My first time teaching new dive instructors on Nusa Penida I thought I was only preparing them for currents and manta ID charts. Instead, within 48 hours we were swept into an island-wide cremation procession (ngaben) at Pura Dalem Ped while prepping for a night dive. I had to pause class, tie on a sarong for two students, help Bu Sari from Warung Sunrise carry offerings, and negotiate a short detour around a sacred parade with Pak Made, our boat skipper. That day taught me that diving here isn't only about water — it's about timing, respect, and reading the island's rhythm. This guide is written from the perspective of training new dive instructors on Nusa Penida and combines diving safety with local ceremony etiquette, real contacts, prices, coordinates, and hard-won tricks you won't find on TripAdvisor.

Why ceremonies matter to divers

Ceremonies in Nusa Penida (and Balinese Hindu islands nearby) affect dive logistics: boat schedules, access to ramps, cliff parking, and even tides around sacred coves used for offerings. When I train instructors, we build ceremony-awareness into every dive brief: where the temple procession moves, which landing sites are off-limits, and who to contact if a parade blocks your dock.

Typical ceremonies you’ll encounter

• Piodalan / Odalan (temple anniversary) — frequent, village-level. Expect offerings and gamelan near temple compound.
• Melasti (purification) — usually a pre-Nyepi sea procession; big groups walk to the shoreline.
• Ngaben (cremation) — rare but large, often closing main roads and docks for a few hours.
• Galungan & Kuningan — island-wide festival cycles (spring/ autumn variations) that busier seasons and can raise local prices.

Exact places, GPS, and local contacts (insider list)

When I run a PADI IDC/IE or basic instructor course, I coordinate with these people and places:

• Toya Pakeh Harbour — GPS: -8.7269, 115.4675. Main dive pickup for north sites. Key contact: Pak Made (boat skipper) — ask your operator to call him for last-minute dock updates.
• Sampalan / Toya Pakeh Warungs — Warung Sunrise (Bu Sari) near the jetty: best nasi campur after dawn dives. Typical price IDR 25,000–40,000 (~USD 1.60–2.70).
• Pura Dalem Ped — GPS (village temple area): -8.7350, 115.5190. Central ceremony site that often sends processions along the main road we use to reach dive sites.
• Crystal Bay staging area — GPS: -8.7370, 115.4540. If a Melasti procession is coming, boats may be re-routed to alternate landings.

Costs and logistics — dive-operator & local price comparison

Below is a quick price table I use when advising students and guests. These are current market ranges I negotiate with operators while running instructor courses.

Service	Cost (IDR)	Approx (USD)	Notes
Two-tank dive day (Nusa Penida)	750,000 – 1,200,000	USD 50 – 80	Includes boat, tanks; gear rental extra ~IDR 150k–300k/day
Fast boat Sanur–Penida (one way)	150,000 – 250,000	USD 10 – 17	Book 24–48h in advance during ceremonies
Scooter rental (daily)	80,000 – 120,000	USD 5.50 – 8	Top tip: rent from Made’s Motor in Sampalan — he knows detours when roads close
Homestay / Budget room	150,000 – 350,000	USD 10 – 24	Higher during Galungan; book 1–2 weeks ahead

Where I book instructors and guests

• Blue Corner Dive (local partner) — I run OWSI modules with them; they are good at last-minute ceremony reroutes. Expect to pay midrange prices above.
• Warung Sunrise — cheap breakfast after dawn dives; tell Bu Sari I sent you and she’ll add a small coconut for free.
• Made’s Motor (scooter) — IDs and helmets checked; negotiate a small deposit IDR 50,000

Step-by-step: Attending a ceremony without offending locals (for divers)

• Step 1 — Ask your dive operator: do we expect any temple processions today? If yes, ask for alternative pick-up points. (I always check with Pak Made before breakfast.)
• Step 2 — If you want to watch, dress respectfully: sarong + sash. Most temples will lend a wrapped sarong for a small donation IDR 10,000–20,000 (~USD 0.70–1.30).
• Step 3 — Keep distance from the procession route and do not walk in front of offerings or priest groups. When in doubt, follow local elders.
• Step 4 — Photography: always ask. For ceremonies with cremation elements (ngaben), do not photograph close-ups. I brief all new instructors to get verbal permission first.

Safety warnings and recent incidents (what I’ve seen while training instructors)

When you’re training new dive instructors here, safety becomes cultural as well as physical. These are incidents I’ve personally witnessed or managed:

• Boat delays due to processions: Once a major melasti closed Toya Pakeh ramp for three hours. We diverted students to Crystal Bay which added 35 mins transit time. Always build +2 hours into schedules during temple seasons.
• Road blockages and scooter accidents: I had a trainee slide on gravel when a procession diverted traffic onto a steep farm track near Pura Ped. Always reduce speed, avoid motorcycles during parades, and use a local driver if unsure.
• Pickpocketing in crowds: During galungan processions, I watched a tourist’s phone get lifted. Keep valuables zipped, use money belts under shirts.
• Ceremony-related drowning risk: After a Melasti, many villagers swim in shallow coves; boats landing near these groups have had near-misses. I require instructors to do a water-safety sweep before students enter the water when ceremonies happen close to dive sites.

Emergency contacts (what I give trainees):

• National Emergency: 112 (works across Indonesia)
• Local Puskesmas (health clinic) — ask your dive shop for the closest Puskesmas number; always have operator’s emergency contact in phone
• Boat operator contact — get skipper number (Pak Made) when boarding

Cultural etiquette and local phrases (say these; locals appreciate it)

• “Permisi” (per-MEE-see) — excuse me (use when passing procession)
• “Terima kasih” (teh-REE-mah kah-SEEH) — thank you
• “Boleh saya ambil gambar?” (BOH-leh sah-yah AM-beel GAHm-bar?) — May I take a photo?
• When offered sarongs: say “Terima kasih, Bu/Pak.”

Practical photography & Instagram tips

• Use a 35mm–50mm lens for ceremony portraits; ask permission first.
• Golden hour at Crystal Bay combined with a small temple shrine gives the best light — go 45–60 minutes before sunset if you’ll finish a dive early.
• For underwater/ceremony crossover shots (boats + offerings on shore), take an alternate-landing boat to avoid interrupting the ceremony route — discuss with your operator (extra charge IDR 100k–200k).

Sustainable & respectful tourism practices

• Never step on coral to get closer to a shore ceremony — I banned this in all my instructor courses after a trainee nearly broke a fan coral while chasing a shot.
• Donate to the temple maintenance fund if you borrow sarongs or use a staging area — IDR 10k–50k suggested.
• Buy offerings and meals from local warungs (Bu Sari, Warung Sunrise) to help the community; they often host the ceremony volunteers.

Troubleshooting common ceremony-related problems

• Problem: Dock blocked by procession. Fix: Call skipper (Pak Made) for alternate landing; expect +30–45 min and small reroute fee.
• Problem: Students distracted by ceremony noise during brief. Fix: Move brief to a shaded warung terrace — Bu Sari usually lets instructors use her big table for free if you order drinks.
• Problem: Unexpected road closure. Fix: Hire a local driver (IDR 200k–400k half-day) who knows the side paths and can save you time.

Conclusion — My personal recommendation

If you’re coming to dive the Best Dive Sites Bali around Nusa Penida, factor ceremonies into your plan: add 2–4 hours cushion for each diving day during festival windows, book accommodation 7–14 days ahead of Galungan/Kuningan, and trust local contacts — they’ll save you time and headaches. When I train instructors, the students who learn to read ceremony calendars and work with locals get the best dives and the deepest cultural experiences. Say hello to Bu Sari, tip the sarong-keeper, and never underestimate the island’s schedule — Nusa Penida will reward you with incredible dives, unforgettable ceremonies, and stories worth telling.