Ten years on this island taught me a rule: the tourists who get the best photos are not the ones with the fanciest gear — they are the ones who learned the sea's schedule, the local tricks, and how to read light here. I'm Pebri: Nusa Penida local, dive instructor and photographer. After ten years of observing tourist patterns, I've seen the same mistakes — late starts, wrong camera settings for current, renting cheap housings without leak checks, and missing the morning mola-mola window because they stayed up too late. This guide gives the exact camera settings, techniques, prices, GPS, booking tips and insider shortcuts I use with students and friends. You'll get images, save money, and avoid the mistakes I watched others make.

Why my angle matters: Ten years watching patterns

After a decade on Nusa Penida I can predict: on windy days, everyone crowds Crystal Bay at noon; on calm, early mornings it's empty and the light is perfect. I've worked with guests who thought ISO 800 was fine at 15m — but between currents and low contrast that gives mushy shots. I also know local boat captains, warung owners and scooter mechanics — I use those relationships to get clients priority launches, early breakfast boxes, and cheaper housing rentals that aren't on booking sites. This guide channels that insider knowledge directly into your underwater photography plan.

Essential spots, GPS & timing (what to shoot and when)

• Manta Point / Manta Bay (Toyapakeh area) — GPS (approx): -8.7315, 115.4980. Best time: morning slack tide, 07:00–10:30. Mantas year-round; visibility improves Apr–Oct. Boat from Toya Pakeh 10–25 minutes. Expect strong localized currents; shoot with fast shutter and wide strobes.
• Crystal Bay (for mola-mola & wide landscapes) — GPS (approx): -8.7370, 115.4555. Best time: July–November mornings (06:30–09:30) for mola-mola. Afternoon has surge and crowds. 10–20 min ride from Toya Pakeh harbor by dive boat.
• Blue Corner / SD (current training) — GPS (approx): -8.7190, 115.4900. Best for drift shooting and pelagic species; go with strong guides and SMBs. Mid-morning to mid-day depending on tides.

Seasonal considerations

• Mola-mola season: July–November (early mornings). Book 2–3 weeks ahead in August–September.
• Visibility: Best Apr–Oct (often 12–25m). Wet season (Nov–Mar) can drop to <10m and bring plankton — great for macro but bad for wide shots.

Camera settings & techniques (step-by-step)

These are settings I teach in the water based on the dive type. Start each day with a checklist and test-shot at depth.

General pre-dive checklist (do this every time)

• Check housing O-rings: clean and lubricated. I carry spare O-rings (IDR 30,000 / $2) and test with one arm submerged before descent.
• Battery + memory: two batteries, formatted. I saw a diver lose a day because a single battery died — memory cards fill fast when shooting RAW.
• Strobe sync and firing test: test fire inside housing before descent.
• Write settings on slate after entry for easy reset between spots.

Wide-angle / Manta shots

• Aperture: f/8–f/11 (keep foreground and manta in focus)
• Shutter: 1/125–1/200 (freeze motion; increase to 1/250 if mantas are fast)
• ISO: 100–400 (keep noise low; increase in dull light)
• White balance: 5600K or custom WB on grey slate at depth. When in doubt shoot RAW and do WB in post.
• Strobes: two strobes at 1/8–1/16 power to avoid backscatter (use off-axis position 45–60°)
• Technique: stay low, let the manta come over you; use wide-angle dome and get close (1–2m). Slow, predictable breathing and buoyancy control are essential.

Macro & critter (Batu Nunggal, Toya Pakeh shallows)

• Aperture: f/11–f/22 (for more DOF)
• Shutter: 1/125–1/200
• ISO: 100–400
• Strobes: 1/64–1/16, use snoot or dome diffuser to control spill
• Focus: single-point AF or manual focus; pre-focus on slates where critters are common
• Technique: approach slowly, practice fining off your breath to avoid startling subjects. Ask guide where small critter spots are — I give customers 30–45 minutes at known rubble patches where tambj (shrimp) hide.

Cost breakdowns & booking (real local prices)

After watching tourist flows for ten years I know where to save or splurge. Prices vary by season; here are typical ranges I see.

Service	Low season (IDR)	High season (IDR)	USD approx.
Fast boat (Sanur > Nusa Penida)	IDR 150,000	IDR 300,000	$10–$20
1-day two-tank dive (local operator)	IDR 700,000	IDR 1,200,000	$45–$80
Camera housing rental (compact/mid-range)	IDR 200,000	IDR 450,000	$13–$30
Strobe rental (pair)	IDR 350,000	IDR 600,000	$25–$40
Scooter rental (per day)	IDR 70,000	IDR 120,000	$5–$8

Insider booking tip: Book dive boats directly with local operators like the Toya Pakeh dive shops day-before for a discount — many guests book from Sanur in the morning and pay a 15–25% premium. I work with Pak Made (boat owner) and Bu Sari (warung owner) and can often secure an early 07:00 boat launch for IDR 200,000 less than the tourist counter rates. If you can't get a local contact, book 7–10 days ahead for Aug–Sep.

Where to rent gear and local contacts

• Rent housing/strobes from dive shops in Toya Pakeh or Crystal Bay — expect IDR 200k–600k/day. Ask to test fire before leaving the jetty.
• Warungs: Warung Sunrise (breakfast boxes IDR 25k–40k / $1.5–3), Warung Bu Sari (lunch IDR 30k–50k). I negotiate breakfast boxes for 10 divers: call a day before.
• Accommodation with quick access: Semabu Hill Hotel (higher budget, sometimes offers dive combos) or local homestays near Toya Pakeh for IDR 200k–400k/night ($13–27).

Practical logistics, travel times & communication

• Fast boat Sanur–Nusa Penida: 30–50 minutes depending on sea. Lembongan boats take longer.
• Toya Pakeh harbor to Crystal Bay by land: 20–30 minutes by scooter/car (road is steep and bumpy in places — rent a scooter only if confident).
• WiFi & ATM: most larger homestays and Semabu Hill have reliable WiFi. The nearest full ATM and hospital is in Toya Pakeh and Klungkung — bring cash IDR for remote warungs.

Local phrases to use (and pronunciations)

• “Selamat pagi” (suh-lah-maht PAH-gee) — good morning (use before 10:00)
• “Terima kasih” (teh-ree-mah KAH-see) — thank you
• “Boleh nego?” (boh-leh NAY-go) — can we negotiate? (use kindly at local stalls)

Safety warnings and incidents I've seen

I've supervised rescues and helped divers after equipment failures. Common issues:

• Strong currents: Blue Corner and Crystal Bay have strong surge and rip currents. Always carry an SMB. I once saw a diver separated at Blue Corner — the guide deployed the SMB and the boat picked them up within 10 minutes.
• Housing floods: Always test-fire your camera in the water at the surface. I once traded a day of free dives for a diver whose housing leaked — the salt ruined an inexpensive mirrorless sensor.
• Local rules: Do not chase or touch mantas and mola-mola. Guides will refuse service if you harass animals.

Emergency numbers: 112 (national emergency); DAN Asia-Pacific (for dive emergencies): +61 3 9886 9166 (call before evacuation); local police 110. Book dive insurance before travel and carry details in your BCD pocket.

Photo troubleshooting (common problems and fixes)

• Backscatter: reduce strobe power, move strobes wider/behind dome, use snoots for macro.
• Soft images: increase shutter speed, sharpen focus mode, and keep camera steady using a tray and handles.
• Blue/green cast: shoot RAW and custom WB using a slate at depth; for quick fixes increase red in post or use an orange filter on compact housings.
• Missed manta faces: stay calm and maintain neutral buoyancy — ascend/descend slowly to keep the manta in frame.

Cultural etiquette & sustainable practices

Locals appreciate respect. Greet warung owners, ask permission before photographing people, and tip Skipper/Pak Made (IDR 50k–100k/$3–7 is generous). Avoid single-use plastics — bring a reusable bottle: many warungs refill for IDR 5k–10k. I work with guides who follow the reef-friendly code: no feeding, no touching, keep distance from animals.

Photography & Instagram tips

• Vertical mantas sell better on Instagram — frame with negative space above the manta to show scale.
• Post-process: bring files into Lightroom — lift shadows, reduce highlights, and use clarity on the subject only.
• Hashtags that work locally: #NusaPenida, #MantaPoint, #CrystalBay — tag local operators and warungs for better local exposure.

Conclusion & my personal recommendations

If you take one thing from ten years of watching patterns: plan mornings, prioritize buoyancy and pre-dive gear checks, and hire a guide who knows the photo angles. I recommend an early two-tank manta/mola trip with a local operator (book day-before in high season), rent a quality housing from Toya Pakeh (inspect it), and bring two batteries plus a 32–64GB UHS-II card. For budget travelers: skip rented strobes and master ambient wide-angle with a red filter (cheaper), but for best images rent strobes from the dive shop — you’ll see the difference in contrast and color.

Questions about a specific camera model or want me to recommend a local operator I trust (and the cheapest warung for a post-dive nasi goreng)? Ask me — after ten years on this island, I probably know the exact person who will make your day smoother and your photos cleaner.