Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is an island southeast of Indonesia’s island Bali and a district of Klungkung Regency that includes the neighbouring small island of Nusa
Lembongan. The Badung Strait separates the island and Bali. The interior of Nusa Penida is hilly with a maximum altitude of 524 metres. It is drier than the nearby island of Bali. There is very little tourist infrastructure.
There are two small islands nearby – Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan – which are included within the district (kecamatan). Administratively, the kecamatan of the same name, had a population of 45,178 in 2010 census, covering 202.6 km2, very little changed from 10 years prior.
Nusa Penida, and neighbouring Lembongan and Ceningan islands, are a bird sanctuary. The islands communities have used traditional Balinese village regulations to create the sanctuary. The idea of a sanctuary came from the Friends of the National Parks Foundation (FNPF).
In 2006 all 35 villages (now 41 villages) agreed to make bird protection part of their traditional regulations (“awig-awig”). Since
then, the FNPF has rehabilitated and released various Indonesian birds, most notably the critically endangered Bali starling which is endemic to Bali but whose numbers in the wild had declined to less than 10 in 2005. After a two-year program by FNPF in which 64 cage bred birds were rehabilitated and released onto Nusa Penida, their number had increased to over 100 in 2009. Other released birds include the Java sparrow, Mitchell’s lorikeet and sulphur crested cockatoo.[citation needed]
Nusa Penida covers a wide area of diving locations, including Penida Bay, Batu Lumbung (Manta Point), Batu Meling, Batu Abah, Toya Pakeh and Malibu Point. The flow through the Lombok Strait is, overall, south-tending, although the strength and direction of the tidal streams are influenced by the monsoon seasons.
During the southeast monsoons, the tidal flow tends south; during the northeast monsoons, the tidal flow tends north. In the area of
the strait north of Nusa Penida, the pattern is relatively simple, with a flow, at peaktide, of about three-and-one-half knots. Tidal streams in Badung Strait are semi-diurnal, but the character of the stream is very complicated because its direction runs obliquely to the general south to north direction of Lombok Strait, and the channel has a curved shape.
Based on survey in 2009, there was about 1,419 hectares coral sites with 66 percent covered the sites in 3 meters depth and 74 percent covered the sites in 10 meters depth.
Turtle Conservation
Toyapakeh has a stretch of reefs, and in the southern part of the bay there is a similar area of rugged bommies, rich with color and fish. Big schools of fish, sea turtles, and occasionally Mola mola (sunfish) are highlight of Toyapakeh diving. Toyapakeh is special for its pillars of coral.
Malibu Point is a diving site with gray reefs, reef white tips, silver-tips and numerous sharks. While Penida Bay is another anchorage, and the rocky islands have an interesting forms; something like an old resting elephant. The bay is vulnerable to swell, creating-up-and-down-currents. Then, Manta Point is a limestone rock off Pandan cafe. The swell is relatively strong.
Nusa Penida/Lembongan
Nusa Penida/Lembongan is a diving site with vast spread of coral reefs and good visibility. Big fish are frequently observed at the area. Manta rays or sunfishes appear in certain seasons. The site is also known because of the very strong currents requiring advanced diving skil.
Crystal Bay
Crystal Bay is located on the west side of Nusa Penida. The bay is not easily visited by land, and is therefore often empty, jotted by lonely palm trees. Just outside the bay there is a big rock, a small island even, which can be used as a point of reference, especially under water. The diving here is considered some of the best on the island with eels, Napoleon fish, parrot
Place to Stay:
Poh Manis Hotel
Villa Trevally
Ring Semeton Nusa Penida Inn
Oka Bungalow 7
How to get there
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| Jukung/Vessel |
Jukung
f you want to go to Nusa Penida Island from Bali, the easiest and cheapest way, if you go from the capital, Denpasar is by getting to the Sanur beach and using some traditional public boat called ‘jukung’. Jukung will cost you maximum around IDR. 200.000 (minimum 4 person, and it will take around 90 minutes to reach Nusa Penida.
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| Fast Boat |
Fast Boat
There’s another option you can take if you go from Sanur. You can also take some speed boat which is a lot more expensive but also a lot more faster (50 minutes).
This boat will take you crossing the Badung Strait, and the trip will take around one hour to get to the Toya Pakeh Harbor in Nusa Penida Island. Beside from Padang Bay and Sanur, you can also take some jukung from Kusamba. There are public boats from from Sanur, Kusamba or Padang Bai in East Bali.
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| Ferr From Padang Bai |
You can catch the daily public ferry (large boat that includes vehicles). A passenger ticket is approx IDR 50.000 each way.
There is also a smaller public ferry speed boat service that typically carries up to 20 people. This departs from Padang Bai beach side every morning. You should be at the beach side by 6:30AM to catch the public speed boat. Buy ticket from ticket office near beach and then wait until the boat has enough passengers for the boat to depart.
From Benoa Harbour Quicksilver Runs daily cruises from Benoa Harbour in Bali to their
monstrous pontoon which floats off the north western shore of Nusa Penida. The trip includes watersport activities centred on the pontoon.
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| Cruise Line |
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| Fast Boat |
Fast Boat
From Sanur
Speed boat service, 3 times daily to Nusa Penida. Scheduled departure from Sanur Beach at 11AM, 2PM and 4:30PM. Departure from Buyuk, Nusa Penida at 8AM, 12:30PM and 4PM.
From Nusa Lembongan . Public boats depart daily at 6AM close to the suspension bridge between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan and run to Toyapakeh or Buyuk Harbour in northern Nusa Penida. There are also services from the Jungut Batu area of Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida. All of these can be a little ‘worrying’ at times and are often very crowded.
Departing from and arriving at the same area as the public boats. If you are staying on Nusa Lembongan, ask at your hotel. If not, go to the shoreline close to the suspension bridge or to the beach at Jungut Batu and ask around amongst the boatmen.
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