Macro Diving in Bali

It’s no secret that Indonesia is renowned worldwide for macro diving. And while regions like Ambon, Raja Ampat and North Sulawesi attract divers from all over the globe, many don’t realise that there is also some fantastic macro diving in Bali. Bali’s infrastructure, beautiful beaches and world-class resorts make it the perfect destination for anyone looking to combine macro diving with a relaxing beach holiday. It’s also a great choice for families who, for practical reasons, don’t want to venture anywhere too remote. If you’re considering macro diving in Bali, keep reading to discover some of our favourite dive sites.

Pemuteran and Menjangan

There's no shortage of incredible dive sites in Pemuteran, a region on Bali's north coast and a jumping-off point for Menjangan Island. All in all, there are 15 dive sites in the area, suitable for beginners and advanced divers, with a range of interesting creatures to see.

Puri Jata in Pemuteran in particular is a must-visit and undoubtedly one of the best sites for macro diving in Bali. It's a mainly sandy site, with a few soft corals here and there, but in terms of critters, you'll find everything from hairy frogfish to the hard-to-spot Ambon scorpionfish, and the elusive mimic octopus.

Padang Bai

Padang Bai, a small beach town on Bali's east coast, is where the ferries to Lombok, the Gili Islands and Nusa Penida depart from. A busy port may not seem like the best place for macro diving in Bali, but the Padang Bai Jetty (also known as 'The Jetty'), is a brilliant muck site with lots to see.

The unused jetty extends out around 300 metres from the shore with depths of between five and 20 metres. We recommend this site for seasoned muck divers who aren't new to the unglamorous side of muck sites (you may see a fish skeleton or two and some debris). However, on a typical dive, you can expect to see nudibranchs, giant frogfish, octopus and even rhinopea if you're lucky.

Other great macro diving spots in Padang Bai are the Blue Lagoon and Jepun.

Tulamben

Another beautiful spot on Bali's east coast, Tulamben is home to the renowned USAT Liberty Wreck. The former World War II US Army Transport Ship is host to a number of critters like pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs and, for those on a night dive, decorator crabs.

The Tulamben Coral Garden nearby is another fantastic spot for macro diving in Bali and a lovely site for new divers. Nestled within the healthy reef, those with a keen eye can spot juvenile frogfish, ribbon eels, orangutan crabs and lots more. The majority of the dive is at a shallow depth (around five metres), so air consumption should be low, giving you plenty of time for exploring and taking photographs.

At Original Diving, we absolutely love Bali and are constantly in awe of the interesting creatures you can find under the water. Our team has the expertise and know-how to help you create a tailor-made itinerary to take your Bali diving holiday to the next level.