Shark Point · Padang Bai

The story

Where the sharks patrol.

Twelve minutes east of Padang Bai harbour, an exposed reef plateau juts into the Lombok Strait and creates a current break — a resting and hunting spot for reef sharks. Whitetip and blacktip reef sharks are reliable here in groups of 4–6 per dive, sometimes joined by the occasional grey reef shark.

The plateau itself sits at 15–22 m, with a sandy slope dropping to 30 m. Stay still, stay low, and the sharks will come closer than you expect. Bring a wide-angle camera. The reef around the sharks is healthy — schooling fusiliers, Napoleon wrasse, turtles.

"Sharks on every dive. Reef sharks, but still sharks."

AOWD recommended (depth + open water column). Pair with Drop-Off for a Padang-Bai pelagic morning. Best in the dry season when viz is at its peak.

Topography

How the dive unfolds.

Resting whitetip reef sharks. Boat entry, descend on a sand plateau at 16 m, hover above the cleaning station at 20 m where 2–4 whitetips sleep on the sand mid-morning. Continue along the sand to the deep edge at 24 m for blacktips and the odd grey reef.

Plan a 35-min shark dive: boat drop on the plateau, descend along the slope to the cleaning station at 20 m, hover quietly (sharks ignore non-aggressive divers), continue to the deep sand for the blacktips, ascend along the slope. AOWD recommended. Best time: mid-morning, slack tide — sharks rest then.

Marine life · what you might see

The ocean's not a zoo.

Sightings are pure chance — current, season, time of day, and luck. Below is what divers spot at this site, but no operator can guarantee any specific encounter on any specific dive.

Resident Whitetip reef sharks 90%

Visitor Blacktip reef sharks 60%

Visitor Grey reef sharks 15%

Resident Schooling fusiliers 95%

Resident Napoleon wrasse 70%

Visitor Sea turtles 50%

Visitor Schooling jacks 50%

Visitor Tuna · Wahoo 30%

Resident Bannerfish 85%

Resident Pyramid butterflyfish 90%

Resident Anthias clouds 80%

Resident Moray eels 70%

Resident Hard coral plateau 100%

Resident Soft corals 100%

Resident Gorgonian fans 85%

Resident Sponges 100%

Always-presentWhitetip reef sharks, the plateau, fusiliers, Napoleon wrasse, butterflyfish.

Sometimes-presentBlacktip reef sharks, grey reef sharks (rare), turtles, jacks.

Practical

What you need.

01 · Cert

Certification

AOWD recommended.

02 · Entry

Entry · Distance

Boat dive. ~12 min from Padang Bai harbour by traditional jukung. Negative entry.

03 · Flow

Currents

Moderate to strong — drift dives are the norm. Always carry SMB and stay close to your guide.

04 · When

Best time of day

Morning slack tide window. Currents pick up after midday — plan accordingly.

05 · Fees

Site fee

Padang Bai harbour fee ~30,000 IDR (€2) per diver per day — included in your PMD safari price.

06 · Schedule

Surface intervals

Back to harbour between dives. Two-tank trip standard.

Ready?

Dive Shark Point
on a Padang Bai safari.

All-inclusive: flights, transfers, villa, dives, food, marine fees. Two-tank Padang Bai day with this site as part of the rotation.

Plan Your Trip ← All Padang Bai sites