Sanur stands as one of Bali's best locations for scuba diving adventures. This calm coastal town serves as the perfect starting point for underwater explorers. Whether you want to swim with manta rays, discover ancient shipwrecks, or earn your diving certificate, Sanur's dive centers offer everything you need.​

The beauty of choosing Sanur for your diving journey lies in its location. The town sits just minutes from the harbor that connects to Nusa Penida's famous dive sites. You can reach the legendary USAT Liberty shipwreck in Tulamben within two hours. Plus, Sanur's calm atmosphere and easy transport make it ideal for divers of all skill levels.​

Why Sanur is Perfect for Scuba Diving

Sanur offers unique advantages that make it stand out among Bali's diving destinations. The town hosts numerous PADI 5-star dive centers with experienced instructors who speak multiple languages. Most dive centers provide free hotel pick-up services from Sanur, Kuta, Seminyak, and nearby areas.​

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The local dive sites near Sanur Beach work great for training and beginner dives. Sites like Sanur Channel and Jeladi Willis feature gentle slopes with depths ranging from 8 to 15 meters. These spots let you practice skills in safe conditions while still seeing colorful marine life including trumpetfish, pufferfish, lionfish, and sea snakes.​

From Sanur Harbor, speedboats reach Nusa Penida in just 45 minutes. This makes day trips to see manta rays and Mola Mola easy and convenient. You can finish a full day of diving and return to Sanur by early afternoon.​

Top Dive Sites Accessible from Sanur

Dive centers in Sanur take you to Bali's most stunning underwater locations. Each site offers different experiences based on your skill level and interests.

• Nusa Penida ranks as the most popular destination for certified divers. The waters around this island feature strong currents and dramatic underwater landscapes. Manta Point and Manta Bay let you observe manta rays year-round at cleaning stations around 10-12 meters deep. Between July and October, Crystal Bay becomes famous for Mola Mola sightings when these massive sunfish rise from deeper waters.​

• Tulamben hosts the famous USAT Liberty shipwreck. This 120-meter cargo ship from World War II sits parallel to shore at depths between 3 and 29 meters. The wreck attracts thousands of divers each year with its easy shore access and rich marine life covering the structure.​

• Padang Bai appeals to divers who love macro photography and diverse marine life. Blue Lagoon provides perfect conditions for beginners with its protected white sandy slopes and scattered coral bommies. The Jetty dive site showcases unusual creatures like rhinopias, giant frogfish, and ornate ghost pipefish.​

• Amed offers a mix of wall dives, muck diving, and healthy coral gardens. The area features multiple shore dive sites with traditional Jukung boat access. Divers often spot turtles, colorful reef fish, and interesting macro subjects.​

12 Best Scuba Diving Centers in Sanur

1. Bali Fun Diving

• Address: No.455 C, Jl. Tukad Balian, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Denpasar City, Bali 80224

• Rating: 4.9

Bali Fun Diving operates as an official SSI Dive Centre Partner with qualified instructors who have over ten years of experience. The center focuses on small group ratios and provides comfortable, high-quality equipment. They offer boutique diving services, daily trips, and customizable dive safari packages that combine diving with cultural tours and land activities.​

2. Dune Atlantis Bali

• Address: 77W4+3RP, Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai.96E, Sanur Kauh, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228

• Rating: 4.9

Operating for 25 years, Dune Atlantis Bali (formerly Atlantis International Bali) serves as a Career Development Center. They own speedboats that depart directly from Sanur Beach to Nusa Penida. The center provides multilingual instruction in English, Indonesian, and Chinese. They also operate Dune Penida with an infinity pool for training and the Aurora liveaboard for extended diving adventures.​

3. Zero Gravity Diving Bali

• Address: Jl. Sekuta No.40, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228

• Rating: 5.0

Zero Gravity Diving Bali holds a perfect 5.0 rating. The center organizes 45-minute speedboat trips from Sanur to explore Nusa Penida's rich underwater life. They specialize in encounters with manta rays and bamboo sharks while maintaining high safety standards.​

4. Ocean Gravity Dive Center Bali

• Address: Jl. Bet Ngandang II No.21, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80227

• Rating: 4.9

Ocean Gravity operates as an SSI dive facility offering programs from Basic Diver to professional levels. Their Basic Diver program includes theory, confined water skills practice, and two supervised ocean dives. The center picks up students at 7:00 AM and provides comprehensive training with experienced SSI instructors.​

5. Crystal Divers - PADI IDC Center

• Address: Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai Gang Griya No.6, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228

• Rating: 4.9

Crystal Divers serves as a PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre conveniently located in Sanur. The center receives consistent praise for safety standards, professional instructors, and well-maintained equipment. They organize day trips to Nusa Penida and Tulamben while offering courses from beginner to instructor level. Reviewers especially mention instructors like Jacob, Minni, Saint, and George for their expertise and friendly approach.​

6. Bali Aqua Dive Center

• Address: Bali Aqua, Jl. Sekar Waru No.1 lt 1, Sanur Kauh, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228

• Rating: 4.8

Bali Aqua operates as a PADI 5-star dive center with an experienced international team since 2008. They provide daily dive trips to Nusa Penida by speedboat, choosing sites based on sea conditions and diver experience. The center features a spacious, air-conditioned facility and offers personalized dive packages plus multi-day safaris. Their commitment to eco-friendly practices and environmental conservation sets them apart.​

7. Bali Diving Academy

• Address: corner of, Jl. Sekuta Gg. Kalpataru, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228

• Rating: 4.9

Bali Diving Academy functions as a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development dive center. They opened their flagship Sanur location in November 2022. The center offers free pick-up for diving and snorkeling day trips from South Bali and Ubud areas. Their full range of activities includes Discover Scuba Diving, Open Water courses, and professional Divemaster training.​

8. Neptune Scuba Diving Bali

• Address: Jl. Suka Merta, Sanur Kauh, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228

• Rating: 4.7

Neptune Scuba Diving holds recognition as one of Sanur's best dive shops with 99.99% five-star reviews on TripAdvisor and Google. Their multilingual team speaks Indonesian, English, Romanian, and Chinese. The center specializes in personalized small group diving experiences to sites like Nusa Penida, Tulamben, and Amed. They maintain detailed information about local dive sites including visibility ranges and marine life expectations.​

9. Nico Dives Cool Bali Diving Center

• Address: Jl. Sekuta No.114, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228

• Rating: 5.0

Nico Dives Cool ranks #1 out of 321 tours in Sanur on TripAdvisor. The center organizes small diving and snorkeling groups with usually no more than two students per instructor. They focus on personalized activities and receive consistent 5-star ratings across TripAdvisor, Google, and Facebook. Unlike some centers, they avoid training dives in Sanur itself, preferring sites like the USS Liberty wreck and Blue Lagoon for first-time divers.​

10. Bali Scuba

• Address: Jl. Danau Poso No.46, Sanur Kauh, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228

• Rating: 4.8

Bali Scuba operates as a multiple award-winning PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre with over 20 years of experience and a 100% safety record. They employ fun, friendly, multilingual instructors and support environmental programs. The center offers all PADI courses from beginner to professional level with tailor-made services. Their Sanur diving trips start at 8:00 AM and finish by noon, perfect for those with limited time.​

11. Diving-Indo

• Address: Jl. Danau Poso No.53A, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80227

• Rating: 5.0

Diving-Indo maintains a perfect 5.0 rating. The center provides comprehensive dive packages including their "Manta Meets Mola" program focused on Nusa Penida encounters. They offer packages ranging from 2 to 5 days with 6 to 15 dives, including discounts for longer packages. Their trips emphasize positive emotions, friendly atmosphere, and world-class safety with a maximum of 4 divers per guide.​

12. S.E.A. Diving Bali Sanur

• Address: Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Sanur, Denpasar, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80228

• Rating: 4.9

S.E.A. Diving Bali Sanur rounds out this list with excellent ratings. The center provides professional diving services with experienced instructors. They organize daily trips to popular dive sites around Bali while maintaining high safety standards and quality equipment.

When to Go Diving in Sanur

The best time for diving in Sanur runs from April to October during the dry season. These months offer calm seas, excellent visibility, and water temperatures between 27-30°C. This period also marks peak tourist season, so book your diving trips in advance.​

For manta ray encounters at Nusa Penida, visit during April and May when conditions are optimal. To see the famous Mola Mola (ocean sunfish), plan your dives between July and October when these massive fish rise to cleaning stations from deeper waters.​

Diving remains possible during the rainy season from November to March. Water temperatures stay between 26-29°C, and you can still see diverse marine life including frogfish, seahorses, and nudibranchs. However, visibility may decrease, and currents can become stronger and less predictable.​

What You'll See Underwater

Bali's waters belong to the Coral Triangle, hosting over 600 coral species and 75% of the world's coral varieties. The incredible biodiversity means every dive brings new discoveries.​

At Nusa Penida, manta rays glide gracefully at cleaning stations, often swimming in circles just meters from divers. Between July and October, you might spot Mola Mola, the world's largest bony fish, which can weigh over 1,000 kilograms. White-tip and black-tip reef sharks patrol the reefs, while sea turtles munch on coral and seagrass.​

The USS Liberty wreck teems with life. Soft corals cover the structure in vibrant colors. Schools of jackfish and barracuda circle the wreck, while smaller creatures like nudibranchs and ghost pipefish hide in the nooks. Night dives here reveal hunting lionfish and sleeping parrotfish.​

Padang Bai's macro sites showcase unusual species. Look for ornate ghost pipefish swaying in the current, blue-ringed octopuses hiding in rubble, and frogfish camouflaged against coral. The reefs support healthy populations of sweetlips, angelfish, and butterflyfish.​

Learning to Dive in Sanur

Sanur's dive centers provide comprehensive training programs for all skill levels. Most centers offer PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) courses, the world's most recognized diving certification.​

• Discover Scuba Diving programs let first-timers try diving without full certification. These experiences include basic theory, pool or shallow water skills practice, and one or two supervised ocean dives. Programs typically take one day and cost around IDR 1,350,000 to 1,800,000.​

• PADI Open Water Diver courses take 3-4 days and certify you to dive anywhere in the world with a buddy. The course includes knowledge development (often completed online before arrival), pool sessions to practice skills, and 4 ocean dives. Certification allows diving to 18 meters depth independently.​

• Advanced Open Water Diver courses enhance your skills through 5 specialty dives. You learn deep diving, navigation, and three other specialties of your choice. This certification allows diving to 30 meters and opens access to more challenging sites.​

All training uses modern, well-maintained equipment. Instructors maintain small student-to-teacher ratios (typically 2-4 students per instructor) to ensure personal attention and safety. Most dive centers provide equipment rental, free hotel pick-up, lunch, and marine park fees in their course prices.​

Getting Around Sanur

Transportation in Sanur is straightforward, making it easy to reach dive centers and harbor departure points. The area features lighter traffic than Seminyak or Canggu, with flatter roads and many attractions within walking distance.​

Renting a scooter gives you the most freedom to explore. Daily rates start at IDR 50,000 to 120,000 depending on the model. Services like Cinchy, Hello Motors, and Bikago deliver scooters directly to your hotel with helmets, phone holders, and insurance included. All rentals require a motorcycle driving license (international permits are accepted).​

For those who prefer not to ride, Grab and Gojek ride-hailing apps work well in Sanur for short trips. However, these services cannot pick up directly from Sanur Harbor due to local taxi regulations. Bluebird taxis offer metered rides, though prices are slightly higher for tourists.​

Many dive centers include free hotel pick-up in their packages for guests staying in Sanur, Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, and Nusa Dua. This eliminates transport worries on dive days. The centers typically collect guests between 7:00 and 8:00 AM and return them by early afternoon.​

Safety and Equipment Standards

Sanur's established dive centers maintain high safety standards and quality equipment. All reputable operators provide:​

• Regularly inspected BCD (buoyancy control devices) and regulators in sizes XXS to XXL​

• Modern dive computers for tracking depth and time​

• Quality wetsuits (typically 3mm or 5mm depending on season)​

• Marine radios and emergency oxygen kits on all boats​

• First aid kits and trained staff in emergency procedures​

• Comprehensive dive insurance coverage​

Professional dive centers follow PADI standards strictly, conducting thorough briefings before each dive. They assess conditions daily and may change sites or cancel dives if safety concerns arise. The best centers maintain ratios of no more than 4 divers per guide to ensure proper supervision.​

Equipment is maintained and serviced annually with records available for inspection. Tanks are filled during early morning or late afternoon hours for optimal air quality. All gear gets washed and dried properly between uses.​

Ready to Explore Sanur's Underwater World?

Sanur offers the perfect base for your Bali diving adventure. With twelve excellent dive centers to choose from, experienced instructors, and access to world-class dive sites, you will create unforgettable underwater memories. Whether you want to earn your first certification, swim with manta rays, or explore historic shipwrecks, Sanur's dive operators provide everything you need for a safe and exciting experience.

Getting to dive sites becomes effortless when you have reliable transportation. Make your Sanur diving adventure complete with convenient scooter rental from Cinchy. Explore Sanur's beaches, reach the harbor easily, and discover Bali's hidden gems on your own schedule. Ready to book your ride? Visit Cinchy's scooter booking page and start your Bali adventure today!