Just North from the small port city of Padang Bai, along the East coast of Bali, lies Candidasa. The islets and walls along this small stretch of coast offer hands-down some of the best dive sites in all of Bali.

blue spotted stingray

But beware, Candidasa is situated directly in the Strait of Lombok, and the seas here are fierce! Under the best conditions, only advanced divers should attempt most of the dive sites in Candidasa, and on a bad day, it is virtually un-divable. Washing-machine currents churn the waters off Candidasa, with alternating up and down currents being the norm.

green nudibranch

The first time we went diving here, our guide told us that it's not all that unusual to end dives in Candidasa after 5 or 10 minutes, because people not used to the currents can tend to panic.

friendly cuttlefish

But let me tell you first-hand, the payoffs are HUGE, and the risks are worth the reward if you have the required experience, and stamina, to dive here.

white scorpionfish

The first site we dove was Gili Tepekong, a small island that you can see from the shore in Padang Bai. The walls surrounding the island are steep, with little protection from the swift current.