Key Takeaways:
- Nusa Dua is one of the best places in Bali for water sports due to calm seas, clean beaches, and safe conditions for beginners and kids.
- Popular water activities in Nusa Dua include parasailing, scuba diving, flyboarding, jet skiing, snorkelling, banana boat, donut boat, seawalker, turtle island tour, and fishing charters.
- Most water sports are operated from Tanjung Benoa Beach, located just 5 km from Nusa Dua.
- Booking through trusted operators and checking safety measures ensures a fun and secure experience.
Since Hollywood movies like Eat Pray Love and Ticket to Paradise, made Bali a global travel dream, the island has firmly earned its spot on many bucket lists. Featuring beaches, lush greenery, and activities like yoga classes, spas and water activities.
On Bali’s southeastern coast lies BTDC (Bali Tourism Development Department) in Nusa Dua. A resort area known for its clean beaches, calm turquoise waters, and luxury hotels. A perfect place for anyone seeking luxury, relaxation, and fun.
The sea here is gentler compared to other parts of Bali, making it an ideal place for beginners and kids. Because of its safe conditions, Nusa Dua has one of the best beaches for water sports in Bali.
This blog lists the best water activities in the Nusa Dua, Bali area that will quench your adrenaline thirst. Keep reading to find out more!
Best Water Sports in Nusa Dua, Bali
A quick 5 km drive from Nusa Dua brings you to Tanjung Benoa Beach. The hub of Bali’s water sports! Find out the types of water activities in Nusa Dua, Bali, along with their approximate prices!
Parasailing
The most popular and hyped-up water activity is parasailing. But truly, it lives up to its hype. People rush to get their hands on this activity, which explains its popularity.
Once your adventure begins, you will be taken far away from the shore by a boat. The instructors will gear you up with a harness and two or three carabiners (metal hooks), which hook you to the safety line of the boat, and a giant parasail wing.
Everything set? If yes, your pilot will be signalled to speed up the boat. As the boat speeds up, you will be in the sky, having a fantastic panoramic view of the entire bay! Up to 3 people can enjoy this simultaneously.
- Price: 3370 INR/person for 15 minutes (approx.)
- Location: Tanjung Beach
Scuba Diving
I’m pretty sure scuba diving is on everyone’s bucket list, and Bali is one of the best places to tick it off.
Why? Because Bali sits right inside the Coral Triangle, the most biodiverse marine region on the planet. This vast zone includes countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and a few others in Southeast Asia. It is home to the most diverse collection of corals and marine creatures in the world.
Near Nusa Dua, there are five diving spots and the time taken to reach them from Nusa Dua.
- Musa Dua point (10-15 mins)
- Padang Bai Blue Lagoon (around 1 hr)
- Tulanben Wreck Dive (2-3 hours)
- Tanjung Benoa (15 mins)
- Big Rock (20 mins)
These are all certain points that are used for scuba diving and snorkelling. However, the Tulanben Wreck dive and the Big Rock grab the attention.
The USAT Liberty ship lies on the bottom of the Tulamben site. It’s a ship that was once used during World War 2 to carry cargo.
The Big Rock site has a massive rock and a coral reef around it. However, you dive at night with the help of underwater flashlights. The marine life looks more vibrant under those bright lights.
These are some of the species that you can witness: turtles, reef sharks, manta rays, and more!
- Price: Starts from 6000 INR/person (approx.)
- Location: Multiple spots
Flyboard
Forget walking on water; instead, you get to fly over water! A board with built-in boots is strapped to your feet and connected to a jet ski through a long hose.
Once the jet ski powers up, water rushes through a large pipe and comes out as a high-pressure water jet. This powerful force pushes against the water and lifts you straight into the air.
Once in the air, all you need to do is balance. Use your ankles to balance the board, and if you are an expert, you can do all types of stunts, including the 360-degree turn!
- Price: 3000 INR for 15 minutes (Approx.)
- Location: Tanjung Beach
SeaWalker
You must’ve seen fish inside tanks at home or in aquariums. Every time, you’ve been outside while the fish was inside the glass tank. Why don’t we change it up? That’s the concept of a seawalker.
In this activity, you will wear a helmet specially designed for humans to walk underwater. It’s similar to scuba diving, but you won’t dive too deep like one. The Seawalker instructor will take you to the sea floor that is shallow enough to let you walk underwater, which is usually around 20 feet.
You’ll be briefed near the Grand Mirage Resort on Tanjung Benoa beach before being taken 100 m deep offshore.
- Price: 2000 INR/person for 30 minutes (approx.)
- Location: You’ll be briefed near the Grand Mirage Resort on Tanjung Benoa beach before being taken 100 m deep offshore.
Jet Ski
If you are a bike lover, you will definitely fall in love with this water bike, aka a Jet Ski. Accelerate through the saltwater, glide through, and feel the wind and the machine. Your personal watercraft will also fly over the water when it comes in contact with big waves.
You can either have complete freedom and go as a solo driver, or you can take a pillion with you! Making it a romantic activity for a couple!
- Price: 4000 INR/person for 30 minutes (Approx.)
- Location: Tanjung Beach
Snorkelling
One of the simplest and most calming water activities to try is snorkelling. All you need is a snorkel mask and a tube; you can buy or rent them.
Put on the mask, attach the tube to it and ensure you can breathe comfortably. If yes, you are good to go and can enjoy snorkelling in shallow water on your own.
If you want to explore deeper waters, it’s safer to go with a certified water sports company. A guide will look after you and show you good spots.
Spots like Padang Bai’s Blue Lagoon and Tanjung Benoa reef are great for seeing colourful corals and marine life. They take about 2 hours and 15 minutes to reach from Nusa Dua, respectively.
Note: To prevent your mask from fogging up, the easiest trick is to use a bit of saliva. It may sound odd, but rubbing a small amount on the dry glass and rinsing it lightly helps keep the lens clear.
- Price: 1000/person for 30 minutes (approx.)
- Location: Multiple spots
Banana Boat
Imagine you’re riding on an inflatable colourful boat in the shape of a banana, a rocket, or even a hot dog. Six to eight people can take a seat on it, but hold on tightly; if not, you might be thrown into the water.
Sounds thrilling, right? A rope will be tied to a speedboat. Once everyone is seated, the pilot will accelerate the boat and pull you behind him/her. Within a few seconds, you will be rushing through the water and feel the wind on your face.
The pilot will also take sudden turns, which causes your boat to take a long, slower turn before being pulled wildly!
- Price: 1769 INR/person for 15 minutes (approx.)
- Location: Tanjung Beach
Donut Boat
An activity very similar to the Banana Boat, but with a fun twist. The concept remains the same, but the shape of the inflatable boat is different. An almost donut-shaped inflatable boat with five individual seats for riders to sit in.
A donut boat is ideal for people who are hesitant to sit on a banana boat, as its hole design acts as a secure seat, allowing people to enjoy their own little space.
- Price: 780 INR/person for 15 minutes. (Approx.)
- Location: Tanjung Beach
Turtle Island Tour
Not a water sport, but one of the water activities in Nusa Penida.
Serangan Island, also known as Turtle Island, is a piece of land a few minutes away from the Nusa Dua coast. A boat ride of 15-20 minutes is enough to reach the island from Tanjung Benoa Beach. The island is renowned for its conservation of turtles, as many of their eggs can be found on shore.
You’ll be taken on a glass-bottomed boat, which will let you see turtles, schools of fish and corals right when the journey starts. Some boats might also stop to let you snorkel in the water.
The island features a ‘Turtle Conservation and Education Centre’ (TCEC), where you can learn about types of turtles, conservation, the rehabilitation process, nesting and more!
- Price: 2000 INR/person for 1.5 hours (Approx.)
- Location: Tanjung Beach
Bali Fishing Charters
Again, not a water sport, but suitable for anybody who wants a unique experience. A fishing charter is when a guided excursion takes you on a fishing trip.
A private modern boat will pick you up at the dock. Each trip lasts about 4-8 hours (you can either opt for the 4-hour or 8-hour excursion). The boat will have a bridge, a seating area, a bed (in some boats) and a toilet.
The captain and the crew will know exactly where to get some great catches in the Nusa Penida area. Hop on and relax the entire day; learn to fish. A few tricks and tips, and finally catch the ‘big one’. A big catch that gets as long as 1.3 m!
Fishes that you might get your hands on are tuna, amberjack, barracuda, mahi-mahi and more!
Tip: Avoid this excursion if you are prone to seasickness.
- Price: Starts at 50,000 INR per 8 people (Approx.)
- Location: Tanjung Beach
Safety Tips for Water Sports in Nusa Dua
- The first safety tip is always to book your water adventure sports through a trusted operator. Check their Google reviews, or listen to good word of mouth, or it’s safer to book through your hotel.
- Totally avoid the ‘beach hustlers’ or ‘hawkers’ who try to sell activities to you on the beach. The operator might not be good; it will be expensive, and worse, it could be a scam. They will let you ride on a jet ski for 5 minutes and quote a large amount of money in return.
- Take a look to see if the operators’ equipment is in good condition and doesn’t look too worn down. If you see something suspicious, do question the staff.
- Wear a life jacket even if you know how to swim. The waves in the ocean can make it hard to keep yourself afloat.
- Check the weather conditions beforehand.
- Don’t venture off deep into the open waters alone without an expert.
- Swim only in allocated areas.
- Wear water shoes while walking on the beach or going for a swim. Broken coral and stone can hurt your feet.
What to Carry
Whether you are enjoying the adrenaline of adventure water sports, learning new fishing techniques or just relaxing on the beach. Your day will be much better with these things in your backpack.
- Water bottle
- Hat
- Towel
- Sunglasses
- Beach mat
- Sunscreen (Make sure it’s reef safe)
- Water shoes
- Change of clothes
- Snacks
- Any entertainment stuff
- Waterproof bags
- Motion/seasickness medicines
Conclusion
Experiencing water sports requires a few things to be done before hitting the water.
- Water sports list
- Prices
- Things to remember
- Things to pack
Crucial things are ticked off, and you are good to go! Now, all you have to do is contact Dimaak Tours to build your itinerary and take you there!
Frequently Asked Questions About Water sports in Bali
What is the best water sport in Nusa Dua, Bali?
Nusa Dua Beach has calm waters, making it safe for anyone to experience water sports there. There’s a wide range of water sports, including parasailing, scuba diving, flyboarding and more!
What part of Bali has the best spot to dive?
Almost all the spots in Bali are suitable for diving, as they are located in the Coral Triangle. However, specific spots, such as Musa Dua Point, Padang Bai Blue Lagoon and Tulanben Wreck Dive, are safe to dive.
