Personal story (during the monsoon season preparations): I still remember the gray morning in November when I helped Pak Made lash down the dive compressor at Penida Dive Center while heavy clouds rolled over Sanur. We were prepping boats for a week of monsoon-season diving — moving tanks under tarps, double-checking our RIBs, and rerouting dive plans to the more sheltered sites. That week taught me everything I know about which of the three islands — Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan — is best for what kind of dive, and how to choose when the weather changes fast. I’m Pebri: local dive instructor, photographer, and island guide. Here’s the guide I wish every diver had when they arrived mid-monsoon.

Overview: Which island does what for divers?

Nusa Penida = big-ocean drift dives, mantas, mola-mola (seasonal), powerful currents. Nusa Lembongan = sheltered reefs, beginners, muck and macro. Nusa Ceningan = short boat rides, easy snorkels, and shore-entry photo spots. During monsoon preparations I prioritize sheltered Lembongan/Ceningan for training dives and move to Penida only on confirmed calm windows.

Quick GPS & travel times (useful when booking)

• Sanur → Nusa Penida (Toyapakeh/Pantai Jungutbatu): Fast boat ~45–60 min. Typical pickup GPS for Toya Pakeh harbor: GPS -8.7288, 115.4826.
• Sanur → Nusa Lembongan (Jungutbatu Harbor): Fast boat ~30 min. Harbor GPS: -8.6725, 115.4560.
• Lembongan ↔ Ceningan (Yellow Bridge): Scoot across in 5–10 min. Bridge GPS: -8.6509, 115.4533.
• Manta Point (Penida): Typical dive coordinates: -8.7838, 115.4743 (approx). Strong currents — plan for drift entry/exit.
• Crystal Bay (mola mola season): -8.7425, 115.4402 — shallow bay, excellent morning light for photos.

Fast-boat operators & prices (real-world ranges)

• Penida Express / Penida Breeze / ScootFast: Sanur → Penida usually IDR 150,000–300,000 (USD 10–20). Book 24–48 hrs ahead in monsoon weeks.
• Rocky Fastboat / Marina Srikandi: Sanur → Lembongan IDR 100,000–200,000 (USD 7–14). Morning runs less canceled than afternoons in stormy weather.

Detailed comparison for divers

Feature	Nusa Penida	Nusa Lembongan	Nusa Ceningan
Main dive focus	Big-animal drift dives (Manta Point, SD Point, Crystal Bay)	Sheltered reefs, muck dives at Mangrove, beginner-friendly sites	Shore snorkeling, macro photography from reefs
Best for	Advanced divers, photographers seeking mantas/mola	Beginner & nitrox dives, photo workshops	Short excursions, cheap stays, cliff photography
Monsoon suitability	Lowest (only during calm windows)	High (sheltered bays)	High (short crossings)
Avg 1-day dive cost (2 dives)	IDR 700,000–1,200,000 (USD 45–80)	IDR 600,000–900,000 (USD 40–60)	Mostly snorkeling: IDR 200,000–500,000 (USD 13–35)

Where to book dives & local contacts

• Penida Dive Center / Penida Diving: Book nights in advance during monsoon — call or WhatsApp the day before to confirm boat status. Typical full-day (2 dives) IDR 900,000 (USD 60) including tanks, weight, guide.
• Manta Dive Nusa Penida: Specialist for manta trips. Expect extra pick-up time for manta permissions; tipping customary IDR 50,000 (USD 3.50) for diligent crew.
• Lembongan Dive Centers (e.g., Blue Corner Lembongan): Great for courses; PADI Open Water IDR 4,500,000–5,000,000 (USD 300–340).

Step-by-step booking & monsoon preparations

• Step 1 — Check weather 48 hrs out: ask operator for swell forecast and ask for ETA guarantees. During monsoon the operator will re-route to sheltered sites (Lembongan).
• Step 2 — Reserve with deposit (IDR 200,000–500,000 / USD 14–35) and confirm WhatsApp number. Keep screenshots of payment.
• Step 3 — Day-before: check-in at dive shop at 06:00–06:30 (most boats leave 07:00–08:00). Get sea-sickness meds in advance (Plasil or (ginger)).
• Step 4 — Morning check: if the operator cancels, they should offer full refund or transfer. If they don’t, escalate to the booking platform or seek alternative operator immediately.

What to bring (specialized for diving during monsoon)

• Reef-safe sunscreen, 5–7mm wetsuit (water temps drop during wet season), hood if you get cold.
• Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) + reel — mandatory for drift sites like Manta Point.
• Camera rain cover, memory cards in dry bags, and a neck strap for rough entries.
• Spare contact lenses or prescription mask if you need it — masks fog faster in humid monsoon air.

Safety & incident advice (real incidents)

I’ve personally seen divers swept in strong currents when guides underestimated a tidal change. One near-miss: during a late-November swell I watched a diver separate from the pickup zone and we needed a local fishing boat and two RIBs to collect him — he was fine, but shook up. Key safety rules:

• Always deploy your SMB on drift dives.
• Check experience requirements: Penida current sites often demand 50 logged dives or proven drift experience.
• Boat briefings matter: make the crew spell the pickup coordinates and time.

Costs & value table (IDR and USD)

Service	Price (IDR)	Approx (USD)
Fastboat Sanur → Penida	IDR 150,000–300,000	USD 10–20
2-dive day (Penida)	IDR 700,000–1,200,000	USD 45–80
PADI Open Water (Lembongan)	IDR 4,500,000–5,000,000	USD 300–340
Scooter rental	IDR 70,000–120,000 / day	USD 5–8

Insider tricks to save money/time during monsoon

• Book early-morning dives — afternoon winds pick up more often in monsoon.
• Share boat transfers and splits: many shops allow split groups so you pay per dive, not a full private-boat fee.
• Bargain for multi-day dive packages; ask Bu Sari at Warung Sunrise for a local lunch package — free tea when you tell her Pak Made sent you.

Cultural etiquette & Bahasa phrases

• Greet with "Selamat pagi" (suh-lah-mat PAH-gee) in the morning; always say "Terima kasih" (teh-REE-mah KAH-seeh) after service.
• Dress modestly when visiting temples: sarong and sash are required (usually IDR 20,000–50,000 to rent).
• Respect fishermen: don’t step on nets or take photos without asking "Boleh foto, Pak?" (May I take a photo, sir?).

Photography & Instagram tips

• For mantas: aim for midday when mantas clean on cleaning stations; use a wide-angle lens, strobes on low power to avoid startling them.
• Crystal Bay sunrise: surface shots of mola-mola look best at first light when they come up to warm — carry a 2nd battery and set ISO 400–800.
• On Ceningan cliffs: arrive 30 minutes before sunset; GPS for best cliff viewpoint: -8.6520, 115.4525.

Emergency & local facility information

• Emergency number (Indonesia): 112. Police: 110.
• Local clinic: Puskesmas Ped (day clinic) — check with your dive shop for closest clinic and ambulance arrangement during rough weather.
• ATMs: Toya Pakeh and Jungutbatu have functioning ATMs but bring cash for small warungs; Wifi is most reliable at larger cafes like The Chill or at some dive shops.

Troubleshooting common problems

• Cancelled boats: ask the operator to move you the following morning. If you’re stuck, scooters are rentable (Pak Wayan: IDR 80,000/day) so you can transfer to another harbor.
• Lost luggage: photograph your gear serials, keep receipts, and report to the fast-boat counter immediately.
• Seasickness: take medication 1 hour before and stay hydrated; sit center-boat and watch horizon.

Responsible diving & local conservation

Support local MPAs: many operators include a small conservation fee (IDR 20,000–50,000). Use reef-safe sunscreen, don’t chase or touch mantas/mola, and support community businesses (Warung Sunrise, Bu Sari’s homestay, Pak Made’s scooter service). During monsoon repairs, I often do workshop days with local kids to teach reef basics — donate small gear, not money, and volunteer time if you can.

Conclusion & personal recommendation

If you want big-animal diving and you’re an experienced drift diver — choose Nusa Penida, but only on calm windows (book 48–72 hrs ahead and expect IDR 700k+ for two dives). If you’re training, want reliable dives during monsoon, or bringing new divers — pick Nusa Lembongan. If you want short trips, budget stays, and amazing cliff photos — Nusa Ceningan is perfect. My rule during monsoon: favor sheltered sites, double-check boats the night before, and always carry an SMB. If you’re unsure, call me — Pebri — and I’ll tell you which dock to meet Pak Made at so you don’t miss the morning swell window.

Quick contacts & note: ask for Penida Dive Center or Manta Dive when you call; negotiate deposits over WhatsApp and keep screenshots. Safe diving, and remember: islands are small, weather is big — plan for flexibility during the monsoon.