Dive site · access from Nusa Penida
Crystal Bay
A sheltered white-sand bay with an easy shallow reef inshore and a genuinely serious dive outside it.
- Depth
- 5–40m
- Current
- Strong
- Minimum level
- Advanced open water
- Access
- Boat
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The case for it
Why dive here
- The main Mola alexandrini site — cleaning stations at the channel-side pinnacle, usually below 30m
- Thermoclines of 18-20°C in the July-October upwelling, reported near 16°C
- Down-currents on the outer channel side have caused fatalities and bends cases; the site was closed after two deaths on consecutive days in 2012
Check before booking
What may rule it out
- Advanced open water certification is the stated minimum.
Access and timing
Plan this through Nusa Penida
Best overall months: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Check the destination planner for operating season, wildlife and other matching sites.
Wildlife
Seen around Nusa Penida
rareoccasionalcommonly seenpeak seasondestination closed
These are destination-level records, not confirmed sightings at Crystal Bay.
Giant sunfish (bump-head mola)
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | occasional |
| August | peak season |
| September | peak season |
| October | peak season |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Reef manta ray
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | peak season |
| May | peak season |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Pelagic thresher shark
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Bumphead parrotfish
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Hawksbill turtle
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Nearby alternatives
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Sources & last checked
Checked August 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.
View 2 sources and checking notes
- Diving Bali's Most Notorious Dive Site, Alpha Gentlemen
- Photo identification of giant sunfish (Mola alexandrini, Molidae), Frontiers in Marine Science
Note on the data: Coordinates are approximate; not surveyed dive-site GPS.