Nusa Penida Snorkelling: Manta Rays & Coral Reefs Full Day

Three Reef Sites, Manta Rays, and a 45-Minute Boat Ride from Kuta

You're picked up from your South Bali hotel before dawn, transferred by speedboat to Nusa Penida, and guided through three snorkelling sites where manta rays, sea turtles, and nurse sharks move through clear water. Lunch and all gear are included. The boat returns you to Bali by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Hotel pickup from South Bali
• Speedboat transfer to Nusa Penida
• Safety briefing and gear-up
• Snorkel at Manta Point
• Snorkel at Gamat Bay
• Snorkel at Wall Point
• Enjoy set menu lunch and drinks
• Speedboat return to Bali
• Hotel drop-off in Bali

The Experience

The speedboat cuts through the Bali Strait at dawn, salt spray catching the light, and within forty-five minutes the water changes colour. You're at Manta Point now, and the guide points down — there, gliding past like a living shadow, a manta ray the size of a car. The visibility is clear enough that you see the whole thing: the wing-like fins, the mouth opening to feed, the smaller fish scattering around it. Sea turtles drift below, unbothered. A nurse shark moves through the blue. You're snorkelling at Nusa Penida, and the reef is doing exactly what it's supposed to do.

The day moves through three stops, each one different. Gamat Bay comes next — the water shallower, the coral alive with colour, schools of tropical fish so thick they block the light. The guide stays close, pointing out the detail you'd miss alone: the way certain fish hide in the branches, the texture of the reef itself. Then Wall Point, where the seafloor drops away and the biodiversity shifts again. You're not rushing between stops. There's time to breathe, to look, to let your eyes adjust to what's down there. Lunch happens on Nusa Penida itself — a set menu, cold drinks, a chance to sit still and let the salt dry on your skin while you're still processing what you've seen.

The whole thing is built around people who want to snorkel but don't want to arrange the boat, the gear, the timing, or figure out how to get from Kuta to the water. Hotel pickup starts at 7:15am from South Bali (Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Tanjung Benoa, Jimbaran), earlier if you're in Sanur, later if you're in Ubud. All the equipment is there — mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit if you want it. The guide is trained, the boat is fast, and the return transfer lands you back at your hotel by late afternoon. You don't have to think about logistics. You just show up and go underwater.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from South Bali or Ubud Centre.
• speedboat transfer to and from Nusa Penida.
• snorkelling equipment (mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit).
• snorkelling guide.
• entry to all three snorkelling sites (Manta Point, Gamat Bay, Wall Point).
• set menu lunch and cold drinks.
• air-conditioned vehicle transfers in Bali and Nusa Penida.
• all taxes and service charges.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Asian Trails LTD

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see manta rays and coral reefs from Kuta without arranging a boat, gear, or timing yourself — the full-day format and included transfers mean you're in the water by mid-morning and back at your hotel by evening.

Top questions

How long is the boat ride from Bali to Nusa Penida?

Approximately 45 minutes each way by speedboat.

What time is hotel pickup?

Between 7:15–7:30am from South Bali (Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Tanjung Benoa, Jimbaran); 7:30–7:45am from Sanur; 7:00–7:15am from Ubud Centre.

Is snorkelling equipment included?

Yes, all snorkelling gear, including mask, fins, snorkel, and wetsuit, is provided.

What are the three snorkelling sites?

Manta Point (manta rays, sea turtles, nurse sharks), Gamat Bay (coral reefs and tropical fish), and Wall Point (diverse marine life in clear water).

Is lunch included?

Yes, a set menu lunch and cold drinks are provided on Nusa Penida.

Do I need snorkelling experience?

No prior experience is required, but you should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness and be comfortable in the water.

Can children go on this tour?

Children aged 4 and older can participate. Children under 3 are not recommended.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Schedules are subject to change depending on weather conditions. The operator will advise if conditions make the tour unsafe.