Bali Dive Sites:
Nusa Penida
Bali Dive Sites: |
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DESCRIPTION OF NUSA PENIDA'S DIVE SITES:
AquaMarine offers nine dive sites at Nusa Penida, three of which (Sental, Ped, SD) are along Nusa Penida's north coast. You could, theoretically, go in at Sental, drift along until you came to Ped, exit, change tanks, have a surface interval, re-enter the water exactly where you exited, drift along to SD, exit, out, back in at the same point - however, generally, due to conditions and changing currents, this isn't possible. There is no diving nor coral, due to conditions, along Nusa Penida's south coast.
The majority of diving at Nusa Penida is drift-diving and the currents are not always predictable. You need to listen to your guide's briefing and to follow him underwater. When diving with AquaMarine, if you do not have one of your own, you will be given an inflatable signalling device for use on the surface, in the unlikely event that you get separated from your guide/group.
As mentioned above, these sites are located on the coral reef that runs the length of Nusa Penida's north coast and offers great drift-diving. This reef is richest at SD but at Ped and Sental it has suffered both as a result of coral-bleaching after El Nino in 1998 and boats anchoring into the coral. The reef has a lot of soft corals, and also many kinds of fish, such as Moorish Idols, Sweetlips, Lionfish, Moray Eel, Scorpionfish, white tip reef shark and Napoleonfish.
Around 20-25M on this slope there is a good chance of seeing large pelagics (ocean-going fish) eg: manta ray, white tip and black tip shark, tuna, barracuda) because of the currents.
Particularly at SD, as the coral starts at 3M, it is possible - current permitting - to snorkel.
Located on the island's north-west point, in Ceningan Channel, Toyapakeh is Nusa Penida's most popular dive site. This popularity is deserved and not only because it is partially protected from the current flowing through the strait between Penida and Ceningan, but also due to the good visibility and rich coral. In addition to the coral reef, there are some very attractive coral formations, with big gorgonians, that provide excellent places to find fish and other marine life. Toyapakeh is the location of the mooring for the big Quicksilver ship that brings day-trippers over to play on the water-chutes and banana-boats.
The current here often heads north-east, which makes for an easy and pleasant drift-dive however the current in shallow water and the current in deeper water are sometimes going in different directions, therefore the direction of your dive can change as you alter your depth. The water can be pretty cold which means thermoclines.
Located on the north-west of Nusa Penida, between Toyapakeh and Crystal Bay, Gamat Bay is one of the few dive sites at Nusa Penida where you don't have to just 'go with the flow', the bay is protected from the currents although once you head down the steep slope at the mouth, you are again drift-diving.
The very rich 10-20M part of the slope also has some big bommies that provide some protection from the current (more of an uphill swoosh) . The larger fishlife here is fairly diverse with some large specimens of surgeonfish, grouper and unicornfish. Overhangs and a couple of small caves provide resting places for white tips and turtle (also sometimes seen in the bay itself).
Upon entering this small bay, we head for inland shelter and then descend directly down to the reef, which is 5-12M. This hard coral reef has a white sand base, and is covered with anemones and soft corals. It can be quite surgey in the bay. The marinelife includes Angelfish, Sweetlips, many Moorish Idols. Following the north side of the bay around, we come to a Bat Cave: enter from underwater, surface inside the cave (which is open to the sky) where bats sleep overhead - big waves may crash in through the top. Sometimes 2 small reef shark are in the cave, but they leave when you arrive! Continuing along the (very deep) wall from the Bat Cave at 20-24M, the hard corals provide homes for a lot of lobster.
Because this area is in Ceningan Channel, when there is a current present, and due to the coldness of the water from the Indian Ocean, there is definitely the opportunity to see white tip reef shark, eagle rays and also (if you're lucky) leopard shark.
Different dive companies chose different parts of Nusa Penida's south-west coast to call Manta Point. This area of the coastline is dramatic limestone cliffs that descend straight into the ocean. The swell can be stupendous, sometimes making entry impossible by mid-morning, AquaMarine will therefore pick you up around 06:00. The area AquaMarine calls Manta Point rarely has a current, but sometimes has strong surge. There's a sandy bottom at 12-18m. The water is quite cold because it comes in from the ocean (22-26degrees). You may also see other pelagics such as tuna and tiger mackerel.
Please be aware that if the pelagics aren't there, there's nothing else to see except sea, sand and your buddy. This is the area where they come in to feed so while there is no guarantee you will see them, it is pretty likely. The manta are 2-4M width and totally harmless as they eat plankton.
Blue Corner is located off the point of Nusa Lembongan, a long thin island just north-west of Nusa Penida and is a very popular drift dive. However the current can be strong, and can try to pull you downwards.
Malibu Point Malibu Point is on the far south-east of Nusa Penida, outside Suana village if you're interested in looking it up on a (detailed) map, about as far as you can get from the island of Bali. The reef lies on a very steep slope, the topography of which is great with table corals and big bommies going to 22M. Visibility is 20M+ but rain lowers this considerably. Huge schools of rainbow runners and Trevally are seen, as are big rays in the sand and sharks. It has been said that Malibu Point is the best place (off Nusa Penida) to see shark, which may be true. However, the site is a long way from the mainland and is not always diveable due to the currents. The bommies provide some sanctuary from the current, which you need to have shark there, but the higher concentration of shark is to the south of the area of bommies at 15-30M. At the northern end of the site, the currents can be very swirly, but it is a good place to see Manta and Mola-Mola (Sunfish, July-Sept)
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