door to door
every trip
Banyuwedang
maximum
Snorkeling Menjangan needs no certification at all
Snorkeling Menjangan gives you national park reef without a tank, a wetsuit or a course. The island sits inside West Bali National Park, where the coral starts about two metres down and then drops away as a wall, so you see deep water life from the surface.
Most of Bali faces open ocean. The snorkeling Menjangan offers is different because the island does not. It sits in a sheltered strait on the north west tip, which keeps the swell down and the visibility high. Currents are gentle compared with Nusa Penida or Amed, and beginners usually settle within ten minutes.
The shallow shelf
Staghorn and table coral in two or three metres of water, close to shore. Where nervous swimmers and children start, and where most of the small reef fish are.
The wall
The reef does not flatten out, it falls away. Soft corals, gorgonian fans and clouds of anthias on a vertical face, all visible from the surface.
Eel Garden
Named for the colony of garden eels swaying in the sand at the base of the slope. Visibility here is often the best on the island.
Pos 2
Shallower and calmer, the friendlier of the two spots for families and first timers. Turtles are seen regularly along this stretch.
Share the boat or take it
Both snorkeling Menjangan formats visit two spots and include the beach lunch. The difference is the departure time and who else is aboard.
Share trip
Departs 9 AM- Duration4 hours, door to door
- BoatShared, maximum 10 guests
- SpotsTwo, chosen by the guide on the day
- Best forSolo travellers, couples, anyone watching the budget
One departure daily at 9 AM. The simplest way to do it if you do not mind sharing the boat.
Ask about this tripPrivate trip
7 AM to 3 PM- Duration4 hours, flexible
- BoatYour group alone
- SpotsTwo, discussed with your guide
- Best forFamilies, photographers, fixed schedules
Depart any time from 7 AM. Worth it for an early start before the day boats arrive, or if you want the boat to wait while you take photographs.
Ask about this tripIn the rate
Included- TransportFree hotel pick up and drop off in the Pemuteran and Menjangan area
- BoatReturn boat transfer, one boat carries a maximum of 10 people
- GuideSnorkeling guide in the water with you
- GearFull set: mask, snorkel, fins and vest, plus a towel
- InsuranceIncluded for every guest
- LunchLunch box with a choice of fried rice, fried noodles, chicken sandwich or fruit box
Bring reef safe sunscreen, a hat and a dry bag for your phone. Everything else is on the boat. Tell us in advance if anyone in your group has never snorkeled, and we start in the shallow shelf.
What snorkeling Menjangan actually shows you
The reef is the reason you book. The deer on the beach at lunchtime is the part nobody expects.
Turtles
Green and hawksbill turtles
Most often at Pos 2
The coral wall
Soft corals and gorgonian fans
Best at Eel Garden
Wild deer
Rusa timorensis
On the beach at lunch
Four hours, and the lunch break is not filler
A snorkeling Menjangan day starts at Banyuwedang harbour, about thirty minutes from the island by boat. You snorkel for 45 minutes to an hour, come ashore for a picnic lunch and a walk, snorkel a second spot, then run back.
Menjangan means deer in Javanese, and the herd living on the island is completely unbothered by visitors. They come close enough to photograph while you eat. If you want the background on the reserve itself, read our guide to Menjangan Island.
How the trip runs
- 30 minBoat from Banyuwedang harbour to the island.
- 45-60 minFirst snorkeling session.
- About 1 hBeach break, picnic lunch, short walk, wild deer.
- 45-60 minSecond snorkeling session at the other spot.
- 30 minBoat back to Banyuwedang harbour.
- Which spotsDecided on the day by the guide, based on the weather.
What you can see from the surface
Fifteen things our guides point out regularly while snorkeling Menjangan. This is wild reef inside a national park, so nothing is promised.
Nothing matches that search.
Reef fish
6 speciesBigger animals
5 speciesCoral and shallows
4 thingsCertified divers get the same wall with far more range. If you dive, or are thinking about learning, see scuba diving at Menjangan. A morning here also pairs well with an afternoon safari drive, since both leave from the same area.
More from snorkeling Menjangan
Kids in the shallows, clownfish in their anemone and the boat ride out to the island.
Common questions
No. Every guest gets a flotation vest and the guide stays in the water with the group. Tell us beforehand so we can start you in the shallow shelf and take it slowly.
Thirty minutes each way from Banyuwedang harbour, which is included in the four hours.
Turtles are seen on most snorkeling Menjangan trips, particularly at Pos 2. This is wild reef in a national park, so sightings are never guaranteed.
Yes. Mask, snorkel, fins, vest and a towel are all included. Bring your own mask if you prefer the fit of one you know.
The guide decides on the day, based on the weather and conditions. Eel Garden and Pos 2 are the two most often used. On a private trip you can discuss it beforehand.
It is possible but long. Snorkeling Menjangan as a day trip from the south means four to five hours of driving each way. Staying a night in Pemuteran makes the trip far more enjoyable, and lets you take an early private departure.
