Nusa Penida
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Why dive in Nusa Penida?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 10
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Variable Frequent sightingsGiant Oceanic Manta Ray
Mobula birostris
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is the world's largest ray, with a disc width that can reach up to 9 meters. It is a circumglobal species found in tropical to temperate pelagic waters, often near coastlines, reefs, and in the open ocean, diving to depths of 1,000 meters. These filter feeders primarily consume zooplankton, including mesopelagic sources, and can also eat small fish. While generally solitary, they aggregate at feeding grounds and cleaning stations. The species is currently listed as Endangered due to overfishing and low reproductive rates.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreen Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGrey Reef Shark
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
The Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a medium to large-sized requiem shark, common in Indo-Pacific coral reefs and adjacent waters. Characterized by its grey body and a distinctive broad black band on the trailing edge of its caudal fin, it is a fast and agile predator. These sharks are known for their social daytime aggregations, which disperse at night for individual hunting.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a medium-sized marine turtle recognizable by its distinctive hawk-like beak and overlapping scutes, which create a serrated edge on its carapace. Primarily found in tropical coral reefs, it plays a crucial role in these ecosystems by feeding mainly on sponges, which are toxic to most other animals. This species is critically endangered due to historical exploitation for its beautiful shell and ongoing threats like habitat loss and bycatch.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHumphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
The Humphead Wrasse is one of the largest reef fish, identifiable by a prominent hump on its forehead and thick fleshy lips. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female and some transition to males later in life. This carnivorous species plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by preying on hard-shelled invertebrates and toxic animals like the crown-of-thorns starfish.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsOcean Sunfish
Mola mola
The Ocean Sunfish is one of the heaviest known bony fish, notable for its round, flat body. It often basks on its side at the surface of the ocean and is a diurnal predator feeding primarily on jellyfish.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsOcellated Eagle Ray
Aetobatus ocellatus
The Ocellated Eagle Ray, also known as the Whitespotted Eagle Ray, is a large ray characterized by a dark greenish-grey to black dorsal surface covered with numerous white spots, and a white underside. It possesses a flattened, diamond-shaped body, a prominent snout, and a long, whip-like tail armed with venomous spines. This species primarily feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates, such as mollusks and crustaceans, which it crushes with its specialized dental plates.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsReef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
The Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) is a large filter-feeding ray found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs and coastal areas. Known for its pelagic lifestyle, it feeds on zooplankton and exhibits complex social behaviors, often forming aggregations at feeding or cleaning stations. This species is listed as Vulnerable due to threats from overfishing and its slow reproductive rate.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsWeedy Scorpionfish
Rhinopias frondosa
The Weedy Scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) is a marine ray-finned fish known for its exceptional camouflage, with a highly compressed body covered in weed-like tentacles and skin flaps that vary in color. It is an ambush predator, primarily nocturnal, feeding on fish and small invertebrates. This species rarely swims, preferring to crawl along the seabed using its fins, often swaying to mimic algae or debris.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsWhitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
The Whitetip Reef Shark is a slender, medium-sized shark easily identified by the distinctive white tips on its dorsal and upper caudal fins. Primarily nocturnal, it spends its days resting in caves and under ledges on coral reefs and hunts at night for bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. These sharks are generally social, often found in groups during the day, but can hunt individually or cooperatively.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 60
Barred Thicklip WrasseHemigymnus fasciatus
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Blue-Ringed OctopusHapalochlaena spp.
Blue-barred ParrotfishScarus ghobban
Bluering AngelfishPomacanthus annularis
Bluespotted CornetfishFistularia commersonii
Bluestreak Cleaner WrasseLabroides dimidiatus
Blunt-head ParrotfishChlorurus microrhinos
Broadclub CuttlefishSepia latimanus
Brownbanded Bamboo SharkChiloscyllium punctatum
Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidus
Bumphead ParrotfishBolbometopon muricatum
Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillum
Commerson's FrogfishAntennarius commerson
Coral HindCephalopholis miniata
Delicate Ghost PipefishSolenostomus leptosoma
Ember ParrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator
Eschmeyer's ScorpionfishRhinopias eschmeyeri
Flamboyant CuttlefishMetasepia pfefferi
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus
Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilis
Great BarracudaSphyraena barracuda
Guineafowl PufferArothron meleagris
Halimeda Ghost PipefishSolenostomus halimeda
Jenkins' WhiprayPateobatis jenkinsii
Lacy ScorpionfishRhinopias aphanes
Latticed ButterflyfishChaetodon rafflesii
Leaf ScorpionfishTaenianotus triacanthus
LionfishPterois spp.
Mimic OctopusThaumoctopus mimicus
Orange-lined TriggerfishBalistapus undulatus
Orbicular BatfishPlatax orbicularis
Ornate Ghost PipefishSolenostomus paradoxus
Painted FrogfishAntennarius pictus
Palette SurgeonfishParacanthurus hepatus
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Pygmy SeahorseHippocampus bargibanti
Redtooth TriggerfishOdonus niger
Ribbon EelRhinomuraena quaesita
Snowflake MorayEchidna nebulosa
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Spotted SeahorseHippocampus kuda
StonefishSynanceia verrucosa
Teira BatfishPlatax teira
Thorny SeahorseHippocampus histrix
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Tiger Tail SeahorseHippocampus comes
Titan TriggerfishBalistoides viridescens
Tomato ClownfishAmphiprion frenatus
Valentin's Sharpnose PufferCanthigaster valentini
Warty FrogfishAntennarius maculatus
Wunderpus OctopusWunderpus photogenicus
Yellow BoxfishOstracion cubicus
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellow-lipped Sea KraitLaticauda colubrina
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Yellowspot TrevallyCarangoides fulvoguttatus
Zebra SharkStegostoma tigrinum
Where is Nusa Penida
Indian Ocean · Indonesia
Frequently asked questions about Nusa Penida
When is the best time to dive in Nusa Penida?
The best time to dive in Nusa Penida is from April to November. In those months the water is between 18°C and 28°C.
What marine life can you see diving in Nusa Penida?
Divers can encounter 70 species in Nusa Penida. Highlights include Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, Green Sea Turtle, Grey Reef Shark, Hawksbill Sea Turtle, Humphead Wrasse, and Ocean Sunfish.
When can you see the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray in Nusa Penida?
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is most often seen in Nusa Penida from May to September.
When can you see the Grey Reef Shark in Nusa Penida?
The Grey Reef Shark is most often seen in Nusa Penida from March to October.
When can you see the Hawksbill Sea Turtle in Nusa Penida?
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is most often seen in Nusa Penida from May to October.
What is the water temperature in Nusa Penida?
Water temperature in Nusa Penida ranges from 18°C in August to 29°C in January.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Nusa Penida?
Most divers wear a 7 mm wetsuit in August, when the water drops to 18°C, and a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty in January, when it reaches 29°C.
What is the visibility like when diving in Nusa Penida?
Visibility in Nusa Penida ranges from 15 m to 39 m. The water is clearest from June to September.
What are the currents like in Nusa Penida?
Divers in Nusa Penida can expect moderate, strong, light, or very strong currents, depending on the month and the dive site.
What can you see on a night dive in Nusa Penida?
After dark, Nusa Penida reveals nocturnal species such as Weedy Scorpionfish, Whitetip Reef Shark, Brownbanded Bamboo Shark, Giant Moray, Lacy Scorpionfish, and Leaf Scorpionfish.
Where is Nusa Penida located?
Nusa Penida is a dive destination in Indonesia, in the Indian Ocean.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Nusa Penida. Spotted something that looks off?
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