Compare 8 dive shops
in Bali.
Indonesia's most accessible dive destination. Multiple regions per island: Tulamben wrecks, Nusa Penida mola mola, Menjangan walls, Amed slopes. Mid-range pricing, easy logistics, year-round diving.
Why Bali
Bali is the easiest way into Indonesian diving. One direct flight from most of Asia and Australia, one airport, and a road network that gets you to any dive region in under four hours. The catch — and the reason Bali rewards a longer trip — is that the diving is not in one place. It’s spread across six regions, each suited to different conditions and species, and moving between them takes a half-day of driving or a fast-boat crossing.
Where the diving is:
- Tulamben (east coast, 2.5h from DPS). The USAT Liberty wreck sits 30 metres offshore in 5-30m of water. Shore-entry, no boat needed, walkable from the road. Genuinely one of the easiest accessible wrecks in Asia — Open Water divers can do it on day one. Coral garden and drop-off sites within 10 minutes by truck.
- Amed (east coast, 30 min south of Tulamben). Slope diving, macro, and the Japanese Patrol Boat wreck. Quieter than Tulamben, fewer day-trippers, better for divers who want a base rather than a transit stop. Black sand beaches, simple village pace.
- Nusa Penida (off the southeast coast, fast boat from Sanur). Mola mola (oceanic sunfish) from July to October at Crystal Bay and the surrounding pinnacles. Manta rays year-round at Manta Point on the south coast. Currents are strong and cold thermoclines down to 18-20°C are normal — this is an Advanced Open Water site, not a beginner spot.
- Menjangan (northwest, inside West Bali National Park). Wall diving with the best visibility on the island — 25-30 metres on a calm day. Sheltered from both monsoons by the Bali Strait, so the season is longer than the rest of the island. Reached by short boat from Mimpi Beach or Labuhan Lalang.
- Sanur and Padang Bai (south and east). The transit ports. Sanur is the fast-boat hub for Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. Padang Bai sits between Denpasar and the east coast, with its own small reef system — Blue Lagoon and Jepun. Useful as a one- or two-night stopover rather than a destination in itself.
- Bali Drift / north coast. Less visited, more current-driven, used by divers extending a Menjangan trip. Lovina is the main town.
How to plan it
A first-time Bali dive trip works best as a two-base itinerary: pick the east coast (Tulamben or Amed) for wreck and slope diving, then move to either Nusa Penida (for mola/manta) or Menjangan (for walls and vis). Two nights minimum per base — packing and moving on a one-night stand wastes a day each side.
A returning diver itinerary might be Amed for five days plus Nusa Lembongan for three. A trip optimised around the Liberty wreck and macro alone can stay in Tulamben for the full week. A trip for someone who only wants to see mola mola should base in Sanur or Lembongan in August or September and run day boats to Penida.
Best for
- Returning divers wanting site variety without leaving one country.
- Couples where one dives and one doesn’t. Bali has enough non-diving activity — temples, rice terraces, surfing, food — that a non-diving partner is well looked after.
- Family groups. The east coast has resorts that work for kids, and dive shops there run programmes that work around family schedules.
Skip if
- You want everything in one place. Bali rewards movement; if you want to fly in, drop bags, and dive every day from the same dock, Koh Tao or a liveaboard suits you better.
- You’re a brand-new Open Water student looking for the cheapest course. Bali Open Water runs 11,000-14,000 THB. Koh Tao is closer to 10,000.
- You need the strongest currents and rarest species in one trip — Raja Ampat or Komodo are the next step up.
Conditions
Water 26-29°C at most sites, dropping to 18-22°C at Nusa Penida in mola season (a 5mm wetsuit is sensible there). Visibility runs 15-30m at Menjangan and Tulamben in season, 10-20m at Nusa Penida depending on current. The rainy season (December-February) reduces vis on the south and east coasts due to runoff; the northwest stays cleaner.
Practical notes
- Cross-island transfers are the largest hidden cost of a Bali dive trip. Budget 500,000-900,000 IDR per move.
- Most dive shops include local pickup but not airport transfers.
- Accommodation runs from 800 THB-equivalent in Amed homestays to 3,500+ in Menjangan or Sanur resorts.
- The IDR is volatile against the THB; check rates when budgeting.
- Nyepi (Balinese New Year, March) closes the entire island for 24 hours — no flights, no roads, no diving. Check dates before booking March travel.
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