Bali, the heart of Indonesia

Diving sites

Santal

SD, PED, SENTAL

On the north coast of Nusa Penida, the seaweed farmers live along a white sand beach stretching the length of the coast, while beneath the surface the coral reef runs parallel to this magnificent panorama. Choosing one of the several dive sites available, we descend just in front of a primary school (Sekolah Dasar) to dive the SD wall, or in front of a temple to dive the Ped wall, or a bit further we can find the dive site Sental. These sites are topographically very similar; all are characterized by a sloping wall that sinks out towards the dark blue of the ocean and the atmosphere is extraordinary.

Once your group is ready, time to descend! Let go of the line and everyone takes off for an extreme rock’n’roll drift dive! Open your eyes; look all around, lay back as if you are in a big comfortable chair--including footrest--and don’t move. A festival of colors and emotions will take your breath away, schools of blue (red-toothed) triggerfish bear their teeth and dart about in all directions, hundreds of yellow butterfly fish forage for food and refuge amongst the lettuce corals; drift past giant, current-blown sponges and disproportionately large whip corals as schools of bat fish fly past and ornament the landscape.

Santal bali shrimp

Accessibility

Santal is located on the north west coast of Nusa Penida. 25 minutes by boat from Nusa Lembongan to reach Santal. Be sure to look north when you are aboard to watch Mount Agung get lost in the clouds.

Fauna

Mola Mola have been seen several times in Santal. It seems like they have a cleaning station. 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.

Santal bali sea horse

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.

Depth

The site is superb between 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 Santal in rising tide to avoid having too much current for beginner divers, and simply to have the time to find the smallest species.

Santal bali

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!