Bali is undoubtedly one of the most famous scuba diving destinations in the world. Travelers flock from all over the globe to discover the island’s exotic underwater world. The island's east coast, in particular, is renowned for its abundance of marine life, variety of dive sites, and excellent water conditions.

No matter what your underwater passion, Bali has something to satisfy every niche. Small, bottom-dwelling critters excite macro-loving photographers and swirling schools of fish and massive pelagics thrill adrenaline-seekers. 

One of the best parts of Bali is being able to experience all this for a fraction of the cost you’d pay almost anywhere else. Bali also allows for the average traveler to stay in luxury in well-developed beachside cities, like Seminyak, for very affordable prices. The entire east coast of Bali - including nearby islands - is accessible from Seminyak’s location in in the south of the island.  

Read on to find out the best diving day trips available to those staying in Seminyak:

Amed

The charming village of Amed attracts divers and non-divers alike. It’s a great place to take off to on a day trip - even for those who aren’t divers. Everyone will fall in love with Amed thanks to its laid-back vibe and picturesque setting. Amed is a 2 hour and 20-minute drive from Seminyak. It’s one of Bali’s lesser discovered destinations, however it’s becoming known for its excellent diving as well as offering many alternative activities to scuba diving.

Non-divers can soak up the sun on the beaches, rent a motorbike and cruise through the windy, hilly roads, and head to the western-facing viewpoint to watch the sunset behind the infamous (and still active) volcano, Mount Agung. Visitors can even snorkel a shipwreck, known as the Japanese Wreck, which doubles as a very shallow dive site.

Those who are divers are really in for a treat when visiting Amed. The dive sites are reachable in 5-10-minutes via local boats and are mainly composed of drift dives along walls that drop down between 30-40-meters. Hard and soft corals cover the rocks, creating a spectacular environment filled with color and life. If a 5-minute boat ride is too far, indulge your lazy side with multiple shore dives in Jemeluk Bay.

Amed’s ocean floors are coated in black, volcanic sand making it a super area for photographers and any diver craving something a little bit different. These dive sites boast a plethora of reef fish and juvenile species, macro life like nudibranch, shrimps and octopus, and elusive pelagics like the Napoleon wrasse, the occasional Mola Mola, and reef sharks.

Dive Site Recommendations: Amed Walls and Pyramids (an artificial reef)

Tulamben

Tulamben also shares Amed’s most unique feature -  black, volcanic sand. Divers experiencing this environment for the first time are awestruck by how it highlights all the colorful critters like nudibranch and soft coral, making them easier to spot. Photographers will love the color contrast as well.

While it’s true that Tulamben has no shortage of excellent dive sites, there is one that out-shines them all: The U.S.S Liberty Wreck dive. This site has not only made Tulamben famous, but propelled all of Bali to the top of the must-dive destinations list. It’s definitely one of the most famous wreck dives in the world, in addition to being the most accessible.

The Liberty Wreck’s final resting place lies just off the pebbly shore of a small beach in Tulamben, however this was not its original location. The American war ship was torpedoed by the Japanese in 1942 and eventually ran aground on the shore. This is where the ship remained until 1964 until the nearby volcano erupted and pushed the Liberty into the sea. It now sits mere meters offshore, while plunging to a depth of more than 30 meters.

The 130-meter long wreck is a breeding ground for marine life - anything from schooling hump head parrotfish, to snake eels, to cuttlefish, to nudibranch can be found here. Not to mention all the exploring to be done in, on, and around the massive perimeter. This is a dive site you can dive multiple times and never have the same experience.

Tulamben is roughly 2 hours and 30-minutes from Seminyak, but there are plenty of dive operators that make the trip. It’s more than worth it.

Dive Site Recommendations: The U.S.S. Liberty (beat the crowds and hit the water at sunrise!) and The Drop-off

Padang Bai

This small fishing village is a 90-minute drive from Seminyak and an excellent area for diving.

Padang Bai’s specialty is muck-diving, offering an abundance of weird and wonderful macro creatures. Both beginner and experienced divers can enjoy a variety of dives around Padang Bai including white-sandy bottom dives, drift dives, and natural and artificial reefs. There’s also a chance for a run-in with an operating submarine!

There are a range of dive sites and marine life awaiting patient divers- sandy bottoms, hard corals, reef fish, and lots of small and odd-looking bottom-dwellers are the norm.

Dive Site Recommendations: Jetty, Bias Dugal and Blue Lagoon

Nusa Penida

The dive sites around Nusa Penida, an island off the southeast coast of Bali, are ones that should be reserved for advanced divers due to the high possibility of strong currents. However, it’s worth to take on the challenging conditions as this area is said to house some of the best diving in all of Indonesia.

Nusa Penida dive sites are reached from Sanur Beach, a southeast facing city about 45-minutes from Seminyak. The boat trip from Sanur to Penida is roughly 30-45-minutes.

Crystal clear visibility, hard and soft coral gardens, and gigantic gorgonian sea fans await the adventurous diver. The currents also attract larger pelagics, making this area very attractive for divers hoping to glimpse some large marine life.

Manta Ray spottings are high and Mola season runs between August - October. Divers travel from all over the world for the chance to swim with these magnificently weird fish. Frogfish, reef sharks, turtles, nudibranch, and a large variety of corals are just some of the other things divers can expect to see.

Be aware that many of the dives are classified as drift dives due to the currents.

Dive Site Recommendations: Manta Point and Crystal Bay

Diving in Bali is the experience of a lifetime, and the ease at which divers can take to the water makes it even more attractive. It’s amazingly convenient to embark on day trips from places on the mainland, like Seminyak -  a good central location to reach Bali’s best sites. All dive operators in Seminyak offer daily dive trips to the above-mentioned locations, which are anywhere from 1 to 3 hours away.

Get the most out of your time in Bali by exploring the ocean as well as the land. It’s an experience you won’t soon forget!