Nusa Dua can be a good place for casual snorkelling, particularly if you are new to it and simply want to explore the water close to your resort. However, if snorkelling is one of the main reasons you are visiting Bali, there are stronger options elsewhere on the island.
That does not mean you should stay glued to the sunbed. Far from it. The trick is knowing what Nusa Dua offers, choosing the right conditions and deciding whether it is worth adding a snorkelling or diving day trip elsewhere in Bali.
What Is Snorkelling Like in Nusa Dua?
Nusa Dua is best known for its large resorts, beaches and easy-going holiday atmosphere rather than being one of Bali’s headline diving destinations.
For families and beginners, that can actually be part of the appeal.
You can enjoy some time in the water without having to build an entire day around a diving or snorkelling excursion. Depending on where you are staying, snorkelling may be available directly from the beach or through a local watersports operator.
What you see will vary according to the exact location, tide, visibility and conditions on the day, so it is better to treat Nusa Dua as easy holiday snorkelling rather than expect a spectacular reef experience every time you put your mask on.
If your idea of the perfect trip involves a comfortable resort with optional adventures alongside it, our tips for booking your next luxury vacation are worth a read too.
Is Nusa Dua Snorkelling Suitable for Beginners?
It can be.
For someone who has never snorkelled before, being able to practise somewhere close to the hotel can feel much less daunting than heading straight out on a full-day boat trip.
It also gives children and less-confident swimmers the chance to decide whether they actually enjoy wearing a mask and snorkel before the entire family commits to an excursion.
However, calm-looking water should never be taken as a guarantee of safe swimming conditions.
Tides, currents, waves and visibility can change, so follow local advice and only enter the water where conditions are suitable. Avoid walking across exposed reef or coral, both for your own safety and to protect the marine environment.
Check the Tide Before Heading Out
Tides can make a noticeable difference to beach snorkelling.
At some locations, lower water can make shallow areas much less practical for swimming, whereas deeper water at another point in the tidal cycle may offer a completely different experience.
If you are staying at a beachfront resort, ask staff about the best time of day to snorkel from that particular beach rather than assuming morning or afternoon will always be better.
That five-minute conversation could save you from walking down to the beach fully equipped only to discover the sea appears to have gone out for lunch.
Is a Nusa Dua Snorkelling Boat Trip Worth It?
A short organised snorkelling trip can be worthwhile if you want to get beyond the immediate hotel beach.
Nearby Tanjung Benoa is a major watersports area, so you will find operators offering activities and boat trips from this part of southern Bali.
Before booking, check exactly where the snorkelling takes place and what the trip includes. I would ask:
- How long will you actually spend snorkelling?
- Is a guide in the water with the group?
- Is equipment included?
- Is the trip suitable for children or nervous swimmers?
- How large is the group?
- What happens if the conditions are poor?
Do not book purely because a colourful brochure contains an enormous turtle. Wildlife has an irritating habit of ignoring marketing departments.
Where Is Better Snorkelling in Bali?
If seeing marine life is high on your Bali wish list, it is worth looking beyond Nusa Dua.
The east of Bali has several established snorkelling and diving areas, including Tulamben and Padang Bai.
Tulamben is particularly well known for the USAT Liberty wreck, which has become an established site for both diving and snorkelling. Padang Bai offers reefs and dive sites suitable for a range of experience levels too.
Beneath Bali’s famous beaches is a much more varied underwater landscape and this guide is a useful reference point for Bali Indonesia scuba diving if you want to understand what is available around Padang Bai and how its different sites compare.
That is particularly useful if one person wants to snorkel while somebody else is tempted to try scuba diving.
Should You Take a Snorkelling Day Trip From Nusa Dua?
If snorkelling is simply something you fancy trying while you are away, staying around Nusa Dua may be perfectly enough.
If you already know you love snorkelling, however, I would make room in the itinerary for at least one trip elsewhere.
It is often experiences away from the pool that become the bits of a holiday everyone talks about afterwards. Trying a new activity is also one of our favourite ways to make your holiday more memorable.
You do not necessarily need to turn it into a hardcore adventure holiday either. One properly planned day on the water followed by another day doing absolutely nothing beside the pool sounds like a perfectly reasonable compromise to me.
What to Pack for Snorkelling in Bali
If you plan to snorkel more than once, a few things are worth adding to the suitcase:
- A well-fitting snorkel mask
- Long-sleeved swimwear or a rash vest
- Suitable sun protection
- A dry bag for valuables
- Reusable water bottle
- Waterproof phone pouch or underwater camera
You can generally hire snorkelling equipment on organised trips, so there is no need to fill half your luggage with fins unless you particularly want your own.
If Bali is part of a bigger Asia wish list, have a look at our guide to unique holiday destinations in Asia for a little more inspiration.
Is Nusa Dua Snorkelling Worth It?
Yes, Nusa Dua snorkelling is worth trying if you are already staying there, particularly for beginners, families or anyone wanting an easy activity without committing to a full diving excursion.
Just keep your expectations realistic.
For a casual hour in the water between breakfast and the sunbed, Nusa Dua can do the job nicely. If colourful reefs, wrecks and spending serious time underwater are what brought you to Bali, look beyond the resort area and consider adding a dedicated snorkelling or diving trip elsewhere on the island.
Sometimes leaving the sunbed really is worth the effort.
Even if getting back onto it afterwards remains the main event.
