Bali, the heart of Indonesia

Diving sites

Pura Mas Ganding

The island of Nusa Penida is known world-wide for Manta rays and the Mola Mola, more commonly known as the Sun fish. Nusa Penida is the least populated of the islands situated just east of Bali. The islands of Lembongan and Ceningan are much more developed, with their beautiful white sand beaches and their numerous seaweed farms, producing enough seaweed for food production and exporting it for cosmetics.

Nusa Penida is the largest and by far the least developed of the three islands. The Atlantis International speedboats will introduce you to the breathtaking views of the island as you pass impressive rocky cliff-faces, enormous waves crashing upon white sand deserted beaches, tropical forest and arid plant-life mixing together with sheer walls that descend into the depths of the sea. And then you arrive at Manta Point, where beneath the surface lies a “cleaning station” frequented by Reef Mantas (Alfredi Mantas).

On the other side of the island, you will find the not-to-be-missed dive site of Crystal Bay. Here, between June and October, you can marvel at the incredible Mola Mola (Sun fish), which can grow up to 3 metres. Nusa Penida will never fail to blow you away; there are a myriad of dive sites and the corals are in excellent health.

Cold currents rising up from the deep allow for good visibility and preserve the coral reef. At times, these thermoclines are as cold as 16 ⁰ C, and encourage pelagic life to swim up from the deep where divers can catch a glimpse of some of these amazing fishes. However, this island, due to its location between Bali and Lombok, is also exposed to very strong currents from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean, and which can generate very strong, sometimes violent, multidirectional currents (including down-currents). Due to the difficult conditions, we often reserve these dive sites for our more experienced divers or for those we already have dived with and evaluated. Nevertheless, when conditions get too rough, there are always other protected dive sites waiting to be explored.

Owing to its placement on the Wallace Line, a biogeographical zone where the biodiversity of Australia and Asia meet and mix together, the biological abundance classifies the location as a “hotspot” of biodiversity, with 250 species of corals and close to 600 species of reef fishes that were recently indexed around the perimeter of Nusa Penida.

Since 2010, Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Lembongan were declared as “Marine Protected Areas,” prohibiting all industrial and destructive fishing practices, as well as limiting watersports activities in the area.

Atlantis’ speedboats, Atlantis I and Atlantis II, leave Bali everyday around 8:00am to complete 2 or 3 dives. Equipped with two Yamaha 250 HP 4-stroke injection outboard motors, our boats can accommodate 14 and 12 divers, respectively. You will arrive at the dive sites in as little as 35 - 45 minutes. All of the dive sites are chosen according to the certification and experience level of the divers present, the weather conditions, and the current. The day includes 2 or 3 dives, lunch served on the boat, along with hot tea or coffee, and snacks.

This site is part of the slope that runs along the entire north of Nusa Penida from east to west. Be sure to look north when you are aboard to watch Mount Agung get lost in the clouds.

Accessibility

Pura Mas Gading is located on the north west coast of Nusa Penida in front of the village of the same name. 30 minutes by boat from Nusa Lembongan to Pura Mas Gading.

Fauna

You will see the whole family of Pufferfish, including Giant Puffers that can measure almost 1 meter long. You will not miss observing fish angel, scorpion, trunk, clown, batfish, nudibranchs, shrimp mantis. Turtles and white tip sharks are seen from time to time.

Pura Mas Ganding bali stonefish

Flora

Hard and soft corals extend as far as the eye can see along this slope. Other corals have invaded large rocks in the 12-meter zone. From 18 meters, look up the slope and admire the colors!

Pura Mas Ganding bali nudibranch

Depth

The site is superbeentre 5 and 20 meters. The most experienced divers can make a low point between 30 meters and 40 meters depending on their level to try to see a Mola.

Dive type

We prefer to dive to Pura Mas Ganding in the rising tide to avoid having too much current for beginner divers, and simply to have the time to find the smallest species.

Pura Mas Ganding bali lion fish

Remarks

This site is for everyone! Plunged at the right moment of the tide, the current is weak or absent. Divers eager for drift dives can also find their happiness if we dive in tide down!