106 Travel | Nusa Penida
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Spectacular views can be found all along the island ’ s rugged coastline .
Aside from the scenery and unique local culture ( the dialect here is very different from mainland Balinese ), Penida ’ s other big drawcard is its clear waters and pristine coral reefs .
blue ocean hundreds of metres below . If you ’ re not good with heights , consider skipping this one altogether and making for the far more accessible ( and safer ) beaches of Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay in the north .
Aside from the scenery and unique local culture ( the dialect here is very different from mainland Balinese ), Penida ’ s other big drawcard is its clear waters and pristine coral reefs . Snorkelers and scuba divers flock to five-star dive sites all around the coast , where sightings of giant manta rays and oceanic sunfish ( known locally as mola-mola ) are a daily occurrence . The following morning I jump aboard a dive boat heading for Manta Point in the southwest of the island , keen to see for myself these majestic ocean wanderers .
It takes a good 30 minutes to get there through rough seas and rolling swells , and although we set off early , the small bay is already busy with other boats . Despite the large number of snorkellers , however , we spot six enormous mantas gliding around serenely , clearly unfazed by the frenzied splashing going on around them .
Mesmerised for a good hour , we eventually jump back on board and motor around towards Toyapakeh , stopping off at the dive site known as ‘ SD ’ ( short for sekolah dasar – ‘ elementary school ’). One of the best-known sites in Penida , SD is a vast drift dive over glittering corals , populated by countless species of underwater creatures .
I bid farewell to Yudi at the same beach I arrived on only three days earlier , and although it ’ s been an action-packed magical mystery tour , I still feel like there is plenty more waiting to be discovered on this enchanting island .
Clear waters and colourful reefs mean Penida is a paradise for scuba divers .
Swimming with the giant manta rays is an experience not to be missed .