Trip planning help

[rexman24]

Doing visa run from Dauin, PH in may to Bali.
Is May a good time to come?
We will have about 2 weeks, modest budget.
Looking for economy rooms, only need AC and queen or bigger bed.
Better to stay in PJ or Gilimanuk in that area?
I am AOW, Nitrox, 300 dives, fine with sporty conditions.
I dive muck a lot at home, but like all kinds of diving.
Two options:
(PJ/Gilimanuk, Amed and PB) or (Amed, PB. And a Nusa.)
Which would you recommend?
What should I expect for transport cost DPS to PJ, PJ to Amed, Amed to PB, PB to DPS?????
Is it true that the bumpheads on the Liberty were eaten during covid?
What water temp should I expect?
I am claustrophobic of wetsuits. I have a 3mm shorty I can wear. Does anybody have coat and pants type wetsuits for rent?
Any recommendations for rooms, shops, sites, tips, etc appreciated.
Likely won't do much besides dive, maybe a day in Ubud? Any other don't misses?
Am I likely to encounter dangerous/aggressive sharks in these places?
I have a fair bit of experience with them but not whites,tigers or bulls.
Driving on the left correct?
I have recent experience with it in thailand.
Anything else I should know?
Thank you so much in advance, happy diving!

 

[Luko]

1-Better to stay in PJ or Gilimanuk in that area?
2- I am AOW, Nitrox, 300 dives, fine with sporty conditions.
I dive muck a lot at home, but like all kinds of diving.
Two options:
(PJ/Gilimanuk, Amed and PB) or (Amed, PB. And a Nusa.)
Which would you recommend?
3- What should I expect for transport cost DPS to PJ, PJ to Amed, Amed to PB, PB to DPS?????
4- Is it true that the bumpheads on the Liberty were eaten during covid?
5-bWhat water temp should I expect?
6- I am claustrophobic of wetsuits. I have a 3mm shorty I can wear. Does anybody have coat and pants type wetsuits for rent?
Any recommendations for rooms, shops, sites, tips, etc appreciated.
7- Likely won't do much besides dive, maybe a day in Ubud? Any other don't misses?
8- Am I likely to encounter dangerous/aggressive sharks in these places?
I have a fair bit of experience with them but not whites,tigers or bulls.
9- Driving on the left correct?

1- if you go NW of Bali for diving better stay in Pemuteran. However I wouldn't recommend that part not the best dives in Bali.
2- Why not just Tulamben and PB ? or Amed and PB
Tulamben has the best and most varied macro on the island, though nothing much to do outside diving.
Amed is a second option for diving Amed (some coral sites) as well as TUlamben (although Amed guides are not as knowledgeable as Tulamben guides for macro)
PB is a good starting point for local dives but also Nusa Penida dive daytrips.
3- cost of transport, you should deal with local drivers on Whatsapp, they're plenty. To give you some ideas driver+car : DPS airport to PJ is the longest way, probably around 800kIDR (55USD), DPS airport-Tulamben 650kIDR (40 USD), Tulamben-PB 400kIDR (<30USD), PB-Airport 450kIDR (30USD).
4- hmmh... I don't believe so...
5- Depends on which place. TUlamben around 27-28C. NUsa Penida can be down to 22C
6- I'll skip the first question.
plenty of diveshops in Tulamben, Utama Villa should be good (small bungalows really divers oriented, EXCELLENT guides) Puri Madha is budget, you can dive with local dive shop like Lets' Dive Tulamben. Or there is the classic Liberty Dive Resort maybe a bit too upmarket for your needs.
Amed : Twofish (very serious company from Manado, they can accomodate whatvere you want) can be recommanded as well as local Bintang Divers, long established there. Amed beach resort is cheap and nicely located on Amed beach.
Padang Bai : Geko divers will go most often to Nusa Penida, they have strong reliable boats. Puri Rai is a nice place to stay.
7- Ubud is nice when you stay at least one night otherwise it's a traffic nightmare. Culturewise you can't miss it or you would have missed a part of Bali.
8- you'd be lucky to see sharks.
9- Driving on the left but you won't. Leave that to experienced local drivers, they are cheap and reliable.

 

[rexman24]

1- if you go NW of Bali for diving better stay in Pemuteran. However I wouldn't recommend that part not the best dives in Bali.
2- Why not just Tulamben and PB ? or Amed and PB
Tulamben has the best and most varied macro on the island, though nothing much to do outside diving.
Amed is a second option for diving Amed (some coral sites) as well as TUlamben (although Amed guides are not as knowledgeable as Tulamben guides for macro)
PB is a good starting point for local dives but also Nusa Penida dive daytrips.
3- cost of transport, you should deal with local drivers on Whatsapp, they're plenty. To give you some ideas driver+car : DPS airport to PJ is the longest way, probably around 800kIDR (55USD), DPS airport-Tulamben 650kIDR (40 USD), Tulamben-PB 400kIDR (<30USD), PB-Airport 450kIDR (30USD).
4- hmmh... I don't believe so...
5- Depends on which place. TUlamben around 27-28C. NUsa Penida can be down to 22C
6- I'll skip the first question.
plenty of diveshops in Tulamben, Utama Villa should be good (small bungalows really divers oriented, EXCELLENT guides) Puri Madha is budget, you can dive with local dive shop like Lets' Dive Tulamben. Or there is the classic Liberty Dive Resort maybe a bit too upmarket for your needs.
Amed : Twofish (very serious company from Manado, they can accomodate whatvere you want) can be recommanded as well as local Bintang Divers, long established there. Amed beach resort is cheap and nicely located on Amed beach.
Padang Bai : Geko divers will go most often to Nusa Penida, they have strong reliable boats. Puri Rai is a nice place to stay.
7- Ubud is nice when you stay at least one night otherwise it's a traffic nightmare. Culturewise you can't miss it or you would have missed a part of Bali.
8- you'd be lucky to see sharks.
9- Driving on the left but you won't. Leave that to experienced local drivers, they are cheap and reliable.

Thanks Luko,
1. Why you would not go to NW?
I have a highly experienced Bali friend, macro nut. He highly recommends it
2. See above.
3. Thanks that's a big help. So rides are not to much. How would you locate them on whatsapp?
Any idea PJ to Amed?
4. Good to hear, you get all kinds of crazy stuff on the net.
5.thanks!
6.thanks!
7. Ok one night in ubud is doable.
8. Really- I thought they were somewhat around the nusas. Heard of shark cave near PB too.
9. So you would avoid scooters? I drive one everyday last 10 months in Asia. Do the shops commonly do local pick ups?

Is May a good time to come for weather? Diving?
I heard no Mola Mola then.

Thanks much!

 

[Luko]

Thanks Luko,
1. Why you would not go to NW?
I have a highly experienced Bali friend, macro nut. He highly recommends it
2. See above.
3. Thanks that's a big help. So rides are not to much. How would you locate them on whatsapp?
Any idea PJ to Amed?
4. Good to hear, you get all kinds of crazy stuff on the net.
5.thanks!
6.thanks!
7. Ok one night in ubud is doable.
8. Really- I thought they were somewhat around the nusas. Heard of shark cave near PB too.
9. So you would avoid scooters? I drive one everyday last 10 months in Asia. Do the shops commonly do local pick ups?

Is May a good time to come for weather? Diving?
I heard no Mola Mola then.

Thanks much!

1- Very few macro sites, everything you have in NW you'll find it in Tulamben.
FWIW I have been diving Bali for the 15 past years once or twice a year, I am a photographer (shots published in magazines, contest winner etc.) went a couple of times diving NW (Pemuteran, Gilimanuk,...) would never go back. Tulamben is so much better, with excellent macro oriented dive guides. Plus NW is the place for group tourism and large hotels where diving is only second.
If youare really focused on macro , Tulamben is absolutely the place to go, Padang Bai a nice addition too preferably than Amed or NW Bali.
3- find the drivers on the net then contact them on whatsapp. bucketloads of them. No idea PJ to Amed, you really don't want to stay around PJ there is nothing out there.
8- there's one place dived from PB called Gili Biaha where you'll see whitetip sharks in a cave. And that's it...Very few sharks to be seen around NUsa Penida, except if you're lucky.
9- I would not recommend for your first trip to Bali. It's of no use for going diving, the dive shop will be close to your accom (there are so many of them). Depending where you rent one you oculd as well be a living target for various scams, either coming from the rental guy, the Police or someone who'd like to pretend you're a faulty driver, driving in Bali is quite hmmh.. special... let's say the traffic laws are random and optional, in a nutshell the local is always right, the foreigner is always wrong. I would state it's different on Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan where there are very few/no cars.
May is okay, no Mola mola though.

 

[rexman24]

1- Very few macro sites, everything you have in NW you'll find it in Tulamben.
FWIW I have been diving Bali for the 15 past years once or twice a year, I am a photographer (shots published in magazines, contest winner etc.) went a couple of times diving NW (Pemuteran, Gilimanuk,...) would never go back. Tulamben is so much better, with excellent macro oriented dive guides. Plus NW is the place for group tourism and large hotels where diving is only second.
If youare really focused on macro , Tulamben is absolutely the place to go, Padang Bai a nice addition too preferably than Amed or NW Bali.
3- find the drivers on the net then contact them on whatsapp. bucketloads of them. No idea PJ to Amed, you really don't want to stay around PJ there is nothing out there.
8- there's one place dived from PB called Gili Biaha where you'll see whitetip sharks in a cave. And that's it...Very few sharks to be seen around NUsa Penida, except if you're lucky.
9- I would not recommend for your first trip to Bali. It's of no use for going diving, the dive shop will be close to your accom (there are so many of them). Depending where you rent one you oculd as well be a living target for various scams, either coming from the rental guy, the Police or someone who'd like to pretend you're a faulty driver, driving in Bali is quite hmmh.. special... let's say the traffic laws are random and optional, in a nutshell the local is always right, the foreigner is always wrong. I would state it's different on Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan where there are very few/no cars.
May is okay, no Mola mola though.

1. Hmm maybe my friends info is dated. He also has massive experience there. These are some things he told me about NW. One spot there he saw 10 Mimic Octopus, near Pura dalem. West of there many seahorses. Kalanganyan, gilimanuk good sites with seadragons. He has sent me great pics from there micro frogs and cockatoo flounder, mimics etc. He says he used to hang out with Wally Sangani in PB. The hairy squat lobster carries Wallys name in its scientific name Lauriea sangani(sp). Wally was a Northshore diving legend there. My friend was also lost at sea/in the jungle off south lombok in 2012 for a number of days, tried to dive Magnet. Not arguing, just explaining my other info.
3. Ok thanks
8. Yes Gili biaha
9. Yes it is relatively the same in Thailand and exactly like that here in the Philippines. We use dash cam always. The driving is nuts, but goes with the territory. Get passed by some nut going 100mph in the rain,with no glasses or helmet, no lights in flip flops. Or ran off road by bus or semi, mob rules. Yes many scams, bribery, little to no enforcement, foreigner always wrong- same same here.
Thanks again for all your help.

 

[Luko]

Wally Sangani in PB

Wally Siagian, legend now more of a beerdiver.
Lauriea siagianea.

All of the critters you mention are avialble (and much more!) in Tulamben with good macro spotters (which are difficult to find in NW).

 

[rexman24]

Wally Siagian, legend now more of a beerdiver.
Lauriea siagianea.

All of the critters you mention are avialble (and much more!) in Tulamben with good macro spotters (which are difficult to find in NW).

Ah I didn't realize he was still above ground and don't find that hard to believe about the beer. Yes maybe staying in the east makes more sense.

 

[rexman24]

Ah I didn't realize he was still above ground and don't find that hard to believe about the beer. Yes maybe staying in the east makes more sense.

Luko- do you guide at all or just dive for yourself and photo business?????

 

[matts1w]

Luko- do you guide at all or just dive for yourself and photo business?????

Ha! Ask Luko about gringo/gringa dive guide in Indonesia.

 

[rexman24]

Ha! Ask Luko about gringo/gringa dive guide in Indonesia.

I think I just did ^