From First Breath to Blue Water: A Beginner’s Guide to Diving in Nusa Penida
There’s a moment before your first dive in Nusa Penida when curiosity, nerves, and excitement all seem to arrive at once. Marine life, conditions, and dive sites here can feel very different from other parts of Bali and Indonesia, making it so special. So, what makes diving in Nusa Penida so different and unique to anywhere else in the world? It could be the nutrient rich currents keeping coral vibrant and supporting diverse ecosystems with usually pristine visibility. Or maybe it’s the chance to come face to face with some of the oceans most iconic species, from oceanic mantas gliding through cleaning stations to the elusive mola mola fish attracting divers from all over the world. What are the conditions like for diving in Nusa Penida? This can be a difficult question to answer, because conditions in Nusa Penida can change day by day — and that unpredictability is part of what makes diving here so exciting. Between July and September, water temperatures can range from around 19°C to 28°C, so a wetsuit is always recommended, typically between 3mm and 5mm depending on the season. Most dives around Penida are drift dives and can feel incredibly exhilarating, allowing divers to move naturally with the ocean. At sites around the PED area (Penida East), higher tides can create beautiful drift conditions, where you feel as though you’re flying over the reef, weaving gently in and out of coral bommies. That said, it’s essential to choose a dive centre with experienced guides who know these reefs like the back of their hand. While the currents here are a big part of what makes Penida so special, they can also bring added risk if dives are not led by experienced guides. Differences in water temperature and salinity can create strong up and down currents, which is why it’s so important to always listen to your guide and choose a dive centre that prioritises safety, relaxation, and truly enjoying the underwater beauty on offer. What marine life is found in Penida? This is where it gets really exciting. Nusa Penida is most famous for being home to the elusive mola mola sunfish, one of the most unique species divers hope to encounter in Indonesia. The mola mola can reach up to 14 feet in length and weigh as much as 2,300 kg, making them the world’s heaviest bony fish. Between June and September, cooler water temperatures around Penida bring mola mola to shallower depths, often between 20–30 metres, increasing the chances of sightings for divers. Sites such as Crystal Bay are particularly well known for mola mola cleaning stations during these months. On the west side of the island, Manta Point and Manta Bay are famous cleaning stations, home to oceanic and reef manta rays that glide gracefully through the area year-round. Divers can also expect to see bamboo sharks, octopus, white tip reef sharks, moray eels, blue-spotted stingrays, giant frogfish, and countless species of tropical reef fish. At sites such as Blue Corner and Sental, the deeper walls and stronger currents create conditions where almost anything can appear. These sites are known for attracting larger pelagic species, and on the right day divers may encounter large schools of fish, eagle rays, or even schooling hammerhead sharks passing through deeper water. Very rarely, extraordinary sightings such as whale sharks have also been reported in these nutrient-rich waters, highlighting just how wild and unpredictable diving in Nusa Penida can be. Who is diving in Nusa Penida best suited for? Nusa Penida can accommodate divers of all experience levels, so don’t panic. Whether you are taking your very first breaths underwater or you are a certified diver looking to build confidence and skills, this underwater paradise offers a wide range of dive experiences when guided by experienced professionals. For beginners, calm and sheltered sites such as Manta Point, Lembongan Bay, and Crystal Bay are often selected for courses and Discover Scuba Diving experiences, depending on daily conditions. These sites allow new divers to focus on buoyancy, breathing, and enjoying the marine life, while being closely supervised by instructors who know the area intimately. For certified divers, Nusa Penida is especially rewarding for those who enjoy dynamic conditions and want to progress their diving. The island’s currents provide exciting drift dives and opportunities to improve situational awareness, buoyancy control, and confidence in moving water. This makes Penida an excellent location for Advanced Open Water courses and continuing education, where divers learn to read conditions and adapt their skills both during the day and on night dives. Nusa Penida is best suited for divers who are curious, open to learning, and excited by the unpredictable nature of the ocean. While conditions can change, experienced dive centres carefully select sites each day based on tides, currents, and diver experience, ensuring dives remain safe, enjoyable, and unforgettable.
Why Nusa Penida Is One of Indonesia’s Most Unforgettable Islands
Nusa Penida is often described as the island of priests, named after the spiritual figures believed to have once protected and cleansed the island. Long known for its powerful energy, dramatic cliffs, and rich marine life, the island has become one of Bali’s most striking destinations. Often referred to as the “Golden Egg of Bali,” Nusa Penida remains raw, rugged, and deeply connected to nature. You have likely seen its iconic landscapes before, from the towering cliffs of Kelingking Beach to the turquoise bays carved into the coastline. But with so many extraordinary islands across Indonesia, what is it that makes Nusa Penida so unforgettable? Dramatic Landscapes and Iconic Viewpoints Imagine steep limestone cliffs dropping straight into vivid blue water, this pretty much sums up Nusa Penida. The island is full of viewpoints that genuinely take your breath away, places that feel powerful, raw, and completely shaped by the ocean. Many of Penida’s most famous spots are found along the coastline, each offering a slightly different perspective of just how dramatic this island really is. Kelingking Beach is one of the most recognisable landmarks on the island, and you have almost certainly seen it before, it’s often used to advertise Bali itself. From above, the coastline curves sharply into the sea, creating a view that has become synonymous with Nusa Penida. The beach below is accessible by foot, but the descent is steep and not for everyone, so many visitors choose to admire the view safely from the clifftop, which honestly is just as impressive. On the western side of the island, Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong sit side by side, shaped by years of ocean erosion. Broken Beach features a natural arch carved through the cliffs, allowing waves to flow into a circular cove below. Just a short walk away, Angel’s Billabong forms a natural tidal pool, best visited during calm seas and low tide when the water is clear and still. On a good day, you can even spot manta rays cruising past from the viewpoint above, a reminder of how alive the ocean around Penida really is. On the eastern coast, Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach offer a slightly softer contrast to Penida’s rugged cliffs. Here, white sand beaches sit below towering rock formations, with turquoise water and gentler swimming conditions on calmer days. These spots are best visited early in the morning, when the light is softer, the crowds are smaller, and the island feels a little more like itself. Crystal Bay offers a slightly different perspective of Nusa Penida, bringing you down from the cliffs to the water’s edge. Known for its calm bay, curved shoreline, and vivid blue water, it’s one of the few places on the island where you can simply sit by the ocean and slow things down. It’s a popular spot for sunset, swimming, and snorkelling on calmer days, and while it’s more accessible than some of Penida’s other beaches, it still manages to hold onto that relaxed, unpolished island feel. The Ocean That Shapes Nusa Penida Possibly one of Nusa Penida’s greatest treasures is the ocean that surrounds it. Unlike many other reefs in Indonesia, the waters here feel wild and ever-changing, shaped by strong currents, shifting tides, and distinct seasons. Conditions can change quickly, which gives the ocean around Penida a sense of movement and energy, it feels alive rather than carefully controlled. These waters are worth exploring if you find yourself on the island, whether by snorkelling or diving. On a good day, you might find yourself swimming alongside oceanic manta rays, gliding past hawksbill turtles, or moving with schools of barracuda as they pass through the blue. Even the smaller encounters stand out, from curious reef fish to the maze pufferfish that quietly drift along the reef. Much of the reef around Nusa Penida slopes gently away, creating long underwater landscapes that allow you to move with the current rather than against it. It’s an experience that feels more like drifting than swimming, where the ocean sets the pace and reminds you that this environment is shared, not staged. It’s this constant sense of unpredictability and connection that makes the sea around Penida such a defining part of the island. Getting Around Nusa Penida: What to Expect Before You Go That said, getting around Nusa Penida does come with its challenges. Roads can be steep, uneven, and slower to navigate than they look on a map, so it’s worth planning fewer stops and allowing plenty of time to get around. For those who aren’t confident riding a motorbike, hiring a local driver is a popular and stress-free option, allowing you to explore the island comfortably while taking in the views along the way. Like most things on Penida, moving slowly tends to be rewarded.
More Than a Dive Site: Protecting Manta Rays in Nusa Penida
Have you ever had a manta ray gliding silently over your head? Seeing one of these gentle giants, with wingspans reaching over six metres, is one of the main reasons people travel to Nusa Penida to experience the magic beneath the surface. And while this moment will likely be one of the most unforgettable experiences of your life, it also comes with responsibility, ensuring we interact with manta rays ethically so these elegant mammals can continue to thrive here for generations to come. Why Manta Rays Are Truly Remarkable Manta rays are some of the largest rays in the world, with wingspans reaching up to 23 feet and weighing over 3,000 pounds. Despite their impressive size, they feed on tiny zooplankton, using their cephalic fins to gently funnel food into their mouths as they glide through the water. Each manta ray has a unique pattern of spots on its underside, much like a human fingerprint, which allows researchers to identify and track individuals over time. Like sharks, manta rays are cartilaginous, meaning their skeletons are made of cartilage rather than bone. As filter feeders, they must keep moving to push water over their gills for oxygen, which means you will never see a manta ray curled up and resting on the reef. Manta rays are also incredibly intelligent. They have the largest brain of any fish, proportionally larger than even that of a whale shark, which might explain their complex behaviour and curiosity around divers. They love to play in your bubbles as a divers, so you will usually see them flying on top of you. Research has shown that manta rays are capable of recognising themselves in mirrors, a rare ability shared by only a handful of species, including great apes and bottlenose dolphins. This level of self-awareness highlights just how advanced these animals are and why encounters with them feel so special. Seeing a manta ray is not just a thrilling dive experience, it is a chance to observe one of the ocean’s most intelligent and fascinating creatures in its natural environment. Why Manta Rays Come to Nusa Penida Manta rays call Nusa Penida their home for one very specific reason, cleaning stations. You can think of these as manta rays’ very own underwater spa, where parasites, dead skin, and debris are gently removed. These stations are specific reef locations, such as rock formations or coral bommies, where small cleaner fish like wrasse and gobies clean manta rays in a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship. This process is crucial for the health of manta rays, helping them heal wounds and stay clean, while providing cleaner fish with a nutritious meal. You will usually see manta rays hovering or slowly circling these underwater hubs while fish clean their gills, spiracles, and even the inside of their mouths. Nusa Penida’s unique currents, rich plankton supply, and natural reef formations create the perfect environment for manta ray cleaning stations. It is truly sensational as a diver to watch, as long as we stay in line and remain respectful. Why Manta Rays Need Protection and Ethical Diving Matters Despite their size, strength, and intelligence, manta rays are highly sensitive animals, especially when visiting cleaning stations. Any disruption during this crucial process can interrupt cleaning, cause significant stress, and even drive mantas away from the areas they rely on for their health and survival. When we find ourselves in this incredible environment, it is important to remember that our actions can directly affect these gentle giants and the natural cycles that allow them to live peacefully. Unfortunately, manta rays are considered vulnerable by the IUCN, mainly due to their slow reproduction rates, overfishing, and bycatch. This makes it even more essential that we act responsibly when diving with them. Approaching too closely, swimming above them, blocking their path, or chasing interactions, however tempting, can prevent mantas from being cleaned properly and may cause them to abandon the station altogether. Imagine someone entering your shower while you are trying to clean, chasing you and taking photos, it quickly becomes stressful and disruptive. Respecting manta rays means allowing them the space they need to complete these vital behaviours undisturbed. By keeping a respectful distance, staying low and still, and allowing mantas to control the interaction, divers help ensure these animals can continue their natural behaviours without harm. Responsible diving not only protects manta rays, but also helps preserve these special sites for future generations to experience in a way that is safe, sustainable, and respectful. We encourage all divers to choose ethical dive centres, listen carefully to their guides, and follow their instincts to avoid causing unnecessary stress or harm to these elegant underwater animals. By diving responsibly, we can enjoy these extraordinary encounters while helping to protect them for the future.
What Really Makes a Great Diver, Insights from a PADI Instructor
The Skills That Make a Great Diver, Not Just a Certified One As a beginner diver, the first certification you earn is by taking the PADI Open Water Diver course. This course will give you the base to build your diver life. But will those skills that you practice with your instructor make you a great diver? Well not only skills are important but also being aware of your environment. That’s why here at jukung dive, your instructor will tell you about the marine life of Nusa Penida, what you can expect to encounter depending on the dive site and how to interact with marine life such as turtles, mantas and octopus for example. And of course the control of your buoyancy, so the combination of skills and environment awareness make you a great diver. A great way to achieve that is to combine Open Water and Advanced Open Water Course so you have 9 Dives with your instructor that will give you a great start for your diver adventure life From Shore to Sea, How We Run Training for your OW/AOW… When you arrive at Jukung dive for your PADI Open Water Course or PADI Advanced Open Water Course you are in good hands. We want you to be relaxed so learning is easy and fun. Your instructor will meet you when you arrive to review the program of your course with you and adjust it if needed. Then you will have to fill some forms before we select your equipment. Open Water course starts with a swim test, briefing and then the pool session. The skills we practice in the pool are important as you ́need to master them before we go for the first ocean dive. The pool session can be completed over one full day and then 2 half days for the 4 ocean dives. Or we can do the pool session over 2 half days. PADI Advanced Open Water Course is 5 ocean dives over 2 days during which you will focus on a particular topic. Could be Buoyancy, fish identification, drift dive or even night dive. 2 of these dives must be deep dive and navigation. Most important is that during your PADI Advanced Open Water Course at Jukung your instructor will prepare you to be a more autonomous diver able to plan a dive with their buddy keeping safety as the first priority so you can enjoy lots of fun underwater. When combining both certifications, it allows your instructor to focus more on some specifics issues you might have like fining technique for example. The Buoyancy Basics That Make Diving Safer and More Fun Buoyancy is a key skill in scuba diving and there is no better feeling for an instructor than seeing their student mastering Buoyancy control at the end of the PADI Open Water Course. And this requires patience and the convergence of different factors. Buoyancy control is not a switch on/off. It is a process that requires proper weighting, good weight positioning and good breathing technique. And this is what your instructor at Jukung Dive will teach you. Mastering Buoyancy control will help make your dive safer and more fun. Better Buoyancy will take your diving experience to the next level like hovering in front of a turtle to take a photo or going upside down to see a shark hiding in a cave. And that is exactly what we are aiming for at jukung dive. How Training Builds Real Confidence and great divers Following a PADI course is always an occasion to learn whether you are a beginner or a more seasoned diver. At Jukung Dive our instructor will take great care of you and always will assess your skill first to see where they should aim for you to improve. Knowing what you do well and where you can improve is important in order to make real progress. This is also the best way to build self confidence. The Safety Habits We Teach That You’ll Use Forever Scuba diving is safe because we teach safe practices. Most of them you will learn during the PADI Open Water course. And safety starts from the surface when you do a buddy check, then during the dive remember to always stay close to your buddy and to monitor your air consumption. Control your descent and your ascent to be safe. These are the things we will teach you that you will remember and use for every dive. What Instructors Notice Immediately, and How to Level Up As an instructor I can tell that one of the first things I notice with a diver is their level of self confidence. It usually goes with their experience. And the best way to Level Up your self confidence is to dive as often as you can and to follow PADI courses. And when you are diving with Jukung Dive, always feel free to tell your instructor if you have a particular problem or concern. Our instructors here at Jukung Dive will always do their best to help you improve even if you just come for a fun dive. Training in Real Conditions, Why That Makes You a Stronger Diver One great thing about doing the PADI Open Water Course or the PADI Advanced Open Water Course in Nusa Penida is that you will find conditions that will help you become a great diver. Light waves and some current is not rare in Nusa Penida. Of course your instructor at Jukung dive will pick dive sites for your training so current and waves are low. And the little bit of current that you will feel will challenging just enough to make your training even better. Low to medium current or surge underwater is usually not a problem for diving that’s why training in these conditions even if it’s a bit challenging at first will give you some kind of a head start when your next adventure takes you to calmer water. You’re Certified, Now