Bali diving is better than I thought

[billt4sf]

20 mins from Padang Bai:

Home - Sea Breeze Candidasa

I have not actually stayed there but I walked through and it clicked every box.

- Bill

 

[Warmwater Wank]

PhatD--What time does your flight get in? It's maybe a 2.5-3hr drive over some mountain roads to Tulamben from Denpasar, not sure I'd opt for doing it late at night! We typically get out of DPS before 4pm and it's usually just getting dark when we pull in to Liberty Dive. PB is maybe halfway on the same route, might be easier if you do get in late or don't want to drive as far after getting in. // ww

 

[PhatD1ver]

PhatD--What time does your flight get in? It's maybe a 2.5-3hr drive over some mountain roads to Tulamben from Denpasar, not sure I'd opt for doing it late at night! We typically get out of DPS before 4pm and it's usually just getting dark when we pull in to Liberty Dive. PB is maybe halfway on the same route, might be easier if you do get in late or don't want to drive as far after getting in. // ww

yeah, we get in at noon and figure the first day is a loss anyway. (didn't know Bali was so freakin big, man it takes longer to get from DPS to Tulamben than Manila to Anilao), so we are there just before dinner, can get gear set up and into our rooms, then dive the next day. For me I'm just not sure other than the Liberty how much there is to dive up that far. Or if we ought to just hit it for a day and then wander back to PB.

 

[Dan]

yeah, we get in at noon and figure the first day is a loss anyway. (didn't know Bali was so freakin big, man it takes longer to get from DPS to Tulamben than Manila to Anilao), so we are there just before dinner, can get gear set up and into our rooms, then dive the next day. For me I'm just not sure other than the Liberty how much there is to dive up that far. Or if we ought to just hit it for a day and then wander back to PB.

Above picture of dive sites in Tulamben area is courtesy of Euro Dive Bali. Besides the Liberty Wreck, I dove in Kubu, Coral Garden, Drop Off & Seraya. They are all good. Hopefully @Luko can tell you the diving there better than I do.

 

[Luko]

we are going Sep 30-Oct 6, this is our make up trip after the volcano got our accommodations cancelled last year just a couple days before departure.

it's mostly a dive trip; my wife has a friend who is a new diver going with us, so there is that to think about.

Would you recommend to just go up to Tulamben on arrival, then move down to PB for a couple days, and then over to NL?

Bali is new after our many trips to Philippines and Thailand, so any assistance would be useful

You can dive NL/NP from Padang Bai, I would even state with GekoDivers early morning dives arrangement it's even better.
So I'd say 2 full days in Tulamben time for the wreck (or 2 wrecks if that is your kick), and the many dive sites around (DanT's map only shows half of the sites you can dive in Tulamben, a majority of macro sites though but in my photographer's opinion up to Anilao/Lembeh ) then plan 3-4 days in PB.
The transfer is very short, it only takes 2hrs in the morning you could as well do it fully equipped in your wetsuit. (Or you can spare one day in between and use it to see Ubud). In Padang bai ask for Gili Mimpang/Gili Tepekong (mola mola in season), the Jetty (rhinopias) and of course going to Nusa Penida for bigger stuff (mantas, mola mola), great corals and drift dives.

My recommendations : Liberty resort and dive center in Tulamben (Nx for free and Private dive guide for free), Puri Rai hotel and Gekodivers in Padang Bai.

 

[Wisnu]

On august we'll be diving NL/NP but this time will stay at Nusa Penida, simply we'd like to explore the island topsite attraction after two morning dives for 3 days.
My bosses want sefie at kelingking beach, broken beach, angel billabong and other popular NP topsite attraction.

 

[billt4sf]

On august we'll be diving NL/NP but this time will stay at Nusa Penida, simply we'd like to explore the island topsite attraction after two morning dives for 3 days.
My bosses want sefie at kelingking beach, broken beach, angel billabong and other popular NP topsite attraction.

I understand, but you may want to know that some of us are really afraid that the Nusa Penida topside development seems destined to ruin the amazing corals and diving underneath.

- Bill

 

[Wisnu]

I, too, was disappointed with Puri Jati when I was there a couple of years ago. As for Secret Bay, the owner of the dive op in Pemuteran that I used, Sea Rovers, sounded very discouraged and dissuaded me from giving it a go. Please report back with your impressions.

indeed, he mentioned the same thing to me and give an impression that their pemuteran mucky bay house reef (which much easier to get) is at same league..
Hopefully we can compare both locations

 

[Wisnu]

I understand, but you may want to know that some of us are really afraid that the Nusa Penida topside development seems destined to ruin the amazing corals and diving underneath.

- Bill

and then what your suggestion?
to stop everybody to visit NP,
forbid people to develop the island
and let us divers only to enjoy the NL/NP underwater and spend our money mostly on the main island.

 

[Mike Veitch]

On august we'll be diving NL/NP but this time will stay at Nusa Penida, simply we'd like to explore the island topsite attraction after two morning dives for 3 days.
My bosses want sefie at kelingking beach, broken beach, angel billabong and other popular NP topsite attraction.

A much better option than Lembongan in my humble opinion. Lem is so crowded now it's no fun. Penida has so much more to offer. Good choice