NUSA PENIDA – Marine protected area since 2010
20 057 - hectares in area
1 142 - hectares of coral reefs
296 - species of coral
576 - species of fish, five of which are identified as new species
230 - hectares of mangrove forest with 13 diferent mangrove species
108 - sea grass field containing eight species of sea grass
Nusa Penida is a part of archipelago and submarine reservation Three Sesters and is located 25km from Bali. This island is the largest among those three islands and also the most interesting as for the submarine life goes. The southern coast is created by huge vertical cliffs which create magnificent scenery of wild coast with picaresque bays that are all year rind full of stingrays and mantas. Western coast has rocky character with splendid beaches and is washed by water of the deepest channel between two islands in the world; the channel is 250 in depth. You can find here several beautiful spots where you can meet sunfishes, barracudas and sometimes also sharks and at the same time the spot provides magnificent night dives. The northern coastline is created by sand beaches and never-ending seaweed plantations, which are just next to marge coral reef – one of the most preserved in the whole Bali-Lombok area. The eastern coast is wild as well as several submarine spots where you can meet again sunfishes. Next to the neighboring island of Lembongan is very beautiful spots called Blue Corner (sunfishes, stingrays, sharks, snakes), Lighthouse and Mangrove Point. Next by to the Ceningan Island is splendid vertical wall – Ceningan wall. As for diving goes, Nusa Penida is a jewel thanks to its all-year-round appearance of mantas and seasonal appearance of the world’s largest osseous fishes – sunfishes (Mola Mola), that are ascending with the help of cold currents in order to rinse off skin parasites. Nusa Penida is the best place in the World to observe such amazing marine creatures. From November till June are the water temperatures around 26-30 °C, however from July till October the water temperature drops to 22-26 °C and extraordinary to 15-21 °C. The main diving season lasts from April to November and the peak season is June – October. From December till March are also good diving conditions and beautiful diving with sharks and mantas. The visibility on Nusa Penida is all-year-round better than in Bali and Lombok, where is problem with rivers spilled into ocean. Nusa Penida doesn’t have rivers; therefore there is no problem with visibility in the rainy season. Nocturnal diving is wonderful in Crystal Bay, Gamat Bay and Toyapakeh Bay. We recommend using 5mm wetsuit, with hood and gloves. Diving with signal buoy is obligatory.
S.D. Point
The longest and the best marge coral reef of Nusa Penida that is rich in variety of coral species and reef fishes. There are entertaining current dives and the most beautiful part is about 10m deep. It is a relaxing locality during calm conditions and cool toboggan in the current. You can meet here thousands of reef fishes, sea turtles, big puffers, morays, stingrays, Black – blotched stingrays, baraccudas, sea snake. Rare in season Mola Mola – sunfish, sharks white tip, thresher, hammerhead. Easy dive for OWD. Very nice night dive.
Ped
Another locality with interesting coral reef that is rich in fish species. The platform that reaches up to 12m is overgrown with coral vegetation that is locally fractured. Deeper there is vertical slope where is a good chance to meet larger fishes. This locality is also easy even if currents take place.
You can meet thousands of reef fishes, morays, barracuda, stingrays, black- blotched stingrays, turtles, eagle rays, white tip reef shark.
Rare during season of Mola Mola, diferent kind of sharks. On surface its chance meet dolphins and whales.
Crystal Bay
Is the most famous and the easiest locality in Nusa Penida and is famous for its cleansing station of sunfishes. In the shallow waters can be found nice coral garden with a couple of table corals and then descend the terrain to sand canyon which bottom lays 20-60 below the sea level. This slope is place where legendary sunfishes (Mola Mola) come for cleansing. There is also chance to see white tip shark, bamboo shark, wobbegong, sea Krait, turtles, black-blotched stingray, stonefish, frogfish , banded snake eels, demon stinger (Inimicus),many kind of nudibranch (slugs)…It’s good spot for night diving and you can meet fishes,Spanish dancers, Pleurobranch, crabs, stonefish, crocodilefish, slugs, snake, eels, octopus, cuttlefish... In order to see sunfishes it is important to have a good timing due to a crowd from Bali.
Manta 66
This spot is a sure bet if you want to see mantas. During the ideal conditions you can run into hordes of huge mantas in about 10m of depth and you will be just couple of feet away from them. It is an unforgettable experience and very easy dive. On this spot you can also see many Kuh’l stingrays and sometimes sharks, turtle or sea snake. During a stormy conditions is quite bad visibility and challenging conditions so the timing is important. There is couple of interesting spots nearby.
Manta Bay
By the exit from Toyapah Channel is vast bay with rocks where often come mantas and are feeding here on plankton. In order to dive here the ocean must be calm. It’s also a good spot for snorkeling.
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Blue Corner
The best locality in Lembongan that can enrich you with unforgettable experience with sunfishes, black-blotched stingrays, eagle rays and shoals of fishes; or give you diving trauma. This spot is suitable for experienced divers and believe that it has a lot to offer. During calm conditions the dive is not difficult but it is not advised to dive here during low tide (only for experienced divers and physically strong divers). Minimum 50 dives and AOWD.
Mangrove Point
Easy spot suitable for beginners, no currents around. Remarkable plateau till 25m which runs into steep slope. You can see here reef sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays, octopus, moray and other species. Rich coral reef is just nearby.
Gamat Bay
Small bay in the deepest channel which descends to remarkable depths. Spot where often come sunfishes (Mola Mola) and shoals of barracudas. Sometimes reef sharks and spotted eagle rays can be seen here.Also octopus, kambala, leafscorpion fish, many kind of nudibrunch,rare frogfish. In the depth of 55m is a rocky amphitheater where is under certain circumstances possible to meet Mola Mola. Watch out for descending current. Nice spot for night dives.
Ceningan Wall
Fast, magical and unbelievably deep spot. Wall falling down to 200m, plus you cat a ride on submarine toboggan. The fishes pass by and it feels like riding in bullet train. Beautiful terrain and pure adventure. Minimum 50 dives and AOWD.
Toyapakeh Bay
Beautiful and easy spot that is created by vast coral plateau and by steep slope descending to the channel. Also here, with a bit of luck, can be spotted sunfishes (Mola Mola), black-blotched stingrays ,many kinds of morays, octopus, sea lugs, giant trevally. For experienced divers is possible to dive to the edge of submarine canyon where live Mola Mola. Nice spot for nocturnal diving.
Toyapakeh Channel
Magical and wild channel between Toyapakeh and Gamat bay. Steep slope runs into vertical wall with several deep cuts. Species to spot are: eagle rays, sunfishes, morays and reef sharks. Usually you can take a toboggan ride with shoals of fishes passing nearby.
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