Crystal Bay

Crystal Bay on Nusa Penida fully lives up to its name — the waters here are among the clearest in all of Southeast Asia, with visibility often reaching 20–30 metres. The protected bay sits on the northwest coast of Nusa Penida and features a small, intimate beach backed by a Hindu temple, with underwater terrain that transitions from shallow coral gardens to dramatic drop-offs within a short swim of shore.

The bay is world-renowned in diving circles as one of the best places on Earth to encounter the mola mola (ocean sunfish) — the world's heaviest bony fish, which can weigh up to 2.3 tonnes. Mola mola regularly rise to shallower waters at Crystal Bay between July and October, often visible to snorkellers as well as divers. Year-round, the reef here teems with reef sharks, turtles, diverse reef fish, and occasional manta rays.

For a purely beach experience, Crystal Bay is also excellent — the small white-sand beach is calm and picturesque, with a wooden footbridge connecting to a small temple island. Local warungs serve fresh seafood and cold drinks. The setting is idyllic.