Bali is one of the most beautiful islands in the world and very popular for dive holiday destination. Many visitors find the attraction of good shore-based resort diving set against a stunning back drop of huge, magnificent volcanoes and picturesque rice paddy terraces, simply irresistible.
Many dive-heads—including those who've made pilgrimages to the Red Sea, the Great Barrier Reef, and Manado—swear that Bali has the best diving in the world. The waters of Bali are surprisingly unheralded. Previously the preserve of surfers and beach holiday types, nowadays this island sees an increasing number of tourists hauling dive bags around. Bali diving isn't simply the holiday 'extra' some people might imagine.
Indeed, the greatest feature of diving in Bali is the incredibly rich and varied dive sites. Deep drop-offs and steep banks, coral ridges and bommies, one of the most famous wrecks in the world, volcanic outcrops and sea grass beds are all part of the Bali scuba diving tapestry. With its colorful and diverse marine life, there's enough here to keep you coming back for more.
To the east of the island lies the Lombok Strait, the first deep water trench directly to the east of the Asian continental shelf. Through this channel flows the greatest volume of tidal water on earth. This Pacific Ocean can create some powerful currents and rollercoaster rides that characterize some of the Bali dive sites. It also means regular visits from large and unusual pelagic fish like the incredible mola mola, or sunfish. The strong currents can also clean the water and create fantastic visibility.
The Bali dive season runs all year round. Overall, the best diving conditions exist from April to December, with sunfish, sharks and other pelagic fish visiting from June to September.
December to March is rainy season, reducing visibility in the north and northwest - Tulamben, Amed, Gili Selang, Pemuteran and Menjangan. From June to September dry monsoon winds bring rough seas and nutrient rich upwellings to Nusa Penida, Padang Bay and Amuk Bay.
All of this combined with the friendliness of the Balinese people, glorious weather and white sandy beaches make Bali an increasingly sought after destination by divers from across the world.
