Full foot fins at Scuba Seraya?

Hi guys,

Heading to Bali next month, staying at Scuba Seraya. For those that've dived there in the past, is it worth takimg open heel fins with booties for the shore diving, or will my full foot fits do? For boat dives I do prefer the full foot fins, but I'm aware that it is a rocky shore line around Tulamben.

Cheers,

Ryan.

Hey Ryan,

I too am off to Seraya for my first trip next month (when are you there? were there 13th to 20th Sept), and have just bought some new kit to take with me. I went with the open heel fins and solid booties after reading plenty of forum posts both here and on scubaboard about the rockyness of the shore and the number of critters in the water. Either way its going to be FUN FUN FUN.

Whatever you decide, have a great trip

Mooseman

Cheers for the tips mate. I'll be there from the 14th. Make sure you say hi.

Ryan.

Ryan, I usually walk barefoot with kit & rig at SS. But I dive usually only at high tide and skip dives when the rocks are showing. I just walk slowly and remove the fins once I'm on the sandy bit. Not too hard but I know many people who have more sensitive feet etc don't like to do that. If the waves are big, it's a bit more tricky. I've never had a problem but I'm weird that way.

That's only for the shore dives. With boat dives, the kit and everything else is loaded for you, you just wade or swim out to the boat so full foot is fine. Only way to dive the wreck imho.

PS if you are going to be boozing, make sure you buy your DFS quota in Oz. Alcohol has 300% duty in Indo. If you find a family with kids, use their allotment as well

Will do mate, how long you there for?

Its a first real diving trip for the missus and myself, so are really looking forward to an easy intro to indonesian waters. Got a day trip planned to do the mantas/molas but otherwise its wreck and seraya secrets. Think ill have to tap you up for some photography tips after looking at your pics, makes our little point and shoots look a little inadequate !

Mooseman

if you are going to be boozing, make sure you buy your DFS quota in Oz. Alcohol has 300% duty in Indo.

Drew, I think that is the best tip I've ever gotten for an OS trip, thanks mate! 2.25L per person (from memory) in duty free should get us through the first part of the trip at least.

Mooseman, we'll be there for 4 nights before we head down to Lembongan etc. I'm having to squeeze a diving trip together with a gf trip At least there should be some decent WA diving around there

Ryan.

Ryan,

Im doing the same, hence the week in Sanur first, thankfully my missus dives too so she can enjoy the underwater delights in SE Asia....strangely she is less inclined to dive in NE English waters.....go figure

Looking forward to some good macro stuff, and trying out the new camera (PANA TZ10), hopefully the HD vid from it is as good as it is on land.

See you in a fortnight

Mooseman

Guys

the shoreline straight from the steps at scuba seraya is volcanic sand for about 20 feet then its into the water and round boulders / rocks and pumis.

full foot fins are worn by nearly all the dive guides but they have feet like leather.

I preffered to dive with booties and open heel fins

A really good option is a pair of 2mm neoprene socks and full foot fins (that little bit of beach gets really hot in the afternoons)

If you can get "Semut" as your guide you've hit the jackpot, the guy is a genius with eyes like a microscope and he will work really hard to find you what you want.

I did a total of 4 weeks at SS last year and did over 60 dives, I'm glad I had booties for all of them.

no matter what you wear you're in for a treat, the place is amazing

Have a Bintang for me

Nige Wade

I'm having to squeeze a diving trip together with a gf trip At least there should be some decent WA diving around there

Dude, I'm not sure you want this paragraph online for the gf to find. It can be so misinterpreted

Bottom line for the fins is whether you are a tender foot or not. Doesn't matter what other people do. The rounded rockline can have barnacles and scorpionfish during high tide. I usually walk slowly and carefully and I don't have leather feet. You'll save some weight and be more comfortable thermally.

As Nigel says, it's good to have a guide if you've got little or no experience with muck diving. But then again, they are very liberal with the use of the rod (especially with hunting for crustaceans like boxer crabs and tiger shrimps).

I have just come back from a week in Tulamben and did two dives in Seraya. Personally I would wear boots with open heel fins. Last thing you want to do is get a cut and then get an infection as there is no Dr or medical facilities to speak of and in the tropics infections can happen fast.

Karl

Only 142hrs and 43 mins till we leave for our Bali trip.....not that Im counting of course......Make that 42 mins

Regardless of sand or rocks (& more rocks) there are nasty things that live under the sand (like spiny devilfish) & in the water (like small jellies). Cover your body for protection wherever you dive in this area.

My suggestion is open heel fins with thick sole booties for Bali shore diving.

You do not want your diving cut short with a lacerated foot.

Remember this is a 3rd world country and just about everything is discarded in the ocean.

On second thought, we in America also discard just about everything in the ocean.

We brought both types of fins, used the full foot for all of the boat dives and used the open fins when diving Seraya Secrets. You will need booties for the shore dive since the shoreline is a mix of sand and rocks and when you're in waist deep water, it's all rocks.

The guides at SS are really good and will offer to take your camera gear when you go in or come out from shore dives. I highly recommend you let them do that as they are way better at it. When we were there last year there was a Russian diver who thought otherwise. The result was that he bashed his head on some rocks on his first dive. Spent the whole day getting sticthed up an couldn't dive for the rest of his vacation!

I would also recommend booties for sure. We didnt have any but they rented out booties and fins to us for the week at a very reasonable price.

You are in for a treat!

+1 for boots and open heel fins at Seraya - and try to get boots with proper hard soles instead of ones like Dunlop Volleys!

Open heel and boots for sure Ryan. Been there over 4 times now.

Cheers,

Diggy

Thanks guys. Guess I'm going to need to get my hands on another set of fins.

Only if you finish your DFS allotment in 2 days, Ryan. And I'd check what you are allowed so you won't have to deal with customs.

Been doing dives at Seraya since it was a shack or 2. I've done dives with booties, neoprene socks and soft rubber neoprene as well as just plain ol' socks. And the only time it was difficult was when the waves were big, and that's when I ask the crew to wade in with my rig and pass it to me if i'm using the big strobes instead of the Inons. Now I carry one big strobe with snoot and 2 little ones. I also asked the staff to wait come get the rig when I surface. They are very helpful and hardworking. Just tell them what you need... oh and tip them accordingly

Also make sure you have a rope handle for your rig. Much easier to hand off gear or lug yourself.