Both slow boats and fast boats run from Bali to Nusa Penida. Some travelers opt to visit independently, rent motorbikes or hire a driver, and spend a few days touring. A guided tour allows for a more seamless experience, especially for those looking to spend just one day on Nusa Penida.
Many Nusa Penida tours focus on the island’s underwater attractions: snorkeling or diving with giant manta rays at Manta Point or Manta Bay, diving in search of the mola-mola (ocean sunfish) at Crystal Bay, and admiring the coral and marine life at a wealth of sites. Watersports are also an option, and a handful of tours highlight Penida’s serene charm, visiting its natural wonders, traditional villages, and temples.
A must-do for lovers of the underwater world, Nusa Penida boasts some of the best diving and snorkeling on Bali.
The traffic on Penida is light in comparison to mainland Bali, but some of the roads are close to disintegration. This is no place to learn to ride a motorbike.
Some dive sites around Penida and Lembongan islands are advanced, with intense currents. Exercise caution, particularly around the full and new moon, when tides are stronger.
Nusa Penida is a traditional island. When visiting temples, cover shoulders and wear a sarong. Some temples insist that women cover arms to the wrist.
Nusa Penida sits in the Lombok Strait, about 10 miles (15 kilometers) off the southeastern coast of Bali. Ferries and speed boats leave daily from Padang Bai, following a changing schedule, while speed boats run from Sanur Beach and Lembongan Island. Snorkeling and diving tours typically depart from Sanur, but often offer the convenience of transport direct from your door.
Scuba divers in search of the elusive mola mola (ocean sunfish) should visit between late June and October; mantas can be seen year-round. High waves are not uncommon in late July and August, which can island access difficult and snorkeling a challenge. Penida is drier than mainland Bali, so it’s a good choice for the rainy season (October to March), although in the rainy season, the ocean floods with plastic trash.
Also known as the oceanic sunfish, ocean sunfish, or giant sunfish, the mola mola is one of the largest known bony fish in the world: Adults can weigh a whopping 2,205 pounds (1,000 kilograms). Between late June and October, mola mola are often seen off Penida, particularly around Crystal Bay, as cold water upwells from the depths where these giants spend their time.
