Buddha Point is a group of underwater Buddhist temple statues near Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan in Bali.
Itβs a cool spot that can easily be visited from Lembongan or Nusa Penida.
This travel guide will explain how to get there, and everything you need to know before you go!Where To Stay In Nusa Penida
Visiting Buddha Point
The statues are only about 5 meters (15 feet) deep and can easily be reached by snorkeling without any scuba gear.
Thereβs a 3 meter (8 foot) tall Buddha statue surrounded by some big bell-shaped stupas that look like ruins, similar to the ones at Borobudur Temple in central Java.
Take caution here, because the currents can be strong. My boat guy had to keep scooping me out of the water and dropping me back at the statues again, because I was quickly being carried away by the fast currents.
As long as youβre a good swimmer or have an attentive boat man, it should be OK.
How To Get To Buddha Point
Buddha Point can be reached from Nusa Lembongan, Ceningan, or Penida.
The group of statues is located near the north end of Nusa Ceningan, not far from the mouth of the Ceningan Channel (the channel between Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan).
It can be reached by boat easily from Penida as well. I visited the statues along with several other coral spots on a half day snorkeling trip from Nusa Penida, for just 200k IDR ($14 USD).
The underwater statues are contemporary, but the ocean has already started to make them look like ancient ruins!
Now Closed?
As of 2019, there are some rumors going around from people (including locals) saying that these statues have been removed.
I spoke to my Balinese friend in Nusa Penida and he said the company that originally put the statues there as a snorkeling object didnβt like having a bunch of other companies bringing snorkelers to the same spot, so thatβs why theyβre trying to drive away other tours.
Apparently itβs a turf war created by this snorkeling company claiming ownership over the statues. According to my friend the same company has also removed the statues now, but itβs likely just a rumor to keep people away.
Iβm still working on getting updated info. If anyone has any current info on the statues, please let me know and Iβll update this post.
More Nusa Penida Travel Tips
Looking for more information on the beautiful island of Nusa Penida in Bali?
Don't forget to check out my full Nusa Penida Travel Guide with free tips, maps, photos, and more.
This island is loaded with nice beaches, cliffs, caves, and snorkeling spots!
Check out my complete Nusa Penida travel guide for more tips, info, and photos!
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Nusa Penida Hotels
See Also
- Nusa Penida Island: Complete Travel Guide
- 4-Day Nusa Penida Itinerary - Bali's Blue Paradise Island
- How To Get To Nusa Penida From Bali
- What To Do In Nusa Penida - Caves, Beaches, Cliffs, & Temples
- GetYourGuide Day Tours To Nusa Penida Island
- Bali Beach Guide - The Best Beaches In Bali
- Bali Waterfalls Guide - The Best Waterfalls In Bali
- Bali Temple Guide - The Best Temples In Bali
- Most Beautiful Indonesian Islands - Best Places To Visit In Indonesia
7 comments
Hi, what’s the current situation on the Buddha temples in Nusa Penida? Did you manage to get any insight on this? Would appreciate a reply, thanks
Hi Carlos, unfortunately the latest I’ve heard from locals is that the statues aren’t there anymore. I still haven’t been able to confirm this yet. I think the only way to know for sure will be to drop under the surface of the water there and check. Cheers
updated 2019/6/10
it has closed and not avaliable
Hi there, I will be staying near Yellow bridge and can walk to the place, now my question is, where do I book the snorkelling there? Thanks
Hi Laura,
Lembongan has lots of snorkeling companies, but unfortunately I donβt think any of them will take you to Buddha Point anymore, for the reasons mentioned in my blog post above.
The company that put the statues there originally is trying to keep people away from it now.
Hi !
Thank you for your blog, it’s great!
So, have you had more information about Budha statues since 2019?
My boyfriend and I are going to indonesia next summer and we would love to see this
(sorry for my english i speak very badly)
Hi Hannah, sadly the last I’ve heard is that it’s closed, because the company who put the statues there is trying to keep people away from it now.
I will ask again soon, because it could change.