Can you dive Bali all year?

Not everywhere at once. Counting all 3 areas, 6 months of the year have somewhere at its best; the rest are workable but off peak.

How warm is the water in Bali?

27 to 30 °C across the year, depending on the area and the month. Each area's page gives its own month-by-month temperatures.

Can you dive Bali from the shore?

Yes, at Tulamben / Amed. The other 2 are boat dives.

What can you see diving in Bali?

The headline animals are reef manta and bump-head sunfish. Each area's page lists everything recorded near it, with the months it was seen.

Asia-Pacific

Best Time to Dive in Bali

3 dive areas, each scored on its own. The season peaks May–September at Menjangan and Tulamben / Amed, and July–October at Nusa Penida. You can dive from the shore at Tulamben / Amed; the rest are boat dives.

The 3 dive areas in Bali, compared month by month
	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Menjangan	January: Off season	February: Off season	March: Moderate	April: Good	May: Good	June: Good	July: Good	August: Good	September: Good	October: Good	November: Moderate	December: Off season
Nusa Penida	January: Off season	February: Off season	March: Off season	April: Off season	May: Off season	June: Off season	July: Good	August: Good	September: Good	October: Good	November: Off season	December: Off season
Tulamben / Amed	January: Off season	February: Off season	March: Off season	April: Good	May: Good	June: Good	July: Good	August: Good	September: Good	October: Good	November: Good	December: Off season

Off season Moderate Good

Bali compared

Side by side

The 3 dive areas in Bali, compared on season, water, visibility and how they are dived
Dive area	Best time	Water	Visibility	Dived from	Suits
Menjangan	May–Sep	28–30 °C	15–30 m	day boat	Open Water
Nusa Penida	Jul–Oct	27–29 °C	15–30 m	day boat	Advanced Open Water
Tulamben / Amed	May–Sep	28–30 °C	20–30 m	day boat and shore diving	Open Water

Water and visibility are the whole year's range at each area, coldest month to warmest. Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a.

Which area to pick

Menjangan: Best from May to September. Same season as Tulamben / Amed. It suits Open Water divers.
Nusa Penida: Best from July to October.
Tulamben / Amed: Best from May to September. Same season as Menjangan. It suits Open Water divers and is dived only from day boats and the shore.

Bali month by month

Two or more areas are good at once in April to October: the time to combine them in one trip.

Jan–Feb: Nowhere at its best.
Mar: Nowhere at its best; Menjangan is workable.
Apr–Jun: Good at Menjangan and Tulamben / Amed. Off season at Nusa Penida.
Jul–Oct: Every area is good.
Nov: Good at Tulamben / Amed. Off season at Nusa Penida.
Dec: Nowhere at its best.

Menjangan

May–Sep

Plan for May to September, when the rain backs off — 7 wet days a month instead of 20. Too few records to show a wildlife season, so the weather picks the month. The wider season runs April to October.

Menjangan conditions month by month
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
January: Off season	February: Off season	March: Moderate	April: Good	May: Good	June: Good	July: Good	August: Good	September: Good	October: Good	November: Moderate	December: Off season

Off season Moderate Good

Water: 28–30 °C
Wear: skin or 3 mm shorty
Dived from: day boat
Suits: Open Water

Menjangan month by month →

Nusa Penida

Jul–Oct

Go July to October. Conditions are at their best, and the draw is the mola at Crystal Bay — the reef mantas at Manta Point are resident and dived all year.

Nusa Penida conditions month by month
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
January: Off season	February: Off season	March: Off season	April: Off season	May: Off season	June: Off season	July: Good	August: Good	September: Good	October: Good	November: Off season	December: Off season

Off season Good

Water: 27–29 °C
Wear: 3 mm full suit
Dived from: day boat
Suits: Advanced Open Water

Known for Reef manta, Bump-head sunfish

Nusa Penida month by month →

Tulamben / Amed

May–Sep

Divers come for the USAT Liberty wreck and the black-sand muck alongside it. That does not change through the year, so go when the weather is best: May to September. The full season runs April to November.

Tulamben / Amed conditions month by month
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
January: Off season	February: Off season	March: Off season	April: Good	May: Good	June: Good	July: Good	August: Good	September: Good	October: Good	November: Good	December: Off season

Off season Good

Water: 28–30 °C
Wear: skin or 3 mm shorty
Dived from: day boat and shore diving
Suits: Open Water

Known for Reef manta, Bump-head sunfish

Tulamben / Amed month by month →

Diving in Bali: common questions

When is the best time to dive Bali?: It depends which area. The season peaks May–September at Menjangan and Tulamben / Amed, and July–October at Nusa Penida.
Can you dive Bali all year?: Not everywhere at once. Counting all 3 areas, 6 months of the year have somewhere at its best; the rest are workable but off peak.
How warm is the water in Bali?: 27 to 30 °C across the year, depending on the area and the month. Each area's page gives its own month-by-month temperatures.
Can you dive Bali from the shore?: Yes, at Tulamben / Amed. The other 2 are boat dives.
What can you see diving in Bali?: The headline animals are reef manta and bump-head sunfish. Each area's page lists everything recorded near it, with the months it was seen.