Diving Crystal Bay in Nusa Penida

I dove Crystal Bay in July 2026 with Scuba Center Asia Lembongan, by boat out of Lembongan, about a 30-minute ride out.

Crystal Bay sits on the east side of Nusa Penida and is typically dived in combination with Manta Point.

The main draw here is Mola Mola. When they're in season, this is one of the most reliable spots on the island to find them.

The Dive

The dive starts over some of the most colorful soft coral I've seen anywhere, dense and vivid across the reef.

From there, the dive works toward the thermocline at around 100ft, where the water visibly blurs as the temperature layers meet, and where the Mola Mola show up. I ran into two of them at that depth.

Marine Life

Dive Conditions

Visibility was 30m (~98ft) on my dive.

The thermocline sits around 100ft and noticeably blurs the water where the temperature layers meet, which is also where the Mola Mola tend to be.

Check with Scuba Center Asia Lembongan directly on current Mola Mola activity before booking, since sightings depend on season.

Logistics

I did this as a boat dive out of Lembongan, not Penida. It's about a 30-minute ride to the site.

It's commonly paired with Manta Point on the same trip. You can stay on Nusa Penida, but I prefer the infrastructure and lifestyle that Lembongan has.