Karang Sari

Location

Karang Sari is on the east coast of Nusa Penida: Tamarind Divers describes a sheltered bay south of Sampalan, and Bali Aqua Penida says it is named after the small village of Karang Sari on the east coast. Scuba Junkie Penida says the entry point is in front of the entry to Goa Giri Putri, a cave temple. Bali Aqua says the site is only a few minutes from its dive centre and a little more sheltered than the other drift dive sites. Its east-coast page calls the east coast the least visited coast of Nusa Penida.

Topography

Tamarind Divers describes a shallow plateau to about 10 metres that drops off to deeper water along an undulating reef, with gullies and rocky formations to explore. Bali Aqua describes a fairly wide plateau and a stepped slope, less marked than on the north coast, and calls the slope perfect for beginners. Scuba Junkie Penida describes the start of the dive as a steep sloping reef with sandy ledges and large bommies, with the slope becoming gentler further along. PADI's page for the site, contributed by Scuba Junkie Penida, describes big bommies, sandy patches, sea fans and a hard coral reef on the quieter east coast.

Marine life

Tamarind Divers lists hard and soft corals, anemones, angelfish, morays and macro life, and says large pelagics can be seen passing in the blue. Bali Aqua lists soft corals, moray eels, octopus, anemones, nudibranchs and frogfish, and says sharks can be seen there, not just the small whitetip reef shark. Scuba Junkie Penida suggests looking under big bommies for juvenile reef sharks and into the blue for tuna or eagle rays. The PADI page mentions palette surgeonfish, turtles, thresher sharks and macro on this side of the island. nusapenida.org, a guide written with a Dune Penida dive instructor, lists a colourful wall and macro as the draws and names Karang Sari among its macro sites for nudibranchs.

Conditions and level

Tamarind Divers says the currents are not usually strong, which makes it a relaxing dive. nusapenida.org lists the current as mild to moderate and the level as intermediate, while Bali Aqua rates the site beginner to expert and lists the current as none to strong. Bali Aqua lists a maximum depth of 40+ metres and a water temperature of 20 to 29 °C, with an average of 24 °C. nusapenida.org gives a boat time of 35 minutes, and Scuba Junkie Penida says its east-coast sites are a 20 to 30 minute boat ride away.