Bali Scuba Diving

26 June 2006, 04:58:16 (1511 clicks)

Bali has some impressive dive sites. With pleasant temperatures of average 27 Celsius year round and good visibility, the best time of the year for diving is the dry season from April to October. The wet season from November to March can be quite torrential.

A lot of the diving and snorkeling areas are very close to the shore with lots of colorful hard and soft corals and an amazing range of tropical fish. For the moment the reefs are mostly unspoiled and a wide variety of marine life such as dolphins, rays, turtles, sperm, blue whales. Sea snakes and moray eels can be found here.

The main diving and snorkeling areas in Bali on the east coast are at Padang Bai and Candidasa and further north at Tulamben and Amed. Following the coastal road in the north of the island is Lovina. Slightly further along is Pemuteran and in the western tip of Bali is Labuan Lalang, an uninhabited island with some of the best diving on Bali. Nearly 7000 hectares of corals reef and coastal waters are protected as part of the Bali Barat National Park including Menjangan island.

Below are some of the most exciting diving spots on the island.

Sanur and Nusa Dua
These areas often used as location for teaching diving because of it's close proximity to the tourist main areas, there are some interesting coral formations, sponges and plentiful colorful fish on the reef at Sanur.

Candidasa
Batu Tiga (Three Rocks) is accessed by boat from Candidasa or Padang Bai. With an average depth of 20 meter, the site is excellent for diving or snorkeling. The reef is steep and sloping with many corals. Some fish seen here include Red Snapper. Clown Trigger fish, and Blue spotted Stingrays, Trivially, Morays and White tip Reef sharks. Pulau Tepekong - On the east and north side of the island this is wall dive with many caves. There are large biomes and many fish such as different Trigger fish, Angel fish, Snappers, Butterfly fish, Parrotfish, Moorish Idols and Emperor.

Amed
Amed has excellent snorkeling just off the black sand beach and further out in the bay there is coral wall with an abundance of sponges and hard and soft corals. Fish varieties include Black Snappers, Butterfly fish, Parrot fish, Surgeon fish, Unicorn fish, Parrot fish, Damsel fish, Cardinal fish, White tip Reef Sharks and many larger varieties such as Dogtooth Tuna and Blue Finned Trivially.

Tulamben
One of Bali's most popular diving sites is the wreck of the US liberty warship. The Japanese during World War II torpedoed it in the Lombok Strait. She was beached on Tulamben when rescue attempt failed. After the eruption of Mt. Agung in 1963 she broke in half and was left in her present position close to the shore of Tulamben. The hull is encrusted with coral and the fish have become quite tame because of the large number of divers here.

Lovina
A popular beach resort area. Lovina refers to a collection of small villages on the coast. In the past coral in the bay was used to make lime. Fortunately the coral is now protected and some diving and snorkeling is possible with very clear water. Lovina also a good place to stay if you want to go to Menjangan.

Pemuteran
This area has suffered a bit from dynamic fishing but great efforts have been made to stop further destruction. There is much coral available such as Elkhom and Staghorn. There are many tropical reef fish and profusion of Moorish Idol. There is also a turtle sanctuary located at Pemuteran with regular release of turtles into the sea, which have been bred at Sanctuary.

Menjangan Island
There are few dives sites to choose from at Menjangan with good conditions and excellent visibility. The snorkeling is excellent too. Menjangan also have a wreck, known as the "Anker" because of it has heavily encrusted anchor at the top of the reef. Fixed mooring have been built to prevent damage and the island is reached by a 30 - minute boat ride from Labuan Lalang.

Central Coast
The sound of crashing surf on the shores is a part of the Oceanside feel, and the dive sites are part of the seascape. The imposing Gili Tepekong and the four outcrops of Gili Mimpang are directly offshore. Consistent currents flow with the full and varied marine life along the shallow reefs and walls that surround these mysterious islands.

Padang Bai, is a small, busy fishing village. Its sandy bay a convenient haunt for divers. The reefs around Padang Bai have white-sand bottoms and can be magical if the visibility is good. This is not always the case. When the channel is calm you can do a daytrip from Padang Bai to the reefs of Nusa Penida.

Gili Biaha or Ikuan, is a rocky outcrop just of Tanjung Bias Putih. Bias Putih point is a few meters north-west of Gili Tepekong. The west side is mainly chosen for diving as it is more sheltered from current and offers better diving conditions.

Nusa Penida
About one and half-hours from Bali by motor boat, Nusa Penida offers some truly spectacular and unspoiled diving and snorkeling. As there is not much development here, the reefs are pristine. An abundance of hard and soft corals makes a home for large amounts of tropical fish such as angelfish and clownish. Moray eels live in the crevices and White tip Reef Shark's search for food at night and sleep by day under table corals.

Nusa Lembongan
The smaller island of Nusa Lembongan is popular destination for day-trippers. At the northern end of the island, Mangrove Point, Crystal Bay and Blue Comer Trip are all good diving sites. Some of the areas are for experienced divers only and look for Manta Point to the east where schools of Mantas come to the cleaning stations and to mate.

For more information, please refer to some of the best diving companies on the island. Here's the list...

Bali Marine Sport - Nusa Dua
Tel. 774 873

Bali Dive Sport Club - Sanur
Tel. 287 692

Bali Diving Perdana
Jl. Danau Poso, Gg.Tanjung #30
Denpasar
Tel. 286 493 - Fax. 288 871

Bali International Diving - Kuta
Tel. 751 342

Bali Pesona Bahari
Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai
Tel. 289 308 - Fax. 287 872

Bali Vacanza Dive - Sanur
Tel. 231 634

Baruna Water Sport - Tuban
Tel. 751 223

Citra Bali Dive Centre
Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai #171
Tel. 286 788

Dive & Dive's
Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai #23
Tel. 288 052

Ena Dive Center & Water Sports
Jl. Tirta Ening #1, Sanur
Tel. 288 829 or Fax 287 945

Gloria Maris - Kuta
Tel. 751 853

Indonesia Cactus Divers
Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai #15
Tel. 239 163

Oceana Dive Centre
Jl. By Pass Ngurag Rai #78 XX
Tel. 288 652

Omi Divers Bali
Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai, Kuta
Tel. 757 484

Padi Dive & Dive's
Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai #23
Tel. 288 052
Jl. Tirta Bening #01
Tel. 288 829 - Fax. 287 945

Sea Star Dive Centre
Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai # 45 XY
Tel. 286 492

Tauch Terminal Bali
Jl. Br.Basangkasa, Kerobokan, Kuta
Tel. 730 200 - Fax. 730 385

Tim Dive Center
Jl. Danau Poso 53, Semawang, Sanur
Tel. 287 624 - Fax. 284 224

Wisata Tirta Baruna PT.
Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai #300 B
Tel. 753 820 - Fax. 753 809

Yos Diving - Nusa Dua
Tel. 773 774

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