Scuba Diving in Sanur

You’ve probably heard of Sanur, right? It’s that laid-back coastal town in Bali, famous for its gorgeous sunrises, calm beaches, and relaxed vibe. I personally think one of the most underrated places in South Bali to enjoy the gentle pace of island life. It’s a great place to chill by the sea with a wonderful beach walk, lots of great restaurants and an ideal place to maybe try some watersports.

Sanur is often perceived differently within the diving community. It’s not typically celebrated as a premier dive destination with world-class reefs directly offshore. Instead, its true significance to divers lies in its strategic location and excellent infrastructure, positioning it as a perfect launchpad or gateway to many of Bali’s most spectacular underwater sites.

While it’s true that few dive centres might focus their primary recreational trips on Sanur’s immediate dive spots compared to places like Nusa Penida or Tulamben, its value is undeniable, particularly for specific purposes. The sources highlight that Sanur dive sites are ideal for those short on time or who lack the stamina for longer travel to the north or Nusa Penida, offering quick, easy dives just a few minutes from the shore or harbour. You can often complete two dives and be finished by lunchtime.

One point you’ve raised is that there is a lot of boat traffic, making it not ideal. While the provided sources do not mention boat traffic as a specific challenge or reason why Sanur dive sites might be less ideal, they do note that underwater visibility depends heavily on tides and weather conditions, and current can become robust at times, impacting diving suitability. Conditions can vary due to big tidal changes, meaning it is not always possible to dive there.

Despite not always having the vibrant coral reefs or diverse marine life found elsewhere in Bali, Sanur’s dive sites possess their own positive attributes, making them particularly suitable for certain activities:

Ideal for Training: Sanur Bay, in particular, is described as the perfect place for PADI dive training. With calm and clear waters and minimal current, it allows divers to focus on honing their skills without distractions, making it excellent for courses like Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Divemaster practical training, and various specialty courses. Sites like Jeladi Willis also offer calm waters and gradual slopes suitable for beginners and different skill levels.
Convenience and Accessibility: The sites are incredibly close to shore and dive centres, offering easy access via speedboat or traditional boat. This makes it a practical choice, especially when combining diving with other activities or a beach vacation.
Notable Marine Life: While perhaps not as famous as other locations, Sanur can still offer captivating marine life encounters. Divers can spot colourful reef fish like Trumpetfish, Pufferfish, Porcupinefish, Sweetlips, Lionfish, and Clownfish. Schools of Catfish and Silverfish are seen. You might encounter sea snakes, Moray eels, blue spotted rays, cuttlefish, scorpion fish, octopus, and sometimes even turtles or White-tip reef sharks. Penjor Reef is noted for its healthy coral, macro life, and sometimes larger marine species like turtles. Some divers consider Penjor Reef’s macro life and healthy coral to be “as good as some of the more famous sites in Bali”.
Good for Beginners and Refreshers: The conditions are often suitable for beginners, course training, or refresher dives. Depths typically range from 3 to 20 metres, with some sites around 10m or 8-15m.

Beyond the immediate diving, Sanur truly shines as a strategic base for exploring Bali’s wider underwater world. It’s the undisputed king of convenience for accessing iconic sites like Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan via daily fast boats. These trips allow you to experience famous spots like Manta Point or Crystal Bay, often returning to Sanur the same evening. Sanur is also a comfortable starting point for road trips to Padang Bai (known for Blue Lagoon) or the macro and wreck diving havens of Amed and Tulamben (home to the USAT Liberty Wreck).

To touch upon the positive aspects of Sanur outside of diving, as you mentioned: Sanur’s strategic location isn’t just for dive site access; it provides a convenient base for exploring other parts of Bali. It boasts a pleasant beach walk and offers a wide variety of restaurants. Being fairly close to the airport also adds to its convenience for travellers arriving or departing. (Please note: These specific non-diving points about the beach walk, multitude of restaurants, and proximity to the airport are based on your query and are not detailed within the provided source excerpts.)

In summary, while Sanur itself may not be the primary destination for advanced reef diving compared to other locations, its convenience, suitability for training, interesting marine life encounters, and status as a strategic gateway to Bali’s most renowned dive sites make it a positive and valuable location for many divers and dive centres alike.