Diving in the dazzling Jimbaran

It is impossible to miss Jimbaran while spending time in Bali.  Once a backwater of Bali, this area now has become one of the hottest tourist spots in Bali with the presence of various accommodation, from 5 star resort to budget hotels.  Furthermore, this area is also dubbed as “Beverly Hills of Bali” because of high-end villas on the high ground of Jimbaran Bay. However, nightlife is limited there as most venues close after 11 pm. Maybe only a few people who know that Norwegian University, Gateway College is also located in Jimbaran.  The university has  around 500 students studying a wide range of subjects, from sports to journalism.

It is easy to get there from the airport as Jimbaran is south of Ngurah Rai International Airport and it takes about 10-15 minutes by taxi. The cost is around Rp. 60.000,-, but depends on which part of Jimbaran you are heading. From Legian and Seminyak, it takes 20 minutes drive and 30 minutes from Sanur via Ngurah Rai bypass.

For the lovers of water activities, Jimbaran is one of the best options for you.  From swimming to surfing to diving and snorkeling, you will simply enjoy these kinds of activities. Are you ready to enjoy the most fascinating underwater experience in Bali? Here are some recommended diving centers in Jimbaran to choose from:

• Pigmy Bali Diving

This diving center in Jimbaran offers an exciting diving experience in some top dive spots in Bali. There are various attractive dive day trips package and tailor made package based on your request. You can choose dive safaris around Bali starting from 2 days and 1 night to 6 days and 5 nights to all Bali’s amazing dive sites such as Shark Point and Candidasa Bay. Alternatively, you can enjoy treatment in their luxury-spa dive package. The prices start from US$ 295 to US$ 775.

Like all diving centers, Pigmy Bali Diving also offers accredited PADI diving course, ranging from ­PADI Open Water Diver, to PADI specialist courses. All instructors are friendly and highly trained, so you do not need to worry about the safety. The courses’ prices start from US$ 145 (Introductory Diving) to US$ 545 (Diver Rescue Course) for five sessions.

• Scuba Libre Bali

The only diving center in Jimbaran that offers special program for macro, mud and muck diving in Bali. Macromania is a program for underwater filmmakers and photographers which takes 4 days 3 nights dive in Bali’s top dive sites. They take maximal and minimal two divers for one guide. The price for safari is US$ 410 per person (own equipment), including rental equipment US$ 450. 9 dives, 3 nights accommodation in an air-conditioned room with hot water shower, all transfers at sea and on land, lunch are included in the price.

While you are there, do not forget to taste Jimbaran’s most exotic grilled seafood and watch the striking sunset on the beautiful beach. Hope you enjoy your unforgettable underwater experience in Bali.

Diving in Gili Meno

Gili Islands are three pleasant atolls where the beaches are still clean and the water is so clear with the beautiful sunset over Mt. Agung in Bali and sunrise over Mt. Rinjani in Lombok. It is located on the Northwest corner of Lombok. There are three Gilis; Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno. Visiting Gili Islands is just a short two-hour boat trip from Bali to get there.

One of the most attractive islands is Gili Meno which is located in the middle of the islands. It is the smallest of the three Gili Islands and the quietest island with fewer tourists. The island lies directly in line in the middle of the other Gilis of Trawangan and Air, both only separated by about 1 km of water. Gili Meno is the quietest and most undeveloped natural island of the three islands. The special features of this island are the salt lake, beautiful scenery and spectacular diving sites. The beach on the Eastern part of the island is very nice and the underwater sea is awesome.

Gili Meno has a population of about 300 locals. The interior of the island is mostly palm trees surrounded by grass which is kept neat by the cows munching lazily in the shade. What a lovely countryside! In addition, there are no cars or motorbikes on the island due to the local regulations. All transportation there is done by horse-drawn carts or walking. Diving in Gili Meno is pretty good. It has quite strong currents and incredible swimming pool visibility. This is the most idyllic island among the other islands in Asia.

Fresh water is shipped from Lombok in Gili Meno. Eco-friendly practices are not an option, it is a necessity. There are many options for an enjoyable holiday on the island. You can rent snorkeling equipment, just snorkeling off the shore to see the magnificent coral reefs and fishes or even join a diving course to see the magnificent underwater world by diving in Gili Meno.

In Gili Meno, there are some stunning dive sites such as Sea Turtle Point, Meno Wall and Blue Coral Point. Furthermore, there are few quality scuba diving operations on the island. The blue coral garden around the Northeast of Gili Meno can be reached by snorkeling off the beach or diving. Turtle point and Meno wall are located in the Northwest of Gili Meno which can be reached only by boat. You can also join one of the boat dive trips that are available there. You cannot refuse diving in Gili Meno, can you?

There are also diving equipment shops in Gili Meno. So, you do not have to worry as you still can enjoy the gorgeous underwater life in Gili Meno easily. It is a small and quiet island where divers are for a treat both in and out of the water. You can experience a life without traffic and stress in Gili Meno while enjoying the sunshine, perfect white beaches and palm trees.

Top Dive Centers In Candidasa

Words cannot describe how amazing Bali is, making it the most popular destination that attracts visitors around the world. No wonder Bali is even more popular than Indonesia itself among tourists. Bali is often associated with the crowded Kuta beach or Sanur. However, if you prefer a more relaxed holiday, maybe you can visit Candidasa, a small but beautiful coastal town in East Bali.

You can easily reach Candidasa from Ubud, Kuta, Sanur, Lovina and Padang Bai by the national Perama shuttle bus company. Make sure you book in advance. If you want to go directly by car from the airport, it takes about 90 minutes drive. Alternatively, you can get there by using a bemo, a public transport from Denpasar’s Batubulan terminal.

There are lots of things to do there, from day trips to Tenganan village, where its community still retains pre-Majapahit culture to diving as Candidasa is known as the point of departure for the most exciting dive spots in Bali. There are several top diving centers in Candidasa to choose from:

Besides Kuta, Sanur is one of Bali’s most desirable tourist spots. Known as a beach town, it never stops appealing visitors, mainly middle-aged and older families from Europe. It is more expensive than Kuta but more affordable than Seminyak. The best thing about Sanur is you can feel relaxed amid the abundance of accommodation and restaurant.

To get to Sanur, there are some alternatives. If you want to go there directly from Ngurah Rai International Airport, you can go by taxi and it takes 20 minutes. Besides that, you can choose shuttle bus or bemo from the north and south as well as from Tegal terminal in Denpasar.  Additionally, if you are from Nusa Lembongan, you can go by boat that arrives at the end of Jalan Hang Tuah.

For divers and snorkelers, Sanur may not be one of the best dive destinations, however some of well-established diving centers in Bali are located in Sanur. Here are some recommended diving centers in Sanur:

• Atlantis Scuba Diving

Atlantis is an established brand associated with diving. This dive center started its operation in 1996 in Sanur and now it is one of the most favorite diving centers in Sanur. In addition, Atlantis Scuba Diving is also one of the longest running dive operators in Bali which is renowned for its professionalism and warm service. The instructors-mix of Indonesians and expats-are friendly and ready to guide you dive in Bali’s top dive sites.

The facilities and equipments are world-class and there are many things to do there, from taking dive course to join dive day trips.

• Enadive Center

This is the oldest diving center in Bali (started 24 years ago) and one of the biggest diving centers in Sanur, let alone Bali. There are abundant of choices there, from dive course to day dive trips to some attractive dive areas such as Topekong, Amed, Padang Bai and so on. The price differs from one dive site to another.

Moreover, this center also offers dive packages and courseto choose from. For dive packages, you can choose whether you want to dive for 7 days or even 14 days. Morover, if you also want to visit Lombok, there is also Bali-Lombok dive package.

For non divers who want to watch beautiful fish in Bali’s waters, there is Underwater Walk program. You do not need to worry if you are too afraid of being in the water as their professional guide will accompany you so you can enjoy watching hundreds of colorful fish in a safe manner. You only need to bring your swim suit, sunscream and voucher of payment, no diving equipment needed. The rate is US$ 58 per person.

• Bali International Diving Professional (BIDP).

The older dive operator in Bali, more than 25 years of diving experience in Bali. No wonder this center is also one of Bali’s favorite dive centers. Their professional dive guides and instructors are certified and ready to cater your need, no matter whether you are a newbie. This center provides dive package for people with disability as BIDP is the only certified member of ­ the International Association for Handicapped Divers in Bali.

The prices for 1 day dive trips differs depending on which dive sites you choose. For example, 2 dives in Padang Bai costs you US$ 105 and the price for 2 dives in Tulamben is US$ 85. There is additional cost for extra dive (US$ 30).

So, come to dive in Sanur and feel the difference!

This dive center is located on the beach of Candidasa in front of hotel Puri Bagus, a hotel built in traditional Balinese style. There are several courses offered in this dive center, from beginners to advance divers. Online booking is highly recommended as you will get fewer rates. For example, if you book online for SSI or PADI Scuba Diver course, the price online is 171 Euro, less 19 Euro than the original price (190 Euro). For beginners, they can practice in a comfortable pool. Their professional instructors are ready to guide and teach you the basic skills of diving.

The policy is also applied for their dive packages. You can choose dive packages from 3 Day Package (max.2 dives) for 162 Euro (online price) to 12 Day Package (max.2 dives) for 594 euro (online price).

In addition, there are several half day and full day trips to several enchanting dive sites such as Menjangan, Nusa Penida and many more. Unfortunately, you cannot book online for these packages. But still, this newly dive center is one of the best diving centers in Candidasa.

Sub Ocean Bali

This operator is a PADI certified diving center in Candidasa, with professional team who are fluent in English, Dutch, Italian, German and Spanish. In addition, Subocean has some attractive trips to Bali, including diving, fishing, snorkeling and accommodation.

Like other PADI certified operators, Sub Ocean offers dive courses ranging from newbie to advance, with the price starting from 65 Euro (for PADI Scuba Review) to 195 Euro (PADI Nitrox Course).  Book and certification are included in all the prices.

From this center, you can start exploring some top dive sites in Bali such as Amed, Tulamben, Gili Tepekong, Nusa Penida and many more. The price depends on how many dives and is different from one to another. For extra night dive, the cost is 5 Euro per person.

Alam Asmara Dive Resort

This dive resort has a slogan: More than just a dive resort. Honeymooners will fall in love easily with this place as there is Asmara Cinta Wedding package that fits for young couple. The price is US$ 2.877 net, while the dive package is US$ 880. The deluxe bungalow is equipped with top class facilities such as spa, pool, laundry and many more.

For food and cooking lovers, this resort also offers cooking class in their Rendezvous Restaurant. You will be able to learn how to cook traditional Balinese cuisine. You can also shop the basic ingredients in traditional markets and feel the difference.

Feel the sensation of Bali’s underwater by diving in Candidasa’s top dive operators. Happy diving!

Diving in Belongas Bay

Belongas bay is located in the southwestern island of Lombok, Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB). The blue ocean and white sandy beaches with tropical atmosphere can be found there. The access to get there is easy. You can travel about 1.5 hours by boat. You can also access directly from the island of Bali. There are so many attractions such as swimming, snorkeling, and diving in Belongas Bay is one of the most attractive activities for the divers. Read More

Diving the Restored Reefs of Pemuteran

With its rich marine’s life and scenic underwater vista backed with its many travelers accommodation, diving in Bali has become a more popular activity. Recognized as a divine asset for both the island and the world, the government of Bali has begun to build a project to conserve the marine’s beauty of this island in its various dive sites, but in particular in Pemuteran. Read More

Diving in Gili Mimpang

Gili Mimpang is an island located in the north eastern side of Candidasa, Bali. This place is great for diving, underwater photographs, wall diving, sharks, mandarin fish, pelagic and coral reef. Gili Mimpang was first renowned its diving around early 1985. Since then, it has maintained a well earned reputation as a world class dive location for the famous Mola Mola Bali Sunfish. Gili Mimpang is also known as Batu Tiga, which means the three rocks, as from the surface that is exactly what it looks like three large rocks, but separate rock structures sticking out of the water are aligned from north to south. Gili Mimpang is located in Amuk Bay between Padang Bai and Candidasa in Bali mainland. Underwater, the vast amounts of sea fans here offer some amazing underwater scenery. You can find some really nice small caves that teem with fish, life and healthy soft coralsthat are surrounded by very photogenic glass fish here. Read More

Diving in Kubu

Kubu is a small village in the Nort East of Bali, just a 10-minute drive north of Tulamben. Kubu is actually divided into two completely different shores, the first one is a slope that is overgrown with hard corals and big barrel sponges, and the second one is where corals growing on rocks with sandy spots in between. These two areas are a favorable snorkeling location. In Kubu diving site, you can find abundant beautiful coral reefs combined with swirling fishes, which is the attraction here. Various hard and soft corals, sponges and fan are the kinds of good variety in Kubu dive site. The highlight of diving in Kubu is pygmy seahorse, various nudibranch such as Phyllidia varicosa and Reticulidia halgerda that you can find freely there. Read More

Diving in Padang Bai

Padang Bai is a lovely village in Manggis, Karangasem, east side of the island of Bali, Indonesia. It serves as a ferry port for travel to other islands such as Gili, Lombok and other of the Lesser Sunda Islands. Padang Bai offers the tourists with beautiful beaches and others tourist attractions. There are also two beaches that are field confinement in the east and the coast to the west Tugel bias. Coastal prairie confinement is a lovely beach which is famous for its beautiful underwater dominated by ornamental fish and colorful soft coral and the presence of a blue lagoon in the middle of beautiful beaches, so the beach is often called blue lagoon beach. While the coast bias Tugel, which is located on the west coast of the main paddock bay, is famous for its beauty sprawling white sand and the sea is blue and clear. Read More

Diving in Nusa Lembongan

Nusa Lembongan is one of the favorite places in Bali. It is a small island, which is located in the southeast of Bali. It has beautiful beaches and underwater world. Nusa Lembongan beaches are not less exotic than the others in Bali. There are also some beaches in Nusa Lembongan with high waves and white sand, there are Dream Beach, Mushroom Beach, Tamarind Beach, Sunset Beach and, Semelek Beach. Dream Beach is a ‘virgin’ beach. Dozens of travelers enjoy sunbathing there. They love this beach because it is still relatively quiet onslaught of tourists. Read More

Diving With Manta Rays in Nusa Penida

Enclosed by two oceans, Pacific and Hindian Ocean, and two countries, Asia and Australia, the beautiful archipelagic country of Indonesia offers one of the best scenic panoramas, both inland and underwater. One of the most popular islands in Indonesia is Bali Island. Known for its unique tradition, picturesque scenery, backed up with world-class accommodation, Bali is always on the top list of tourism destination. And as many might have known, diving in Bali is a must-do as it is also a home to many interesting dive sites. Among the islands surrounding Bali, Nusa Penida Island is the largest one, and also well known as the best destination for diving activity. Read More