Crystal Bay
Nusa Lembongan · Indonesia
Crystal Bay on the northwest tip of Nusa Penida is the premier site for encountering oceanic sunfish (mola mola) in Bali. From July through October, mola mola rise from deep water to be cleaned at shallow reef areas, often appearing between 18 and 30 metres. The bay itself offers calmer conditions than the exposed south coast, with excellent hard coral coverage and a resident school of big-eye trevally. Cooler upwellings during peak mola season make a 5mm wetsuit essential.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 35 m
Advanced depths
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
20 to 30 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
20 to 29°C
5mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 27 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 27 |
| Vis (m) | 10 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Reef Manta Ray
Last confirmed Jun 25, 2026 · 119 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Bluefin Trevally
Last confirmed Mar 14, 2026 · 12 records
Very likely
Most dives
Longspine Sea Urchin
Last confirmed Apr 29, 2026 · 12 records
Very likely
Most dives
Oceanic Sunfish
Last confirmed May 15, 2026 · 27 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Giant Trevally
Last confirmed Oct 10, 2025 · 4 records
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Big-eye Trevally
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Acropora Coral
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Porites Coral
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear