draws these unusual fish nearer the surface for cleaning

Diving with animals like the Mola Mola requires keeping a respectful distance and reducing contact and noise to prevent upsetting them. These techniques provide a safe experience for divers and wildlife as well as aid in preserving the marine ecosystem.

When diving at Nusa Penida, it is suggested to have an advanced open-water diving certification, given the powerful currents and deeper dive areas. This guarantees that divers will be ready for the several underwater environments they could come across.

Control your buoyancy, keep aware of your surroundings, and dive with a buddy or guide knowledgeable of the local circumstances to have a safe drift diving experience.

Let’s Diving in Bali

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