Around Nusa Penida, divers come for manta rays and mola mola, the huge, strange ocean sunfish. Both are seen in the channels and reefs there, and local dive shops work with a research centre to learn more about them. Back on the main island, the Candidasa coast on the east side has its own dive centres and daily fun dives. Bali gives you a choice between a quiet coastal base and a small-island base built around marine life.
The activity suits almost everyone. Complete beginners can try an intro dive or a snorkel trip. Certified divers can join daily fun dives, and keen learners can take courses with PADI, SSI or DAN. Freedivers have a school of their own on Nusa Lembongan, and families or friends who just want to play in the sea can use the beach water sport operator, with its glass bottom boats and banana boats.
Choose by language, group size and where you want to sleep. Many centres teach in English plus German, French, Dutch, Spanish or Bahasa Indonesia, so pick one that matches how you learn best. Small groups matter if you are nervous, and one centre keeps to a maximum of 4 divers per instructor or guide. Then pick the area. Candidasa suits a slow, relaxed stay, and Jungutbatu on Nusa Lembongan suits a trip centred on manta rays and mola mola.
Bali Bubbles Dive Center
This Dutch-owned and managed centre is the only Instructor Training Center in Candidasa. That makes it a strong choice if you want to go beyond a first course and train toward a professional level. It also runs fun dives and courses with SSI, PADI and DAN. Training is given in English, German, French, Dutch and Bahasa Indonesia, and it is open from 08:00 to 20:00 on Jalan Raya Candidasa.
- Address: Jalan Raya Candidasa
- Hours: 08:00 – 20:00
Diving Candidasa
German-owned and part of the diving.DE network, this centre sits at Candi Beach Resort & Spa, on Mendira Beach in Sengkidu. It offers SSI and PADI courses, professional training, Emergency First Response and DAN courses. Daily fun dives go to Candidasa and other good spots. Courses run in English, German, Dutch and Bahasa Indonesia, and it is open from 07:30 to 17:00.
- Address: c/o Candi Beach Resort & Spa – Mendira Beach, Sengkidu
- Hours: 07:30 – 17:00
Nautilus Diving Bali
Nautilus is a PADI centre that offers courses, trips and safaris around the island. The safaris are useful if you want to dive more than one area rather than stay in one bay. Staff speak English, German, Spanish, French and Bahasa. You will find it at Jl. Drupadi 72 b, open from 09:00 to 19:00.
- Address: Jl. Drupadi 72 b
- Hours: 09:00 – 19:00
Baruna Dive Bali
Baruna was founded in 2012 and teaches both PADI and SSI courses under French management. Its biggest selling point is group size: a maximum of 4 divers per instructor or guide. Courses are given in French, English and Spanish, with professional and local staff. It is open from 07:30 to 19:00, a long day that suits early dives and later enquiries alike.
- Hours: 07:30 – 19:00
Bali Water Sport
This is the place for fun on the surface rather than deep dives. The list includes parasailing, jet skiing, banana boat, snorkelling, intro diving, wake boarding, donut rides, fly boarding and sea walker. Glass bottom boats go to Turtle Island, which lets you see the water without getting wet. Activities run daily from 09:00 to 16:00, with a price of Rp 70,000, and the address is Jalan SMKI, Gang Ulunsuwi No 8, Batubulan, Sukawati.
- Address: Jalan SMKI, Gang Ulunsuwi No 8 Batubulan, Sukawati
- Hours: Daily 09:00-16:00
- Price: Rp 70,000
One Breath
One Breath teaches AIDA freediving, on a single breath with no tank. Courses are offered for beginners and for advanced students. Surfers can build confidence and learn to handle wipeouts in big waves. Divers can learn to use less air and try a different approach to the water. It is based in Jungutbatu and open from 08:00 to 19:00.
- Address: Jungutbatu
- Hours: 08:00-19:00
Tamarind Divers
Tamarind Divers is known for its views. From here you look back toward Bali, and especially toward Mount Agung, the island's great volcano. That makes it a pleasant stop for anyone who likes a view of the mountain from the water. The facts do not give more detail, so take it as a scenic base rather than a place famed for one kind of dive.
Marine Megafauna Foundation
This marine research centre monitors manta ray and mola mola populations around Nusa Penida. It works with the Lembongan dive shops to gather information on these animals and their critical habitats, which will help protect them. Its lectures are held on Tuesday and Thursday at 18:30 at the Yoga Shack. They give an in-depth look at the marine life around the islands, and they are a good way to prepare for a day on the water.
Big Fish Diving
Big Fish is a PADI 5* dive resort based at the Secret Garden Bungalows in Jungut Batu. It offers daily diving, scuba courses in several languages and manta and mola specials. It is also home to MMF, Lembongan's dedicated marine research centre. Drop-in yoga classes at the Yoga Shack, Vinyasa Flow, Hatha Flow and Yin Yang, run at 08:00 and 16:00 and suit all levels.
- Address: Jungut Batu
Blue Corner Dive
Blue Corner is a beachfront PADI eco-resort in Jungut Batu, owned by a marine biologist. It holds PADI 5-Star IDC Resort status, number 22557, and guides small groups around the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area. It also runs naturalist and scientific diving courses, as well as training from beginner to professional. The team carries out ongoing coral reef monitoring at several sites around Nusa Penida and Lembongan, so your dive supports real work.
- Address: Jungut Batu
Ocean Dreams
Boat Captain Diasa is locally famous for his snorkelling trips. He is a PADI dive master and a very good guide, and he takes pride in safety and environmental awareness. He swims with his clients, which helps most when you are trying to spot manta rays. The base is D&B Warung and Bungalows in Jungutbatu, and a half-day trip costs Rp 350,000.
- Price: half-day trip Rp 350,000
Planning
Day trips for snorkelling and diving are listed from about USD 25 per person at the low end, up to USD 147 at the top. The middle price is around USD 70. All of them are single-day outings. Many can be private, and most allow free cancellation, which helps if the weather turns.
Opening hours vary, so plan around them. Baruna opens at 07:30, Diving Candidasa opens at 07:30 and closes at 17:00, and Bali Bubbles stays open until 20:00. If you stay on Nusa Lembongan, fit in an MMF lecture on Tuesday or Thursday at 18:30 before a manta or mola trip. Yoga at 08:00 or 16:00 at the Yoga Shack can fill the gaps between dives.
See all things to do in Bali.