The beautiful island of Bali in Indonesia is a favourite travel destination. You can't describe the beauty of the place no matter how many times you see it for yourself. The rocks, sculptures, streets, flora and fauna, architecture, waters and mountains are like a dream. There's so much to explore in Bali, and the best part, it's easy to travel to Bali on a budget!

This leaves you with enough expenses to spend on activities like scuba diving, where you get to explore the unique underwaters of the Island.

And you must! Bali has one of the most sought-after scuba diving sites in the world.

In this article, we will explore some of the best scuba diving in Bali along with its distinctive marine life, underwater sights and the best time for you to visit Bali to get the best experience. Let's dive in!

Bali is surrounded by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Bali Sea to the north. It has impeccable beaches, natural reefs, calm and clear waters, volcanic islands and more – undoubtedly standing up to its name, 'the island of the Gods'.

From beginners to pro scuba divers, Bali offers wreck, wall, reef, shore dives and more adventure. Since scuba diving falls under adventure sports, it’s always wise to have overseas travel insurance that covers such activities, ensuring you're protected while exploring the depths. Some of the popular scuba diving sites are

1. Amed Beach

Some of the best dive sites in Bali are in Amed, a small fishing village, home to an array of colourful coral gardens and an excellent spot for scuba diving in Bali if you want to avoid the tourist crowds. From wreck diving to night dives, you can explore the vibrant marine life of Bali here at Amed Beach.

• Popular Diving Spots: Amed Beach, such as The Wall, Pyramid, Gili Selang, and Ghost Bay.
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Sea turtles, reef tip sharks, coral reefs, lobsters, shrimp, goby sets, sea anemones, clownfish, blue-spotted rays, parrotfish, angelfish, surgeonfish, moray eels, bargibanti pygmy seahorses, barrel sponges, sea fans, trevally, triggerfish, snapper, fusilier, bannerfish, butterflyfish, nudibranchs.
• Depth: 12m - 22m
• Costs: Individual dives - IDR 375,000 - IDR 2,250,000 & Courses - IDR 900,000 - IDR 37,000,000

2. Tulamben

Located near Amed Beach, Tulamben is another famous diving spot in Bali. It has magnificent coral reefs and is a great place for scuba divers to practice underwater photography.

One also has the chance to go to great muck sites underwater, try drop dives, drift dives and more. After your dive, you can choose to relax at the black sandy beaches of Tulamben Bay.

• Popular Diving Spots: USAT Liberty Shipwreck, Drop Off, Saray Secret, Coral Garden, Monkey Camp
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Sea fans, coral bushes, sponges, dogtooth tuna, barracuda, reef sharks, bumphead parrotfish, turtles, stonefish, devil scorpion fish, frogfish, butterfly nudibranch, ghost pipefish, rays, eels, cuttlefish, seahorses.
• Depth: 5m - 40m
• Costs: Individual dives - IDR 375,000 - IDR 2,250,000 & Courses - IDR 900,000 - IDR 37,000,000

3. Pemuteran Bay

Pemuteran Bay is home to one of the world's largest artificial reef programs. Many conservation programs in Bali have worked to bring back corals to the area; now, you can find many restored shallow coral reefs here.

Pemuteran offers a variety of diving sites that cater to varying levels of expertise. This site is one of the greatest scuba diving in Bali for beginners. You can also explore deep reefs and offshore slopes.

• Popular Diving Spots: Menjangan Island, Secret Bay, Eel Garden, Napolean Reef, Bat Cave, Bio Rock.
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Underwater shrines and statues, coral reefs, sea fans, lobsters, morays, dolphins, turtles, manta rays, vibrant reef fish, whale sharks, hammerheads, electric clams, pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, mandarin fish.
• Depth: 4m - 30m
• Costs: Individual dives - IDR 475,000 - IDR 7,250,000 & Courses - IDR 1,250,000 - IDR 37,000,000

4. Nusa Penida

Belonging to one of three islands, Nusa Penida is a remarkable destination located slightly off the coast of Bali. It is the largest of the three islands that open to the Indian Ocean with extreme dives for scuba enthusiasts.

The water currents in Nusa Penida can be strong, and temperatures can drop low, so it is important to get at least a 5mm full suit to stay warm if you must dive deep. Some of Indonesia's most pristine waters surround Nusa Penida, providing a distinctive combination of deep drop-offs and shallow coral gardens.

• Popular Diving Spots: Crystal Bay, Manta Point and Bat Cave.
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Manta rays, ocean sunfish (mola mola), whale sharks, coral reefs, frogfish, seahorses, nudibranchs, white tip and black tip sharks.
• Depth: 4m - 30m
• Costs: Individual dives - IDR 475,000 - IDR 7,250,000 & Courses - IDR 1,250,000 - IDR 37,000,000

5. Nusa Lembongan

Part of the three-island group along with Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan is a popular scuba diving spot in Bali especially for those who wish to learn freediving. Drift diving is a common at Nusa Lembongan where one can slowly drift through mangroves, coral trees and the accompanying marine life.

One of the main reasons that divers travel to Nusa Lembongan is to see the famous sunfish (mola mola). These are shy and timid aquatic creatures (weighing up to 1000kg, 4m wide and 3m long) mostly seen only from July to September.

• Popular Diving Spots: Mangrove, Toyapakeh, Gamat Bay, Blue Corner, Sental, Buyuk and Tugu.
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Moray eels, seahorses, sharks, rays, turtles, mola mola, butterflyfish, longfin bannerfish, angelfish.
• Depth: 4m - 40m
• Costs: Individual dives - IDR 450,000 - IDR 3,200,000 & Courses - IDR 1,500,000 - IDR 37,000,000

6. Candidasa & Padangbai

Candidasa and Padangbai have many beautiful dive sites, that are home to some of the richest marine life in Bali. One can try reef and muck diving here as the sites are filled with various fish and macro marine life.

The water conditions here can get unpredictable due to the tide, and visibility might not be clear enough.

• Popular Diving Spots: Gili Tepekong, Gili Mimpang, Blue Lagoon, Gili Biaha, Shark Point and Jetty.
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Hard and soft corals, big gorgonians, blue spotted rays, napoleon wrasse, nudibranchs, scorpionfish, lionfish, moray eels, sharks, whale sharks, manta rays, turtles.
• Depth: 4m - 25m
• Costs: Individual dives - IDR 320,000 - IDR 450,000 & Courses - IDR 1,500,000 - IDR 37,000,000

7. Sanur

Sanur is another famous scuba diving spot in Bali. Though it is primarily used for dive training, the waters of Sanur are still brimming with life. Its sandy floors and clear waters make for a quick and easy dive for those in southeast Bali.

• Popular Diving Spots: Jeladi Willis, Sanur Bay and Penjor Reef.
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Trumpetfish, pufferfish, porcupinefish, yellow polka-dot sweetlips, silverfish, catfish, lionfish, clownfish, sea snakes, moray eels, hard and soft corals, sea turtles.
• Depth: 3m - 20m
• Costs: Individual dives - IDR 320,000 - IDR 450,000 & Courses - IDR 1,500,000 - IDR 37,000,000

The months of May to November is the best time to go scuba diving in Bali. Bali experiences a tropical climate with its wet season starting from October to April.

If you are going scuba diving in Bali to see more significant oceanic life, such as Mola Mola or Manta Rays, then the best months would be July - September and April – May, respectively.

Before you go scuba diving in Bali, be sure to carry these essential items:

• Valid ID proof is a must
• Swimwear, dry bag and towels
• Scuba diving equipment, if you already have
• Hats, sunglasses and sunblock
• First aid kit

Scuba diving operators in Bali will also provide you with scuba diving equipment. Be sure to check your equipment before you're in the water to avoid malfunctions.

• Scuba diving without a proper license/certification is not advised.
• Dive only in areas that are designated for scuba diving and respect your environment.
• Always pay attention to your instructor and follow the guidelines they have set down.
• Avoid eating a big meal before scuba diving. Wait for at least 2 hours after eating before you go scuba diving.
• Avoid diving under the influence of substances or if advised against by a medical practitioner.
• There should be a time gap of at least 24 hours between flying and going scuba diving.

If you're looking to go scuba diving in Bali, there are many opportunities at budget-friendly prices that don't compromise the underwater experience. Bali is a paradise island for scuba divers, and even on land, you can do so much! It's easy to fall in love with a place like Bali, however, don't forget to avail of international travel insurance to Bali to safeguard your expenses in case of any unforeseen incidents.