CRYSTAL BAY

Crystal Bay is the name of a secluded cove with a 200-metre stretch of sand on the west coast of Nusa Penida. Despite its isolation, the bay is quite accessible thanks to well-developed roads. Besides its beautiful, palm-fringed beach, the bay is best known as one of Nusa Penida’s famous snorkelling and dive sites. The sea is safe to swim close to the shore and during calmer tides, with crystal-clear waters (hence its name). Divers praise the superb visibility, sometimes down to 30 metres. Crystal Bay is a short drive west from the Coco Resort Penida. This is one of the very few resorts on the island’s western region. Down at the dark-sand beach, you may find a couple of parasol-shaded sunbeds available for rent from locals.

How to Get to Crystal Bay

To Get to Crystal Bay Beach you have to go to Nusa Penida Island, you can catch a fast boat from several ports in Bali mainland. Regular speed boat services operate daily between Nusa Penida and Sanur in South Bali as well as between Nusa Penida and Kusamba and Padang Bai in East Bali. Tickets are IDR 175,000 per person for each way, and can be bought at the pier and leave at least once a day starting. The journey takes 40 to 50 minutes depending on the weather and the swell—in inclement weather this can be a rough trip. Exploring the island yourself by scooter will cost around IDR 70,000 and you can rent one straight from the harbour. However, the most convenient way is a day trip on a speedboat to Penida and tour around the sights for the day with a guide before returning back to Bali in the evening.

Best Time to Visit Crystal Bay

The best time to visit Crystal Bay Beach is between April and October, the island's dry season. However, July to September are the most ideal months to visit this beach since there is little rain and sometimes no rain at all. Note: This site can get very crowded during mola-mola ocean sunfish season (July-October). While it is a great dive site to spot mola-molas, there are plenty of other dive sites around Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. Where the chance to meet the elusive fish is just as good and where the smaller number of divers and boats makes the experience a lot nicer.

What to Expect at Crystal Bay

The beach is very nice to enjoy all day long, for example on a deck chair in the shade under a parasol. Crystal Bay is the most accessible beach in Nusa Penida. You can also get a drink, a coconut or some basic snacks at one of the beach warungs. In 2016 it was still possible to have dinner here, but after, the government operated a commando operation with the army, police and bulldozers. All illegally installed buildings were razed and burned.

The local population was rather shocked. At the time, two interpretations prevailed: some saw it as a sign of law enforcement to preserve the authentic character of the island. Others interpreted it as a desire to clear space for the building of a luxury hotel. The second interpretation seems most likely as the construction of a huge resort started in 2020. For now, the beach is still preserved, so let’s enjoy it while we can.

Snorkeling at Crystal Bay

Crystal Bay is, together with Gamat Bay, one of the best sites to go snorkeling in Nusa Penida. You can rent your snorkeling gear at one of the beach warungs to discover the coral and marine life of this beautiful spot. You can see turtles quite regularly, as well as a lot of different fish and very colorful coral. However, be careful as the current can be very strong here, as well as everywhere else in Nusa Penida. Don’t forget to bring your fins when you go into the water and don’t go too far out. You can use the mooring points of the boats that are parked in the bay as a reference point.

I recommend you not to go past these points. Also, don’t try to reach the rock in the middle of the bay, even though it’s tempting to check out the small temple that is built on top of this rock. Lastly, try to avoid swimming too close to the right side of the bay, as the waves might drag you onto the corals here at low tide. If you stick to these instructions, Crystal Bay is a great spot to discover the underwater world of Nusa Penida. The beach is, furthermore, also a good starting point for a boat trip to see Manta Rays at Manta Bay. You can book the trip directly with your hotel or try to ask any captain at Crystal Bay in the early morning.

Diving at Crystal Bay

​Crystal Bay is a renowned dive site for being one of the only places in the world to observe the mola-mola ocean sunfish. These massive pelagic fish that can weigh over 2,000kg and reach up to 3 meters long. Expect to meet and swim with them if diving between July and October. Go 30m deep to the sandy bottom of the ocean and lucky divers will almost certainly spot them.

Furthermore, you might also see dolphins, manta rays and reef sharks during your dive trip here. Although Crystal Bay is recommended for advanced divers, beginners or non-divers can also enjoy this bay by swimming near the shore during calmer tides. Most divers will love the exceptional visibility reaching up to 30m below. As the island is located between the Indian and Pacific Ocean.

Crystal Bay Entrance Ticket

No entrance fee required to visit Crystal Bay and beach, however it is just a small amount of IDR 5,000 for parking. And the payment should be cash in Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), so please prepare small cash before you come here.

Opening Hours : 06.00 AM - 06.00 PM