On Thursday 29 October 2026 a private snorkelling boat caught fire at Gamat Bay on Nusa Penida at about 13:40, after a loud explosion at the front of the boat. The four foreign tourists, the guide and the captain all survived: the guide and the tourists jumped into the sea and a passing boat took everyone aboard. The captain, 31, was treated for burns to his legs. Police have not confirmed the cause, and a battery component is suspected. A sea ambulance for the Nusa islands had been inaugurated in September.
By Alex Moskvin, Founder of SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Nusa Penida West Tour — From $49 per car, full day.
What happened to the snorkel boat at Nusa Penida on 29 October 2026?
At about 13:40 a boat on a private snorkelling trip with four foreign tourists, a guide and a captain caught fire in Gamat Bay after a loud explosion. Everyone survived; the captain was treated for burns to his legs.
This guide also answers:
- Was anyone killed or hurt in the Nusa Penida boat fire?
- Is there an ambulance boat on Nusa Penida?
- Which numbers do I call for an emergency at sea in Bali?
Top picks from this guide
#1
A snorkel boat at sea
The boat left its base at about 12:30 for Manta Bay, Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay with four foreign tourists, a guide and the captain on a private trip. At about 13:40, as it was leaving Gamat Bay, a loud explosion came from the front and fire spread quickly. No one died. The captain, 31, was treated for burns to his legs at the Gema Santhi hospital on Nusa Penida.
#2
Snorkellers in the water
The guide and the four tourists jumped into the sea to escape the fire, and another boat passing nearby took all passengers and crew aboard. ANTARA's Indonesian report and Detik Bali both give about 14:50 for the evacuation. The reports do not give the tourists' nationalities and do not name the operator.
#3
Boats between the islands
ANTARA Bali reported on 22 September 2026 that a sea ambulance run by the Nusa Medica Clinic Group had been inaugurated. Its routes link Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida with Sanur and Padang Bai, and it may later serve Gili Air and Gili Trawangan. It is meant for transfers from clinics to hospitals, for residents and foreign tourists. No price or phone number was published.
#4
Snorkelling from a boat: what to ask
The Ministry of Transportation says it checks life-saving equipment, firefighting systems, evacuation routes and passenger numbers on tourist vessels. You can ask the same questions of any operator, including us: are there life jackets for everyone, is there a fire extinguisher, how many passengers does the boat carry, and how does the crew call for help?
What happened at Gamat Bay on 29 October 2026?
A snorkelling boat caught fire in Gamat Bay, Sakti village, on Nusa Penida (Klungkung regency) on Thursday 29 October 2026. ANTARA's Indonesian report, based on a statement from Bali Police, says the boat left its base at 12:30 for Manta Bay, Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay with four foreign tourists on a private trip, plus the captain and a guide (our Nusa Penida snorkelling guide describes what each of those stops is like). At about 13:40, as the boat was leaving Gamat Bay, there was a loud explosion at the front and the fire spread quickly.
The guide and the four tourists jumped into the sea. Another boat passing nearby took all passengers and crew aboard at about 14:50, according to both ANTARA's Indonesian report and Detik Bali. No one died. The captain, a 31-year-old from Nusa Penida, had burns on his legs and was treated in the emergency department of the Gema Santhi regional hospital on the island; Detik Bali described serious burns to the lower body and intensive treatment. A Bali Police spokesperson said on Friday 30 October that all foreign tourists and crew were evacuated safely.
| Time (WITA) | What the reports say |
|---|---|
| 12:30 | The boat leaves its base for Manta Bay, Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay |
| About 13:40 | A loud explosion at the front as the boat leaves Gamat Bay; the fire spreads quickly |
| After the explosion | The guide and the four tourists jump into the sea |
| About 14:50 | A passing boat takes everyone aboard (the time in both ANTARA's Indonesian report and Detik Bali) |
| Friday 30 October | Police say all were evacuated safely and the cause is being investigated |
Times are from ANTARA's reports of 30 and 31 October 2026 and Detik Bali's report of 30 October.
What do we know about the cause?
Police have not confirmed the cause. ANTARA and Detik Bali reported that the explosion was suspected to come from a battery component at the front of the boat, and that initial information said the boat had had routine maintenance and repairs. The guide told police that the boat's safety equipment and technical condition had been checked and declared safe before departure. Police questioned witnesses and examined the site, and planned a further investigation on the spot. The owner planned to file a report at the Nusa Penida police station after the captain's hospital care is complete.
This is not the first boat explosion at a Nusa Penida harbour. In August 2023 Kumparan reported that the engine of the speedboat Dolphino Queen exploded at Banjar Nyuh port while the captain was preparing a snorkelling tour, and that he suffered serious burns. Police then suspected a short circuit. The reports do not name the operator, so we will not guess at a cause or assign blame.
What is the new sea ambulance for the Nusa islands?
ANTARA Bali reported on 22 September 2026 that the Klungkung regent inaugurated the Nusa Medica sea ambulance at Nusa Ceningan. It is run by the Nusa Medica Clinic Group. The boat is 11.10 metres long with three Yamaha engines totalling 750 horsepower, and it carries a ventilator, a patient monitor and oxygen. The routes named are Nusa Lembongan to Sanur and Padang Bai, and Nusa Penida to Sanur and Padang Bai, with a possible extension to Gili Air and Gili Trawangan depending on need and sea conditions.
Its stated purpose is to speed up transfers from clinics and first-level medical facilities to referral hospitals, for residents and foreign tourists. Conditions named include head injuries, fractures, diarrhoea with dehydration and heart disease. The reports do not say how a tourist would request it, what it costs or whether it can be called directly. If you need medical help on the islands, start with the nearest clinic, your hotel or your tour operator. Our Nusa Penida safety guide covers clinics and insurance.
Are tourist boats being inspected?
The Ministry of Transportation said on 31 October 2026 that it will inspect 2,140 vessels from 1 to 30 November ahead of Christmas and New Year, including 821 tourist vessels and 123 high-speed craft. Checks cover vessel safety, crew qualifications, loading, life-saving equipment, firefighting systems, evacuation routes, passenger capacity and preparations for bad weather. Tourist vessels get a direct inspection before they sail, as part of the sailing approval.
This is a national programme, not a response to Nusa Penida, and the report does not say how many of the tourist vessels are small snorkelling boats. Weather matters too: BBMKG warned on 2 November of waves of two metres or more in the Badung Strait, which we cover in our heavy rain report.
What should you ask before you board a snorkel boat?
None of this makes Nusa Penida unsafe on its own. Most trips pass without incident, and the bigger everyday risks on the island are cliffs, heat and scooters. But a boat is a place where a problem is hard to escape, so a few questions are worth asking any operator, including us.
- Life jackets: is there one for every passenger, and does the crew show you where they are before departure?
- Fire: is there a fire extinguisher on board, and does the crew know where it is?
- Numbers: how many passengers does the boat carry, and is that within its limit?
- Calling for help: how does the crew call another boat or the harbour, by radio or by phone?
- Weather: will the operator cancel for swell? Treat a cancellation as good judgement, not a problem.
- Your own kit: keep your phone in a dry bag with a full battery.
For emergencies, Basarnas lists 115 as its emergency number, and The Bali Sun gave 110 for Bali Police on 24 September 2026. If you prefer to keep your Nusa Penida day on land, our West Tour is from $49 per car and visits Kelingking, Angel's Billabong and Broken Beach by car after the boat crossing. Our snorkel trip with manta rays is from $29 for a full day, and you can put the questions above to us before you book. Our guide to getting to Nusa Penida explains the crossing, and Sanur to Nusa Penida by fast boat covers the last return time.
Where these facts come from
- ANTARA, 30 October 2026: Bali Police confirm four foreigners survive Nusa Penida boat fire — the incident, the captain's injuries and the police statements, retrieved 2 November 2026
- ANTARA Bali, 30 October 2026: Polda Bali pastikan empat WNA selamat dari kebakaran boat snorkeling di Nusa Penida — the times of 12:30, 13:40 and 14:50, the suspected battery component and the investigation, retrieved 2 November 2026
- Detik Bali, 30 October 2026: Boat Snorkeling Terbakar di Gamat Bay, 4 WNA Lompat ke Laut — the same times, the battery area at the front of the boat and the captain's treatment, retrieved 2 November 2026
- ANTARA Bali, 22 September 2026: Ambulans laut percepat layanan kesehatan warga dan wisatawan di Nusa Penida-Lembongan — the vessel, equipment, routes and purpose of the sea ambulance, retrieved 2 November 2026
- The Bali Sun, 27 September 2026: New Sea Ambulance Service Launched To Serve Bali Tourists On Nusa Islands — the service for residents and international tourists, retrieved 2 November 2026
- ANTARA, 31 October 2026: Indonesia to inspect 2,140 vessels ahead of year-end holidays — the national inspection programme and what it checks, retrieved 2 November 2026
- Kumparan, 4 August 2023: Kapal Snorkeling di Nusa Penida Bali Meledak, Kapten Luka Bakar — the 2023 engine explosion on the speedboat Dolphino Queen at Banjar Nyuh port, retrieved 2 November 2026
- The Bali Sun, 24 September 2026: Bali Immigration And Bali Police Increase Focus On Top Tourism Destinations — Bali Police can be contacted on 110, retrieved 2 November 2026
- Basarnas, the national search and rescue agency — emergency contact 115, retrieved 2 November 2026
- Tour prices from SB Excursions tour pages, November 2026
FAQ
What happened to the snorkel boat at Nusa Penida on 29 October 2026?
At about 13:40 a boat on a private snorkelling trip with four foreign tourists, a guide and a captain caught fire in Gamat Bay after a loud explosion. Everyone survived; the captain was treated for burns to his legs.
Was anyone killed or hurt in the Nusa Penida boat fire?
No one died. The captain, 31, had burns on his legs and was treated at the emergency department of the Gema Santhi hospital on Nusa Penida. The guide and the tourists jumped into the sea, and a passing boat took everyone aboard.
What caused the Nusa Penida boat fire?
Police have not confirmed it. A battery component at the front of the boat is suspected, and police are questioning witnesses and examining the site.
Is snorkelling at Nusa Penida safe?
Most trips pass without incident, but a boat is a place where a problem is hard to escape. Ask about life jackets, a fire extinguisher, passenger numbers and how the crew calls for help, and respect a cancellation for swell. Our Nusa Penida safety guide covers the island's bigger risks.
Is there an ambulance boat on Nusa Penida?
Yes. ANTARA Bali reported on 22 September 2026 that a sea ambulance run by the Nusa Medica Clinic Group had been inaugurated. It links Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida with Sanur and Padang Bai for transfers from clinics to hospitals. No price or phone number was published.
Which numbers do I call for an emergency at sea in Bali?
Basarnas, the national search and rescue agency, lists 115 as its emergency number. The Bali Sun gave 110 for Bali Police on 24 September 2026. Tell your hotel or tour operator as well.
Are tourist boats being inspected before Christmas and New Year?
The Ministry of Transportation said on 31 October that it will inspect 2,140 vessels from 1 to 30 November 2026, including 821 tourist vessels and 123 high-speed craft. It is a national programme, not specific to Nusa Penida.
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