Snorkeling · Comparison
Snorkeling in Bali: Nusa Penida, Amed or Menjangan?
Manta rays at Nusa Penida, shore snorkeling in Amed or the reefs of Menjangan Island? Travel time, boat or shore, pickup and day length, with sources.
By Luca Godano
Updated
Nusa Penida snorkeling trip
Amed snorkeling trip
Menjangan Island snorkeling trip
Quick answer
Go to Nusa Penida for manta rays: a boat trip from Sanur, in strong currents. Choose Amed in east Bali to snorkel from the shore or a small local boat. Pick Menjangan Island for reefs in a national park, if you accept the longest trip from South Bali or stay nearby.
Checked 22 Oct 2026
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On this page
Comparison table
| Detail | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting there | Boat from Sanur, about 45 minutes [1][2] | By car, about 2 to 3 hours [3][4] | By car, about 4 hours, then a boat [5][6][7] |
| Snorkel from | A boat [1][8][2] | The shore or a traditional boat [3][9][4]One operator snorkels from the shore; others use a jukung, the local outrigger boat. | A boat [7][6][10] |
| Day length | 8–10 hours [11][8]From hotel pickup to drop-off, as stated by the operators. | 10 hours [9][4]From hotel pickup to drop-off, as stated by the operators. | Not confirmed |
| Hotel pickup | Varies [1][11][2]Most operators we checked collect you in South Bali; one meets you in Sanur and arranges the transfer at extra cost. | Yes [3][9] | Varies [7][5][6]Some tours collect you in South Bali; dive centres in Pemuteran meet you there. |
| Tours | See verified tours for Nusa Penida snorkeling trip | None verified yet | See verified tours for Menjangan Island snorkeling trip |
Checked 22 Oct 2026. See sources
How to choose
Start from what you want to see, then check how far you are willing to travel.
- Manta rays: of the three, only Nusa Penida has the manta spots, and no operator guarantees a sighting.
- Confidence in the water: the currents around Nusa Penida are strong and change quickly, so operators set swimming requirements. In Amed you can snorkel from the shore.
- Time on the road: Nusa Penida starts with a boat from Sanur; Amed and Menjangan are long drives, and Menjangan is the furthest. Dive centres in Pemuteran meet you there if you stay nearby.
- Park fees: Nusa Penida is a marine protected area and Menjangan is in a national park. Some tours include the fee and others charge it separately.
Nusa Penida snorkeling trip
A boat trip from Sanur to the reefs around Nusa Penida, including the spots where reef manta rays gather.
Good to know
Reef manta rays live around Nusa Penida all year. A study of sightings recorded about twice as many at Manta Point in May, but its survey effort varied, and the area's management plan links sightings to the rainy season. [12][13][14]
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Operators say manta sightings are not guaranteed, and that the spots depend on sea and weather conditions. [1][8][2]
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Manta rays are fully protected in Indonesia, and the waters of Nusa Penida are a marine protected area. [15][16]
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The protected area's code of conduct asks snorkellers to keep at least 3 metres from mantas at cleaning stations and 10 metres from free-swimming ones, and not to touch them, feed them or use flash. [14][17]
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Currents around Nusa Penida are strong and can change within hours, and upwelling brings cold water. [14][12]
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Requirements differ: one operator asks for people comfortable swimming in open water, aged 12 to 65; another excludes children under 6. [8][2]
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Tours we checked
Private tour · on GetYourGuide
Private snorkeling day around Nusa Penida, with six spots and lunch
- Getting there
- Private boat from Sanur, about 45 minutes [2]
- Hotel pickup
- No [2]You meet in Sanur; the operator arranges a hotel transfer at extra cost.
- Included
- Private boat, Entrance tickets, Lunch [2]
- Not included
- Hotel transfer [2]
- Main stops
- Manta Point, Secret Bay, Gamat Bay, Wall Bay, Mangrove Point [2]Six spots in all, depending on sea and weather conditions.
Amed snorkeling trip
A drive to east Bali to snorkel at Jemeluk Bay and the Japanese wreck, from the shore or a traditional boat.
Good to know
Tours we checked
We have not verified a booking for this option yet.
Menjangan Island snorkeling trip
A long drive to north-west Bali, then a boat to the reefs of Menjangan Island in West Bali National Park.
- Day length
- Not confirmed
Good to know
Menjangan Island is in West Bali National Park, which sells entry tickets; some tours include the park fee and others charge it separately. [19][5][10]
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Its reefs reach 40 metres in clear water, with eight diving and snorkeling spots, according to the finance ministry. [20]
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Operators choose the spots on the day according to sea conditions. [5]
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Tours we checked
Menjangan Island snorkeling by boat from Pemuteran, with lunch on board
- Getting there
- Boat from Pemuteran; you get to Pemuteran on your own [10]The boat leaves at 09:00 and is back in Pemuteran around 14:30 to 15:00, according to the operator.
- Snorkel from
- A boat [10]
- Included
- Boat from Pemuteran to Menjangan Island, Snorkeling equipment, Snorkeling guide, Lunch box, coffee and tea, Drinking water, local contribution and tax [10]
- Not included
- Menjangan marine park fee, Weekend and holiday park surcharge, Underwater camera [10]
Logistics
Manta rays are protected in Indonesia. The Nusa Penida code of conduct asks you to keep your distance, and not to touch them, feed them or use flash.
Operators choose the spots on the day according to sea and weather conditions, so the itinerary can change at short notice.
Questions
In which month are manta rays seen most often at Nusa Penida?
Reef mantas are there all year. A peer-reviewed study recorded the most sightings at Manta Point in May, but its survey effort varied, and the protected area’s management plan links sightings to the rainy season. No month guarantees a sighting.
Is snorkeling at Nusa Penida suitable for beginners?
The currents around the island are strong and can change within hours. Operators set different requirements: one asks for people comfortable swimming in open water. Ask the operator before you book and stay with the guide.
Can children snorkel in Amed?
One Amed operator takes young children, and you can snorkel from the shore there. Check the age limit with the operator you book.
Do I pay a park fee?
At Nusa Penida and Menjangan, tours mention a fee for the protected area. Some include it in the price and others charge it separately, so check what is included.
How we compared
We compared 3 options on 4 details. Each value links to its numbered source, and a detail we could not verify says “Not confirmed” instead of a guess.
We compared day trips from South Bali to three snorkeling areas. For travel time, pickup and what is included we used the operators’ own pages. For the protected areas, manta rays and currents we used the Indonesian marine affairs ministry, the Bali provincial government, the national park and peer-reviewed research. Each value links to its sources with the date we checked them.
Sources
- Nusa Penida Snorkeling | Blue Season Bali – Blue Season Bali (operator)Accessed
- Private Snorkeling Tour To Nusa Penida : 6 Snorkeling Spots & Manta Rays – Indo Compass (operator)Accessed
- Day Trip Snorkeling Amed – Dive Concepts (operator)Accessed
- AMED SNORKELING | The Exciting Bali Snorkeling Tour – Bali Snorkeling Tour (operator)Accessed
- Menjangan Snorkeling & Scuba Dive Packages | Private & Sharing – Herman Lovina Tour (operator)Accessed
- Bali Snorkeling | Menjangan Island | Pemuteran | Abyss Ocean World – Abyss Ocean World (operator)Accessed
- Menjangan Snorkeling Adventure Tour – Bali Magic Tour (operator)Accessed
- Nusa Penida Snorkeling Tour: Manta Rays & Coral Gardens | Bali Trekking Tour – Bali Trekking Tour (operator)Accessed
- Amed Snorkeling Tour | Private Snorkeling Trip – Bali Green Tour (operator)Accessed
- Snorkeling | Bali Diving Academy – Bali Diving Academy (operator)Accessed
- Nusa Penida Snorkeling Day Trip | Bali Diving Academy – Bali Diving Academy (operator)Accessed
- Contrasting Habitat Use and Population Dynamics of Reef Manta Rays Within the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area, Indonesia – Frontiers in Marine Science (peer-reviewed, 2019, CC BY)Accessed
- Nusa Penida manta ray nursery: Tourists and fishers key to survival – Marine Megafauna Foundation (research charity)Accessed
- Rencana Pengelolaan dan Zonasi Kawasan Konservasi Perairan (KKP) Nusa Penida, Kabupaten Klungkung, Provinsi Bali – Pemerintah Provinsi Bali, Dinas Kelautan dan Perikanan (2017)Accessed
- Keputusan Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan Nomor 4/KEPMEN-KP/2014 tentang Penetapan Status Perlindungan Penuh Ikan Pari Manta – Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan (marine affairs ministry)Accessed
- Keputusan Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan Nomor 24/KEPMEN-KP/2014 tentang Kawasan Konservasi Perairan Nusa Penida Kabupaten Klungkung di Provinsi Bali – Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan (marine affairs ministry)Accessed
- How to swim with manta rays (Manta Trust 10-step guide) – Convention on Migratory Species (UN), guide by the Manta TrustAccessed
- JEMELUK – AMED – Pemerintah Kabupaten KarangasemAccessed
- Taman Nasional Bali Barat – Balai Taman Nasional Bali Barat (Ministry of Forestry)Accessed
- Pesona Wisata Taman Nasional Bali Barat – Direktorat Jenderal Kekayaan Negara (finance ministry), 2020-10-05Accessed