Snorkeling In Bali: 10 Spots To Explore Underwater And Hover Over Shipwrecks Of WWII

Famous for its beautiful surf beaches, the coast of Bali has much more to offer, especially to a snorkeling enthusiast and in this read you will find the best beach for snorkeling in Bali. Doesn’t matter if you are a new bee testing the waters or you are a seasoned snorkeler comfortable beneath the sheet of the sea level, Bali offers something for all. The best part is the diversity, you cannot possibly imagine what you could find under the sea level, it’s a whole world out there a hidden civilization. It’s a magnificent diving destination but for the ones not that keen on carrying a tank on their back and getting deep into Scuba, Bali’s underwater will not disappoint. For the ones not much into the technicalities of the sports of snorkeling, Bali is the go to place.

Bali is considered to be in the ‘Coral Triangle’ by the scientists and that means Bali has the most amazing splendor of marine biodiversity in the whole of the world.

But it’s not all turquoise blue, the waters in Bali can turn rough and you need to know your way around before you head straight. If you know exactly where to look for under the skin of the water you will find an enormous bio-diversity, the absolutely breathtaking coral reefs, crystal clear waters, baby sharks, WWII shipwreck and giant mantas and above all, the largest man-made coral reef in the world!

10 Gorgeous Spots To Go Snorkeling In Bali

Want to explore the underwater world and the blue waters of Bali? The best spots for snorkeling in Bali including the Blue Lagoon and Bali snorkeling day tours are listed below. Go, explore the stories buried in water:

1. Wreck Of The USAT Liberty, Tulamben

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While you dive in, watch out for the vibrant coral reef and marine life at the Wreck of the USAT Liberty in Tulamben. It is one of the most popular spots for snorkeling in Bali among divers in Bali. Here under the water you will find the wreck of American warship, the USAT Liberty. The ship was torpedoed during WWII as it was traversing the Lombok Strait. Though the ship Liberty eventually made it as far as Bali but by then it has already taken on too much water, it was then beached off Tulamben and fin.

If you are not an advance scuba diver or a freediver it is probably a bit of a stretch for you to try and get to the bottom of the wreck located 30 m deep but the top of the wreck reaches up to 5 m underwater. When the water is clearer much of the wrecks 125 m stretch can be seen from the surface. Head here for an amazing Bali snorkeling tour.

Average Cost: INR 4,500
Average Duration: 3-4 hours

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2. The Coral Garden, Tulamben

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There is more to Tulamben than the Liberty shipwreck, in fact, the highlight for snorkeler is the flamboyant Coral garden. Its a shallow reef that is almost on the surface and you can see its wonders as soon as you get into the water. Its a mixture of man-made coral reefs and organic ones. Its a 150 reef with both soft and hard corals spreading across from 3 m down till 12 m. At different hours of the day you can see different schools of butterfly fish and damsel fish, clown fish, eels, octopus, squid, barracuda and may be even trevally.
Don't forget to look for the underwater temple which is now blossoming with colorful marine vegetation. With an amazing marine life, you can experience the best snorkeling in Bali experience.

Average Cost: INR 4,000
Average Duration: 4-5 hours

3. Manta Point, Nusa Penida

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Manta Point is just off the coast of Nusa Penida and it is the only destination in Bali where you get to see the population of huge reef manta rays. Manta rays are funny creatures; they are the gentle giants of the seas known for their friendly approach to humans and curiosity. They emerge from deep get their skin plucked of parasites by a resident army of the cleaner fishes. These cleaner fishes stay at the coral mound just a little below the surface. You can see the amazing eco-system as you see these Manta rays continuously circling the coral mound to get their skin cleaned by the cleaner fishes, and being so close to the surface this entire episode can be witnessed by the snorkelers.

Average Cost: INR 1,200
Average Duration: Half day

4. Mangrove Point, Nusa Lembongan

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Famous for its natural nursery for the baby fishes the reefs around Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan, often get hit by strong currents and this poses a challenge to the snorkelers at times making it even unsafe. But the main snorkeling sight is the Mangrove Point which is located on the north side of Nusa Lembongan and in this side the currents are gentler and perfect for snorkeling. As the name suggests, the sigh is popular for the mangrove population nearby serving as a shallow nursery for thousands of baby fishes before they venture out into strong currents. Considered as the best place for snorkeling in Bali during the month of May-June.

Average Cost: INR 800
Average Duration: 3 hours

5. Pos Dua, Menjangan Island

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This one is considered to be one of the most pristine snorkeling destinations in Bali as you get to see and swim across an abyss with incredible visibility! The place offers a variety of under crowded coral reefs. And the absolute spectacle is Pos Dua which is especially popular for being unreal in its visibility with which you can see as deep as 40 m down or more at times.

Average Cost: INR 1,500
Average Duration: 4 hours

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6. The Coral Garden, Menjangan Island

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Here is yet another coral garden and this ones at the north-west Coast of Menjangan Island. It is arguably the best spot for snorkeling for beginners and experienced divers alike. It is famous for being the ocean garden with the wild sea turtles. The exotic marine life will surprise you as much as the experience. You can only imagine the level of excitement the ocean creates while you spend some amazing time under the waters of Bali. Considered as one of the best spots for snorkeling in Bali that give an amazing level of adrenaline.

Average Cost: INR 5,000
Average Duration: 1 day

7. Lipah Bay, Amed

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Its a black sand bay and the waters are tranquil, located by the bay near the town of Amed. Amed snorkeling in Bali is pretty famous as this is the best place to snorkel in Bali. Here you can see wonderful reef with hard and soft corals. And, Lipah Bay also happens to be the last resting place for the wrecked WWII Japanese patrol boat. Its very easy to reach as the top of the wreck is just at 6 m down and the bottom is at 12 m. The entire wreck can be easily seen from the surface on a day with a good visibility. Its absolutely accessible to free divers.

Average Cost: INR 1,000
Average Duration: 4 hours

8. Jemeluk Bay, Amed

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For easy snorkelers, snorkeling in Bali at the Jemeluk Bay, near the township of Amed is the best bet. This also happens to be one of the most picturesque beaches in Bali. The waters here are crystal clear and blue. Get to experience the gorgeous coral formations and fish of colors that signify the rainbow cycle. You also see green chromis, batfish shoals, sixbar weasse and a huge amount of marine life.

Average Cost: INR 1,500
Average Duration: 4 hours

9. Biorock Reefs, Pemuteran

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Located off the coast of a small fishing village on the remote north east coast of Bali is the beautifully scenic Pemuteran Bay. The bay is famous for sheltering one of the largest Bio-rock artificial reef project in the world. A bio-rock is a kind of cement-like substance using which marine engineers can create structures that will eventually be the habitat for corals, clams, oysters, and other marine creatures. This way the coral reefs previously decimated by waves can be brought back to life. To add to the snorkeling fun one can also explore sea turtles, reef sharks and on their lucky days even the whale sharks.

Average Cost: INR 1,000
Average Duration: 5 hours

10. Shark Island, Serangan

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To save the near extinction of the common reef sharks that once prowled the coral reef of Bali, the initiative of Bali Sharks offers a sanctuary for baby sharks and for snorkelers its double the fun, they get to swim with the sharks. The founders of this initiative, Bali Sharks have created an artificial shark island in Serangan. These beautiful black and white tip reef sharks are kept securely in large sea pens in the open ocean. The healthy once are eventually released back into the ocean. Once you see these incredible creatures up close you will never be scared of a shark again!

Average Cost: INR 7,000
Average Duration: 1 day

Tips For Snorkeling

Well, if you have made up your mind about snorkeling in Bali but still have a few things that might come up in your mind about the amazing water activity, then we are here to answer them. Here, we present to you, a few tips and tricks about snorkeling in general that you must keep in mind while being a part of this sport:

Your mask should fit correctly as they come in different shapes and sizes. There should be no air leak.
The fins used during snorkeling should not be too loose or too tight.
Put on a lot of sunscreen to steer away from the scorch of tropical Bali.
Float calmly without applying too much energy to relax under the sun.
Do not harm or mess with the coral life. They are there because it’s their habitat, not yours!
It is always great to wear a wet suit as it protects you from stingy particles in the ocean.

Further Read: 10 Things To Do In Ubud For An Adventure Instilled Bali Vacation

Explore the exotic wonders of the underwater by snorkeling in Bali today! Plan your trip to Bali with us to make it a vacation to remember the best times of your life. You can explore anything from underwater wreckage of war to ancient temples sunk by the test of nature. Can you just anticipate the level of insane experience you are going to have? Well, imagine, explore all you want and don’t forget to share your experience with TravelTriangle!

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