Explore Candi Dasa

Candi Dasa, a small village located on the eastern coastline of Bali, offers adrenaline-pumping dives in the Lombok Strait. The best dive sites in the area are found around the four tiny rocky islands of Gili Tepekong, Gili Biaha, Gili Mimpang, and Gili Selang. Accessed by a short boat ride from Candi Dasa, the islands offer stunning deep walls, swim-throughs, and caves for those who want to experience the true force of the ocean. Worth the risk, the cool waters have seen reef sharks, wobbegong sharks, cat sharks and hammerhead sharks all gliding in the current. In the right season, there is even the chance to see the incredible ocean sunfish.

There are many experienced dive guides in Candi Dasa dive resorts and dive centres ready to help you experience the enthralling dive sites. Due to the fierce currents, dive courses are more suited for sites at nearby Padang Bai however these testing sites are sure to improve your buoyancy and trim! To experience many dive locations throughout Bali, liveaboards are ready to pick you up after your thrilling adventure scuba diving in Candi Dasa.

Dive Activity

Diving in Candi Dasa

The scuba diving in Candi Dasa showcases remarkable wall dives decorated with swim-throughs and caves at Gili Biaha and Tepekong dive sites. The rocky islands have a unique topography which you can admire as you pass swiftly in the current. Due to the location of the islands, almost every site is a drift dive with only a few sites giving you a chance to catch your breath and take time to appreciate the areas macro life. One of these more relaxing sites can be found on the southern side of Gili Selang.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Candi Dasa

Candi Dasa diving is best during Bali’s transition between the wet and dry seasons. During these months, in April and October, the winds are generally weaker and the seas calm. In August through to October, the water is cooler inviting mola mola and hammerhead sharks to the dive sites near Candi Dasa.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Candi Dasa

Candi Dasa diving is famous for the many species of shark that patrol the water. The white-tip and black-tip reef sharks, as well as the rare wobbegong shark, the very rare catshark and hammerhead, have all been spotted by adventurous divers. When it is the right season, the giant oceanic sunfish drops by to leave you in awe at just how strange and wonderful life can be in the underwater world. When you get the chance to observe the coral, you’ll find it is very healthy and a host to an array of octopus, nudibranch and mantis shrimp.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

118 Sightings
J
3
F
6
M
8
A
10
M
11
J
4
J
6
A
23
S
15
O
12
N
16
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

112 Sightings
J
6
F
9
M
6
A
10
M
7
J
11
J
8
A
9
S
16
O
12
N
18
D
0
Ocean Sunfish

Ocean Sunfish

36 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
26
O
10
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

22 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
0
A
11
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
7
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

7 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
7
D
0
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
5
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

194 Sightings
J
7
F
5
M
11
A
13
M
14
J
10
J
21
A
26
S
37
O
27
N
16
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

146 Sightings
J
6
F
10
M
11
A
19
M
6
J
14
J
5
A
16
S
16
O
15
N
25
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

101 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
6
A
16
M
12
J
8
J
9
A
14
S
13
O
0
N
14
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

94 Sightings
J
3
F
8
M
8
A
13
M
0
J
8
J
0
A
8
S
13
O
11
N
22
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

89 Sightings
J
0
F
8
M
8
A
13
M
6
J
8
J
6
A
0
S
10
O
10
N
20
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

82 Sightings
J
0
F
7
M
10
A
16
M
0
J
7
J
0
A
0
S
12
O
10
N
20
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

80 Sightings
J
3
F
7
M
7
A
13
M
0
J
5
J
0
A
8
S
0
O
14
N
20
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

71 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
8
A
14
M
0
J
6
J
0
A
0
S
9
O
8
N
18
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

68 Sightings
J
3
F
7
M
6
A
10
M
0
J
7
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
13
N
22
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

64 Sightings
J
0
F
7
M
5
A
14
M
0
J
7
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
8
N
20
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

59 Sightings
J
0
F
6
M
6
A
11
M
0
J
8
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
9
N
16
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

43 Sightings
J
0
F
6
M
6
A
9
M
0
J
5
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
17
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

40 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
4
A
13
M
0
J
6
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
14
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

39 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
6
A
8
M
0
J
7
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
14
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

37 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
4
A
7
M
0
J
5
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
15
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

37 Sightings
J
0
F
7
M
5
A
8
M
5
J
3
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
9
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

35 Sightings
J
4
F
3
M
5
A
10
M
0
J
3
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
10
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

35 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
4
A
8
M
0
J
8
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
11
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

31 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
4
A
7
M
0
J
5
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
11
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

26 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
0
A
10
M
0
J
5
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
7
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

23 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
0
A
5
M
0
J
5
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
9
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

23 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
0
A
5
M
0
J
4
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
11
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish

22 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
4
M
6
J
5
J
7
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

14 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
4
M
0
J
4
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
6
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

8 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
5
M
0
J
3
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

6 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
6
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
5
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
5
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0