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How to Go Snorkeling at Nusa Penida? A Complete Guide to Day Trip Boat Tickets, Dive Spot Distribution, and Tips for Beginners

2023年11月2日 · 更新於 2026年7月10日 ✏️ 編輯文章

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Planning a snorkeling trip to Nusa Penida but not sure where to start? Here’s the most comprehensive guide to joining a snorkeling tour: from booking boat ticke…

Bottom Line: The best snorkeling spots on mainland Bali (Blue Lagoon, Amed, Tulamben) are mostly in the remote east, requiring a 2–3 hour drive. For quicker access to top snorkeling sites, it’s better to stay 1–2 nights in Sanur, then take a 30-minute speedboat to Nusa Penida, where four famous dive spots offer both snorkeling and scuba diving options.

This is the third episode of our series on Nusa Penida, the magical island. We’ll introduce four well-known dive spots here, where both snorkelers and scuba divers can find plenty of fun.

努沙佩尼達島 (Nusa Penida) 如何參加浮潛？一日遊船票預約、潛點分布與新手必讀指南

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We have a total of five episodes on Nusa Penida. Dive deeper into this island paradise! Here are the links to the other four:

努沙佩尼達島 (Nusa Penida) 如何參加浮潛？一日遊船票預約、潛點分布與新手必讀指南

Can You Snorkel Everywhere in Bali?

Although Bali’s main island has a long coastline, truly great snorkeling or diving spots are few. The most famous sites—Blue Lagoon, Amed, and Tulamben—are all in the remote east, taking two to three hours by car from the airport. Below is a clip of Xiao Jie snorkeling in Amed:

For quicker access to great snorkeling or diving, we recommend taking a car from the airport to Sanur, staying there for a night or two, then hopping on a 30-minute speedboat early the next morning to Nusa Penida. This option saves you the long drive and makes for a much easier trip.

If you’re curious about what to see and do in Sanur, check out Jay’s “Sanur Guide”.

Wondering about land attractions on Nusa Penida, how to get there by boat, and where to store your luggage? Check this out. In this article, we’ll focus on the four top dive sites around Nusa Penida, with real footage below to give you a closer look at this breathtaking underwater wonderland!

Crystal Bay

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Crystal Bay is one of the most popular spots on Nusa Penida—a secluded cove on the island’s west coast with a beach stretching about 200 meters. You can reach this beach by road. Beyond its charming palm-fringed sands, this bay is best known as Nusa Penida’s premier snorkeling and diving destination. The water here is crystal clear (hence the name Crystal Bay), and divers rave about the excellent underwater visibility, which can reach up to 30 meters.

Crystal Bay is not only home to a dazzling array of colorful corals and tropical fish, but it’s also one of the few places in the world where you can get up close to the ocean sunfish (mola-mola, known as manbo fish in Taiwan and Japan). These massive migratory fish can weigh up to 2,000 kilograms and reach lengths of 3 meters. If you dive here between July and October, you might just encounter and swim alongside them.

Mola mola 翻車魚

Mola mola sunfish

Gamat Bay

Gamat Bay, along with Crystal Bay, is considered one of the two best snorkeling spots on Nusa Penida. The shallow waters here are crystal clear, making it ideal for snorkeling and observing the coral reef ecosystem.

At Gamat Bay, you can see various hard corals, such as staghorn coral, flowerpot coral, and large brain coral. Many types of algae, like sea anemones and sea fans, also thrive here. Small tropical fish, including double-saddle butterflyfish, snapper, and surgeonfish, dart among the coral clusters. Occasionally, small reef sharks can also be spotted.

Another highlight is the sea turtles. In the shallow waters near the shore, you can often observe different species of turtles, such as the hawksbill and green sea turtle. From June to October, it’s turtle nesting season, offering a chance to see mother turtles coming ashore to lay eggs.

Due to its proximity to the coast and gentle currents, Gamat Bay is ideal for children and beginner snorkelers. Just remember to wear a life jacket, mask, and fins to safely enjoy the magical underwater garden.

Manta Point

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Manta Point is one of the most unique attractions on Nusa Penida Island. At this dive site, you can get up close and personal with giant manta rays, making for an incredibly distinctive and breathtaking experience.

Commonly known as ‘devil fish,’ the giant manta ray can reach up to 7 meters in length and weigh around 3,000 kilograms—pretty huge, right? With that size and weight, it’s natural to feel apprehensive, but don’t worry. Despite their massive size, manta rays are not dangerous at all. They are large but friendly toward humans. There are two species of manta rays: the reef manta ray and the oceanic manta ray.

The manta rays at Manta Point on Nusa Penida are of the reef manta ray species (Manta alfredi). This species is the second largest after the oceanic manta ray, with an average size of 3 to 3.5 meters. These beautiful creatures are filter feeders, meaning they eat plankton, crustaceans, and small fish. Although their tails are long, they are not venomous, so swimming with manta rays is very safe. Besides their long tails, manta rays have the largest brain-to-body ratio among all bony fish. They are very eager to interact with humans, making snorkeling at Manta Point on Nusa Penida the best choice for snorkelers and divers to capture close encounters with these giant rays.

A reminder: when we say ‘contact,’ we don’t mean actually touching these wild creatures! The main reason is to protect the manta ray’s skin—they are covered in a layer of mucus that helps shield them from environmental harm. Touching removes this layer, increasing the risk of skin infections. Although manta rays are gentle, they are still wild animals; touching them could startle them or cause a defensive reaction that might injure those nearby. Most regions where manta ray diving is popular have strict rules against touching the fish, and visitors should follow these regulations.

If you want to encounter manta rays, the recommended months are between April and November, especially during the dry season (April to October), when the water is clear, currents are stable, and visibility is higher—making it the best time for snorkeling and diving.

Among them, August to October is the peak season for spotting manta rays, as the currents during this period carry abundant plankton, attracting large numbers of manta rays to feed. In southern Bali, Manta Point and Manta Bay on Nusa Penida Island are popular spots for viewing manta rays.

It’s important to note: the appearance of manta rays is influenced by weather and currents, so sightings are never 100% guaranteed.

Toyapakeh Wall Point

Toyapakeh Wall Point is actually a steep cliff, located directly below the Adiwana Warnakali diving center.

This dive site features a small coral terrace 4 to 6 meters deep, which is the best spot for snorkeling. Beyond the coral terrace, the site is divided into two levels: the first is about 12 to 15 meters deep, and the second is around 40 meters deep. It’s a very popular dive site due to its clear waters and thriving coral.

Toyapakeh Wall Point

Colorful coral terrace

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In front of the Adiwana Warnakali diving center, there is an area protected by large soft corals and sea fans. These soft corals form captivating structures, and the entire area is rich in marine life: various schools of fish, soft corals, and healthy hard corals. Just snorkeling or diving here to admire the scenery is a feast for the eyes!

Live Video

We’ve talked so much, but nothing beats seeing the wonders of this underwater world firsthand! Check out our exciting footage from September 2023, snorkeling at these dive sites:

How to Join Snorkeling / Diving Tours

Last time, since we had a larger group, we chartered a small yacht with a captain, instructor, and snorkeling gear. If your group is smaller, you can check out these great deals on Klook: