Bali info?

[aqua0]

Hi folks,
Looking for as much info as possible on Bali as it looks like we're heading there next February.
Would specifically like any info on decent hotels/ best places to stay on the island, and dive operators/sites. Are there any 'must do's'
The only thing I know of Bali are the international and domestic airports having flown through them to get to Gilli Travangan, and that Arak tastes like poo
Many thanks in advance as always.

[Jules77]

Bali has some really great diving. Generally its best known for the drifts so head out to the likes of Nusa Penida. I went in October and the water was warm and clear and the life excellent. Depending on how long you are out there for you might want to head a bit further out on a liveaboard to places like Komodo. However I would say that (depending on the type of diving you like obviously) you won't be disappointed with daytrips from Bali.

I have a good friend who runs Crystal Divers - Bali Crystal Divers Its run by 2 Danish women, Else and Minnie who are great. Crystal Divers now have their own hotel which I haven't stayed in as it wasn't built then but I understand that it is clean and fairly basic diving accommodation.

Feel free to drop me a pm if you have any more questions.

HTH
Jules

[John63]

I was in Bali in July and really enjoyed it. It was a family hol not a dive trip. We stayed in Sanur so I did day trips, mostly across to Nusa Penida which was (from memory) about 40mins by speedboat.

Manta Point/Nusa Penida - yes there were loads of Mantas

Crystal Bay / Nusa Penida - Mola Mola

Various/Nusa Penida - cracking drifts

Padang Bay (up the coast) - Mola Mola, sharks,

Liberty Wreck / Tulumben (up the coast) - lots of macro, schools of jack, baracuda, . Great shore dive but very popular. There are a couple of hotel/resorts here so might be worth staying acouple of nights to get a few dives on the wreck



The hotels seemed to be of reasonable standard, food cheap.

Most of the dive centres seemed to offer similar trips though prices varied so shop around I think I was paying about $120-$150 for a 3 dive day trip with tanks/weight/food.

Water temp in July varied from 18c in the cold spots where the Mola Mola were at the cleaning stations, to 27c further up the coast at the Liberty wreck.

Cheers, John

[thehappychappy]

I was there in August and really enjoyed myself although didnt see any Mola Mola or Mantas

It's Blogged on the deepstop

Hope that helps.


Davie.

P.S I'd go back in a flash..

[Allan Carr]

We were there in January and dived wit these people

Dive Bali with Tulamben Wreck Divers - Home

The outfit is run by an Australian called Tony Medcraft. Their accommodation has no restaurant or bar but the minibar in the room charges local village prices. There's a good cheap restaurant across the road. They also arrange transport from the airport.

To dive the Liberty wreck, they have porters to carry your gear the 400 yards or so to the entry point. These are small ladies who carry up to two fully rigged cylinders on their heads! Worth going just to see this.

No Mola Mola when we we there but loads of big fish, bumphead parrot fish, Napoleon Wrasse, Black Tipped Sharks etc. Also pigmy seahorses and giant cuttlefish.

[aqua0]

Thanks for the info so far

Has anyone used the services of AquaMarine in Bali and if so, what's their set up like? I did speak with one of the owners last year and she was really nice, but then again so was Peter Sutcliffe!
Also, has anyone stayed at the Watergarden Hotel, Candidasa on the S.E coast, as this has also been recommended. If so, whats the local area like?
I'm not to fussed on spending much time in the Kuta area as I think this would probably drive me bonkers! I'm after tropical and beautiful with good local amenities and NOT Blackpool with heat
Thanks again

[bayswaterbabe]

Check out Absolute Scuba Bali Diving, Absolute Scuba Bali Dive Center - Scuba Diving, PADI Dive Course

I was in Bali for 5 days last month and dived with them. They arranged everything (except the flights!) - hotels, transfers & diving, including one night in Tulamben, 4 nights in Padangbai, a picturesque fishing village on the east coast, and 1 night in Sanur. Absolute Scuba is an Australian/Brit/Indonesian partnership and their staff include several Europeans. Their prices are very reasonable and they are just about the only dive op in Bali that is willing to cater to single divers without charging exhorbitant supplements. Their boss, Andy Taylor, is a great bloke who can arrange anything for you, including non-diving activities & tours.