Nusa Penida 2025: Thrilling Great White Shark Encounters in Bali

Nindy baliaqua
April 29, 2025

Nusa Penida, an island near Bali, Indonesia, is a key spot for diverse marine life and popular dive sites. In 2025, great white shark sightings (Carcharodon carcharias), uncommon in warm tropical waters, drew attention in Bali. This guide covers great white shark facts that has been seen in Nusa Penida dive sites locations like Ped, Crystal Bay, and Blue Corner combine with fishermen’s tales.

What Should You Know About the Great White Shark

Great white sharks are strong ocean predators, and seeing one in Nusa Penida is really cool. These facts, based on scientific research, explain what makes great white sharks unique.

What They Look Like: Reach 3 to 5 meters long, females larger than males. Gray on top, white below to blend with water. Have a pointed nose, dark eyes, and scars from fights or mating. Carry up to 300 sharp teeth, with new ones growing regularly.
How They Act: Travel alone or in small groups, often curious about divers but rarely attack. Jump out of water in cooler regions, not common in Indonesia shark diving. Use tail slaps or open jaws to show dominance.
What They Eat: Feed on tuna, seals, and small whales. Move at up to 56 km/h to catch prey with strong bites. Sometimes reject prey low in fat, indicating selective feeding.
Where They Live: Prefer cooler waters, 12 to 24°C, in areas like South Africa or Australia. Nusa Penida’s 22 to 29°C waters are not typical for great white shark sightings.
How They Travel: Cover up to 20,000 km seeking food or suitable waters. Dive as deep as 1,200 meters, holding breath for extended periods. Follow ocean currents where fish are abundant.
Their Super Senses: Detect blood 5 km away, sense fish movements, and see in low light. Hear low-frequency sounds, like injured prey, from a distance.
Reproduction and Lifespan: Females produce 2 to 10 pups after a 12-month pregnancy. Pups, 1 to 1.5 meters long, hunt immediately. Live up to 70 years, maturing around 15 years.
Why They Need Protection: Considered vulnerable, with low numbers due to fishing and ocean changes. Help ecosystems by removing weak animals. Protected areas support their survival.
Are They Safe?: Cause fewer than 10 fatal attacks yearly, often mistaking humans for prey. Divers in Nusa Penida diving should stay near reefs, observe calmly, and move slowly.

Great whites play a vital role in oceans, and their rarity makes great white shark sightings a highlight for Bali diving 2025.

Great White Shark Sightings in Nusa Penida

Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are rare in Nusa Penida dive sites, but their appearances are really exciting. Over the past 10 years, divers observed them at Ped, Crystal Bay, and Blue Corner. Here are the key facts about these significant great white shark sightings in Bali.

2014 (Reported): On August 15, divers at Crystal Ba saw a 4-meter shark at 20 meters deep. Water was 18°C, with many tuna schools present. The shark swam near the reef, not reacting to the group of eight divers. Local dive shops noted it as one of the first great white shark sightings in Nusa Penida.
2019 (Confirmed, Crystal Bay): On September 20, a 5-meter shark appeared in Crystal Bay, 18 to 19 meters down. Water was 17°C, with abundant tuna. Divers took photos as the shark moved calmly, and their videos spread widely online, highlighting Crystal Bay for Indonesia shark diving.
2019 (Confirmed, Blue Corner): On September 21, likely the same shark was seen 5 km away at Blue Corner, 22 meters deep. Water was 17°C, with strong currents and tuna schools. The shark moved along an underwater wall before leaving. Locals suggested it stayed in the area due to food.
2022 (Plausible): On October 10, divers at Ped reported a 4.5-meter shark at 25 meters. Water was 19°C, with mackerel schools. No photos were taken, but dive logs indicated a great white, noted by a small dive group. Dive shops discussed its likelihood, adding to Nusa Penida diving’s reputation.
2025 (Confirmed): On March 12, a 5-meter shark, possibly pregnant, was filmed at Ped, 22 meters deep. Water was 23 to 24°C, with some tuna present. Swedish diver Fabian Clinton captured it circling 5 meters away before it swam away, a rare event outside the typical season for scuba diving in Bali.

How Often Do Great White Sharks Appear?

Great white shark encounter Nusa Penida dive sites occur every 2 to 5 years, but they’re pretty rare. With thousands of dives each year across over 50 dive sites, the chance of seeing one is less than 0.01%. Most sightings, like those in 2014, 2019, and 2022, happen from August to October when water cools to 17 to 20°C, a temperature great whites prefer. The 2025 sighting in March was unusual, likely due to tuna. Ped diving, Crystal Bay, and Blue Corner are the main locations, as they have deep waters and many fish. Only about 5 to 7 sightings have been recorded in 10 years, and the 2019 Blue Corner suggests sharks may stay longer if food is plentiful.

Why Nusa Penida Diving Attracts Great Whites?

Cool Water: From August to October, water cools to 17 to 20°C, ideal for great whites. The 2025 sighting in warmer 23 to 24°C water showed food can also draw them.
Abundant Food: Large schools of tuna and mackerel attract sharks, as seen in the 2019 sightings. Fish are most plentiful in late summer, supporting Nusa Penida dive sites.
Ocean Currents: The Indonesian Throughflow current brings fish, especially from August to October, creating food-rich zones for Indonesia shark diving.
Deep Spots: Sightings occur at 18 to 25 meters, where fish gather near thermoclines, such as Blue Corner underwater wall.
Changing Oceans: Warmer seas may bring great whites to tropical Nusa Penida for food, as observed in 2025.

Safety Tips for Diving in Nusa Penida

For great white shark sightings in Nusa Penida, divers should stay calm, keep groups together, and avoid sudden movements. Face the shark, maintain eye contact, and move slowly toward the reef. Carry a dive knife for safety but do not provoke the shark. Nusa Penida’s dive guides are trained for these rare encounters, ensuring safe for scuba diving in Nusa Penida. These steps make sightings safe and exciting.

These sightings generate enthusiasm in Bali’s dive community, reinforcing Nusa Penida as a top underwater destination.

Fishermen’s Stories About Great White Sharks in Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida’s fishermen share stories that are pretty intriguing, told in villages or at harbors after fishing trips. These stories come from tales fishermen share in Nusa Penida’s villages, raising questions about great white sharks in Nusa Penida. They’re brief but add interest to Indonesia shark diving.

Fishermen use small wooden boats, called jukung, to catch tuna or marlin. Every few years, their nets or lines catch something large, 3 to 5 meters long, too heavy to manage. It risks tipping their boat, so they release it quickly. It’s a big deal!
In August 2017, a Toya Pakeh fisherman set nets for tuna at night. His boat shook as a large object, about 4 meters long, got caught. It pulled strongly, tilting the 6-meter boat. They cut the net and saw a gray-white shape sink. Villagers believed it was likely a great white, not a marlin.

In October 2020, near Blue Corner, a fisherman targeting marlin had his rod pulled hard. A heavy object dragged the boat at dawn, briefly showed a wide head and white belly, then broke the line. The crew stopped, aware their boat couldn’t handle it. Ped elders connected it to great white shark sightings.

In 2015, near Crystal Bay, a fisherman’s net caught a large shape during a tuna season. The boat shifted, ropes tight, as a 3 to 5-meter object moved below. They released it, watching it sink, and later suggested it was a great white. Villages talked about it for weeks.

These stories appear every few years, often in late summer or fall when fish are abundant in Nusa Penida waters. Without photos, they remain unconfirmed, shared to teach respect for the sea. Some think it could be another large fish, but the size and strength suggest great whites. Fishermen caution young sailors to avoid these giants, as small boats cannot manage a 1,000-kilogram creature. These stories add curiosity to Bali waters.

Dive Nusa Penida with Bali Aqua Dive Center

Bali Aqua Dive Center, a trusted PADI-certified team, offers a dive trip in Nusa Penida for beginners and experienced divers. For 2,900,000 IDR, this fun dive Bali package provides a full day of Nusa Penida diving. Here’s what’s included.

Travel: Fast boat from Sanur to Nusa Penida and back, efficient and comfortable.
Dives: Three guided dives at Manta Point, Crystal Bay, SD, or Ped, based on weather. Manta Point has manta rays, Crystal Bay offers coral and tuna, SD provides colorful reefs, Ped diving includes deep drop-offs suited for great white shark sightings.
Gear: BCD, regulator, 3mm wetsuit, fins, mask. A 5mm wetsuit is available for extra cost in cooler waters.
Extras: Lunch to keep energy up, snorkeling gear for non-divers.
Guides: Skilled professionals familiar with Nusa Penida waters, ensuring safe and enjoyable dives.

Divers see corals, schooling fish, manta rays, and occasionally rare sharks in Nusa Penida dive sites. Manta Point features manta rays, Crystal Bay has active marine life, SD offers calm reefs, and Ped has deep areas, ideal for Indonesia shark diving. This fun dive Bali with Bali Aqua Dive Center provides a chance to see great white sharks with luck.

Why Nusa Penida Stands Out for Diving

Nusa Penida is one of Bali’s top diving areas, offering a mix of rich marine biodiversity and rare sightings. Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) have occasionally been recorded at sites like Ped, Crystal Bay, and Blue Corner with sightings in 2014, 2019, 2022, and 2025, likely linked to cooler seasonal waters and fish migrations. Local fishermen also report seeing large, unidentified marine animals from time to time, adding to the mystery of these waters.

Beyond these rare encounters, Nusa Penida delivers consistent diving highlights: manta rays, coral reefs, schooling fish, and drift dives that attract divers of all levels. With Bali Aqua Dive Center, you’ll explore these sites under expert guidance and with up to date knowledge of local conditions.

Whether you’re drawn by the chance of something extraordinary or simply want to enjoy the beauty of Bali’s underwater world, Nusa Penida always has something worth discovering.

Want to know more about Nusa Penida dive sites?