Nusa Penida Snorkeling Tour Review: Manta Rays & 3 Spots

Thinking about swimming alongside giant manta rays in Nusa Penida? Well, it’s something you really won’t soon forget! I went on the ‘From Nusa Penida 3 Spots Snorkeling Tour with Manta Rays,’ and I am very excited to give you the complete scoop, just like your best mate would, almost. I’ll walk you through the whole thing, you know, from arranging it all to, like, chilling with those magnificent creatures. I hope it’ll help you plan your own fantastic underwater adventure!

Booking the Tour: Smooth Sailing?

Okay, so first things first, let’s chat about getting yourself booked on this escapade, yeah? Usually, you see, you have a few routes you can explore here. You could potentially arrange it the moment you arrive on Nusa Penida, visiting one of the kiosks, the little shacks in harbors or even hopping onto one of the boats directly to see if they would take you on board. Yet, if you ask me, that isn’t very often the greatest strategy if, in fact, you are the kind of person who wants stuff locked down a touch sooner rather than later.

What I would suggest instead, and, I have to say, it’s what I actually did myself, is going online and securing a reservation, possibly before you even set off, you know? I spotted, what seemed to be a nice-looking vendor through a well-liked platform, let’s just say the kind most travellers know and, by all accounts, love. That platform provides quite a few tour options, and it allows for comparing costs, and it gives, at least a couple, of travellers’ testimonials to have a peep at. The way the online system runs makes the whole thing rather user-friendly, just what you would hope. I, for one, was able to look into the available times, double-check exactly what was bundled with the package, and nail down my place with no trouble at all.

There were some, as you might expect, finer aspects mentioned such as being informed very clearly of the cancellation policy and, more or less, what options are available to me if things should go pear-shaped. Now, generally speaking, these adventures don’t tend to be cancelled all that frequently unless conditions look genuinely hazardous, which brings reassurance. I think you will agree that is just the ticket. Honestly, this advance organization removed any anxieties about if the whole experience would occur, more or less freeing me up, you see, to be very stoked about the nice things!

The Snorkeling Spots: A Trio of Aquatic Wonders

Right then, the interesting stuff! Usually, this ‘3 Spots’ journey is all about visiting 3 places picked out because of the very abundant ocean habitat that gathers around Nusa Penida. So you know, just to keep it brief for you, these frequently include Manta Bay (where the manta rays hang out), Crystal Bay (celebrated because of its obviously amazingly pristine seas) and Gamat Bay (yet another terrific site). Very frequently, but it will depend on the particular day, just to be aware.

Manta Bay, this is like the real star attraction! Believe it or not, these big, elegant manta rays, could be, what do you know, 5 meters across. Seeing these creatures fluttering around you in their habitat is just amazing, I cannot recommend it enough! The water there might be a bit choppy at times, and, very likely the visibility, seemingly, depends on how the ocean is that day. But in my mind, don’t worry. The time you get just staring in amazement makes the rest meaningless. We thought the tour people were great: They kept the groups reasonably tiny and very respectful of our oceanic life, almost keeping a respectful amount of distance from such creatures, at the same time, allowing enough room for photos.

Then, Crystal Bay! Well, what an experience. It is very well known to be one of those places you see on postcards, yeah? When the weather is very suitable, the water here looks unbelievably crisp and unclouded, giving a superb glimpse of what the marine life does down underneath the surface. There are just loads of multicolored fish here, and the coral seems really well looked after; it creates almost one of those spots perfect to watch or get snaps of, to keep with you. Very likely one of the highlights.

Ultimately, Gamat Bay. To be honest with you, I actually preferred this spot more than Crystal Bay, and, that might sound odd! But this cove is quite something: It has got sheltered seas, and, like Crystal Bay, seriously colourful wildlife as well! One nice extra that adds something, here, is that you have to get into it with, just a tiny amount of a trek; not very long mind, maybe 5/10 minutes. As such, that generally keeps the place a fair bit quieter than those others we chatted about.

Manta Rays: Getting Up Close

Swimming near to manta rays will be something you will not forget rapidly; I am basically telling you, the magic does actually hit you when you meet them for the first time, almost! This Nusa Penida area, Manta Bay, more or less, is famous. These graceful beasts usually group to let little fish remove any tiny bits hanging to them. When you observe them twisting and fluttering around, its breathtaking; You could argue its basically spiritual. One tip: Resist the urge to go towards them! Stick with your group. Usually your guide will set the parameters: Staying relaxed and in control keeps the experience a positive one and guarantees we don’t bother the creatures.

One concern I experienced was around ethical and sustainable practice. Happily, the guys conducting our visit did really emphasize protecting the natural world. The directions for seeing wildlife are all geared to respectful observance instead of being disruptive. Not only will it safeguard those tender animals, this does ensure tourists could very well sustain their appreciation these remarkable aquatic residents for some time. It’s important that people in groups heed all of your trip advisor’s instructions: Their experience both keeps you protected and, very often, keeps our wildlife looked after too! It, generally speaking, feels nice making decisions where you sense that money from your trips is being reinvested responsibly, assisting sustainable initiatives.

What to Bring: Be Prepared!

All right, let’s make sure you will have all you could very well want so you aren’t just stuck on arrival at Penida! Firstly, clearly, make sure you are wearing sun cream. To be honest with you the island’s place, in general, makes the daylight hours awfully bright, which does means you must be sun-protected. Ideally, it would definitely assist to pick a type of sunscreen which is reef-safe, if you have one. Reef-safe varieties avoid many chemical components that can harm sea wildlife. The ocean appreciates that kind action. Other than suntan lotion, bring a sunhat and, you know, even just a simple tee shirt could add further safety as you are swimming.

For the snorkeling part, a big amount of trips deliver the hardware for this. That includes diving goggles, breathing tubes, plus floating devices where called for. That being said, give a little thought to potentially bringing your own diving mask. To be honest with you, diving goggles can be super personal; usually fitting ones will raise how nicely you appreciate the seascape just below you. Besides that, having items such as digital waterproof cams are a superb addition assuming you hope to grab some memories underneath the waves. Get such underwater soon before heading to the beach, in this manner guaranteeing your equipment does actually suit underwater use and therefore operates effectively.

On arrival in the tour vessel, taking a small carry-on, is clearly advisable; bring beach shoes or anything comparable as things are commonly damp under the feet! Lastly, keep water convenient, specifically with climate circumstances where humidity is very significant. Experiencing all this organised does simply allow all of the escapade remains fulfilling and without discomfort. Honestly its better to arrive over-equipped!

Lunch and Refreshments: Fueling Up

Usually, most tours make allowances regarding eating arrangements. Just to keep it easy, commonly, anticipate your excursion deal does actually incorporate something along the lines of either just a simple dish served on-board, a halt at among the community dining establishments nearby on Nusa Penida or most likely, even at times, just one picnic pack that guys aboard prepare! With my tour we actually were served grub right on vessel, and it’s honestly fairly regular; almost it simply delivered sufficient amount and, that’s the ticket, as the choices were pretty nice to re-energize. When the food part concerns, be knowledgeable regarding precisely how things are usually laid on beforehand. That just may change strategies of food in general or if that does actually involve particular conditions; as an illustration vegetarians and anybody needing anything special should consider talking to tour providers beforehand and find out anything with regards meal possibilities.

Plus, I also advise carrying just a little reserve snack stash by yourself. The additional tiny stash of edibles becomes pretty great assuming that main meals get very late being served, just what generally sometimes unfolds in reality, generally talking. Light things similar granola pieces could be ideally suited to simply pop right in with your bag as extra stores with stamina! Likewise, constantly retain water close enough given that heat exposure during any external tour such this usually means hydration stays completely crucial!

Overall Experience: Was It Worth It?

Alright, now we come at my conclusive judgement around what I believe generally speaking, and honestly to put my thoughts brief, that Nusa Penida snorkeling voyage to those triple spots with those stunning manta ray views rates amazingly great and is highly advisably indeed, if honest! Fact is, and clearly you have seen already how glowing that the feelings that came about as a result and therefore undoubtedly made it really unique as the undersea settings you actually find during each place is clearly remarkably different – from watching gorgeous wildlife near gorgeous reefs on Crystal Bay to obviously the thrilling occasion of virtually flapping and floating side by side close a monstrous yet oh so welcoming gentle oceanic beast such the manta close round Manta Bay! Basically everything from how convenient everything goes on tour towards even standards taken just make visitors as well safeguarding fragile sea systems truly impresses deeply.

Sure of course there seems clearly some factors as those circumstances about any surf patterns to therefore also group crowding which obviously will slightly compromise perfect snorkelling trip nonetheless those situations genuinely, usually temporary, in all honesty they rarely seriously get between whole event. Therefore I am absolutely strongly urging everybody – any degree – who want one adventure as the natural aquatic surrounds of the world at all not to dismiss choosing something like exactly this trip: that blends simple undersea survey along magnificent wild beings! If you enjoy water exploration also safeguarding marine species, almost everything combines in something that delivers just stunning holiday occasion, absolutely making memories likely very difficult outmatch, really any place! Book knowing therefore you will definitely never disappoint at all by anything experienced here!