Diving Holidays In Nusa Lembongan

Nusa Lembongan is a small island, about 30 minutes by fast boat, off Bali's east coast and lies close to Nusa Penida in the Badung Strait, is the perfect holiday hideaway with few visitors and pristine un-spoilt beaches.Inland the terrain is scrubby and very dry, with volcanic stonewalls and processional avenues crisscrossing the small cactus-covered hills. Overlooking Sanghiang Bay with its clear blue waters, the Nusa Lembongan resort offers a panoramic views towards Bali and the majestic silhouette of Mount Agung. Diving is off Nusa Lembongan and nearby Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida, relatively untouched by tourism development.

The Diving In Nusa Lembongan

Diving from Nusa Lembongan actually will take in diving around surrounding Nusa Lembongan itself, the smaller island of Nusa Ceningan and the main island of Nusa Penida.

Dive site sof Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida include: Manta Point; Manta Bay; Crystal Bay; Toyapakeh; SD; Ped; Blue Corner; Mangrove; Ceningan Wall; Gamat Bay; Batu Abah. The deep waters in the strait bring upwellings of cool nutrient rich waters. But despite relatively chilly water temperatures, the ocean surrounding Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida lends itself to some spectacular diving and snorkelling opportunities. Manta Point and Manta Bay on Nusa Penida are a must but conditions are not always favourable so basing yourself close by on Nusa Lembongan minimises your chance of disapointment in not diving these sites at soem stage during your stay.

Diving Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida you can expect nice soft and hard corals, reef sharks, bamboo sharks, nurse sharks, leafy scorpion fish, frog fish, blue spotted stingrays, dogtooth tuna, manta rays even mola mola – and some great drift diving.

Nusa Ceningan and its surrounding islands offer some of the best diving to be found anywhere in this part of Indoensia. All three islands have locations suitable for diving, with the clean, clear water being home to some magnificent coral. Diving in this area is tidal and most dives are drift dives, as currents can be ripping between the islands, particularly as the tides change. *These dive sites are NOT suitable for beginers.*

Pelagic are the main attraction here and you have a good chance to see jacks, mackerel, tuna, turtle and mantas. Sharks are common and big mantas are frequently sighted.

When the water gets cooler, you have a much better chance of seeing the giant Mola Mola (sunfish) which prefer the colder waters. Mantas can be seen consistently during certain times of the year.

Sental Buyuk: Located on the North coast of Nusa Penida, this dive site offers a great drift dive. The coral here is in extremely good health and the site itself is teeming with aquatic life. A current is always present and ranges from a pleasant, relaxing 1 knot drift, rising up to 4 knots, visibility is very clear approximately 20 - 30 metres.

Toyapakeh: Located on the North side of Penida Island. This location is probably the single most popular dive site and is regarded by many as the best. Populated with big gorgonian and soft coral bushes the topography is excellent and it is possible to view very striking coral formations. The dive suits experienced divers

Manta Point: This is a lime stone rock off the southwest coast of Nusa Penida, known as a cleaning station for the manta rays. It is an amazing opportunity to view these magnificent creatures glide to the rock with large mouth open to allow the smaller fish to go about there cleaning.

Blue Corner: Located on the northwest of Nusa Lembongan, this is a very popular drift dive location. Caution must be taken, as the current can be strong and can try to pull you downwards. Shark, manta, tuna, barracuda, can be found here and mola-mola can be seen in the season of August to September.

Lembongan Point: The Lembongan Point dive site is located on the coast of northern Nusa Lembongan.Running to a depth of 16 meters or more, a current is always present in this area meaning diving will always be a drift, ranging up to a pleasant, relaxing, 4 knots.

Crystal Bay: Located on the south west of Penida Island and across the channel from Ceningan Island, Crystal Bay is a sheltered cove with a rocky island in the middle. The visibility is generally perfect and the clear water teems with all kinds of small aquatic life.

Ceningan Wall Dive: Ceningan Wall dive is located in the Channel between Ceningan Island and Penida Island. The current is continuously changing between north or south, and is quite unpredictable, hence, this is considered a very challenging dive and should only be undertaken by the most experienced of divers with a highly experienced back up team.

Diving Seasons In Nusa Lembongan

Nusa Lembongan has a tropical climate being just located below the equator. Temperatures average around 30′C all year round.

The wet season occurs October to March, and as with all tropical climates the humidity at this time can be oppressive. The dry season occurs from April to September, with less humid conditions and sunnier weather. This is usually the most popular time to travel to Bali.

Most rainfall in Nusa Lembongan will occur during the wet season, but downpours are typical and can occur at anytime, usually not lasting too long.

Activities & Nightlife

Surfing The Islands Various great surfing opportunities exist around Ceningan and Lembongan, with March through to September being the best time of the year for surfing these locations...

Ceningans: A very consistent left-hander which, while a little unruly during bigger swells, is easier to surf than most spots in Bali. A good bet when tide too low for Lasso's etc and on small days when Shipwrecks,

Shipwrecks: A fast, short, right hand wave that jacks up at the right moment to produce a hollow barrel, works best at mid to high tide, currents can cause problems.

Lacerations: Located to the right looking back from Shipwrecks. Lacerations is a fast, shallow right hand wave with broad barrels, works in 2-5ft of swell.Low tide is very dangerous and shallow so better to surf mid tide or higher.

Playgrounds: To the very south of the bay, Playgrounds is easier to get to and less dangerous. A left and right reef break, it suits the less experienced especially if Lacerations and Shipwrecks are too big to surf. It is however, hollow and fast, with just as much potential for getting sliced up on the coral.

Visit three islands (Lembongan, Ceningan & Penida) on a boating and/or fishing trip aboard a "Jukung" (Balinese traditional boat). Two hour tour rates available, min. 2 persons. Boat tours exploring the beautiful and unique mangrove forest are also available.

Water activities, such as: banana boat rides, snorkeling, kayaking, under water exploring.

Nightlife on Nusa Lembongan is pretty relaxed, but Scooby Doo Beach Bar & Restaurant certainly stands out from the crowd. You can find this popular bar halfway along Jungutbatu Beach, right next door to Big Fish. By day, funky tunes play quietly as you sit and watch boats come and go, tourists milling around on the beach or the local seaweed farmers hard at work. Enjoy a cold drink or one of the many cocktails on offer as the sun sets and take in the view. By night, Scoobys becomes one of the most popular bars on the island. Great food at affordable prices is available until late and tables right on the beach allow you to bury your toes in the sand while soaking up the atmosphere. Scoobys also plays popular international sports on wide screen TV, which normally draws a crowd – yet another excuse for a beer!