Explore Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida, a gem just a short boat ride from Bali's mainland, is a diver's paradise boasting rugged coastlines, pristine white sand beaches, and breathtaking fringing reefs. This island offers an unforgettable diving experience, with an abundance of marine life that ranges from the impressive oceanic sunfish (mola-mola) seen between August and October, to the graceful manta rays that glide through these waters year-round. The recently designated marine protected area is a treasure trove beneath the waves, with most dive sites featuring a stunning 74% coral coverage below 10 meters/33 feet. Divers can expect encounters with reef sharks, turtles, and an array of vibrant fish that paint the underwater scenery with a kaleidoscope of colors.

For those seeking varied dive environments, Nusa Penida delivers with its thrilling drift dives and steep walls in the Ceningan channel. Novices and underwater photographers alike will appreciate the sheltered bays teeming with elusive macro life, making them perfect for both exploration and beginner dive courses. Whether you choose to stay at one of the island's dive resorts or embark on a daily trip from Bali's mainland dive centers, the diving experience in Nusa Penida is nothing short of spectacular. For those who can't get enough of the underwater world, liveaboards offer an immersive dive journey, dedicating entire trips to exploring the depths of this enchanting marine environment.

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    Diving in Nusa Penida

    Along the North coast of Nusa Penida, there are beautiful coral reefs and sloping reefs at the likes of SD, Sental and Ped dive sites while the large plateaus in the south are perfect for manta rays. There are two Manta Point’s on Nusa Penida, where manta rays can be seen year-round gliding in the current while cleaner wrasse take care of their personal hygiene.

    At Gamat Bay and Ceningan Wall, both located in the channel between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, you can find yourself in towering wall dives. Those in search of the small stuff can trawl along silty seabeds at Lembongan Bay or traverse Gamat Bay’s reef wall for crabs and shrimp. Adventure seekers should follow a sandy passage to the underwater Bat Cave for a unique dive experience lit only by the light filtering through the cavern’s open roof.

    Top Wildlife Sightings in Nusa Penida

    As well as the manta rays and oceanic sunfish which make an experience here unforgettable, Nusa Penida diving hosts a large variety of other pelagic life. Silver-tip sharks, bamboo sharks, wobbegong, grey reef sharks and nurse sharks can all be seen while baby eagle rays glide past in the blue. Looking past the 296 species of coral, you’ll find schools of giant trevally, barracuda and Napoleon wrasse while sea turtle cruise through the water.

    In the protected waters of Nusa Penida and its sister islands, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Lembongan, there are known to be 576 species of reef fish, including five species that were previously unknown to science. Use eagle eyes to survey sheltered bays for frogfish, devil scorpionfish, sea snakes, moray eels as dragonets flash their multi-coloured bodies, reflecting the light from the sun. A night dive in calm dive sites may uncover even more weird and wonderful creatures who only dare to show their face under the light on the moon.

    Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

    Reef Manta Ray

    Reef Manta Ray

    21k Sightings
    J
    928
    F
    1k
    M
    1.4k
    A
    2k
    M
    2k
    J
    1.9k
    J
    2.2k
    A
    2.7k
    S
    2.6k
    O
    2.2k
    N
    1.5k
    D
    818
    Hawksbill Turtle

    Hawksbill Turtle

    15k Sightings
    J
    886
    F
    955
    M
    1.1k
    A
    1.2k
    M
    1.2k
    J
    1.3k
    J
    1.8k
    A
    1.8k
    S
    1.7k
    O
    1.3k
    N
    922
    D
    807
    Green Turtle

    Green Turtle

    12k Sightings
    J
    741
    F
    768
    M
    873
    A
    1.1k
    M
    1k
    J
    1k
    J
    1.5k
    A
    1.5k
    S
    1.4k
    O
    1.1k
    N
    770
    D
    696

    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

    9.5k Sightings
    J
    578
    F
    561
    M
    693
    A
    848
    M
    810
    J
    782
    J
    997
    A
    1k
    S
    983
    O
    912
    N
    705
    D
    585

    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

    4.1k Sightings
    J
    176
    F
    220
    M
    215
    A
    319
    M
    368
    J
    430
    J
    677
    A
    611
    S
    477
    O
    288
    N
    167
    D
    156

    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

    3.8k Sightings
    J
    255
    F
    314
    M
    286
    A
    371
    M
    246
    J
    198
    J
    199
    A
    294
    S
    485
    O
    470
    N
    437
    D
    218
    Ocean Sunfish

    Ocean Sunfish

    3k Sightings
    J
    13
    F
    33
    M
    48
    A
    124
    M
    117
    J
    97
    J
    386
    A
    683
    S
    857
    O
    528
    N
    72
    D
    46

    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

    2.9k Sightings
    J
    179
    F
    208
    M
    217
    A
    255
    M
    197
    J
    301
    J
    313
    A
    347
    S
    319
    O
    239
    N
    152
    D
    128
    Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

    Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

    2k Sightings
    J
    50
    F
    72
    M
    112
    A
    179
    M
    168
    J
    168
    J
    237
    A
    298
    S
    317
    O
    223
    N
    145
    D
    56

    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

    1.1k Sightings
    J
    31
    F
    32
    M
    39
    A
    106
    M
    132
    J
    132
    J
    148
    A
    154
    S
    136
    O
    109
    N
    56
    D
    43

    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

    16k Sightings
    J
    937
    F
    959
    M
    1.1k
    A
    1.3k
    M
    1.3k
    J
    1.5k
    J
    1.9k
    A
    1.9k
    S
    1.8k
    O
    1.6k
    N
    1.1k
    D
    931

    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

    13k Sightings
    J
    775
    F
    840
    M
    905
    A
    1.1k
    M
    1k
    J
    1.2k
    J
    1.5k
    A
    1.6k
    S
    1.4k
    O
    1.2k
    N
    833
    D
    772

    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

    12k Sightings
    J
    783
    F
    763
    M
    880
    A
    1.1k
    M
    964
    J
    1.2k
    J
    1.5k
    A
    1.4k
    S
    1.3k
    O
    1.1k
    N
    770
    D
    733

    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

    11k Sightings
    J
    636
    F
    765
    M
    796
    A
    976
    M
    869
    J
    1k
    J
    1.4k
    A
    1.4k
    S
    1.2k
    O
    1.1k
    N
    706
    D
    624

    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

    11k Sightings
    J
    686
    F
    650
    M
    811
    A
    1k
    M
    790
    J
    1k
    J
    1.3k
    A
    1.3k
    S
    1.1k
    O
    1k
    N
    732
    D
    728

    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

    11k Sightings
    J
    632
    F
    624
    M
    716
    A
    937
    M
    883
    J
    1k
    J
    1.2k
    A
    1.3k
    S
    1.2k
    O
    940
    N
    669
    D
    592

    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

    10k Sightings
    J
    591
    F
    659
    M
    729
    A
    914
    M
    826
    J
    979
    J
    1.3k
    A
    1.2k
    S
    1.1k
    O
    922
    N
    679
    D
    612

    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

    9.7k Sightings
    J
    485
    F
    541
    M
    571
    A
    815
    M
    756
    J
    938
    J
    1.1k
    A
    1.2k
    S
    1.1k
    O
    944
    N
    677
    D
    548

    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

    9.4k Sightings
    J
    439
    F
    382
    M
    564
    A
    1.1k
    M
    1.1k
    J
    976
    J
    1k
    A
    1k
    S
    1k
    O
    822
    N
    584
    D
    330

    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

    8.3k Sightings
    J
    520
    F
    491
    M
    506
    A
    654
    M
    651
    J
    777
    J
    961
    A
    1k
    S
    916
    O
    766
    N
    520
    D
    491

    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

    7k Sightings
    J
    459
    F
    454
    M
    460
    A
    589
    M
    565
    J
    651
    J
    810
    A
    835
    S
    685
    O
    588
    N
    460
    D
    412

    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

    6.8k Sightings
    J
    380
    F
    346
    M
    418
    A
    608
    M
    559
    J
    729
    J
    831
    A
    814
    S
    677
    O
    624
    N
    400
    D
    393

    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

    6k Sightings
    J
    375
    F
    377
    M
    432
    A
    430
    M
    449
    J
    540
    J
    684
    A
    683
    S
    646
    O
    564
    N
    459
    D
    364

    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

    5.1k Sightings
    J
    380
    F
    307
    M
    360
    A
    513
    M
    380
    J
    447
    J
    463
    A
    530
    S
    570
    O
    454
    N
    443
    D
    272

    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

    4.6k Sightings
    J
    265
    F
    303
    M
    343
    A
    359
    M
    323
    J
    521
    J
    532
    A
    525
    S
    443
    O
    411
    N
    344
    D
    248

    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

    4.1k Sightings
    J
    241
    F
    294
    M
    303
    A
    350
    M
    298
    J
    434
    J
    483
    A
    473
    S
    366
    O
    405
    N
    218
    D
    259

    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

    3.7k Sightings
    J
    241
    F
    244
    M
    264
    A
    372
    M
    325
    J
    416
    J
    434
    A
    377
    S
    367
    O
    287
    N
    201
    D
    216

    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

    3.4k Sightings
    J
    235
    F
    182
    M
    234
    A
    293
    M
    277
    J
    374
    J
    458
    A
    359
    S
    318
    O
    277
    N
    176
    D
    239

    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

    2.9k Sightings
    J
    108
    F
    196
    M
    200
    A
    233
    M
    267
    J
    320
    J
    329
    A
    428
    S
    341
    O
    227
    N
    156
    D
    133

    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

    2.8k Sightings
    J
    127
    F
    171
    M
    161
    A
    272
    M
    197
    J
    302
    J
    384
    A
    371
    S
    275
    O
    247
    N
    176
    D
    140

    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

    2.3k Sightings
    J
    116
    F
    128
    M
    122
    A
    189
    M
    227
    J
    271
    J
    311
    A
    288
    S
    290
    O
    203
    N
    100
    D
    94

    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

    2.3k Sightings
    J
    122
    F
    128
    M
    169
    A
    212
    M
    198
    J
    236
    J
    218
    A
    266
    S
    293
    O
    214
    N
    192
    D
    81

    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

    2.2k Sightings
    J
    92
    F
    170
    M
    170
    A
    192
    M
    183
    J
    245
    J
    305
    A
    217
    S
    200
    O
    200
    N
    140
    D
    134

    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

    2.1k Sightings
    J
    135
    F
    119
    M
    150
    A
    165
    M
    189
    J
    220
    J
    249
    A
    239
    S
    212
    O
    122
    N
    114
    D
    137

    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

    2k Sightings
    J
    83
    F
    86
    M
    131
    A
    125
    M
    123
    J
    150
    J
    267
    A
    419
    S
    340
    O
    158
    N
    73
    D
    74

    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

    1.8k Sightings
    J
    103
    F
    127
    M
    137
    A
    196
    M
    170
    J
    189
    J
    211
    A
    183
    S
    167
    O
    176
    N
    105
    D
    81

    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

    1.6k Sightings
    J
    95
    F
    62
    M
    86
    A
    145
    M
    93
    J
    166
    J
    156
    A
    245
    S
    180
    O
    187
    N
    121
    D
    61

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

    Total number of species approx.: 2

    Nurse Shark

    Nurse Shark

    1.5k Sightings
    J
    75
    F
    64
    M
    102
    A
    114
    M
    104
    J
    150
    J
    144
    A
    250
    S
    184
    O
    123
    N
    89
    D
    61

    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

    1.4k Sightings
    J
    67
    F
    90
    M
    125
    A
    113
    M
    83
    J
    143
    J
    170
    A
    224
    S
    203
    O
    118
    N
    49
    D
    53

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

    Total number of species approx.: 120

    Flounder

    Flounder

    1.4k Sightings
    J
    89
    F
    75
    M
    106
    A
    106
    M
    156
    J
    185
    J
    151
    A
    183
    S
    111
    O
    119
    N
    92
    D
    62

    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

    1.3k Sightings
    J
    111
    F
    91
    M
    88
    A
    111
    M
    76
    J
    118
    J
    126
    A
    120
    S
    128
    O
    136
    N
    108
    D
    70
    Common Seahorse

    Common Seahorse

    1.3k Sightings
    J
    102
    F
    30
    M
    80
    A
    152
    M
    210
    J
    209
    J
    278
    A
    26
    S
    18
    O
    18
    N
    58
    D
    92
    Banded Sea Krait

    Banded Sea Krait

    1.2k Sightings
    J
    38
    F
    63
    M
    69
    A
    70
    M
    61
    J
    92
    J
    154
    A
    207
    S
    203
    O
    147
    N
    93
    D
    26

    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

    1.1k Sightings
    J
    20
    F
    20
    M
    49
    A
    148
    M
    221
    J
    187
    J
    171
    A
    142
    S
    63
    O
    50
    N
    12
    D
    1

    The best Months to dive in Nusa Penida

    Nusa Penida offers year-round diving with conditions varying throughout the seasons. The best time for calm seas is from November to May, allowing divers to explore its waters without much disruption. During these months, water temperatures range from 28°C–30°C/82°F–86°F, providing comfortable conditions for divers. Visibility is typically excellent, often reaching around 20 meters/66 feet or more, ideal for spotting the abundant marine life, including manta rays. Although diving is possible all year, the monsoon season in January and February may bring stronger currents and higher rainfall. If you're planning a trip to see the unique mola mola, visit between June and October when upwellings bring cooler waters, around 20°C–25°C/68°F–77°F, attracting these oceanic sunfish. Despite these seasonal variations, Nusa Penida remains a top diving destination, offering incredible experiences regardless of the time of year.

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