Interests
Diving and snorkeling in Bali: Amed, Tulamben, Nusa Penida, Menjangan
Bali is one of the most varied diving destinations in Indonesia, provided you know where to go for your level. The calm reefs of the east are reached from the beach; the currents of Nusa Penida require experience; Menjangan, in the northwest, rewards those who make the drive.
- Updated on
- 7 min read
- By Kylian Dev
Contents
Key points
- Snorkeling without a boat: Jemeluk and Banyuning in Amed, the reef starts at the edge of the beach.
- USAT Liberty wreck in Tulamben: the best-known dive on the island, accessible from the shore.
- Nusa Penida for manta rays, with currents that require a serious center and a good level.
- The dry season generally brings clearer water and a calmer sea; Amed and Tulamben can be dived all year round.
This guide reviews the four diving and snorkeling areas that matter in Bali, what you see there, at what level and in what season. It names no center and gives no prices: prices vary with the package, the number of dives and the equipment included. Compare on the spot, and check the center’s certification.
Torn between Bali and the Gili Islands, off Lombok? The Bali or Lombok comparison devotes a chapter to diving. Otherwise, start with Amed, the simplest base for diving.
The four diving areas of Bali
Four areas concentrate the diving: Amed, for reefs accessible from the beach and snorkeling; Tulamben, just to the north, for the USAT Liberty wreck; Nusa Penida, off Sanur, for manta rays and currents; Menjangan, off the northwest coast, for walls and clear water.
| Area | What you see | Level | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amed | Reefs, corals, tropical fish, small Japanese wreck | All levels, snorkeling | From the beach |
| Tulamben | USAT Liberty wreck, surrounding reef | Try dive to advanced | From the shore, pebbles |
| Nusa Penida | Manta rays, sunfish in certain periods, underwater cliffs | Advanced for current sites | Boat |
| Menjangan | Walls, corals, often clear water | All levels depending on the site | Boat from the northwest coast |
Amed and Tulamben, neighbors on the same coast, combine in a single stay. Nusa Penida requires a crossing from Sanur of about 30 to 45 min. Menjangan is reached from Pemuteran, on the northwest coast: it is the area furthest from the airport, to fit into a tour of the island.
Amed and Tulamben: reefs from the beach and the Liberty wreck
In Amed, the reef of Jemeluk bay starts a few meters from the shore: mask and snorkel are enough. The shallow Japanese wreck of Banyuning can also be visited snorkeling. In Tulamben, the USAT Liberty, a Second World War cargo ship, is one of the best-known dives in Indonesia.
Jemeluk bay
Corals and tropical fish at the edge of the beach. The best starting point for a first snorkel; come in the morning, before the swell picks up.
Banyuning Japanese wreck
A small shallow wreck, accessible from the beach. Ask for the exact entry point on the spot.
Lipah beach
A cove with a more discreet reef, good for children and less confident swimmers.
USAT Liberty, Tulamben
The wreck of a Second World War cargo ship, covered in coral. Very busy in mid-morning: dive early.
Many centers in Amed offer a room with the dives, which avoids journeys and lets you dry your gear on site. Divers who come mainly for the Liberty sometimes sleep in Tulamben to dive before the groups. The villages and accommodation are compared on where to stay in Amed.
Nusa Penida and Menjangan: mantas, currents and walls
Nusa Penida is renowned for its manta rays and, in certain periods, for sunfish, or mola mola, with no guarantee at all. The currents there are strong: these sites require a good level and a serious center. Menjangan, off the northwest coast, offers walls and often clear water.
In Nusa Penida, snorkeling is also possible, notably at Crystal Bay, but the current can be strong there: stay close to the boat or the shore, never alone. For diving with mantas, go through a recognized center, which chooses the site according to the tide and the day’s sea.
Menjangan is a small island belonging to West Bali National Park. You leave by boat from Pemuteran, on the northwest coast. The site’s 3-week itinerary offers this diving variant, instead of Lovina.
When to dive in Bali: seasons and visibility
The dry season, from about April to October, generally offers better visibility and a calmer sea. Amed and Tulamben remain diveable all year round, including in the rainy season. Nusa Penida depends more on the sea: crossings are sometimes cancelled between November and March.
| Period | Amed and Tulamben | Nusa Penida |
|---|---|---|
| April | Visibility improving | More practicable, still some days of rough sea |
| May to October | Sea generally calm and clear | Good conditions; colder water in the heart of the season |
| November to March | Practicable most days, variable visibility | Crossings sometimes cancelled in rough seas |
For the Amed coast, May, September and October are among the best months: the Bali in October page details the end of the dry season. The best time to visit Bali guide summarizes the seasons activity by activity.
Which level for which site
Without training, snorkeling from the beach in Amed is enough to see corals and fish. A try dive or a first certification go well in Amed and Tulamben, in calm water. Beginner certified divers progress there. The current sites of Nusa Penida are reserved for experienced divers, at the center’s discretion.
| Level | Where | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Snorkeling | Jemeluk, Banyuning, Lipah; Crystal Bay with caution | In the morning, before the swell; water shoes on the pebbles |
| Try dive | Amed, Tulamben | Calm water, access from the beach |
| First certification | Amed, Tulamben | Several days on site, room at the center |
| Certified, little experience | Amed, Tulamben, Menjangan | A refresher dive if the last one was a while ago |
| Experienced | Nusa Penida, current sites | Recognized center, briefing on the currents |
Bring your logbook and certification card: the center will ask for them to choose the sites. If your last dive was a long time ago, a refresher dive in calm water, in Amed, is the best way to start.
Diving safely in Bali
Choose a center whose certification can be verified, check the condition of the equipment and the briefing, and take out insurance that covers diving. Respect the recommended interval between the last dive and the flight, do not dive the day before a long drive, and protect the reef: you do not touch coral.
- Center: certification displayed and verifiable, small groups, a guide who knows the site’s currents.
- Equipment: try on mask and wetsuit before the outing, check the regulator and the BCD.
- Insurance: it must cover diving, medical costs and repatriation. Check the exclusions.
- Flight: ask the center for the interval to respect between the last dive and the flight, and plan for it in the itinerary.
- Road: avoid a late dive the day before a long journey, such as the one to the north or to the airport.
- Reef: no contact with the coral, sunscreen in moderate amounts, a UV T-shirt when snorkeling.
Coral cuts get infected quickly in a humid climate: disinfect them carefully. For the rest, see health and safety in Bali. The budget of a diving stay, where outings weigh heavily, is prepared with the budget guide.
Organizing a diving stay in Bali
Give four nights to Amed to combine reefs and the Liberty, two to Nusa Penida for the mantas, and a stop in Pemuteran if you are aiming for Menjangan. Arrive in Amed in daylight, as the coastal road is narrow, and end the stay with a base without diving near the airport.
The 2-week itinerary offers a diving variant: four nights in Amed and two in Nusa Penida. To reach the east, allow about 2 h 30 to 3 h from the airport; the airport → Amed page explains why going via Ubud or Sidemen shortens the day.
Frequently asked questions
Where to snorkel in Bali without a boat?
In Amed, in Jemeluk bay, where the reef starts a few meters from the shore, and on the Japanese wreck of Banyuning. Mask, snorkel and water shoes are enough.
Can you see manta rays in Bali?
Yes, around Nusa Penida, diving or snorkeling with a recognized center. Sightings are never guaranteed, and the currents there are strong.
What is the best season for diving in Bali?
The dry season, from about April to October, for clearer water and a calmer sea. Amed and Tulamben can be dived all year round.
Can you dive in Tulamben without experience?
A try dive is possible with a center, depending on the day’s conditions. The USAT Liberty wreck is reached from the shore, in often calm water.
Where to stay in Bali for diving?
In Amed, near a dive center, in Jemeluk or Lipah; in Tulamben to dive the Liberty early; in Nusa Penida for the mantas.
Sources
Figures and rules checked on October 17, 2026 against the sources below. Entry rules and fees change: always check them on the official websites before you leave.
