Snorkeling Boat Catches Fire Near Nusa Penida
A snorkeling boat caught fire in Gamat Bay after a suspected battery-component explosion. Four foreign tourists and a guide escaped into the sea; the captain was burned and no one died.
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· 2 min read
Nusa Penida — A snorkeling boat named Naomi caught fire in Gamat Bay, Nusa Penida, on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, after a loud explosion believed to have originated in a battery component. Four foreign tourists and a guide jumped into the sea, while the boat’s captain suffered burns to his leg.
The group had departed at about 12.30 WITA for a private snorkeling trip covering Manta Bay, Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay. Police said the vessel’s technical condition and safety equipment had been checked before departure and found to be in order.
A passing boat reached the group at about 14.50 WITA and evacuated the passengers and crew. The four tourists, the guide and other crew members survived, and no deaths were reported. The captain was taken to the emergency unit at Gema Santhi Regional Hospital in Nusa Penida for treatment.
Why the Nusa Penida boat fire matters to visitors
The episode highlights the risks faced by visitors using small excursion boats in waters around Bali’s tourism islands. Foreign travelers on snorkeling trips were directly affected here: four tourists had to enter the sea after the fire spread, while the guide helped them escape.
The vessel had reportedly undergone routine repair and servicing before the trip. Police were still collecting information to establish the precise cause of the explosion and fire. The preliminary account identified a battery component as the suspected source, rather than a confirmed final cause.
The passengers were rescued by another boat after drifting in the water. Police said the owner planned to visit the Nusa Penida police station to file an official report after accompanying the captain during medical treatment. The investigation was continuing.
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