Nusa Penida’s Best Beaches Are Great For Sunbathing… But Not For Swimming 

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Nusa Penida is a stunning travel destination. From soft sandy shorelines to dramatic clifftop vistas, something is awe-inspiring around every corner in Nusa Penida. 

As the island welcomes more and more international tourists, it is as a timely moment as ever to revisit the Nusa Penida basics.

The most basic and important piece of advice for all tourists to follow when visiting Nusa Penida is ‘mind where you swim’.

It’s true, almost all of Nusa Penida’s most famous and picture-perfect shorelines are not safe to swim. Despite the rules, tourists take the risk every single day.

While some are lucky enough to make it back to shore without a scratch, in all too many frightening scenarios, a dream vacation turns into utter tragedy in just a matter of seconds. 

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The worst offenders in terms of Nusa Penida’s beaches are Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach. While on social media, these landscapes are portrayed as idyllic tropical paradise beaches, nothing could be further from the truth.

Of course, nothing can take away from the undeniable raw beauty of these beaches, but the reality facing tourists upon arrival at these iconic scenic spots is often a shock to the system. 

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To access both Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach, tourists must walk down a treacherous, and we mean treacherous, cliffside path. Along both routes, there are areas where steps have completely eroded away, footholds are exceptionally slippery, and there are few to no safe places to cling to with your hands. 

Naturally, when tourist who have braved the hike reach the beach at the bottom of their respective cliffs, the first thing they want to do is dive into the water. Regardless of what other tourists are doing on the beach, leaders, tour guides, and the community in Nusa Penida are unanimous in their assertion that it is never safe to enter the water at Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach. 

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Both of these spots are perfect for sunbathing and taking in the magnificent scenery, but tourists should never enter the water under any circumstances. There are rip tides and strong undercurrents at both beaches, and it is not uncommon for high and strong waves to hit the shoreline seemingly from nowhere.

Over the years, dozens of tourists, both domestic and international, have died after being swept out to sea while paddling or swimming at Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach.

Due to the remote location of both beaches, it is challenging for Bali Search and Rescue teams to launch rescue missions quickly, despite their utmost efforts to preserve life. 

It’s not all bad news when it comes to Nusa Penida’s beaches, far from it in fact. While Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach are designated as no-swim zones, there are plenty of beaches, coves, and bays on Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan that are perfect for both sunbathing and swimming. 

Crystal Bay is the place to go for sunbathing and swimming in Nusa Penida. This west-facing beach is also the jump-in spot for many snorkelling tours and offers consistently calm waters year-round. There is hardly any strong current off Crystal Bay, making it the perfect spot to paddle, swim, or even float for a while.

Atuh Beach is another beloved spot with tourists who regularly return to Nusa Penida. This feels like a classic island paradise beach, with a few locally run warungs dotted along the beachfront serving everything tourists could need for a memorable sunset hangout: water, coconuts, and Bintang beers.

Atuh Beach is known for its incredibly clear waters, where tourists, if they stand still for long enough, will be able to see small schools of fish and even squid swimming around them.