About
About Bali Liveaboard
Bali is Indonesia’s best-known island and a world-class dive destination in its own right. Within a short distance you can dive the manta cleaning stations of Nusa Penida, look for mola in the cool season and explore the USAT Liberty, a wartime wreck at Tulamben, all against the backdrop of the island’s cliffs and volcanoes.
Our phinisi Neptune One sails from Bali with unlimited satellite internet and Nitrox blended on board by a Bauer membrane compressor.
Our Trip Snapshot
- Flexible booking
- Manta rays and mola
- Small dive groups
- Travel assistance
- Multilingual crew
Experience
The Bali Diving Experience
Bali lies on the Wallace Line, where the Indian Ocean meets the Pacific. Strong currents and cold upwellings bring nutrients to the reefs, and the diving ranges from gentle coral gardens to encounters with some of the ocean’s largest fish.
Manta rays at Nusa Penida
Manta Point is one of the most reliable manta sites in the world. Reef and oceanic mantas with wingspans of up to five metres visit its cleaning stations all year.
Mola season
From July to October, mola, the world’s heaviest bony fish, rise from the deep to the cleaning stations of Crystal Bay.
The Liberty wreck
The USAT Liberty, a 120-metre cargo ship sunk in the Second World War, lies just off the beach at Tulamben, covered in coral and full of fish.
Dive sites
Top Dive Sites in Bali
From the Liberty wreck to the manta cleaning stations of Nusa Penida, Bali packs a remarkable variety of diving into a small area.
Manta Point, Nusa Penida
Intermediate↕ 8–20m
A cleaning station where reef and oceanic mantas with wingspans of up to five metres glide overhead, with sightings almost every day of the year.
Crystal Bay, Nusa Penida
Advanced↕ 5–30m
A sheltered bay with coral gardens, famous for mola from July to October and for sharp thermoclines at depth.
USAT Liberty, Tulamben
All levels↕ 5–30m
A Second World War cargo ship and one of the best wreck dives in the world, with schools of bumphead parrotfish at dawn.
Coral Garden, Tulamben
All levels↕ 3–15m
A shallow reef next to the Liberty, full of colourful coral and macro life, and ideal for newer divers.
Blue Corner, Nusa Lembongan
Intermediate↕ 10–30m
A reef edge in the current where reef sharks, mola and large schools of fish gather above the drop-off.
Toyapakeh, Nusa Penida
All levels↕ 5–25m
A dependable drift along a colourful coral wall, with turtles, reef sharks and soft corals.
Best time to visit
Bali Diving Season Calendar
Bali can be dived all year. The dry season from April to October brings the best conditions and the mola, while the mantas stay all year.
| Month | Water temperature | Visibility | Currents | Season highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°C | 10–20m | Moderate | Wet season |
| Feb | 28°C | 10–20m | Moderate | Macro season |
| Mar | 29°C | 15–20m | Moderate | Improving |
| Apr | 29°C | 15–25m | Moderate | Dry season starts |
| May | 28°C | 20–30m | Moderate | Great conditions |
| Jun | 27°C | 20–30m | Strong | Excellent diving |
| Jul | 26°C | 15–25m | Strong | Mola arrive |
| Aug | 25°C | 15–25m | Strong | Peak mola season |
| Sep | 26°C | 15–25m | Strong | Mola season |
| Oct | 27°C | 15–25m | Moderate | Last mola |
| Nov | 28°C | 15–20m | Moderate | Transition |
| Dec | 28°C | 10–20m | Moderate | Wet season |
Recommended months
Conditions
Water Conditions and Gear
- Temperature
- 20–29°C (68–84°F)
- Visibility
- 10–30m (33–100ft)
- Currents
- Variable; can be very strong at Nusa Penida
- Best visibility
- May to October
- Thermoclines
- Common at Crystal Bay, down to 16°C at depth
- Wetsuit
- 5mm wetsuit for the cold thermoclines
- Certification
- Open Water for Tulamben, Advanced for Nusa Penida
- Nitrox
- Available and recommended
Marine life
What You Will See in Bali
Bali is where warm tropical water meets cold upwellings, which bring unusual visitors such as mola alongside manta rays and colourful reef life.
Iconic species
- Mola, from July to October
- Reef manta rays, all year
- Oceanic manta rays
- Bumphead parrotfish at the Liberty
Sharks and rays
- Whitetip reef sharks
- Bamboo sharks on night dives
- Blue-spotted stingrays
- Marbled rays
Macro life
- Pygmy seahorses
- Nudibranchs
- Frogfish
- Mimic octopus
- Harlequin shrimp
Reef life
- Green turtles, very common
- Hawksbill turtles
- Clownfish
- Garden eels
- Giant clams
Wreck life
- Schools of bumphead parrotfish
- Barracuda
- Sweetlips
- Batfish
- Coral-covered structures
Travel
How to Get to Bali
Bali is one of the easiest places in Indonesia to reach. Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) has direct flights from Singapore, Australia, Japan, the Middle East and many other hubs.
Our crew collects you from your hotel or the airport and takes you to the boat. Our current Bali departure is a one-way voyage that ends in Labuan Bajo, which has direct flights back to Bali and Jakarta.
Departure port: Bali
Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) has direct international flights. The voyage ends in Labuan Bajo (LBJ).
Departure ports can change. Our reservations team confirms the exact meeting point when you book.
Travel tips
Tips for Travellers
- 1
Plan around the season
Bali is good all year. Mola visit Crystal Bay from July to October, mantas are at Nusa Penida all year, and the dry season from April to October brings the best overall conditions.
- 2
Respect the currents
Nusa Penida’s currents are strong and can change quickly, especially at Crystal Bay and Manta Point. Advanced Open Water and experience of drift diving are recommended there.
- 3
Pack for cold water
The water around Bali ranges from 20 to 28°C, and the thermoclines at Crystal Bay can drop to 16 to 18°C in mola season. Bring a 5mm wetsuit or a semi-dry suit.
- 4
Dive gently
Bali’s reefs are under pressure from tourism. Choose responsible operators, keep your distance from the mantas and mola and never touch the reef.
Travel essentials
Practical Travel Information
- Visa
- Most nationalities can buy a 30-day visa on arrival, extendable once. Your passport must be valid for at least six months.
- Currency
- Indonesian rupiah (IDR). ATMs and money changers are easy to find all over Bali.
- Language
- Bahasa Indonesia and Balinese. English is widely spoken in hotels and tourist areas, and by our crew.
- Tipping
- Tipping the crew is customary. As a guide, guests leave Rp 270,000 to 360,000 per person per day.
- What to pack
- A 5mm wetsuit for the thermoclines, seasickness tablets, reef-safe sunscreen and your camera.
- Health
- No vaccinations are required; hepatitis A and B and typhoid are recommended. Denpasar and Sanur have good hospitals.
- Electricity
- 220V, 50Hz, with European two-pin plugs (types C and F). Bring a universal adapter.
- Time zone
- Central Indonesia Time (WITA), UTC+8.
Our itinerary
Experience the Best of Bali
Our current Bali departure is a ten-day voyage on Neptune One from Bali to Labuan Bajo, past Lombok, Moyo, Satonda and the north coast of Sumbawa to Gili Banta and Komodo National Park. Ask us which Bali dive sites your departure includes. For more on the route, read Bali to Komodo and Bali vs Komodo diving.
Schedule
Upcoming Bali Trips
Live availability and prices for Neptune One departures from Bali.
The fleet
Your Boat
Your trip
What Your Trip Includes
Included in the price
- Cabin accommodation with en-suite bathroom
- Airport and hotel transfers at the start and end of the trip
- All scheduled dives, with tanks, weights and weight belts
- Three meals and three snacks a day
- Coffee, tea and snacks all day
- Unlimited satellite internet
- Snorkelling gear
- A maximum of four divers per guide
- Stand-up paddle boards and kayaks
Not included
- Nitrox
- Rental equipment such as BCD, regulator and wetsuit
- Single cabin supplement
- Park and port fees
- Private dive guide
- Alcohol and soft drinks
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to dive Bali?
Bali is good all year. Mola visit Crystal Bay from July to October, mantas are at Nusa Penida all year, and the dry season from April to October brings the best overall conditions.
Will I see manta rays in Bali?
Manta Point at Nusa Penida has mantas at its cleaning stations almost every day of the year, including oceanic mantas with wingspans of up to five metres.
What is Crystal Bay like?
Crystal Bay is the best place in Bali to see mola, from July to October. Expect cold thermoclines of 16 to 18°C at depth. The bay also has pretty coral gardens and plenty of reef fish.
Where does the Bali liveaboard start and finish?
Our current Bali departure starts in Bali, where the crew collects you from your hotel or Ngurah Rai airport, and finishes in Labuan Bajo, which has direct flights back to Bali and Jakarta.
What diving experience do I need for Bali?
Open Water certification is enough for many sites. Advanced certification is recommended for Crystal Bay and Manta Point, where the currents are strong and unpredictable. Bring a 5mm wetsuit for the thermoclines.
Explore more
See Other Destinations
Komodo
Manta rays, strong-current reefs and the Komodo dragons, in a UNESCO World Heritage national park.
Explore →
Sumbawa
Whale sharks in Saleh Bay and untouched reefs around Moyo and Satonda, on the way to Komodo.
Explore →
Alor
Black sand critter dives, cold clear walls and quiet reefs at the eastern end of the Lesser Sundas.
Explore →Get in Touch
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