Dive Operators in Bali

Hi everyone !

I will be to traveling to Tulamben and other areas around Bali for around two more weeks .Does anyone have any recomendations about diveshops or dive operators around this area.

Thanks

David

Hello,

You should make a point of stopping by Scuba Seraya. They have a small dive shop and a really neat dive site.

Cheers

James

Scuba Seraya is now operated under a management contract by Bali Hai, an Australian owned concern that is probably the biggest diving/marine tourism operator in Bali.

My personal recommendation would be BIDP, an excellent Indonesian-owned and run dive operation with ofices in Sanur. They have knowledgeable, capable dive guides, a good fast boat for Nusa Penida and a comfortable van for travelling to and around the various north bali sites. They also do mixes gases (nitrox, trimix) and some IANTD tech courses (Deep Air, Advanced Nitrox). I've been diving with BIDP since I came to Bali in early 2003. I first earned about them from Larry Smith.

BALI INTERNATIONAL DIVING PROFESSIONALS

5* PADI IDC CENTRE,

JL. DANAU POSO NO.26,

SANUR 80228, BALI, INDONESIA.

TEL: +62 (0) 361 285065

FAX: +62 (0) 361 271138

EMAIL: info@bidp-balidiving.com

WEBSITE: www.bidp-balidiving.com

Frogfish

I 2nd both Robert and James' recommendations. Scuba Seraya the area is wonderful for muck macro. The added advantage is that you can dive the wreck from a boat, which is easier than a shore dive with camera. You can also hit other sites like Gili Selang etc. The accomodations are very nice for the price too. Food is a bit off but taxis can take you to other restaurants.

As for BIDP, their guides are top rate spotters and service is excellent. I've used them exclusively for most of my diving since 2001. They were the first on the island with nitrox and nitrox is the only way to dive for muck. It is also Indonesian owned and run, which is important for me.

Another Diving operator you should consider is:-

Aquamarine Diving Bali

excellent diving organisation with very good spotters, easily found almost adjacent to Made Warung 2 in Seminyak. Been diving with them since 2002, and can make all the necessary arrangements for a trouble free diving experience.

http://www.aquamarinediving.com/

Tel: +62 361 730 107

Fax: +62 361 735 368

Office Address:

Jl. Raya Seminyak 2A

Kuta, Bali

80361 Indonesia

Mobile: (English)

+62 81 236 588 29

Correspondence Address:

PO Box 2098

Kuta - Legian, Bali

80361 Indonesia

I'll second James' recommendation of Scuba Seraya. The site is an awesome muck dive, and their divemasters are intimately familiar with their house reef. Scuba Seraya wasn't overrun with folks when I was there two weeks ago, and the few guests that were there got exceptional attention from the dive staff. They have boats available so you can make boat dives instead of shore dives.

I spent a couple of weeks on Bali about a month ago and dove with Water Worxx Dive Center based out of Padang Bai. They had a great staff and did a wonderful job. And best of all they took care of us when one of the divers in our group had a DCS hit.

One of our divers got bent pretty badly and the owners of the company arranged to get him from Tulamben to Denpasar to the chamber for treatment. And one of the owners even went with him to the hospital to take care of him, as very few of the medical people along the way spoke English-- and the Indonesian's views on medicine are much different that many Westerer's views.

Another plus is that they were quite a bit less expensive than staying at a resort and it gave you the ability to move around the island with flexibility.

We spent about 3 days around Padang Bai. A nice small town with great access to Nusa Penida. Then went to Lovina to dive Pura Jati and then spent the rest of the time in Tulamben.

Contact information for Water Worxx is: www.waterworxbali.com

You'll have a great time, whatever you decide.

I am going to Bali in a few weeks time, and have booked some diving safari with Aquamarine divers, they where really good with e-mail response ect. I will have to wait and see if the actual tip is as well organised though.

I am diving around Menjangan Island, Tulamben Bay, Padangbai (Blue Lagoon and Biaha or Gili Selang). Any body got some must see dive sites that I must dive or must avoid in these areas?

I spent a couple of weeks on Bali about a month ago and dove with Water Worxx Dive Center based out of Padang Bai.

I go to Bali as often as possible (lots of long weekends) and I just about always dive with Wolfgang (and David) from WaterWorx. Wolfgang is a great guy with a careful eye on the environment and he is also a UW photographer.

Padang Bai is a great little "backpacker" village and is fantastically affordable and safe. My wife and kids come too when they can. I can't say enough about the great dive sites either: mola mola, manta, sharks, macro, beautiful reefs, we even had a great high vis encounter with a thresher shark there.

Its pretty much my favorite "all around" place. Drop Wolfgang an email - he can arrange everything for you and you can really count on him. Tell him you're from wetpixel too!

www.waterworxbali.com

Do it!

-- Justin

Tulamben Area is good.

You can do muck at The Drop Off, Seraya

Puri Jati is also a good place for muck diving and from there you can head up to Menjanan for more Muck.

For wide angles, you can do the wreck, Nusa Penida area. It will be high season in Bali and everyone will be diving at Crystal Bay for Mola Mola and Manta Point for Mantas.

Some of the dive site like PED, SD currents can be strong which means drift diving and I did not bother to bring my camera down. Instead video will be good. :-)

If your in the Sanur area, let me know as I'll be there from the 8th of August till the 01st Sept. Am doing Manta Research in Bali.