Best time to dive Nusa Penida
Mola mola come shallow to cleaning stations with cold upwelling, core window July–September (sometimes May–November). Reef mantas are at Manta Point year-round. Strong, cold, unpredictable currents.
Peak season: July–October
Overall diving, month by month
Balanced scoring · forecasts include the 2026/27 El Niño outlook
Confidence: Nov medium · Dec medium · Jan medium · Feb medium · Mar medium · Apr medium · May medium · Jun medium · Jul medium · Aug medium · Sep medium · Oct low · Nov low · Dec low
What's good when
Each attribute scored 0–10 for every month
| Nov2026 | Dec | Jan2027 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelagic & big animals | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Macro life | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Coral & reef health | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Visibility | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Water temperature | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 |
| Weather & sea state | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| Operations & access | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Climate outlook
How this year's forecast differs from a typical year
- Weather & sea state +1 · El Niño makes the wet season drier (Nov 2026 – April 2027)
- Water temperature -0.8 °C · Indonesian seas run cooler during El Niño (Nov 2026 – April 2027)
- Coral & reef health -1 · El Niño sea-level drop and heat stress damage shallow reefs (Nov 2026 – December 2027)
Water temperature & visibility
| Month | Water | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 25.8 °C (78 °F) | 15–25 m |
| December 2026 | 27.2 °C (81 °F) | 10–20 m |
| January 2027 | 27.3 °C (81 °F) | 10–20 m |
| February 2027 | 27.4 °C (81 °F) | 10–20 m |
| March 2027 | 27.6 °C (82 °F) | 15–25 m |
| April 2027 | 27.2 °C (81 °F) | 15–25 m |
| May 2027 | 26.3 °C (79 °F) | 20–30 m |
| June 2027 | 24.9 °C (77 °F) | 15–25 m |
| July 2027 | 23.5 °C (74 °F) | 15–25 m |
| August 2027 | 22.6 °C (73 °F) | 15–25 m |
| September 2027 | 23.1 °C (74 °F) | 15–25 m |
| October 2027 | 24.7 °C (76 °F) | 15–25 m |
| November 2027 | 26.7 °C (80 °F) | 15–25 m |
| December 2027 | 28.2 °C (83 °F) | 10–20 m |
Marine life calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mola mola | ● | ● | Peak | Peak | Peak | ● | ||||||
| reef manta | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| turtles | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Peak = best odds · ● = regularly seen · blank = unlikely. Calendar months, every year.
About the diving
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Current strength
- 5 / 5
- Luxury level
- 4 / 5
- Typical depth
- 5–30 m
- Max depth of interest
- 40 m
- Dive styles
- Day boat, Resort
- Suggested certification
- Advanced Open Water
- Nearest airport
- DPS
- Snorkelling
- Good
- Known for
- mola mola, reef manta, turtles
Famous sites: Crystal Bay · Manta Point · Blue Corner · Toyapakeh
Season notes & sources
- Mola mola come shallow to cleaning stations with cold upwelling, core window July–September (sometimes May–November). Reef mantas are at Manta Point year-round. Strong, cold, unpredictable currents.