Temple Dive Penida

Temple Dive Penida Dive with Mantas in the Temple of Diving

04/07/2026

We know what you need.

Most divers come to Nusa Penida dreaming of manta rays and oceanic sunfish. We understand why. They are extraordinary an...
11/06/2026

Most divers come to Nusa Penida dreaming of manta rays and oceanic sunfish. We understand why. They are extraordinary animals. But after years of diving these waters, we have learned that one of Penida's greatest treasures is often overlooked. Its reefs. The vibrant coral gardens that cover many of our dive sites are not just beautiful scenery. They are the living foundation of everything that makes this island special underwater.

The same powerful currents that attract mantas, molas, sharks and other pelagic visitors also bring a constant supply of nutrients from the deep ocean. Those nutrients fuel an incredibly productive ecosystem, helping corals, sponges, soft corals and countless smaller organisms thrive. It is one of the reasons why Penida's reefs can display such remarkable color and vitality compared to many tropical destinations.

Nusa Penida lies within the Coral Triangle, the global center of marine biodiversity. For divers, that means every square meter of reef can reveal something fascinating. Delicate soft corals, feather stars, nudibranchs, cryptic shrimp, juvenile fish and entire communities of life interacting in ways that often go unnoticed by those focused only on the blue water. The longer you spend observing the reef, the more it rewards your attention.

Some of my favorite moments underwater here have not involved a manta or a mola at all. They have been spent drifting slowly along a healthy reef, watching the current move through fields of soft corals while clouds of reef fish dance above them. Penida's big animals may fill the brochures, but its reefs tell the deeper story. For divers who love the ocean as a whole, they are every bit as memorable.

25/05/2026

We just had an incredible dive at Blue Corner, Nusa Penida, and it's proof that mola mola season is officially starting.

The video was filmed at 40 meters depth, where a large ocean sunfish (mola mola) was hovering just above the cleaning station. For those who know the behavior: a group of bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus) were working on its skin, removing parasites — a critical symbiosis that often keeps these elusive pelagics around longer when conditions are right.

Visibility was decent despite the mild thermocline, and the current was manageable — typical early season setup. Blue Corner is known for deep, current-swept dives, but that's exactly where molas show up.

If you're a certified diver with deep dive experience and you've been waiting for the right moment to see mola mola in Nusa Penida, this is it. The season is just beginning, and sightings will only get more frequent over the next few months.

Come dive with us. We know the spots, the depths, and the behavior. Let's get you in the water.

29/04/2026

An octopuss just do not blend it randomly; it’s constantly scanning its surroundings and responding in real time. Its skin is packed with chromatophores that expand and contract in fractions of a second, while tiny muscles shift its texture to match rock, coral, or sand.

In Nusa Penida, if you want to spot one, slow everything down. Look for shapes that feel slightly “off”: a rock that seems too smooth, a patch of sand with subtle edges, or a sudden flicker of movement. They often give themselves away for a split second before disappearing again. Video: Espe Kanela

14/04/2026

Why manta rays choose Nusa Penida (and why this site is special)?

Nusa Penida is one of the few places in the world where encounters with reef manta rays are highly reliable. And it’s not by chance.

First, it’s important to distinguish between the two main species:

* Reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) the resident species here, typically found in coastal environments.
* Oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris) larger, more pelagic, only occasionally seen around Penida.

So why do Mobula alfredi consistently visit sites like this?

1. Cleaning stations
This area hosts well-established cleaning stations, where small reef fish (like wrasses) remove parasites from mantas. These stations are fixed locations, often on shallow reef structures, and mantas return repeatedly — sometimes daily — to be cleaned.

2. Bathymetry & reef structure
The south coast of Nusa Penida features a unique combination of:

* Gently sloping reef plateaus (ideal for cleaning stations)
* Immediate drop-offs into deep water (quick access to pelagic zones)
This allows mantas to move efficiently between feeding areas and cleaning sites.

3. Nutrient-rich upwellings
Seasonal and tidal upwellings bring colder, nutrient-rich water from the depths. This boosts plankton productivity — the primary food source for manta rays — making the area especially attractive.

4. Current dynamics
Moderate, predictable currents help concentrate plankton and create ideal “hovering” conditions over cleaning stations, where mantas can remain almost stationary while being serviced.

5. Site fidelity
Reef mantas are known for strong site fidelity. Individuals return to the same cleaning stations over long periods, which is why encounters here can be so consistent.

If you visit:

* Stay low and calm
* Never block their path
* Let them approach you

Respect the system — and you’ll witness one of the most elegant interactions in the ocean.

Video: Espe Kanela

13/04/2026

Baking divers

At first glance, Nusa Penida is all about scale — sweeping currents, pelagic encounters, mantas gliding through cleaning...
11/04/2026

At first glance, Nusa Penida is all about scale — sweeping currents, pelagic encounters, mantas gliding through cleaning stations. But slow down, look closer, and a different universe reveals itself.

This is an anemone shrimp, a small decapod crustacean living in close association with sea anemones. Its translucent body is a survival strategy. By blending into the tentacles, it gains protection from predators, while its host benefits from cleaning and increased water circulation. A delicate symbiosis, perfectly tuned.

Diving Penida isn’t always easy. Strong, shifting currents can make macro photography feel like a challenge. But for those willing to pause, stabilize, and truly observe, the reef tells a quieter story: one of intricate relationships, camouflage, and life at a millimetric scale.

Look beyond the blue. Because between the pulses of current and the drama of big animals, there is a hidden ecosystem , vibrant, complex, and often missed.

And once you start seeing it, you won’t be able to stop.

06/04/2026

A group of happy divers gearing up on board, smiles all around, just moments before entering one of Nusa Penida’s most iconic sites — Manta Point.

Framed by dramatic limestone cliffs, this small open bay feels almost like a natural amphitheater carved by the ocean. The swell rolls in steadily, and beneath the surface, that same energy fuels a unique ecosystem. Nutrient-rich waters rise along the reef, creating the perfect conditions for plankton blooms — and where there is plankton, the ocean’s gentle giants are never far away.

Below, cleaning stations dot the reef, where reef manta rays glide in slow, graceful circles, returning again and again to be serviced by tiny cleaner fish. It’s not just a dive — it’s a front-row seat to one of the most elegant interactions in the marine world.

Calm on the surface, full of life below — this is what makes Manta Point so special.

Address

Temple Diving, Jalan Raya Ped-Buyuk, Tanah Bias, Ped
Klungkung
80771

Opening Hours

Monday 07:30 - 19:00
Tuesday 07:30 - 19:00
Wednesday 07:30 - 19:00
Thursday 07:30 - 19:00
Friday 07:30 - 19:00
Saturday 07:30 - 19:00
Sunday 07:30 - 19:00

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