Snorkelling & Diving in Bali

Bali lies at the edge of the Coral Triangle, the region with the richest marine biodiversity on earth, and its underwater world is one of its great surprises for first-time visitors who come for temples and rice fields. The easiest introduction is on the east coast at Padangbai, the little ferry port for Lombok, where a short walk over the headland leads to Blue Lagoon, a small sheltered cove of white sand and clear water. Just off the beach, the reef drops gently away and is busy with tropical fish, coral gardens, anemones and their clownfish, and often turtles, making it one of the best spots on the island to snorkel from the shore. Nearby Tanjung Jepun, another sheltered bay, is a favourite for beginner dives and snorkelling trips by traditional jukung outrigger boat. The Tiqets snorkelling tour combines the two with lunch and transfers over about seven hours, a simple way to try it without arranging boats yourself. Further north-east, the coast at Amed and Tulamben is Bali's diving heartland. Tulamben is home to the wreck of the USAT Liberty, an American cargo ship torpedoed in 1942, beached on the shore and later pushed into the sea by the eruption of Mount Agung in 1963; it now lies in shallow water just off a pebble beach, encrusted with coral and swarming with fish, and is one of the most accessible wreck dives in the world, partly visible even to snorkellers. In the north-west, Menjangan Island in West Bali National Park offers wall diving and clear water, while the strait around Nusa Penida brings manta rays year-round and, in the cooler months of the dry season, the chance of the giant oceanic sunfish, the mola mola, for experienced divers in strong currents.

Choosing your trip: for a first snorkel or a family outing, the east coast at Padangbai and Tanjung Jepun is ideal, with calm water most of the year. For certified divers, Tulamben and Amed offer shore and boat dives for all levels, and many dive centres there run beginner courses; book with an operator affiliated with a recognised agency and check equipment before you go. Snorkelling with manta rays off Nusa Penida is possible on boat trips from Sanur or Nusa Lembongan, but the water there can be rough and cold with strong currents, so it suits confident swimmers.

Seasons: Bali can be dived all year. The dry season from about April to October usually brings the best visibility and calmer seas; in the wet season from November to March, visibility on the east coast can be reduced after heavy rain carries run-off into the sea, and crossings to Nusa Penida may be choppy. Water is warm most of the year, but the Nusa Penida strait can be surprisingly cool when upwellings bring the mola mola.

Reef manners: use reef-safe sunscreen or a rash vest, do not stand on or touch coral, keep your distance from turtles and mantas, and never take shells or coral. Bali has banned many single-use plastics; take your rubbish home with you. If you are not a strong swimmer, wear a buoyancy vest and stay with your guide.