Bali daytrip ... Sanur to NP –– looking for DC advice

[Christian]

Will have a day to spend in Bali on return leg to Europe in mid/late September. Was thinking I might as well go diving. Was looking into a day trip to Nusa Penida doing 2-3 dives. I am a photographer so wonder if anyone can recommend a photo friendly operator, preferably one that has a rinse tank onboard their boat? Haven't booked hotel for that stay yet, but was thinking something maximum 20-30 minutes from the airport, Sanur?

 

[miniwid]

Following as I also want to do a dive trip to Nusa Penida from Sanur en route north. Any dive centre recommendations appreciated.

 

[Christian]

Following as I also want to do a dive trip to Nusa Penida from Sanur en route north. Any dive centre recommendations appreciated.

Only photo friendly ones in this thread, please.

 

[Christian]

No one?

 

[matts1w]

Some quick context: The dive centers bringing people to Nusa Penida all work under the SOP—send a car/mini bus to the hotel to pick you up in` the early morning, drive to their fast boat in Sanur Harbor, wait for all the other customers, finally get going, do your dives, return to the harbor, and car/mini bus back to the hotels in the late afternoon. The vast majority of the divers will be pretty inexperienced and only dive for a day or two during their trip to Bali. Anyone coming to Bali to really dive will be staying on site in Padang Bai, Tulamben, Nusa Penida, etc... Of course, there is nothing wrong with all that, but I think one needs to go into Sanur diving knowing the situation.

That being said, I would absolutely book with Two-Fish, as they have the experience and resources to ensure that more advanced divers are not left to their own devices and are not considered an afterthought. They are big players in the Indonesian scuba world and have been around forever. For a one-off day of diving in touristy Bali, they are a solid choice. They are good people, and whenever I use them, everything is just fine.

 

[Pressurehead]

Whatsapp Ocean Gravity Sanur and ask what they can do for you, one of their guides Putu is very good with photographs with over 30+ years experience. Not the cheapest, but a very well run operation. DM sent.

 

[Cali_diver]

You might check with Underwater Tribe Home - Underwater Tribe .. they might be able to help you with your needs. I have done day trips with them and they have been great.

 

[Christian]

Cheers. I don’t want to end up in a bubble fest with newly certified divers. Hence my question for advice, being new to Bali. We haven’t booked hotel yet but I was thinking Sanur would be a good choice since it is pretty easily reached from the airport and it is from where the day trips depart. Would it be better to stay further North? Only three nights. Could opt out and just chill by the pool too—we’ll be coming from ten days in Alor. Have looked at Intercontinental in Sanur.

 

[Luko]

, I would absolutely book with Two-Fish, as they have the experience and resources to ensure that more advanced divers

I would have said that a few years ago when all 2Fish centers were under the management control of Nigel the original owner. He used to check every year that every 2fish centers was complying to his idea of providing excellent services to his customers.

Bali franchises have been handed over to an associate who couldn't care less about customers but their wallets. Their dive center in Amed is a joke that I wouldn't recommend any more (I used them a couple of years ago). Their turnover is impressive which says a lot about the management, I befriended some instructors who used to work there, they confirmed my impression when I told them I had "some loud words" with the associate.

Back to the OP question : I'm not sure diving from Sanur would be the best idea for avoiding occasional divers going on their sole dive day on their trip for a GoPro selfie with mantas. Maybe you could try staying a couple of nights in Padang Bai which is 1,5hrs from the airport and goes often to NP/Lembongan on day trips.
I would recommend FBK messaging to Rico the owner at Gekodiver to book you a trip to NP or even around gili Mimpang or Gili Tepekong. Tell him you are a serious photographer with a rig. He's himself doing photography so he'll understand your needs.
I've been using Gekodive for years and they were providing good services to me.

 

[Christian]

I would have said that a few years ago when all 2Fish centers were under the management control of Nigel the original owner. He used to check every year that every 2fish centers was complying to his idea of providing excellent services to his customers.

Bali franchises have been handed over to an associate who couldn't care less about customers but their wallets. Their dive center in Amed is a joke that I wouldn't recommend any more (I used them a couple of years ago). Their turnover is impressive which says a lot about the management, I befriended some instructors who used to work there, they confirmed my impression when I told them I had "some loud words" with the associate.

Back to the OP question : I'm not sure diving from Sanur would be the best idea for avoiding occasional divers going on their sole dive day on their trip for a GoPro selfie with mantas. Maybe you could try staying a couple of nights in Padang Bai which is 1,5hrs from the airport and goes often to NP/Lembongan on day trips.
I would recommend FBK messaging to Rico the owner at Gekodiver to book you a trip to NP or even around gili Mimpang or Gili Tepekong. Tell him you are a serious photographer with a rig. He's himself doing photography so he'll understand your needs.
I've been using Gekodive for years and they were providing good services to me.

I’ve read somewhere Bali traffic is horrible, you recon 1.5 hours would be a worst case scenario? Alternative would be two nights there and then one night at the airport. Bit more schlepping, will look into it cheers. Do Gekko have ackommodation as well?