Our Guide to Snorkeling in Bali

Nusa Dua is the epicenter of Bali’s package holiday scene with numerous large family-friendly resorts and little in the way of local life to explore. With so many more interesting beaches to choose from it’s not an area we typically promote for accommodation, but it does offer some of the island’s most accessible snorkeling and as such is a good starting point for beginners and families. 

Much of the coastline here has big swells and strong currents, but with Nusa Dua reef forming a natural break, you’ll find easy shallow snorkel points around Tanjung Benoa north of Nusa Dua, and Geger Beach to the immediate south. These are shallow, easy-going reaches and more advanced snorkelers should consider one of the options below.

Far from the busy south coast, the peaceful coastal village of Pemuteran lies on the border of West Bali National Park and serves as the main gateway to Menjangan island, considered the best destination for snorkeling and diving in all of Bali. Accommodation is in a selection of comfortable hotels dotted along a quiet black sand beach.

Snorkel trips are taken out to Menjangan: an uninhabited island that sits wholly within the protected Bali Barat reserve, surrounded by rich, colorful coral. Sitting within a natural shelter, its waters are warm, calm, and clear year-round, making this one of Bali’s very best, and most accessible, diving and snorkeling spots. The underwater life here includes turtles, reef sharks, rays, nudibranchs, and shrimp. 

Candi Dasa sits on the southeastern coast of Bali. Like Amed and Pemuteran, it’s a laidback destination that again feels a world away from the busy resorts of southern Bali. With largely isolated black sand beaches and a selection of fine resorts, it is also a fine base for underwater exploration. 

The nearby ‘blue lagoon’ in Padang Bai is a sheltered cove, rich in coral and tropical fish, which is especially attractive for beginner snorkelers. As a busy village port, Padang Bai is also a jumping-off point for day trips to the Nusa islands, or further afield to the Gili Islands off the coast of Lombok. Hikes and cycling can also be arranged in the rolling hills of Sidemen just a short distance inland.