Bali, Indonesia
Bali is a beloved tourist spot in the Indonesian archipelago. As part of the Coral Triangle, it is blessed with diverse marine life ranging from colorful polyps to lively macro species swimming about in the blue. The ideal Bali diving itinerary should include mysterious shipwrecks, outstanding reefs, and encounters with elusive sea creatures.Geography of Bali, Indonesia
Astonishing landforms define Bali, with glorious mountains towering at over 6,600 feet (2,000 meters). At its coastlines, white and black sand beaches attract travelers from all across the globe, and are paired nicely with pristine, crystal clear waters. Bali is part of the Coral Triangle, and as a result, its diving spots are teeming with colorful corals and marine life. Truly a world-class paradise, Bali, Indonesia, is a timeless destination for nature lovers and scuba divers to explore.
Geography of Bali, Indonesia
Tulamben
USAT Liberty Wreck
While a lot of world-class dive sites are hidden deep in the blue, the USAT Liberty wreck is one of the few that is accessible to underwater explorers of all skill levels. The shipwreck is located just 82 feet (25 meters) off the shore of Tulamben, and lies 16 to 98 feet (five to 30 meters) below the surface. The dive spot has good visibility and is almost devoid of current.
The USAT Liberty was once a glorious cargo ship for the US military until it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. After 20 years on the shore, earthquakes from the volcanic eruption of Mount Agung pushed it back to sea in 1963. Today, the 393-foot (120-meter) vessel is a mesmerizing artificial reef housing diverse marine life over a surreal black sand landscape. Giant barracuda, moray eels, and batfish are among the most common sea creatures you’ll encounter during the day, while groups of sleeping parrotfish are the main attraction at night.
The Drop-Off
The same volcanic activity that submerged the USAT Liberty also gave rise to another famous dive site in Tulamben. Starting at a modest depth of 9.84 feet (three meters) and sloping all the way down to 262 feet (80 meters), the Drop-Off is a breathtaking wall dive that has a lot to offer. Snorkelers and novice divers will encounter nudibranchs, flounder, and shrimp on the shallow ends of its waters. Meanwhile, old salts get to meet a variety of angelfish, parrotfish, and ghost pipefish.
Its topography becomes more exciting the further away you venture from the surface. At about 49 feet (15 meters), you’ll start to see unbelievable rock formations sculpted by overhanging rocks. These surreal structures are made even more stunning by lush layers of sponges, sea fans, gorgonians, and black coral. If you’re lucky, you can spot white tip sharks and whale sharks cruising near the wall. But on tamer days, saying hello to pygmy seahorses hiding in sea fans is its own brand of enchanting.
Amed
Jemeluk Bay
Jemeluk Bay is a fantastic destination for first-time divers Although its seabed is 72 feet (22 meters) underwater, a luscious coral garden is already visible at 39 feet (12 meters) below the surface. Here you will see a number of nudibranchs, crabs, and lobsters thriving in a curious mix of natural and artificial reef patches. The unique scenery is all thanks to the efforts of local diving associations throughout the course of several years.
A number of statues have been deliberately sunk in the area in the hopes that they would develop into bases for corals to grow. These man-made sculptures now support a lively marine ecosystem teeming with damselfish, boxfish, turtles, and more. But aside from coming across adorable sea creatures, the highlight of scuba diving in Jemeluk Bay is the chance to send mail while submerged from head to toe. Its underwater mailbox is completely legit, so you can send postcards to anyone in the world (so long as they’re waterproof!).
Japanese Wreck
There isn’t much proof that the wreckage was actually a former Japanese vessel, but the lack of a conclusive origin story makes the dive site all the more alluring. Judging by how the ship is positioned on the seafloor, it’s safe to assume that what ended its life afloat wasn’t gentle. Its large diesel engine is planted upright and is surrounded by crankshafts and debris. Regardless, the Japanese Wreck is a true jewel in the waters of Amed closely treading behind the USAT Liberty as the best wreck dive in all of Bali.
Resting at depths ranging from 19.6 to 39 feet (6 to 12 meters), the 65-foot (20-meter) shipwreck can be circumnavigated by intrepid divers. The ship is beautifully encrusted with gorgonian sea fans, sponges, soft corals, and black corals, with the area around its stern particularly rich in life and color. Likewise, its propeller is very vibrant, attracting schools of reef fish, nudibranchs, and pygmy seahorses. While the descent is fairly easy, you’d need the skill to control your buoyancy so as to avoid stirring up the silty sand on the bottom.
Nusa Penida
Crystal Bay
People head to Crystal Bay mainly to catch a glimpse of the elusive Mola-Mola—one of the heaviest known bony fishes in the world. The magnificent sea creature can weigh over 4,400 pounds (2,000 kilograms) and grow up to 118 inches (three meters) long. Your chances of swimming with the ocean sunfish are higher when you dive in Crystal Bay anytime between July and mid-November, and especially when you plunge 98 feet (30 meters) all the way down to the ocean floor.
If you happen to miss the Mola-Mola, visiting Crystal Bay won’t be a waste of time as there are plenty of other sights to marvel at in the dive spot. It boasts luscious coral reefs visible at just 16 feet (five meters) below the surface, as well as an underwater bat cave at about 65 to 78 feet (20 to 24 meters) underwater. Sweetlips, angelfish, and Moorish idols are some of the most abundant sea animals to cruise past its soft and hard corals, while reef sharks accompany bats in their intriguing abode. Current is usually strong and directed downward at Crystal Bay, so be sure to have advanced skills when attempting to brave its waters.
Manta Point
Manta Point is an iconic diving destination that gives you the chance to be surrounded by majestic manta rays. In what seems to be a graceful underwater ballet, these friendly sea creatures visit the site for the hardworking cleaner wrasse that rid their bodies from parasites. There are two main cleaning stations in Nusa Penida: Manta Point I and Manta Point II.
The first and older Manta Point is a 39- to 59-foot (12- to 18-meter) dive with dramatic limestone cliffs that go straight into the ocean. The cleaning station itself is located just 16 feet (five meters) below the surface, but down below is where you can inspect massive boulders hiding timid critters and other understated curiosities. Manta Point II, on the other hand, is more shallow with less surge. Fewer and smaller manta rays frequent its waters, but you can still encounter nurse sharks, tiger mackerel, and tuna.
Marine Life
- Moorish idols - Moorish idols were made popular by an animated film in 2003, but are already a striking fish on their own. They are characterized by their compressed disk-like bodies and contrasting black, white, and yellow bands.
- Angelfishes - Angelfishes are alluring little creatures best known for their elegant swimming behaviors. While they are typically docile, they can get aggressive with each other when trying to vie for a mate.
- Sweetlips - This type of fish is aptly named after their plump, vibrant lips that make them almost impossible to miss on a dive. They are a peaceful species, which is why they’re commonly kept as pets or displayed in community aquariums.
- Moray eels - Moray eels are snake-like fish that vary greatly in size. Their bodies are very muscular and end with distinct flat tails. Compared to other eels, moray eels have two lines of teeth that are oriented backward to prevent prey from escaping.
Other Attractions
- Ubud Monkey Forest - Offering a different kind of immersion with nature, the Ubud Monkey Forest is home to over 700 long-tailed macaques. Apart from seeing these playful primates swing around and eat bananas, the natural sanctuary also has ancient temples and guardian statues draped in moss and foliage.
- Mount Batur - Mount Batur is at the center of two concentric calderas near Mount Agung. Standing at over 5,600 feet (1,700 meters), it’s a thrilling climb that highlights a spectacular view of a caldera lake.
- Goa Gajah - Also known as Elephant Cave, Goa Gajah is a prized archeological site featuring historical relics and rock-wall carvings. It also has a central meditational cave, bathing pools, and fountains.
- Tirta Empul Temple - The Tirta Empul Temple is the legendary setting of a traditional folktale about the battle between good and evil. This national cultural heritage site literally means “holy water spring,” and is faithful to its name by offering various purification baths, pools, and water ponds.
How to Get There
The most convenient airport to land in when traveling to Bali is Ngurah Rai International Airport, located 13km south of Denpasar. A lot of international flights regularly fly in and out of this airport. Once you make it past customs, you can take a taxi to downtown Denpasar, the capital of Bali.
By Sea
Bali is a popular port of call for cruise liners traveling through Southeast Asia. However, these fixed stops won’t give you much time to explore the island province. From Singapore, Sumatra, or Java, there are a variety of paid ships that can take you to Bali.
Getting Around
Depending on where you want to go, there are a number of options you can take to get around the island. There are long-distance buses, taxis, and rental boats, as well as car and motorcycle rentals for your convenience. Other transport include dokar (horse carts), ojek (motorcycle hitching), and bemo (minivans).
Best Time to Visit
Required Trainings & Certifications
Miscellaneous Information
Business owners in Bali transact with their customers using the Indonesian currency (known as the Rupiah). The US dollar isn’t typically accepted, and credit cards are usually only honored in upscale establishments, so remember to have your money exchanged before heading to remote areas.
Language
Bahasa Indonesia, Balinese, and English are widely spoken in Bali.
Time Zone
Bali follows Central Indonesia Time, which is eight hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UCT+08:00)
Driving Side
Bali’s system of driving requires vehicle operators to drive on the left-hand side of the road. The right side can only be used to overtake slower vehicles, a maneuver that should be signaled by honking.
Calling Code
Calling a local number in Bali from outside Indonesia should be preceded by your country’s exit code and the numbers 62, which is the country code for Indonesia.
ISO 3166 code
The ISO 3166 alpha-2 code for Bali, Indonesia, is ID-BA.
Internet TLD
Bali is covered by Indonesia's internet top-level domain, .id.
