Best Shark Diving in Bali: Where to Meet the Beasts!

When you have more dives to notes in your dive logs and spent few holidays exploring underwater, you will start wondering if it’s possible to dedicate dives for meeting one of the ocean beast; the sharks. The most misunderstood fish thanks to Hollywood movies; sharks remain as one of the most feared fish despite its incredibly small fatalities. Aside from the highly aggressive Oceanic Whitetip Shark, Bull Shark, and Great White Shark, sharks are mostly harmless—and are totally wholesome! These are where you can meet sharks and have the best diving in Bali

Best, Remotest Diving in Bali for Shark: the Gili Biaha

Best Shark Diving in Bali: Where to Meet the Beasts!

Nicknamed the Shark Cave, it’s easy to imagine why Gili Biaha will be your best diving experience with sharks in Bali. Gili Biaha is a small rock island rounded by grass outcrop in the tip of Candidasa, the eastern side of Bali. The site hosts two dive sites; the Biaha Slope and Shark Cave that can be combined in one diving when the currents allow. Dropping only 12 meters from the surface, you will arrive at the cave. It’s surrounded by soft corals, black corals, and gorgonians that make up the gorgeous underwater landscape. Though the cave lies in pretty shallow depth, getting there is not easy. The site is famous with strong currents that can be dangerous for inexperienced divers. But once you get inside the cave, you will see numerous white-tip sharks sleeping inside, tucked comfortably in the crevices. The cave is sharks’ favourite spot to get relaxed after hunting in the night before. They are mostly calm and not aggressive—unless they smell some food in your pocket!

Near the Wreck: Shark Point Tulamben 

Gili Mimpang: Best for Rarer Sharks

You might know Tulamben for its legendary USAT Liberty wreck, that lies only in 3 to 25 meters from the surface. But have you ever heard of Shark Point in Tulamben? Located close to the Drop Off, the Shark Point is located within 20 – 30 meters deep from the surface. That means this dive site, just like the Gili Biaha, is reserved only for experienced divers. It’s probably the best diving site in Bali if you want to see white tip sharks, black tip sharks, and grey reef sharks all in one place. While the black tip and white tip generally show no aggression, grey reef sharks can be quite cranky. They can feel annoyed and threatened upon being followed. So definitely keep your distance and do not make startling movement when you come to their area. Keep an eye if they show signs of aggression; arching their back and dorsal fin to appear larger, and swimming side to side with exaggerated movement. When they do this, keep calm and slowly back away, but never turn your back from them. 

The Black tip reef sharks also regularly patrol around the Tulamben Drop off at any given time. Thriving marine life in Drop Off invites the sharks for easy meal, which is why these majestic creatures are often found lurking around. The slow currents and relatively shallow depth make this site excellent for beginners and even snorkelers as well. One of the best diving with shark in Bali where you can wait for the toothy creature while admiring blooming corals on the wall. 

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Gili Mimpang: Best for Rarer Sharks 

Gili Mimpang: Best for Rarer Sharks

The White tip and black tip reef sharks are the most popular in Bali and are quite easy to be spotted everywhere. However, if you want to see rarer sharks that cannot be spotted in other sites in Bali, head to Gili Mimpang. Located close to Gili Biaha and Tepekong that’s famous for the shark cave, Gili Mimpang makes an excellent vantage point for shark sighting. You can expect the regular white tip and black tip swimming around, but if you look closer, you might notice the lazy, carpet-like Wobbegong Shark hiding under reef rock. The colour of this sharks resemble corals and they have whiskers around their face and mouth which looks just like carpet’s tassels. You might also spot Cat Shark, a small shark that stay inside holes and crevices on reefs. These sharks eat small invertebrates and totally harmless to human!

So, have you decide your shark diving destination yet?