What Is the Karang Sari Dive Site in Nusa Penida?

Karang Sari is a dive site on the east coast of Nusa Penida, where a broad coral plateau descends into slopes and walls. The reef runs from about 10 m to 40 m. Its conditions are often milder than at the other east coast sites, so it is generally suitable for Open Water divers and above.

It is the east coast site to choose when you want that coast's corals without its strongest current.

What Are the Key Facts About Karang Sari?

Item	Detail
Location	East coast of Nusa Penida
Type of dive	Reef plateau and drop-off
Depth	10 to 40 m
Current	None to strong. Often milder than the neighbouring east coast sites
Water temperature	20 to 29°C, 24°C on average
Visibility	Excellent to low
Level	Open Water divers and above
Marine life	Hard and soft corals, turtles, moray eels, small reef life, with occasional sharks and rays in the blue

The depth, temperature, visibility and current range are from our site card for Karang Sari. The other details are from our dive sites page.

Where Is Karang Sari, and How Do You Get There?

Karang Sari lies off the east coast of Nusa Penida. Other dive centres on the island say the site is named after the village on the shore. Divers reach it by boat. Our dive centre, Legend Diving Penida, is based on the north coast at Ped.

The east coast has four sites on our list.

East coast site	Character	Level
Karang Sari	A broad plateau, with conditions often milder than its neighbours	Open Water and above
Batu Nunggul	A sloping reef with moderate to fast current	Certified divers comfortable with drift
Semaya	Coral slopes and large bommies, with gentle to stronger current	Certified, comfortable drift divers
Malibu	Drop-offs with strong, unpredictable current	Advanced and experienced divers

How Deep Is Karang Sari, and What Does the Reef Look Like?

The site has two parts.

• The plateau. A broad coral plateau forms the top of the reef, from about 10 m. Other dive centres describe a gentle, stepped slope here.
• The slopes and walls. Beyond the plateau the reef descends to 40 m.

The plateau is what makes the site easier. An Open Water Diver, limited to 18 m, has a wide area of reef within range. An Advanced Open Water Diver can follow the slope to 30 m.

How Strong Is the Current at Karang Sari?

Often milder than at the other east coast sites, although it varies. Our site card gives the full range as none to strong, so do not count on calm water every day.

When the current runs, the dive is a drift. The boat drops the group, the group moves with the water along the reef, and the boat collects it where it surfaces. The usual rules apply: stay close to the reef, stay with your guide and do not swim against the current.

What Marine Life Can You See at Karang Sari?

• Corals. Vibrant hard and soft corals cover the plateau and slopes.
• Turtles. A regular sight here, as at most sites around the island.
• Moray eels. Look in the gaps in the reef.
• Small life. The macro life here is fascinating. Other dive centres list frogfish, nudibranchs and mantis shrimps.
• Visitors from the blue. Sharks, rays and other pelagic fish pass occasionally.

Other dive centres also list mola mola as a seasonal visitor at Karang Sari. We do not, so treat a mola here as a surprise.

Who Should Dive Karang Sari?

You are	Karang Sari is
On a try dive	Not the usual choice but can be done in calm current days.
A new Open Water Diver	A good first east coast site, on a mild day, with a guide
A diver building up to drift dives	A sensible step before Batu Nunggul or Semaya
An experienced diver	A relaxed reef dive, with a chance of sharks and rays off the slope
An underwater photographer	Good for corals and small subjects when the current is light

Not sure Karang Sari is the right level for you? Compare it with Batu Nunggul, Semaya and Malibu, the other three sites on this coast, in our Nusa Penida dive site guide. For each of the four, the page says who the site suits and how strong the current can be.

When Is the Best Time to Dive Karang Sari?

Karang Sari is dived all year.

• April to October is the dry season, with cooler water.
• November to March is the rainy season, with warmer water. The first rains, in December and January, can change the visibility from day to day.

Our site card gives 20 to 29°C through the year. That is warmer at the low end than Crystal Bay or Manta Point.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Karang Sari suitable for beginners?

For certified beginners, yes. We rate it as generally suitable for Open Water divers and above. For try dives it can be done on the right conditions.

Is Karang Sari a drift dive?

When the current runs, yes. Our site card gives a current range from none to strong, so some dives here are slow reef dives and others are drifts.

How deep is Karang Sari?

The reef runs from about 10 m on the plateau to 40 m on the slopes and walls.

Can you see sharks at Karang Sari?

Occasionally. Sharks, rays and other pelagic fish pass in the blue from time to time.

How is Karang Sari different from Batu Nunggul?

Both are on the east coast. Karang Sari is a plateau with milder conditions, open to Open Water divers. Batu Nunggul is a slope with moderate to fast current, for divers comfortable with drift.

Is there an extra fee for diving Karang Sari?

Our price list names Manta Point, Sampalan and Padang Bai as distant sites with a remote fee of IDR 150,000 per person. It does not name Karang Sari, so ask us when you book.

Conclusion

Karang Sari is a broad coral plateau on the east coast of Nusa Penida, falling to slopes and walls at 40 m. Its milder conditions make it the east coast site for Open Water divers, and a good step towards the island's faster drifts.

Go for the corals, the turtles and the small life. A shark or a ray in the blue is a bonus.