Dive Sites Map of Padang Bai and Candidasa

Dive Sites of Padang Bai and Bali Central Coast

The dive sites which are reached from Bali's Central-Coast, Padang Bai and Candidasa are varied like other Scuba diving locations around Bali. Sites that are reached from the east coast contain places with easy conditions aswell as some exhilarating Scuba diving around the small Gili islands called Gili Mimpang, Gili Tepekong and Gili Biaha.

All the dive sites in this area are reached from Padang Bai or Candidasa and a trip with our airconditioned minibusses take around 45 minutes from Sanur. When we arrive in Padang Bai or Candidasa, we will arrange a local boat to reach the dive-sites there.

Padang Bai

Padang Bai is a small Balinese town that acts as a ferry port for the boats to Lombok, it's Gili Islands and other islands of the Lesser Sunda Islands, Also the boat to Nusa Penida harbours here. The town of Padang Bai is situated next to a small bay which provides shelter for the currents of the Lombok Strait and offers some nice beaches. Padangbai lies south of Amuk Bay and offers a good place for Scuba diving and snorkelling. Some of the most popular divesites here are called Blue Lagoon and Tanjung Sari.

Candidasa

A small town called Candidasa is located at the north side of Amuk Bay and like Padang Bai (which is approx. 11km away) offers a layed back environment for the vacationers who prefer a quiet and serene place to stay during their holidays in Bali. Candidasa offers a nice over-sea view at some of the dive sites of this location situated around the Gili Islands and at the island of Nusa Penida.

View Over Teluk Amuk (Amuk Bay) to Padangbai

Coastal Dive-sites

Dive sites that are located close to shore around Padang Bai are relatively protected from the currents that rush through the Lombok Strait. These sites can however make your dives chillingly cold because of the upwellings in this area. The cold water that reach Bali's eastern coast during the southeast monsoon provide generally good underwater visibilty. Be prepared with a 5mm full wetsuit however.

Gili Islands Dive Sites

Gili Tepekong and Gili Mimpang

The Gili Islands are adventurous places to conduct Scuba diving. Because these little islands are situated in the currents of the Lombok Strait, the reefs appear with a untropical character with stark rock structures. The fierce current rushing through the strait keeps the growth of corals and gorgonians generally low. The reefs are particularly healthy with exceptional diversity of invertebrates and fish life caused by the nutrient rich waters that pass these sites.

Scuba diving has to be conducted with meticulous planning, knowledge of the sites and conditions around these islands. Gili Tepekong and Gili Mimpang are directly under the influence of the currents and swells, while Gili Biaha is more easy to dive and has the best developed reef. Mimpang is one of the dive sites around Bali with a high possibility to encounter white-tip reef sharks.

Around all three of these sites, it is possible (in the right season) to see large pelagic fish like Mola Mola (Ocean sunfish), Manta Rays and Reef Sharks.

Central East-Coast Dive Sites of Bali

BALI INTERNATIONAL DIVING PROFESSIONALS
JL. Danau Poso No. 26 Sanur 80228, Bali
Tel : +62 (0) 361 270 759 / Fax : +62 (0) 361 270 760 / Email: bidp@scubadivebali.com
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