It’s true that the Island of the gods has many diving sites, each beautiful and unique. Having said that, there’ll always be some that outshine the others. We had a fire-side chat with our travel experts and zeroed down on the top 10 diving sites in Bali you shouldn’t miss in 2025. Read on to know all about them.
1. USAT Liberty Wreck, Tulamben, East Bali
Tulamben used to be a quaint fishing village, that is before the USAT Liberty shipwreck put it firmly on the diving map. The sunken wreck sits a mere 100 ft away from the shore and is easily accessible. Should you dive to see this underwater grotto of a sunken cargo ship, expect to bump into colourful shoals fleeting in and out of the many cracks and crevices. The Liberty wreck dive site is best visited early in the morning – as early as 6 am. If you do, you just might be able to see the schools of bumphead parrot fishes darting about. And the best part about this dive – it’s beginner friendly.
2. Seraya Secrets, Amed, East Bali
Amed in East Bali is popular for its calm novice diver-friendly waters. But what makes diving truly unique here is the volcanic black sandy bottoms that attract a wide variety of marine life. Seraya is one such spot, teeming with critters and making it popular with muck divers and macro photographers. Seraya’s best kept secret are the nudibranchs, as for the others, we guess you’ll have to dive to find out.
3. Gili Selang, East Bali
How about diving from black sandy slopes to underwater coral gardens? That’s what you get in Gili Selang, popularly called waterloo. Home to colourful soft and hard corals, cute nudibranchs, gobies and shoals of napoleon and turtle fishes; reef sharks too! The currents are strong and unpredictable at Waterloo and that makes it unfit for everyone except seasoned divers.
4. Manta Point & Crystal Bay, Nusa Penida, East Bali
Sanur is not just home to great waves and pristine beaches, it’s home to ferries that’ll take you to the fantastic island of Nusa Penida – an island famous for its many dive sites! Want to swim in crystal clear waters? Go to Nusa Penida. Want to swim with the majestic manta rays? Set out for Manta Point, Nusa Penida. Want to swim with the elusive mola-molas? Head off to Crystal Bay ….. you get the drift. Speaking of drifts, the underwater currents are rather strong here; and so, if you are a novice diver reading this, you might want to visit Nusa Penida when you have had a tad more experience diving in Bali.
5. Tepekong, Candidasa, East Bali
Are you a seasoned diver looking for a challenging dive in Bali? If you are, you are in luck! Tepekong in Candidasa is a small rocky outcrop but don’t let its diminutive size fool you; Tepekong is home to dramatic underwater landscapes made of steep walls, overhangs, caves and vibrant coral cathedrals. Equally dramatic are the underwater currents here, strictly marking this dive site for veteran divers with ample drift-diving experience. On a merrier note, Tepekong is home to mola-molas and near to the equally scenic and challenging dive sites of Biaha and Mimpang. Don your scuba gears and off you go.
6. Padang Bai, East Bali
Padang Bai’s name is not remotely connected to a panda but given its quaint charm and idyllic pace of life, we wouldn’t be surprised if you made that connection. Diving here though is a panda-esque activity – unhurried, gentle and will especially appeal to divers looking for an adrenaline cleanse after a round or two of Nusa Penida. There are plenty of unmarked diving spots in and around Padang Bai, but if you are looking for something memorable, visit Blue Lagoon – its tranquil, warm and clear waters will have you coming back for seconds. And who knows, you just might catch a glimpse or two of the elusive Spanish Dancer Nudibranchs.
7. Secret Bay, Gilimanuk, Northwest Bali
Someone spilled the beans on Secret Bay, and we suspect it was one of those muck diving enthusiasts, after all that’s what the site is famous for. The bay lies in Gilimanuk and is a mecca for macro divers and marine biology enthusiasts, given the presence of rare critters like ghost pipefish and absence of large pelagics.
8. Napolean Reef, Pemuteran, Northwest Bali
Pemuteran is a quaint village in northwest Bali that’s home to quite a few yet-untouristy dive sites and coral restoration projects. The waters here are home to the mandarin and frog fish and the reason why night dives are popular here. Napolean reef is the pièce de resistance in Pemuteran, home to sprawling coral gardens and a multitude of multi-hued fishes, squids, peacock mantis shrimps, eels and other marine life big and small. The shallow end can be dived using air but the deeper end will require nitrox.
9. Gilli Islands
Technically speaking, Gilli Islands are part of Lombok and not Bali but the three islands of Trawangan, Menos and Air are an hour’s affair from Amed and popular with divers in Bali on account of their sandy beaches, challenging dives and chance to bump into sea turtles.
10. Eel Garden, Menjangan Island, Northwest Bali
To put it shortly, Menjangan is Tulamben minus the crowd and the shipwreck. Menjangan’s location has so far kept it off the tourists map but the status quo is swiftly changing. Menjangan is home to some of the most stunning coral walls in Bali, including the Eel Garden that’s home to massive gorgonian sea fans, electric clams, orangutan crabs and pygmy seahorses. And should lady luck be on your side, you’ll get to see thousands of garden eels gently swaying at the wall’s sandy bottom. The water here is tranquil, warm and visibility often exceeds 20m making it popular with underwater photography enthusiasts and novice divers.
And there you have it, a list of top 10 sites you should dive in Bali. Granted, the options are fewer if you are a novice or not-too-experienced, but PADI certified dive centres are widely present and the local Balinese dive guides are great at navigating the waters and pointing out the best spots depending on the time of the day. Diving in Bali is best done between the months of May and November; and if you are looking for hotels to stay in when in Bali or just need help personalising your dive itinerary, why not check out our Bali holiday deals – or speak with our travel specialists at 1300 991 751!
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