Nusa Penida Dive Center

Nusa Penida Dive Center has been operating since 2016, serving as a central hub for divers exploring the waters surrounding Penida, Ceningan, and Lembongan. The centre is situated in the heart of the island, only five minutes from the Banjar Nyuh port. Once you arrive at the office, you walk directly onto the white sand and crystal-clear water, making the transition from land to sea seamless.

The area is renowned for its high-energy diving, ranging from shallow reef flats to deep, current-swept walls. Whether you are looking to complete your first certification or you are an experienced diver hunting for pelagics, the centre provides the local knowledge required to navigate these productive waters safely.

The team is composed of experienced, multilingual instructors and staff dedicated to high safety standards. They manage a strict diver-to-guide ratio, ensuring a maximum of four divers per guide for fun dives and a maximum of two for the Try Scuba Diving programme.

Safety is the primary objective of the operation, with on-site oxygen availability to manage any emergencies. The instructors are well-versed in the local conditions, which is essential for navigating the unpredictable currents that characterise this region.

As a PADI affiliated centre, they offer a complete range of training from the initial Open Water Diver course through to Advanced Open Water Diver. For those looking to progress further, they provide Rescue Diver and Divemaster training.

The centre also runs the Emergency First Response programme. For those looking to try the water for the first time, they offer a Try Scuba Diving programme, which can be taken as a two-dive day program or a three-dive program, with the option to add pool sessions.

The centre provides full rental kit for those who do not wish to carry their own equipment. All gear is well-maintained to ensure reliability during your dives.

Onshore, the centre is set up for convenience, with lunch, water, coffee, tea, and ginger tea provided for divers. They also supply towels and biscuits to keep you refreshed between sessions.

The waters around Nusa Penida are famous for large pelagics. You can regularly encounter reef sharks (Carcharhinus), manta rays (Mobula alfredi), and various species of turtles, including the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). During the months of July to October, the ocean sunfish (Mola mola) become a major attraction.

In the reef structures, look for the Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), and various species of jacks (Carangidae). You will also see schooling fish such as trevally, sweetlips (Plectorhinchus), and various damselfish (Pomacentridae) darting through the water.

For macro enthusiasts, the sites offer incredible diversity. You can find nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani), scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), and frogfish (Antennarius) hiding amongst the corals. Other small creatures to watch for include sea snakes (Hydrophiinae), stingrays (Hypanus americanus), and bamboo sharks.

The seabed is a vibrant landscape of hard coral (Scleractinia) and soft coral (Alcyonacea), providing a home for many reef inhabitants. You will often see colourful reef fish, including parrotfish (Calotomus), snapper (Lutjanus), and various species of butterflyfish (Chaetodon) navigating the reef flats.

Diving in this region is heavily influenced by currents, which can range from mild to very strong and unpredictable. This is particularly true for the drift dives along the North Penida reefs and the deep, current-swept edges of Blue Corner. Many of the local sites are primarily drift dives.

Due to the exposure to the open ocean, swell can be a factor at sites like Manta Point and Manta Bay. Divers should be prepared for these conditions, especially when navigating the shallower, more exposed areas.