Bali - 1 week, muck/macro

After looking into going back to KBR in Lembeh for only a week, I started to think that maybe Bali was a better suited choice for such a short trip... So, I'm looking for recommendations in Bali for diving and lodging that won't make me sorry that I'm not getting back to KBR .

I probably won't even bring the wide angle setup, and I'm looking for great macro/muck. Looks like good options would include Scuba Seraya (and their house reef), or Secret Bay. Is there a way to do both from the same resort?

Or should I give up and just go back to Lembeh?

Would greatly appreciate any info!

I would look into booking a private tour if there are two of you. I have an excellent operator that is very reasonable that has an awesome Balinese guide. PM me and I'll give you contact info. Secret Bay is better done from Pemuteran or Lovina. Tie it in with Menjangan and you're set.

Cheers,

Marli

Hi Linda,

I've spent over a week at Scuba Seraya last December. It's hard to do both Secret Bay from Tulamben, as it is at the other end of the island.

On the other hand, Seraya Secrets is a fantastic muck dive worth doing over and over again. Night dives are really spectacular in terms of richness and diversity of critters.

I wouldn't let my WA lens behind either, as the Liberty Wreck is only 5 minutes away, and so are great sites like Tulamben Drop-Off, Batu Niti, Kubu, etc.

IMHO, it's well worth the trip.

Cheers,

Mat

Thanks Marli and Matt (and the folks who have emailed me as well).

I neglected to ask about water temperatures. This will be early/mid May. What kinds of water temperatures can I expect in the area?

Thank you!

Linda

Seraya is more for juvenile spawning. Somehow after a few months of super juvie activity, the adults take off somewhere. The dive operation is now run by Bali Hai and the chief is Renault and his wife, who are quite knowledgeable about the area, esp the deeper stuff.

Secret Bay is a very shallow dive which is very fruitful in terms of frogfish (we had 6 species in one day, including mating hairy) and even Banggai cardinal fish so you won't feel you went too far from Lembeh.

If you PM me or contact TracyG, he will tell you my recommendations.

Temps will be around 24-28°C, depending on where you dive. Bali is upwelling country so sometimes (esp in the deeper sections), you can run into a very refreshing bladder crushing thermocline.

Agree with all the above. (You can also see my reports posted in these forums on Bali diving.) Renault at Seraya is fantastic at finding macro stuff. Secret Bay is also really good for macro. However, they are about 3 hours apart (Tulamben and Gillamanuk (Secret) Bay areas so not really practical to do the same day. A new site called "PJ," near Lovina is supposed to be better than Secret Bay for macro. If I were to do this trip, I would spend 2-3 days at Seraya/Tulamben areas then transfer to Lovina or Menjagan areas to do SEcret Bay/PJ for 2-3 days. There, both places done in a week.

Liberty Wreck in Tulamben is a must see...absolutely spectacular and full of all kinds of critters. Stay at Tauch Terminal and walk down the beach 50 yards. Swim out 25 yards and you are there. You can even use your safety stop to swim back to the resort over beautiful coral. It is so easy you can log 5 or more dives a day and still have time to relax. Tulamben also has the drop off, emerald bay and other sites near by that are quite nice.

Another great option is Padang Bai. Dive the local Gili's and Nusa Penida (45 mins by boat). Gili's are full of great macro and other stuff (white tips, schooling fish, etc). Night diving Padang Bai is excellent near Blue Lagoon. Nusa offers some of the longest stretches of unbroken staghorn i have ever seen...literly drift for 40 mins over it. Nusa also as guaranteed manta action at manta point. This is actually a "manta point" that has mantas. The bat over 90% there on seeing them. A few weeks ago we spent 45 mins with 5 large mantas parading over us. We then dove Crystal Bay (very nice) and had an excellent thresher shark encounter. Dive with WaterWorx Bali and ask for Wolfgang or Chris.

Anyway, Bali has amazing macro but i sure wouldn't leave the wide angle behind. The cold upwhellings bring all kinds of suprises. One more thing, Tulamben is fine for 3mm shorty or long but Padang Bai is definitely 5-7mm...much colder.

-shawn

Secret Bay was 72C in the warm end. BRRRRRR. Bring a hooded vest to wear over your suit. I wore a 3mm and a 1.5mm and still got chilled, as you're not moving a whole lot.

Marli

5 stars for the Tulamben site. The sand eels and wreck are alot of fun. There is a slovenian dive operator across the highway, away from the water, that is well-equiped and can take you anywhere you like along the north shore, Tulamben, Ahmed, and further west including menjangan island. Mimpi is also a nice stay - both at tulamben, and menjangan.

Linda,

When were you hoping to go?

Steve

My trip is in mid May, and it's now looking like I'll be going to Lembeh rather than Bali. I still would like to do some diving in Bali, and I'm keeping all the valuable tips and references that folks have sent me. Thanks to everyone for them! Bali definitely sounds like it has worthwhile diving.

Linda,

Great website and photos you have there.......if I am into macro video, where would you recommend that has corals, great visibility AND biodiversity?

I know Lembeh is the ultimate from macro cirtters, but hear the visibility isn't that great and the corals are few.....

Thoughts?

Linda,

 

Great website and photos you have there.......if I am into macro video, where would you recommend that has corals, great visibility AND biodiversity?

 

I know Lembeh is the ultimate from macro cirtters, but hear the visibility isn't that great and the corals are few.....

 

Thoughts?

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Another favorite macro place for me is the Solomon Islands, which has great corals and visibility (depending on the site). Wakatobi and Papua New Guinea (Milne Bay) have these attributes as well, and though I've not been there yet, Raja Ampat sounds promising.

What particular critters are you interested in?