Open Water Diver Course in Nusa Penida: what to expect.

Diving in Nusa Penida is fun and rewarding

You have probably heard the stories of the strong currents and hazardous diving in Nusa Penida, so is it a good destination to do an entry-level diving certification?

The plain answer is YES and here are a few reasons why and an overview of how your Open Water Diver Course will run when diving Nusa Penida.

Prep and pool: be ready to dive in

Before diving into the 'scary' waters of Nusa Penida, you will be fully prepped if doing your course with a professional and safety-oriented dive centre. First, you will be sent videos and an e-learning package which will allow you to see all the necessary safety and comfort skills before you even set one fin in the pool. Once you are on-site, you will spend the best part of one day acquiring the confidence and ability you need to evolve in the water and face small issues you may encounter in open water ( such as some water in your mask). Choosing a dive centre with a good training pool will of course make your life a lot easier and give you better preparation for the ocean. You should jump into the ocean, already comfortable evolving in the liquid element and understanding the basic rules of good scuba diving buoyancy.

Choosing dive sites and going with the flow

Nusa Penida does have strong currents it is undeniable but not everywhere, not all the time and most of these currents are very manageable, even enjoyable as you will discover. Your dive instructor and operator will; of course, choose sites they go to based on diver ability. You can dive the same site in different ways too so you can modulate the dive to suit the diver's level. For example Crystal Bay: you can jump in near the wall and look for deep water where there are often strong currents or you can jump in the shallow sandy part of the bay and do skills in the sand in a sheltered space. You will also find that diving in current is fun and allows you to see more of the dive sites and enjoy weightlessness even more! Learning to go with the flow and enjoy the process is an important part of your diving journey.

You learn to dive here, you can dive anywhere (within your limits!)

Indeed learning to dive in Nusa Penida will give you a distinct advantage over other novice divers in that you would have experienced some current on at least one dive and learnt how to evolve in it and enjoy it. You may have cleared or removed your mask whilst drifting ( held firmly by your dive instructor in a completely safe space), which means you are mentally prepared for more intense diving conditions if you encounter them later. Being trained in conditions that are not swimming pool-like is a great advantage, you learn in a supervised environment under the close supervision of a seasoned dive professional, meaning that you go away with this additional knowledge that will keep you safe and confident in most future dive destinations, whichever they may be.

The wow factor

As long as sea conditions allow, all Open Water Course students in Nusa Penida will go to the famous Manta Point on at least one of their dives and encounter the majestic gentle giants, Manta rays. Nusa Penida diving also involves world-class pristine coral reefs, Turtles galore and shoals of fish in huge numbers. The only drawback is you might find diving in other destinations disappointing after learning to dive in Nusa Penida. If you want to be amazed during your course, as well as learn to dive well and in all conditions, Nusa Penida is the right place.

Make sure you have an awesome time

Ensure your Open Water Diver course delivers all of the above: great training in a safe environment under expert professional supervision, encountering the graceful Manta rays, seeing vibrant reefs and curious turtles and having a great time whilst doing it. To do this, choose your dive centre carefully and do not cut corners on what you spend in money and time: you get what you pay for and rushed training never means good training. Check there is a good pool, and a good track record ( look up comments/reviews in Trip Advisor, Google reviews, diver forums and on the PADI website)and do not hesitate to ask questions. Our blog and others have many resources with the right questions to ask before your course.