A snorkeling boat exploded and caught fire off Nusa Penida near Bali on Thursday, forcing four foreign tourists and their guide to jump into the water to escape the flames, according to Klungkung Regency Police.
The blast happened in the waters of Gamat Bay as the boat, named Naomi, was preparing to leave after roughly an hour on an excursion that had included stops at Manta Bay and Crystal Bay. Police said “a loud explosion was heard from the end of the boat,” which they believe came from a battery component attached to the vessel.
“The flames then appeared so that the guide and four foreign guests spontaneously jumped into the sea to save themselves,” police said in a statement.
A passing boat rescued the passengers and crew around 2:50 p.m., according to Senior Commissioner Rina Isriana Dewi, chief of the public information subdivision of the Bali Police Public Relations division.
Everyone survived. The boat captain suffered serious burns to his legs and was taken to the emergency room at Gema Santhi Regional Hospital, according to ANTARA News, Indonesia’s official national news agency.
“In this incident, all foreign national passengers and boat crew were successfully evacuated safely,” police said.
Authorities said the boat had undergone routine repairs and maintenance before the incident. The exact cause of the explosion and fire remains under investigation. Officials said the boat’s owner plans to file a report at Nusa Penida Police Headquarters once he is done accompanying the captain through treatment.
Nusa Penida sits about 15 miles southeast of Bali and draws visitors for its clear water, coastal cliffs and snorkeling spots. Bali’s tourism has surged in recent years, with nearly 7 million foreign visitors in 2025, a roughly 10% jump from the year before, according to Indonesia’s official statistics agency.
The incident follows other recent boat fires abroad. Last year, a couple vacationing in England jumped into the River Thames to rescue six people, including four children, after a boat exploded and caught fire. Earlier this year, a crew member died and four passengers were hospitalized after a fire broke out aboard a cruise ship carrying 271 passengers and 338 crew near Singapore.
