Scuba Center Asia

Located in the Mushroom Bay area of Nusa Lembongan, Scuba Center Asia is positioned away from the busier crowds of Jungut Batu. This location provides easy access to the diverse dive sites of Nusa Lembongan, Ceningan, and Nusa Penida via a short scooter ride.

Established over a decade ago by diving professionals Kim and Bastiaan, the centre has grown into one of the few dedicated Instructor Development Dive Resorts in the region. It operates as a PADI Green Star Dive Center, maintaining a focus on ocean protection through close ties with the Marine Megafauna Foundation and the Coral Triangle Institute.

The centre is an Instructor Development Centre (IDC), meaning it is equipped to take divers from their initial certifications all the way through to professional instructor levels. The team is experienced in handling everything from Discover Scuba Diving to Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) programmes.

Instruction is conducted in English and Dutch. The centre is designed to support serious students, offering a large, air-conditioned classroom specifically for IDC candidates. For those pursuing professional paths like Divemaster or Specialty Instructor, the centre also provides recommended accommodation options in nearby guesthouses and villas.

As an Instructor Development Resort, the course catalogue is extensive. You can begin with Discover Scuba Diving, Bubblemaker, or the Open Water Diver course, and progress through Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver. The centre also offers a wide array of PADI Specialty courses, including Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, Drift Diver, and Peak Performance Buoyancy.

Professional training is a core pillar of the centre, with pathways available for Divemaster, IDC, Specialty Instructor, and Staff Instructor. Conservation-focused training is also prominent, with courses such as AWARE Coral Reef Conservation, AWARE Shark Conservation, and AWARE Dive Against Debris. For those interested in technical or specialised skills, they offer Sidemount, Rebreather, and Full Face Mask Diver training.

The shore-based facilities are designed for both training and relaxation. Divers can utilise a 3-metre deep training pool for skills practice and a dedicated air-conditioned classroom for theory sessions. There are also indoor and outdoor lounge areas for relaxing between dives.

For those looking to extend their diving, the centre provides Nitrox and offers night diving opportunities. While the centre encourages divers to bring their own kit, it is a professional hub for those looking to progress through the PADI system.

The waters around Nusa Lembongan and Penida are famous for large pelagics. You can regularly encounter Manta ray (Mobula alfredi), reef manta rays (Mobula birostris), and various shark species including whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus), reef sharks (Carcharhinus), and thresher sharks. During the months of August to October, the ocean sunfish (Mola Mola) are a major seasonal highlight.

For those interested in the reef itself, the area is rich with hard corals (Scleractinia) and soft corals (Alcyonacea). You will see a high density of sea turtles, including Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtles, alongside various tropical reef fish, jacks (Carangidae), and barracuda (Sphyraena jello, Yellowtail barracuda, Great barracuda).

Macro enthusiasts will find plenty to observe on the reef flats and within the coral formations. The environment supports a variety of nudibranchs, octopus (Octopus vulgaris), frogfish (Antennarius), scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), and various species of shrimp and crabs (Brachyura).

Diving in this region requires an understanding of unpredictable and often strong currents, which can reach up to 4 knots. Many of the local sites are characterised by drift diving, and some locations, such as Ceningan Wall and Crystal Bay, are known for particularly strong and delicate current conditions.

The best time to visit for specific megafauna sightings, particularly the Mola Mola, is between August and October. The sea temperature typically ranges between 26°C and 29°C.