Explore Nusa Lembongan

About thirty minutes from the south-east of Bali lie the Nusa Islands. Nusa Lembongan, the second largest of the three sister islands, is famous for its chilled out atmosphere, stunning vistas and white sand beaches. While scuba diving in Nusa Lembongan, you’ll find vibrant, healthy reefs with abundant marine life ranging from the incredible oceanic sunfish and manta ray to the unassuming frogfish.

Due to its location in the Lombok Strait, Nusa Lembongan diving is usually reserved for more experienced divers as currents can be strong and often unpredictable. However, there are a number of sheltered bays around the islands that are ideal for novice divers as well as underwater photographers.

Most of the dive sites are situated around Nusa Penida and Ceningan yet, Lembongan’s island charm is the ideal location to kick back and relax in one of the island's dive resorts. A number of dive centres line the beach-front while if you’re not planning to get sandy toes, scuba diving in Nusa Lembongan can be accessed by one of the many visiting liveaboards - where your new home will be the ocean!

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Dive Activity

Diving in Nusa Lembongan

As the currents coming through the Lombok Strait and past the islands can be quite strong, a large majority of the dive sites offer fantastic drift diving. If you are a less experienced diver, there are many protected bays such as at sites like Lembongan Bay, where you can dive in shallow and calm conditions while uncovering macro marine life. These tranquil sites are also perfect for night dives and dive courses.

At Ceningan Wall, located in the Ceningan channel, you can descend down to 30-metres for an adrenaline-pumping dive in a strong drift and tricky down currents. Here, there’s a rare opportunity to see a leopard shark standing out against the incredible hard and soft coral cover. The Bat Cave is another unique experience, where divers can witness bats sleeping on the surface of the cavern before entering underwater through a sandy channel.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Nusa Lembongan

From May to September it is peak season in Nusa Lembongan when the island is it's driest and busiest. If there’s a time to avoid scuba diving in Nusa Lembongan, it's the height of the rainy season in January and February where surface conditions can be rougher otherwise, Nusa Lembongan has ideal conditions for scuba diving.

Year-round, manta rays patrol the waters while the best time to see mola mola is between the beginning of July to the end of October. There are still sightings outside these months, but generally, they are less frequent and divers will have to be a lot luckier to greet the prehistoric creature.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Nusa Lembongan

At 10 meters/33 feet deep, Nusa Lembongan diving offers a coral coverage of 74%. Combine this with the cold thermoclines that invite pelagics out from the deep and silty seabeds decorated with macro critters, and the Nusa Islands are a scuba diver's dream.

With manta rays inhabiting all year round, divers have a high chance to dive with these graceful creatures on plateaus. Visiting in the right season will find you in the presence of the fantastic oceanic sunfish basking in the cooler water. In drift dives, it’s possible to see the likes of giant trevally, schools of dogtooth tuna, Napoleon wrasse, and barracuda cruising in the blue water as sea turtles glide along gentle sloping reefs. Perhaps you’ll even spot a whale shark or a leopard shark admiring the stunning underwater scenery.

In protected bays and sloping coral reefs, delight in discovering nudibranchs, crabs, and shrimps hiding in the vast array of hard and soft coral while reef fish circle overhead. Keen-eyed divers will spot mantis shrimp, leaf fish, dragonets, and frogfish sheltering from strong currents.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

1.7k Sightings
J
109
F
100
M
118
A
133
M
150
J
166
J
176
A
191
S
195
O
143
N
134
D
91
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

1.6k Sightings
J
89
F
88
M
76
A
155
M
139
J
156
J
182
A
196
S
173
O
133
N
105
D
70

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

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

983 Sightings
J
29
F
17
M
44
A
70
M
105
J
102
J
117
A
168
S
163
O
100
N
47
D
21

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

626 Sightings
J
63
F
49
M
51
A
51
M
52
J
60
J
50
A
34
S
44
O
58
N
62
D
52

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

307 Sightings
J
19
F
26
M
22
A
22
M
23
J
31
J
30
A
33
S
38
O
33
N
16
D
14
Ocean Sunfish

Ocean Sunfish

165 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
29
A
38
S
75
O
23
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.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

148 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
10
A
0
M
3
J
20
J
22
A
29
S
34
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.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

128 Sightings
J
17
F
15
M
13
A
16
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
23
N
26
D
18
Common Dolphin

Common Dolphin

46 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
20
A
13
S
0
O
13
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.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

1.4k Sightings
J
82
F
75
M
107
A
124
M
115
J
173
J
154
A
192
S
148
O
122
N
85
D
65

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

1.3k Sightings
J
89
F
72
M
74
A
112
M
108
J
134
J
141
A
157
S
113
O
125
N
83
D
73

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

1.2k Sightings
J
81
F
76
M
77
A
78
M
91
J
138
J
133
A
159
S
86
O
126
N
72
D
64

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

1.1k Sightings
J
77
F
62
M
79
A
93
M
94
J
144
J
94
A
145
S
101
O
104
N
84
D
64

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

1k Sightings
J
63
F
70
M
49
A
84
M
84
J
120
J
113
A
144
S
95
O
104
N
55
D
66

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

975 Sightings
J
57
F
61
M
57
A
71
M
79
J
124
J
104
A
127
S
78
O
104
N
60
D
53

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

947 Sightings
J
49
F
42
M
69
A
97
M
85
J
111
J
101
A
104
S
84
O
94
N
54
D
57

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

882 Sightings
J
50
F
43
M
48
A
71
M
66
J
106
J
80
A
126
S
82
O
97
N
65
D
48

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

747 Sightings
J
51
F
42
M
38
A
50
M
60
J
89
J
84
A
102
S
52
O
92
N
44
D
43

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

617 Sightings
J
42
F
37
M
43
A
40
M
41
J
66
J
61
A
77
S
68
O
75
N
34
D
33

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

598 Sightings
J
38
F
30
M
34
A
51
M
53
J
85
J
50
A
57
S
49
O
77
N
40
D
34

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

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

443 Sightings
J
38
F
31
M
27
A
26
M
41
J
51
J
46
A
43
S
37
O
43
N
38
D
22

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

400 Sightings
J
26
F
23
M
29
A
25
M
31
J
68
J
28
A
41
S
38
O
45
N
24
D
22

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

376 Sightings
J
35
F
31
M
27
A
31
M
23
J
33
J
44
A
23
S
41
O
26
N
33
D
29

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

361 Sightings
J
28
F
35
M
34
A
31
M
34
J
44
J
30
A
17
S
17
O
30
N
34
D
27

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

312 Sightings
J
29
F
18
M
24
A
27
M
22
J
54
J
26
A
22
S
25
O
29
N
16
D
20

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

306 Sightings
J
27
F
17
M
24
A
16
M
26
J
38
J
26
A
35
S
26
O
32
N
16
D
23

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

291 Sightings
J
35
F
23
M
28
A
15
M
21
J
30
J
25
A
14
S
20
O
25
N
27
D
28

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

241 Sightings
J
10
F
18
M
15
A
15
M
23
J
45
J
22
A
22
S
22
O
28
N
10
D
11

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

228 Sightings
J
0
F
19
M
0
A
16
M
29
J
36
J
22
A
32
S
20
O
25
N
12
D
17

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

205 Sightings
J
14
F
10
M
21
A
22
M
10
J
28
J
22
A
22
S
14
O
14
N
10
D
18

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

Total number of species approx.: 15

Tuna

Tuna

180 Sightings
J
10
F
3
M
0
A
0
M
19
J
22
J
19
A
26
S
30
O
21
N
17
D
13

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

175 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
10
A
11
M
22
J
35
J
15
A
21
S
16
O
22
N
12
D
11

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

156 Sightings
J
14
F
12
M
16
A
0
M
24
J
18
J
17
A
20
S
12
O
23
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.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

150 Sightings
J
14
F
3
M
10
A
0
M
0
J
24
J
10
A
25
S
15
O
19
N
17
D
13

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

119 Sightings
J
0
F
10
M
8
A
3
M
0
J
14
J
32
A
17
S
23
O
12
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.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

77 Sightings
J
0
F
24
M
11
A
0
M
10
J
22
J
0
A
10
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.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

72 Sightings
J
13
F
12
M
10
A
10
M
0
J
0
J
15
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
12
D
0

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

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

50 Sightings
J
11
F
0
M
14
A
0
M
10
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
15
N
0
D
0