This enchanting island, located just a short boat ride from Bali, is famous for its vibrant marine life, stunning underwater landscapes, and crystal-clear waters.

Diving in Nusa Penida is a must for anyone passionate about underwater adventures. Let’s dive into everything you need to know for an unforgettable diving trip.

Why Choose Nusa Penida?

Nusa Penida is renowned for its pristine diving conditions. The island’s waters are teeming with diverse marine species, colorful coral reefs, and dramatic underwater formations.

The visibility is excellent, often exceeding 20 meters. Furthermore, the water temperature ranges from 25 to 28 degrees Celsius, making it perfect for diving year-round.

Not a scuba diver? Not to worry! There are some equally stunning snorkeling sites on Nusa Penida as well

Best Time to Dive

While you can dive in Nusa Penida year-round, the best time is between April and November. During these months, the weather is dry, and the seas are calm.

However, if you aim to see the famous mola mola (sunfish), plan your trip between July and October. This period offers the highest chance of encountering these gentle giants.

Nusa Penida Diving Sites

Nusa Penida boasts several world-class diving sites, each with its unique charm and challenges.

Below find a list of amazing Nusa Penida diving sites that should certainly be on your radar!

1. Crystal Bay

Known for its clear waters and vibrant corals, Crystal Bay is a favorite among divers. It’s also the best place to spot the elusive mola mola during the right season.

This beach is also perfect for swimming – with calm waters suitable for everyone. Make sure you check out as many jaw-dropping beaches in Penida as you can!

2. Manta Point

As the name suggests, this site is famous for manta rays. Divers often encounter these graceful creatures gliding through the waters.

Chasing the Magic of Manta Rays Nusa Penida

These gentle giants, with wingspans reaching up to seven meters, are often seen gliding gracefully through the water.

They come here to feed and visit cleaning stations where smaller fish remove parasites from their skin.

Manta Point is located on the southern coast of Nusa Penida and is easily accessible through various dive operators on the island.

Another site where manta rays can occasionally be seen is Manta Bay.

This site is also popular among divers and snorkelers looking to encounter these magnificent creatures.

Diving or snorkeling with manta rays is an awe-inspiring experience, making it a highlight of any trip to Nusa Penida.

3. Blue Corner

This advanced diving site features strong currents, making it a thrilling dive. The site is home to large pelagic species, including sharks and rays.

4. Toyapakeh

This site offers a rich diversity of marine life and some of the healthiest coral reefs around Nusa Penida. The gentle currents make it suitable for all levels of scuba divers.

5. SD Point

Located on the northern coast, SD Point is a drift dive offering a beautiful underwater landscape of hard and soft corals, along with an abundance of fish species.

Diving Schools and Guides

Nusa Penida has several reputable diving schools and operators. They offer various packages, from beginner courses to advanced dives.

Most schools provide experienced guides who know the sites well, ensuring your safety and enhancing your diving experience.

Safety Tips

Diving in Nusa Penida can be challenging due to strong currents, especially at sites like Blue Corner. Therefore, diving with a certified operator and following their safety guidelines is essential.

Tia’s Safety Advice for Diving Abroad

1. Personally, I would get certified locally before diving abroad, if you can. I hold an OW certification, which means I have been trained to dive up to 20 meters.

Why? Because diving in Nusa Penida, and Indonesia in general, is an incredible experience – you are likely to remember this for the rest of your life. So much so, that I truly believe you will enjoy it more if you have a bit of experience under your belt!

2. Ensure you have the appropriate certification for the sites you plan to visit. Also, stay hydrated, avoid alcohol before diving, and always perform a thorough equipment check.

3. Never EVER dive alone, or in sites you are not trained and qualified to do.

For example, my first dive in Indonesia was in Komodo National Park ( A once – in a – lifetime trip!). On the last dive of the day, the currents were so strong that I almost panicked I would be separated from my group. I have 20+ dives under my belt, but none with strong currents. Thankfully, I used my previous training to keep me calm and safe. A rookie might not be able to do that!

Other Activities in Nusa Penida

While diving in Nusa Penida is the main attraction, the island offers plenty of other activities. The views of this island are incredible to say the least, so there is a plethora of activities to choose from!

Check my Nusa Penida Itinerary for more!

Accommodation and Dining

Nusa Penida offers a range of accommodations, from budget-friendly hostels to luxurious resorts. Many places cater specifically to divers, offering tailored services such as early breakfast options and dive package deals.

Check out my article on where to stay in Nusa Penida for options and details of my chosen hotel!

When it comes to dining, you’ll find a variety of options, including local warungs serving Indonesian cuisine and restaurants offering international dishes. Fresh seafood is a highlight, and many places offer stunning views of the ocean.

I have a restaurant guide to Nusa Penida that I’m sure you will find helpful!

Getting There

Getting to Nusa Penida is relatively easy. Regular fast boats operate from Bali’s Sanur Beach, taking about 45 minutes to reach the island.

I arrived on the island from Nusa Lembongan – it only took 20 minutes and tickets are very cheap!

Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Padang Bai, which is a bit slower but offers a scenic ride.

Once on the island, you can rent a scooter or hire a driver to explore the various diving sites and attractions.

Final Thoughts

Diving in Nusa Penida is a thrilling adventure that promises unforgettable experiences. From the diverse marine life and stunning coral reefs to the chance to swim with manta rays, the underwater world of Nusa Penida is truly magical.

Whether you’re a seasoned diver or a beginner, this Indonesian paradise will blow you away.

So pack your bags, grab your dive gear, and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime on the magical, mystical island of Nusa Penida!

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Lastly, join my travel family on Instagram, and let’s stay connected.

See you soon,

Love, Tia x

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The post Diving in Nusa Penida: 5 Incredible Dive Sites For Adventure Seekers appeared first on Tia Does Travel.

From the world-famous Zenobia wreck to the turtle heaven in Green Bay, and now, the incredible Musan – Ayia Napa’s brand new underwater sculpture museum.

Keep reading to find out details about diving in Cyprus and Musan, as well as tips for the best diving lessons, and a list of other awesome places to dive on the island!

Is Diving good in Cyprus?

Hell yeah, it is! Cyprus’s warm climate means sea temperatures of 25 degrees all the way into October – which means comfortable diving for longer!

The island’s spectacular beaches have also been awarded the ”cleanest waters in Europe” – which in turn means great visibility when scuba diving.

Combine this with the numerous shipwrecks, and caves, and you’ve got yourself a winner!

My Diving Journey

Personally, I have wanted to scuba dive for years. And each year, I chickened out.

While I am a good swimmer and snorkeler, the thought of being so far down into the bed of the sea… Panic mode ON!

In my trips to Belize, Costa Rica, and Thailand – I realized exactly what I was missing out on.

Especially as all 3 are a diver’s paradise, and Belize is home to the world-famous Blue Hole.

I was so upset at myself, I ended up snorkeling with nurse sharks to make myself feel better!

Where can I learn how to dive?

Hands down, you need to get yourself to Aquanaut Diving School! The school is located in the beautiful Green Bay Protaras – a beautiful beach favored by turtles.

That is where you will find Theo – the man responsible for teaching me how to dive, and getting over my fear of the unknown!

Theo, and the entire Aquanaut Diving School, are pure professionals, that will teach you everything you need to know to feel safe, and really enjoy the incredible experience of Scuba Diving.

Additionally, they are fun-loving, free-flowing people – and sometimes, that is a great thing. Personally, I often take myself way too seriously and miss out on all the fun!

How many Diving Certificates are there, and what is the cost?

First up you will need to start with your Open Water Certificate – which requires 5 dives. ( You can dive into Musan Ayia Napa with this diploma).

Once you are hooked ( and you will be) you can go on and schedule more lessons for more advanced certificates for diving into wrecks etcetera.

The most popular courses go as follows:

• Open Water NAUI/PADI
• Advanced Open Water
• Master Scuba Diver
• Scuba Master

Click here for the prices of these courses at Aquanaut Diving School

Where can I dive in Cyprus?

Prepare to submerge yourselves into a world of shipwrecks, caves, and eerie sculptures in the bed of the sea!

Musan Underwater Sculture Museum – Ayia Napa

Hauntingly beautiful and eerily peaceful, the MUSAN is a unique site in the Mediterranean Sea where you can see a large-scale sculpture by world-renowned artist Jason De Caires Taylor.

When diving in Cyprus, a visit to Musan is an absolute must – both for scuba divers, freedivers, and snorkelers too!

MUSAN is located on the edge of a protected marine area. If you are lucky, you might even get to see turtles, exotic fish, and sea urchins.

Do I need a booking to Visit Musan?

According to MUSAN, visitors need to book their reservations through a diving school like Aquanaut (even for free diving and snorkeling).

Diving in Musan is actually free ( For 2021) but the scuba diving school will charge you their own fee.

This means that you do not need to have your own equipment. The diving school will provide you with everything you need!

Prices are approx 25 euros for snorkeling/ freediving and 70 euros for scuba diving.

Disclaimer: The park can either be accessed by boat from the Ayia Napa harbor ( hence the change) or by the beach from Pernera Beach. Access from the beach to the park is 200m, which is super easy for scuba divers but might be tiring for snorkelers and freedivers.

Do I need To be a certified diver?

Yes, for scuba diving at the museum, the visitors are required to be certified scuba divers. (NAUI, Open water Scuba diver, Padi / SSI / SDI / RAID Open water, CMAS 1 star or equivalent).

Certifications should be by any of these internationally recognized certifying organizations (PADI, NAUI, CMAS, RAID, SSI, SDI, or equivalent).

You can also choose to snorkel and free dive – but in my opinion, nothing beats the experience of studying this environment up close and taking your time to observe the magic!

Is Musan family-friendly?

Sure, as long as you stick to snorkeling, which requires no certification and your kids are good swimmers! To be honest, you might not want your kids to closely observe the sculptures anyway. Look at my pictures, they are creepy as hell haha!

As far as safety goes, MUSAN is luckily demarcated so no boats are allowed to pass through.

Green Bay, Protaras

Green Bay is hands down one of the most famous diving spots on the island. It is also where you will first learn how to dive with Aquanaut diving school.

This gorgeous beach is located in the heart of Protaras. Open water and beginner divers will begin diving here at a depth of 10meters.

Home to a great feeding station – the area is brimming with marine life and beautiful turtles! (please NOT touch the turtles or any other creature you encourage)

At Green Bay, you will also see underwater statues and columns that will leave you wide-eyed and hungry for more!

Zenobia Shipwreck – Larnaca

Hailed as every diver’s dream wreck, Zenobia is the King of famous shipwrecks in Cyprus. Impressively, it is also rated as one of the top ten wreck dives in the world.

So I guess it is safe to say that while diving in Cyprus, a trip to Zenobia is a must!

The wreck is located in Larnaca. It is a Swedish ferry, which sunk off the coast of Larnaca in 1980. The ferry and cargo are still intact and fascinating to explore. The area is also home to tuna, barracuda, and abundant marine life.

The dive starts at a depth of 17 meters and bottoms at 43 meters, so you will need an advanced open water diving certificate for this.

Lady Thetis, Limassol

Lady Thetis lies 18 meters deep in Limassol. It was actually sunk in 2014 by Cypriot authorities to create new reefs and dive sites to explore.

Home to groupers, breams, and damselfish, there are both easy and more advanced things to explore here. Therefore, It is ideal for an introduction to wreck diving!

Certification level: Open Water +

Devil’s Head, Akamas

Whether you are a Cypriot resident or a tourist, the Akamas Peninsula is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful areas of the island. You simply MUST explore it, both by land – ( in an Akamas Road Trip and Safari), by the beach, and by diving!

The ‘devil’s head’ is a particularly popular spot, that features caves and tunnels at a depth of 11 meters. Keep your eyes peeled for turtles, rock formations, and other gorgeous marine life.

Manidjin Island, Paphos

Starting at 6 meters all the way to a depth of 25 meters, this spectacular cave is so cool!

The cave itself is covered in a variety of purple and pink calciferous algae. Additionally, many divers often spot yellowfin barracuda at the site.

Jubilee Shoals, Avdimou, Limassol

Experienced divers will love the challenge of Jubilee, which takes you on an underwater journey of 20-60m deep!

It is the largest natural reef in Cyprus, and arguably the best non-wreck dive site on the island. Jubilee offers breathtaking scenery and views of tuna, octopus, jackfish, and other gorgeous creatures.

This impressive cliff comes with caves, tunnels, and pinnacles to enjoy! So make sure you charge your Go Pro camera to the fullest!

Certification level: Advanced Open Water +

Thank you for reading through my guide about diving in Cyprus!

I hope to have inspired and educated you enough, to take the plunge and enjoy this incredible activity on this paradisiacal island.

Don’t forget to check my Diving Vlog here, and follow my Instagram for more posts, reels, and content on Cyprus!

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