Is Menjangan Island suitable for beginner divers?

Absolutely. Menjangan's typically calm currents, excellent visibility, and numerous sites with shallow reef tops make it one of Bali's best locations for beginners, while still offering dramatic walls that appeal to experienced divers.

What’s the best time of year to dive Menjangan?

The prime diving season is during Bali's dry season, from April to November. This period offers the calmest sea conditions and consistently excellent visibility, often exceeding 30 meters.

How much does diving at Menjangan Island typically cost?

Costs typically cover a two-dive trip and include boat transport from the mainland, a professional guide, tanks, weights, lunch, and national park fees. Prices vary between operators, so always request a clear breakdown of what's included.

Do I need any special equipment for Menjangan?

Standard recreational gear is sufficient. However, due to the stunning visibility and vibrant walls, an underwater camera is highly recommended. A dive computer is essential for managing multi-level profiles along the walls.

Can I see big marine life at Menjangan?

While Menjangan is famed for its macro life and pristine corals, it's common to spot turtles, reef sharks (whitetip and blacktip), and large schools of fish. Encounters with larger pelagics like whale sharks are very rare but not impossible.

Bali • West Bali National Park

Menjangan Island: Bali’s Pristine Underwater Sanctuary

Discover the world-class wall diving of Menjangan Island, a protected paradise in West Bali National Park. This is your definitive guide to its crystal-clear waters, vibrant reefs, and unforgettable marine encounters.

Explore the Guide Quick FAQs

A Diver's Guide to Menjangan Island

From its sheer walls to its tranquil coral gardens, Menjangan offers a diving experience that stands apart. This guide provides the practical, field-tested intelligence you need to plan a memorable trip to Bali's northwestern gem.

Far from the vibrant energy of south Bali lies a tranquil underwater haven: Menjangan Island. As a protected part of the West Bali National Park (Taman Nasional Bali Barat), its reefs have been shielded from over-development and destructive fishing, resulting in some of the healthiest and most diverse coral ecosystems in Bali. Known primarily for its spectacular wall diving, Menjangan is where clarity, colour, and calm converge.

Key Highlights for Your Dive Plan

Pristine Wall Dives: Menjangan is famed for its spectacular vertical walls, dropping to depths of 30–60 meters and covered in a tapestry of gorgonian sea fans, sponges, and soft corals.
Exceptional Visibility: The calm, protected waters often deliver visibility exceeding 30 meters, making it a photographer's dream and perfect for appreciating the sheer scale of the underwater topography.
Rich Biodiversity: The national park status ensures healthy corals and abundant marine life. Expect to see turtles, reef sharks, pygmy seahorses, and vast schools of fusiliers and anthias.
Calm Conditions: Sheltered from the strong currents found elsewhere in Bali, the sites here offer relaxed drift dives suitable for all experience levels, from newly certified divers to seasoned veterans.

Menjangan's Premier Dive Sites

While conditions on the day will determine the final plan, these are the signature sites that make Menjangan a world-class destination.

POS II

A classic Menjangan experience. This site offers a stunning wall dive that starts just meters from the surface, descending into the deep blue. It’s a fantastic multi-level dive profile, with the upper reef teeming with colourful reef fish and the deeper sections home to large gorgonians and occasional passing reef sharks. Perfect for: All levels, photography, classic wall diving.

Eel Garden

Named for the huge colony of garden eels on its sandy slope, this site transitions from a rich coral wall to a gentle slope. It’s a great spot for macro enthusiasts to hunt for nudibranchs, shrimp, and other critters in the crevices of the wall before drifting over the eel colony. Perfect for: Macro life, observing unique behaviours, drift diving.

Anchor Wreck (Anker Wreck)

Also known as the ‘Kapal Budak’ (Slave Ship), this is a small, 19th-century wooden shipwreck, though little of the vessel remains beyond its anchor and some encrusted timbers. The dive begins on a beautiful wall before leading down to the anchor at around 35 meters. Perfect for: Advanced divers, history enthusiasts, deep dives.

Understanding the Conditions: What to Expect

Diving at Menjangan is generally a comfortable and rewarding experience. Water temperatures are a pleasant 27-30°C (80-86°F) year-round. Currents are typically mild to non-existent, making it an excellent place to focus on buoyancy, photography, and simply enjoying the scenery without a struggle. Visibility is the star attraction, rarely dropping below 20 meters and often pushing 40 meters or more.

Planning Your Menjangan Dive Trip

Menjangan Island is uninhabited, so all dive trips are day trips originating from the mainland. Most dive operators are based in the nearby towns of Pemuteran or Lovina. A typical day trip involves:

Morning departure from your resort or dive center.
A short drive to the harbor, followed by a 30-40 minute boat ride to the island.
Two dives at different sites around Menjangan, with a surface interval on the boat or a nearby beach.
Lunch and refreshments are almost always included.
Return to the mainland in the mid-afternoon.

Remember that all visitors must pay a national park entrance fee, which is usually included in the price quoted by your dive operator. Always confirm this when booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Information is for guidance only. As a protected national park, access and regulations can change. Always follow your professional guide’s briefing and respect the local conservation rules.