East-coast classic. Drift dives, reef sharks, mola mola in the cold-water season. Easy beach reefs at the harbour, advanced channel dives at the Gili islets — and the gateway to Nusa Penida.
Padang Bai is the Lombok ferry harbour on Bali's southeast coast — a small fishing-and-diving village with a sheltered bay and the most varied dive menu on the island. Easy reefs minutes from the harbour, vertical walls, drift channels with reef sharks, and three exposed islets that catch the cold cross-strait current and bring big fish.
The strait between Bali and Lombok is one of the deepest channels in Indonesia. The current flowing through it pulls cold, nutrient-rich water onto the Padang Bai shelf — and that's why the diving here is the way it is. Beginners stay in the bay (Blue Lagoon, Jepun, The Jetty). Intermediate divers ride the channel currents (Drop-Off, Ferry Channel, Shark Point). Advanced divers head out to Candidasa for the three Gili islets — Biaha, Mimpang, Tepekong — where mola mola turn up in the cold-water dry season (Aug–Oct).
Filter by difficulty — Open Water (★), Advanced recommended (★★), advanced-only (★★★). Click any site for the full briefing.
5–20m · Reef · 5 min from harbour
★5–18m · Easy reef · S of harbour
★5–18m · Hindu statues + macro
★5–15m · Pier · macro paradise
★5–20m · Reef · turtle hotspot
★5–20m · Quiet reef · Secret Beach
★ ★8–18m · Cavern + Hindu shrine
★ ★8–25m · Drift · pelagic chance
★ ★8–40m · Wall · soft corals
★ ★15–25m · Reef · whitetips + blacktips
★ ★ ★5–25m · Shark cavern · Candidasa
★ ★ ★10–30m · Drift + pinnacles · mola Aug–Oct
★ ★ ★12–30m · Wall + cave · the toilet bowl
Padang Bai is 90 minutes from DPS — the easiest of the three regions to reach. Beach reefs in the morning, channel dives in the afternoon, mola mola in the dry season.
Private transfer from Denpasar International (DPS). 1.5 hour drive up the east coast via Klungkung. The shortest transfer of the three regions.
Selected villas in Padang Bai or Candidasa, walking distance from the harbour. AC, hot water, breakfast included. Sea views.
Beach + boat dives. Bay sites are 5–10 min boat from harbour. Candidasa Gili islets are 12–18 min boat from Candidasa. Two-tank trip standard.
Flights from Prague (or your hub on request). All transfers, villa, breakfast, dives, tanks, weights, guide, harbour fees, welcome dinner.
April to October. Dry season, calmer crossings, the pelagic action peaks. Mola mola Aug–Oct on Mimpang and Tepekong (cold thermocline).
Solo, couple, or small group up to 4 divers. Candidasa Gili dives capped at 4 divers per guide for safety in the channel currents.
7 days · 12 dives · flights · villa · transfers · food · harbour fees. Easy reefs in the morning. Channel drift in the afternoon. Mola mola if the season's right.