Nusa Penida Island

Nusa Penida is part of the Klungkung Bali district. Long time ago the island of Nusa Penida was used as prison island to house convicts of the mighty Gelgel dynasty during their early 18th century rule under the Majapahit (or Madjapahit). The Gelgel Balinese kingdom conquered Lombok during that period some centuries ago.

Badung Strait - During WWII the Badung Strait was the location of "The Badung Strait Battle". This event took place on 19 and 20 february 1942. Allied forces had a confrontation here with the Imperial Japanese Navy.

There are 3 islands here, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Ceningan. These are located some 20 km from Bali 's south-east coast. Nusa Penida is the largest of the three islands and is one of the main locations for scuba dive trips departing from Bali .

Nusa Penida is known for possible encounters with large pelagics like Manta Ray's (Manta Birostris) at Manta Point Dive Site  and Mola Mola (Oceanic Sunfish)  at other dive sites around the island. On one rare occasion our crew spotted a whale-shark..

The northern dive sites of Nusa Penida like Crystal Bay , Pura Ped  and Toyapakeh  are good destinations for Drift Diving. A speed boat of 45 minutes ride brings you to the best underwater adventures here in Bali Indonesia .

The divesites around Penida can be challenging. Upwelling from the deep can cause thermoclines and let the temperature drop to 20 degrees Celsius. Currents running between the Nusa Islands and Lombok Strait are most of the time southward, but can be influenced in direction and strength by the monsoon seasons.

Nusa- Penida, Lembongan and Ceningan are located on the so called Wallace Line which runs between Bali and Lombok . The Wallace line is a boundary that separates the eco zones of Asia and Australasia . West of this line organisms live that relate to Asiatic species, East of this line most of the species are related to the Australian species. Scientist think that these boundary are present for some 50 million years and actually form the southwestern edge of the Sunda Earth Crust Shelf which links Borneo , Bali , Java and Sumatra to the mainland of southeast Asia. 

MAP OF NUSA PENIDA ISLAND:

There are some alternatives of transportion to reach Nusa Penida Island :

• Traditional boat from Sanur, takes 2- 2.5 hours per way
• Traditional boat from Kusamba, takes 1 - 1.5 hours
• Speed boat from Sanur about 45 minutes ride.
• Speed boat from Padang Bay about 45 minutes ride
• Cruises from Benoa Harbour, takes 45 minutes
• Cruise "Roro" from Padang Bai harbour, takes 25 minutes (twice a day)
• Other smaller cruises operated for diving, snorkling or other water sports take place around Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida Island.

The traditional boats and speed boats are usually available until mid day. However, the schedules may be limited or not operated if the weather condition does not allow.

FAMOUS TEMPLES AT NUSA PENIDA:

• Penataran Ped Temple- at Ped Village
  Has four complex of temples ; Pura Segara/Ulam Agung, Pura Taman, Ratu Gde Mecaling and Pura Penataran. These temples ceremony is held every Buda Cemeng Klawu . Year 2008 will be on 21 May and the next one will be 210 days after 21 May 2008. Or every 6 months of Balinese calender, each month contains 35 days.
• Goa Giri Putri Temple at Suana Village
• Puncak Mundi Temple at Klumpu Village.

There are many smaller temples around the island, such as :
Dalem Serangen, Penataran Sebuluh, Dalem Sebuluh, Griya, Dalem Paluang, Dalem Salak, etc.

Nusa Penida is famous for the best quality of seaweed which are growing very well at the north coast of island. Whilst the birds nest are naturally grown and protected at the south east to south west cliffs of the island.

Should the available water sources coming from the south side cliffs of the island (watas, tembeling, seganing, penida and others ) be able to flow to the north side of island, Nusa Penida land will be fertile for all the year.....