Are Nusa Penida Snorkel Tours Safe? Check This Before You Board

Nusa Penida snorkelling tours are generally safe, but what happened on Thursday 29 October 2026 shows that your safety depends on the small boat and its operator, not on the snorkel spot. At around 1.40pm local time a snorkelling boat called Naomi exploded and caught fire in the waters of Gamat Bay, Sakti village, Nusa Penida, and four foreign tourists and their guide jumped into the sea.

What happened at Gamat Bay

Klungkung Police spokesman Iptu Dewa Nyoman Alit Purnawibawa told detikBali (30 October 2026) that the boat left at about 12.30pm for a private snorkelling trip covering Manta Bay, Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay. As it was about to leave Gamat Bay there was a loud blast from the bow, where the battery was stored, and flames spread across the hull.

NusaBali (31 October 2026) reported that the captain, I Kadek Dwiyana (31), suffered burns to his legs and was treated in the emergency room of RSUD Gema Santhi on Nusa Penida. The passengers and guide survived. A passing boat picked them up at around 2.50pm, so by the police timeline roughly 70 minutes passed between the explosion and the rescue. Kompas and Tirto identified the four tourists as Russian nationals. Police said the boat had been serviced and declared seaworthy before departure; the exact cause is still under investigation by Nusa Penida police.

It is not the first incident. On 21 March 2025 the snorkelling boat Sea Dragon 2 capsized in heavy swell near Kelingking Point and an Australian tourist died (NusaBali). Both cases involved small tour boats, not the crossing fast boats, which we cover in Is the Fast Boat to Nusa Penida Safe?

Before you board a snorkelling boat

• Life jackets worn, not stored. Count them on deck, check there are children's sizes, and keep yours on while the boat moves between spots. Seventy minutes in the water at Gamat Bay is far easier when everyone is already wearing one.
• Ask about the boat's papers. Small vessels under 7 GT are registered with a Pas Kecil, and every trip needs a sailing approval (Surat Persetujuan Berlayar, SPB) from the harbour master under Indonesia's Shipping Law 17/2008. A serious operator will not mind if you ask, or if you request a photo of the documents on WhatsApp before paying.
• Your name is on the manifest. If something goes wrong, the passenger list is the first thing search and rescue teams ask for.
• Passenger numbers look sane. A boat so full that people sit on the bow is over capacity.
• Look at the engine and battery. A strong petrol smell, open jerry cans or an uncovered battery near the seats are reasons to ask questions. Ask whether there is a fire extinguisher on board.
• Check the BMKG forecast. Wave heights for the Badung and Lombok straits are published at maritim.bmkg.go.id. Late October saw waves of up to 4 metres, see our note on the 27-30 October swell. An operator who cancels because of the sea is a good sign.
• Insurance. Ask whether tour passengers are insured and check that your travel policy covers water activities. More in our article on watersport operator insurance.

If the boat catches fire or capsizes

Swim away from a burning boat because fuel can ignite on the water, then stay together so you are easier to spot. Numbers to save: Basarnas (search and rescue) 115, police 110, ambulance 119, or 112. Note your operator's phone number and the boat's name on your phone before you leave. Other rules for visitors are collected on our Bali rules page.

Many visitors squeeze an early fast boat from Sanur, a snorkel tour and a late-afternoon return into one day, and a tight schedule makes people reluctant to cancel when the sea looks rough. Spending a night on Lembongan or Penida, for example with an AccessiaPass hotel voucher, gives you room to push the tour to the next morning; areas are compared in where to stay on Nusa Penida and Lembongan. The bay itself is covered in Gamat Bay, Nusa Penida.

FAQ

Have Nusa Penida snorkelling tours been suspended?

As of 31 October 2026 we found no announcement from Klungkung Police or the regency suspending tours. The investigation is ongoing, so ask your operator whether procedures have changed.

Can I refuse to board if there are no life jackets?

Yes, and you should. Ask for a refund or another boat before departure, because once you are at sea you have no options.

Is a tour from Sanur or from Penida itself safer?

Starting on Penida or Lembongan cuts the time spent crossing the open Badung Strait. Sea Dragon 2 had left from Sanur, while Naomi left from Penida, so the boat's condition and the day's weather still matter most. Information checked 31 October 2026.