Big-animal drifts, manta cleanings, and cliff-top views a fast boat from Bali
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Overview
Nusa Penida is Bali's high-energy dive hub. The Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area protects 20,057 hectares of reef shared by Penida, Lembongan, and Ceningan, home to reef mantas year-round and seasonal mola mola. Expect swift drifts, thermoclines that can drop water to 16°C, and world-class coral slopes. Most diving is from fast boats, with easier drifts along the north and more exposed sites on the south and in the Ceningan Channel. Snorkelers target manta encounters and calm bays, while topside days hit Kelingking, Diamond and Atuh beaches, and Goa Giri Putri temple. Access is via Denpasar's DPS airport and the Sanur fast-boat piers, making quick combinations with mainland Bali easy.
Trip callouts
Formal MPA since 2010 covering 20,057 hectares with zones for tourism, traditional fishing, sacred sites, and harbors.
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Last updated: October 30, 2025 • 9 sources
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Reef mantas year-round at cleaning stations; mola mola most reliable Jul–Oct when upwellings cool the water.
Fly to DPS then fast boat from Sanur piers; crossings are about 30 km over open channel.
Plan for drift procedures, negative entries, and thermoclines from 29°C down to around 16°C in season.
scuba
Why Nusa Penida for Scuba Diving
Penida is Bali's big-animal circuit. Morning boats target Manta Point and the north-coast drifts before channel currents build. Expect fast rides over hard-coral slopes and blue-water fly-bys of mantas and, in season, mola mola. Operators based on Penida and Lembongan run daily 2-tank trips; notable outfits include Blue Corner Dive and many Penida-based centers. Bring a hooded layer for cold upwellings and an SMB for blue-water pickups.
freedive
Why Nusa Penida for Freediving
Line training off the north coast and Nusa Lembongan's lee gives reliable depth with blue water, while manta snorkel sessions add high-stoke wildlife. Reputable schools such as Freedive Nusa on Penida and Blue Corner Freedive on Lembongan offer courses, coaching, and manta-briefed trips. Expect boat traffic and current awareness to be central parts of every briefing.
snorkel
Why Nusa Penida for Snorkeling
Few places offer such reliable manta encounters alongside calm, clear bays. When south-coast swell is down, guided snorkel boats visit Manta Point or Manta Bay with strict etiquette. In rougher periods, Crystal Bay and Lembongan's Mangrove Point provide calmer reefs and turtles. Always go with licensed operators who brief on currents and boat proximity.
topside
What to do when you are not in the water
Penida's cliffs and temples are a match for its reefs. Build half-days around Kelingking's T-rex headland, Diamond and Atuh beaches, Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong, and the cave temple of Goa Giri Putri. Roads are steep and narrow in places, so plan conservative transfer times and consider a local driver for full-day loops.
