Sharks are one of the most exciting encounters in Bali diving. The most commonly seen species are whitetip reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks, and bamboo sharks. All are harmless to divers and a privilege to observe.
Whitetip reef sharks are the most commonly seen sharks in Bali. They rest on sandy bottoms during the day and hunt at night. You can often find them sleeping under ledges at Nusa Penida, Padang Bai, and Menjangan.
Blacktip reef sharks patrol the shallow reefs, especially around Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. They are skittish and usually swim away from divers, but in calm conditions you can watch them hunting along the reef edge.
Bamboo sharks are small, nocturnal bottom-dwellers found at Nusa Lembongan and some Padang Bai sites. Night diving gives the best chance of seeing them actively hunting.
For the best shark diving in Bali: Nusa Penida Blue Corner (blacktip and whitetip reef sharks), Menjangan walls (whitetip reef sharks), Nusa Lembongan channel (blacktip reef sharks in current), and Amed deep reef (occasional grey reef sharks).
Safety: Bali's reef sharks are completely harmless to divers. There has never been a shark attack on a scuba diver in Bali. The sharks are far more afraid of your bubbles than you should be of them. Enjoy the encounter.