A private Bali dive charter typically costs IDR 6,500,000 to IDR 22,000,000 per day (roughly USD 400 to USD 1,350) as of June 2026, depending on boat size, number of dives, gear rental, and whether you reach Nusa Penida or stay near Padangbai. Most two-dive day trips for 2–4 divers land near IDR 9,000,000–13,000,000.
Those numbers cover a lot of ground, so the rest of this page pulls the charter apart piece by piece. A “charter” is not the same as joining a group boat where you pay per seat. You book the whole vessel, set the schedule, and pick the sites, which is why the price moves with your choices rather than a fixed menu. Prices below are date-stamped to June 2026 and will shift with fuel, season, and exchange rates, so treat them as planning ranges, not quotes.
What goes into a Bali dive charter price?
A private charter day is built from five cost blocks. None of them is optional, but each one swings the total depending on your group size and the dive area. Here is how a typical day splits out.
| Cost component | Typical day-trip range (IDR) | Approx. USD | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boat / vessel hire | 4,000,000 – 11,000,000 | 245 – 675 | Captain, crew, fuel allowance, vessel insurance |
| Certified dive guide | 1,200,000 – 2,500,000 | 75 – 155 | One guide per 2–4 divers, briefings, in-water supervision |
| Scuba gear rental | 350,000 – 600,000 / diver | 22 – 37 | BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins, tank, weights |
| Permits & site fees | 100,000 – 350,000 / diver | 6 – 22 | Marine park / conservation fees, harbour clearance |
| Fuel surcharge (long range) | 800,000 – 3,500,000 | 50 – 215 | Extra fuel for Nusa Penida, Menjangan, or distant sites |
Add those up for a group of three doing two dives near Nusa Penida, and you are usually in the IDR 10,000,000–14,000,000 band. Stay closer to Padangbai or Tulamben and the fuel block shrinks, pulling the day under IDR 9,000,000.
How much does the boat itself cost?
The vessel is the single biggest line on the bill. A small fibreglass speedboat that seats 4–6 divers runs less than a traditional wooden dive boat or a larger twin-engine vessel rigged for longer crossings.
- Compact speedboat (4–6 divers): IDR 4,000,000 – 6,500,000 per day. Fast to Nusa Penida, less stable in swell.
- Mid-size dive boat (6–10 divers): IDR 6,500,000 – 9,500,000 per day. More deck space, shaded seating, easier kitting up.
- Large twin-engine charter (10–16 divers): IDR 9,500,000 – 18,000,000 per day. Suited to bigger groups or multi-stop itineraries.
The captain, crew wages, and the boat’s base fuel are bundled into these figures. What is usually not bundled is the extra fuel for long crossings, which we treat as its own line because it is the number that surprises people most.
Why does fuel cost so much for Nusa Penida trips?
Nusa Penida sits across the Badung Strait, and the currents there mean captains burn more fuel both crossing and holding position at sites like Manta Point and Crystal Bay. A Sanur-to-Penida round trip can add IDR 1,500,000–3,500,000 in fuel alone versus a shore-hugging Padangbai day.
Diesel and marine petrol prices in Bali sat near IDR 13,000–16,000 per litre in June 2026, and a twin-engine boat can drink 80–150 litres on a Penida day. That is the math behind the surcharge. If your budget is tight, picking sites on Bali’s east coast (Tulamben, Amed, Padangbai) keeps the fuel line low.
What does a certified dive guide add to the bill?
A private guide is where safety meets price, and it is not a line worth cutting. Bali Diving Charter works with certified local dive guides who know the strait’s currents, the entry and exit points, and the seasonal behaviour of the sites. We do not guarantee marine life sightings, and no honest operator can.
| Guide arrangement | Typical cost (IDR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shared guide (2–4 divers) | 1,200,000 – 1,800,000 / day | Standard ratio for certified divers |
| Private 1-on-1 guide | 2,000,000 – 2,500,000 / day | Newer divers, photographers, or Penida currents |
| Dive instructor (training/refresher) | 2,200,000 – 3,000,000 / day | For skill refreshers, not full certification courses |
Penida’s drift dives in particular reward a guide who reads the current. For divers with fewer than 30 logged dives, the private-guide upgrade is the line we most often suggest keeping.
What about gear, permits, and the small extras?
Gear rental is priced per diver per day. If you bring your own regulator and computer, you trim IDR 150,000–250,000 off the per-diver figure. Permits and conservation fees are smaller but real, and harbour clearance is charged on the boat, not per head.
- Full gear set: IDR 350,000 – 600,000 per diver, per day
- Tanks (extra, for 3+ dives): IDR 120,000 – 200,000 each
- Nitrox fill (where available): IDR 150,000 – 300,000 per tank
- Marine park / conservation fee: IDR 100,000 – 250,000 per diver
- Lunch, water, fruit on board: often included; confirm before booking
These extras rarely break a budget on their own, but three divers each renting full gear adds over IDR 1,000,000 to the day, so it is worth deciding gear early.
What is a realistic total for a typical group?
To make the ranges concrete, here are three sample days priced as of June 2026. Each assumes a private charter, two dives, and certified divers bringing no personal gear.
| Scenario | Group | Area | Estimated total (IDR) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget east-coast day | 2 divers | Tulamben / Amed | 7,500,000 – 9,000,000 | 460 – 555 |
| Classic Penida day | 3 divers | Nusa Penida | 11,000,000 – 14,000,000 | 675 – 860 |
| Group long-range day | 6 divers | Penida + Lembongan | 16,000,000 – 22,000,000 | 985 – 1,350 |
Split across the group, the Penida day works out near IDR 3,700,000–4,700,000 per diver, which sits in line with private-charter pricing across the strait.
How can you keep the cost down without cutting safety?
The safe places to trim are gear and distance, not the guide or the boat’s crew. A few practical levers:
- Bring your own regulator, computer, and wetsuit to cut per-diver gear cost.
- Fill the boat. A 6-diver charter spreads the fixed boat cost further than a 2-diver booking.
- Choose east-coast sites when fuel is the swing factor and you still want quality reefs.
- Book the shoulder season (roughly February–March or November) when demand and rates soften.
Want a firm number for your exact group, dates, and sites? Share your dive count and certification level and we will price the charter honestly, with the fuel and permit lines itemised so nothing is buried. Prices on this page are current as of June 2026 and subject to change with fuel and season.
Reviewed by Putu Wirawan, Bali dive operations lead, Bali Diving Charter — June 2026.