Explore West Nusa Tenggara

Located in the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, West Nusa Tenggara is a province in Indonesia which consists of Lombok, Sumbawa, Moyo, Sangeang and the Gili Islands. Lombok and the Gili Islands, the first link in the Lesser Sunda Islands, offer dive sites in calm, pristine coral reefs for novice divers while the more experienced can brave the ripping currents found at Belongas Bay, Lombok. The Gili Islands are known as the ‘turtle capital of the world’ and Lombok is one of three places that showcase both the scalloped and giant hammerhead shark. Throughout Lombok, you can experience muck diving as well as deep wall dives, swim-throughs and drop offs.

The final links of West Nusa Tengarra, Moyo Island, Sumbawa, Sangeang and Santonda also have dive sites with a range of topography. Diving at the volcanic Sangeang and Santonda islands will find you searching in sandy seabeds for interesting critters while off the coast of Sumbawa deep vibrant walls and strong currents await your arrival. Scuba diving in West Nusa Tengarra gives divers access to everything from manta rays, mola mola and whale sharks to clown frogfish, blue-ringed octopus and nudibranch.

On most of the islands in the Lesser Sunda Islands you can choose from a variety of dive resorts and dive centres. Yet, to access the more remote dive sites of West Nusa Tenggara, hop on one of the many liveaboards that travel across the diverse Indonesian waters. For dive courses, the calm dive sites at the Moyo Island provide a relaxed environment while the Gili Islands often have the best deals.

Places to explore

Courses and Events

Dive Activity

Diving in West Nusa Tenggara

West Nusa Tenggara, a gem for divers, offers exhilarating underwater adventures. Wreck divers will be fascinated by the USS Liberty shipwreck near Lombok, an iconic site teeming with vibrant marine life and coral gardens. This historic wreck offers an unparalleled glimpse into the past, making it a must-visit for history and dive enthusiasts alike. For those who prefer shore dives, the Gili Islands provide easy access to stunning coral reefs and diverse marine species. Here, night dives reveal the mesmerizing bioluminescence and unique behaviors of nocturnal creatures. Liveaboard options are also available, allowing explorers to venture further into remote spots, ensuring a balanced dive experience that caters to both novice and experienced divers.

Top Wildlife Sightings in West Nusa Tenggara

West Nusa Tenggara, encompassing the islands of Lombok and Sumbawa, is a paradise for divers, offering a rich tapestry of marine life. The region's vibrant coral reefs are home to a variety of reef fish, including the iconic clownfish, angelfish, and parrotfish, which are commonly spotted throughout the year. The reefs are teeming with life, providing an underwater spectacle for both novice and experienced divers.

Seasonal visitors to these waters include majestic manta rays and several species of sharks, such as whitetip and blacktip reef sharks. The months of April to November are particularly rewarding for those hoping to encounter these larger marine creatures. Additionally, sea turtles are frequent year-round, with green and hawksbill turtles often seen grazing on seagrass beds. Diving in West Nusa Tenggara offers a high likelihood of encountering these fascinating species, making it a must-visit location for marine enthusiasts.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

51k Sightings
J
2.9k
F
2.4k
M
2.8k
A
3.4k
M
4.1k
J
4.4k
J
6.4k
A
6.8k
S
6.3k
O
5.4k
N
3.4k
D
2.9k

Hawksbill Turtle

22k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
944
M
1.1k
A
1.4k
M
1.7k
J
1.9k
J
2.9k
A
3.1k
S
2.8k
O
2.4k
N
1.4k
D
984

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

Total number of species: 200

Moray Eel

22k Sightings
J
1.4k
F
1.1k
M
1.3k
A
1.6k
M
1.7k
J
1.8k
J
2.2k
A
2.6k
S
2.4k
O
2.4k
N
1.7k
D
1.4k

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

Total number of species: 300

Octopus

8.5k Sightings
J
661
F
512
M
600
A
734
M
594
J
607
J
871
A
1k
S
949
O
885
N
593
D
522

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

Total number of species: 28

Clownfish

29k Sightings
J
1.8k
F
1.3k
M
1.7k
A
2.1k
M
2.4k
J
2.5k
J
3.5k
A
3.6k
S
3.3k
O
3k
N
2k
D
1.7k

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

Total number of species: 130

Pufferfish

22k Sightings
J
1.3k
F
937
M
1.3k
A
1.5k
M
1.8k
J
2k
J
2.7k
A
2.8k
S
2.7k
O
2.3k
N
1.5k
D
1.1k

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

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

20k Sightings
J
1.2k
F
855
M
1.2k
A
1.4k
M
1.7k
J
1.8k
J
2.4k
A
2.3k
S
2.2k
O
2.2k
N
1.4k
D
1.1k

Whitetip Reef Shark

20k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
968
M
1.2k
A
1.5k
M
1.7k
J
1.7k
J
2.2k
A
2.5k
S
2.3k
O
2k
N
1.3k
D
1.1k

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

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

19k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
822
M
1.1k
A
1.1k
M
1.4k
J
1.6k
J
2.3k
A
2.5k
S
2.2k
O
2k
N
1.3k
D
1k

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

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

18k Sightings
J
1.2k
F
973
M
1.2k
A
1.3k
M
1.3k
J
1.4k
J
1.9k
A
2.1k
S
1.9k
O
1.8k
N
1.4k
D
1.1k

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

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

17k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
808
M
981
A
1.1k
M
1.3k
J
1.5k
J
2.1k
A
2.2k
S
2k
O
1.9k
N
1.2k
D
978

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

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

16k Sightings
J
949
F
664
M
955
A
1k
M
1.3k
J
1.3k
J
2k
A
2.1k
S
1.8k
O
1.7k
N
1.1k
D
845

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

Total number of species: 8

Bannerfish

16k Sightings
J
915
F
657
M
844
A
994
M
1.2k
J
1.3k
J
1.8k
A
2k
S
2k
O
1.8k
N
1.1k
D
867

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

Total number of species: 3

Trumpetfish

14k Sightings
J
869
F
590
M
819
A
1k
M
1.1k
J
1.3k
J
1.6k
A
1.9k
S
1.8k
O
1.6k
N
1k
D
760

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

Total number of species: 25

Boxfish

12k Sightings
J
703
F
627
M
688
A
863
M
1k
J
977
J
1.4k
A
1.5k
S
1.5k
O
1.4k
N
905
D
641

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

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

11k Sightings
J
685
F
451
M
628
A
643
M
874
J
841
J
1.3k
A
1.5k
S
1.3k
O
1.2k
N
775
D
604

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

Total number of species: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

9.5k Sightings
J
552
F
409
M
582
A
666
M
801
J
784
J
1.2k
A
1.2k
S
1.1k
O
1.1k
N
680
D
487

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

Total number of species: 250

Scorpionfish

9.1k Sightings
J
626
F
462
M
538
A
621
M
713
J
745
J
911
A
1.1k
S
1k
O
1k
N
759
D
526

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

Total number of species: 80

Stingrays

7.3k Sightings
J
468
F
439
M
500
A
513
M
665
J
646
J
844
A
770
S
802
O
753
N
453
D
460

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

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

6.6k Sightings
J
439
F
271
M
338
A
381
M
473
J
481
J
916
A
912
S
776
O
794
N
427
D
358

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

Total number of species: 110

Snapper

6.5k Sightings
J
390
F
284
M
372
A
431
M
541
J
569
J
856
A
895
S
725
O
660
N
434
D
346

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

Total number of species: 3400

Shrimp

6k Sightings
J
444
F
311
M
391
A
473
M
514
J
665
J
659
A
627
S
536
O
585
N
475
D
358

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

Total number of species: 3000

Nudibranch

6k Sightings
J
423
F
264
M
343
A
390
M
406
J
523
J
574
A
683
S
674
O
690
N
594
D
422

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

Total number of species: 120

Cuttlefish

4.6k Sightings
J
486
F
426
M
530
A
429
M
241
J
363
J
392
A
516
S
335
O
311
N
213
D
343

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

Total number of species: 60

Soldierfish

4.3k Sightings
J
257
F
176
M
263
A
294
M
349
J
301
J
507
A
580
S
504
O
510
N
326
D
214

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

Total number of species: 90

Goatfish

4.1k Sightings
J
247
F
143
M
224
A
199
M
333
J
304
J
542
A
652
S
520
O
459
N
261
D
192

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

Total number of species: 3

Cornetfish

3.2k Sightings
J
164
F
116
M
181
A
219
M
283
J
294
J
391
A
383
S
385
O
361
N
211
D
187

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

Total number of species: 250

Grouper/Basslets

3.2k Sightings
J
223
F
163
M
118
A
151
M
242
J
254
J
415
A
542
S
392
O
321
N
159
D
189

Blacktip Reef Shark

3.1k Sightings
J
211
F
151
M
180
A
117
M
184
J
247
J
374
A
438
S
447
O
314
N
194
D
204

The best Months to dive in West Nusa Tenggara

West Nusa Tenggara offers excellent diving conditions year-round, with water temperatures ranging from 27°C–30°C/81°F–86°F. These consistently warm temperatures make it an inviting destination for divers at any time of the year. Visibility is typically between 15 meters/49 feet and 30 meters/98 feet, although it can vary with the season.

The region experiences a dry season from May to October, characterized by calmer seas and optimal diving conditions. However, the rainy season from November to April brings stronger winds and currents, which may affect visibility and diving comfort. While diving is possible year-round, the dry season is generally considered the best time for diving enthusiasts.

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