Menjangan Island (Pulau Menjangan, “deer island”) lies off the north-west tip of Bali, inside West Bali National Park. It is uninhabited, covered in dry forest and ringed by some of the best-protected reefs in Bali. Its name comes from the Javan rusa deer that live on the island and often wander down to the beaches.
Underwater, Menjangan is famous for its walls: the reef top starts in a metre or two of water and then drops away to 30–60 metres, draped in gorgonian sea fans, sponges and soft corals. The water is usually calm and clear, currents are generally gentle, and it is superb for both snorkellers and divers. On land, the island has several temples, including Pura Segara Giri Dharma Kencana with its giant Ganesha statue on the shore.
Top things to do at Menjangan Island
Snorkel the walls
Hang over the edge of the reef where it drops into the blue — one of the great snorkelling experiences in Indonesia. A snorkelling trip with lunch usually includes two sites.
Dive Menjangan
Well-known sites include the Eel Garden, the Coral Garden and a shallow wreck, the Anker Wreck, for more experienced divers. Pemuteran dive centres run daily trips.
Visit the island temples
Most boats stop at the jetty so you can see the temples and the large Ganesha statue on the rocks. Sarongs are required.
Watch for deer and birds
The deer are often found near the beaches and the lunch spot. Look out for sea eagles over the water too.
How to get to Menjangan Island
- From Pemuteran beach: 30–45 minutes by boat, depending on the sea and the drop-off point.
- From Labuan Lalang or Banyuwedang: the national park harbours, 20–30 minutes’ drive west of Pemuteran, with a shorter boat ride of about 30 minutes.
- Best way: a snorkelling or dive trip that includes the transfer, boat, guide, gear and park fees.
Insider tips
- Go in the morning, when the sea is calmest and the light is best on the walls.
- Check whether national park entrance and guide fees are included in your trip; if not, bring cash in rupiah.
- Bring a rash vest and reef-safe sunscreen — you will spend a long time face-down in the sun.
- Do not feed the deer, however tame they seem.
Best tours & tickets for Menjangan Island
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Menjangan Island from Pemuteran:
Snorkelling from $26 Pemuteran: Menjangan Island Snorkeling Trip with Lunch
The best-reviewed Menjangan trip on the market. A boat takes you into West Bali National Park to snorkel the island’s famous reef walls, where the coral drops away into deep blue just metres from the surface. Lunch is on the beach, often watched by the island’s tame Javan deer.
- Two snorkel stops on Menjangan’s coral gardens and walls
- Picnic lunch on the island, with wild deer nearby
- Hotel pickup in Pemuteran, gear included
Snorkelling from $39 Bali: Basic Snorkeling at Menjangan Island
A well-reviewed snorkelling trip that leaves from Banyuwedang, on the national park side of Pemuteran, so you spend less time on the boat and more in the water. A simple, reliable way to see Menjangan’s walls and coral gardens.
- Short crossing from the closest harbour to Menjangan
- Snorkel some of the best-preserved reefs in Bali
- Equipment and guide included
Scuba diving from $58 Basic Fun Dive at Menjangan Island
Menjangan’s walls start in a metre or two of water and drop to 30 metres or more, covered in sea fans, sponges and reef fish. This fun-dive trip from a Pemuteran dive centre is an easy way to dive it — check whether you need to be certified for the option you choose.
- Wall diving on one of Bali’s classic dive sites
- Gentle conditions most of the year
- Transfer from Pemuteran and guiding included
