2 weeks in bali, early november

[thebib]

Hi Bali's specialists,
I´m wondering if you could provide us with some tips/advises on the below ?
We are a couple (between 30-35), both AOW, with something’s like 25-30 logged dives.
We are flying from Europe to Bali with a 2 days stop-over in KUL.
We'll be in Bali from Oct 30 until Nov 13. We plan to dive Tulamben, Amed, Padang Bay, Lembongan & Nusida areas. We'll most likely skip the Gili's as these seems to be over-rated
Besides diving, we also plan to chill out a few days in Ubud and Munduk as well a possibly trek round Gunung Agung
From an accommodation perspective, we are looking for low to mid-range budget lodges with good location, clean room & bathroom (can be shared, but clean). Our preference is to find accomodations close to dive/visit sites in order to avoid back & forth intraday travel.
Would have any Dive-shops and accommodations to recommend in the above mentioned places?
Do we have any chance to spot the mola mola in early November?
Thanks a lot,

 

[Luko]

Some dive shops can arrange you the whole dive safari including accoms, visits, treks, land guiding and even... your days off...

I would definitely recommend this Indonesian-french couple based in Padang Bai, they can arrange everything according to you budget, and they're very good dive guides: Ikan dive. You can also check the hotels they recommend.

If you want only one location where you could do all these dive sites without moving toomuch, it's prefarable to stay in Candi Dasa/Padang Bai area not too far from all the sites (1hr max) plus quite close to Ubud for land visiting.

 

[divewench1]

Hi
We are a 22 room dive resort based in Padang Bai. We will tailor make a dive itinerary to suit your needs. Drop me an email using the website links for further information, happy diving!:cool2:

 

[BLUESEASONBALI]

Good Evening,

Here at Blue Season Bali, we custom design dive packages and tours to fit your every need whilst you are here in beautiful Bali as to make the most of your time here. I love to see that you are looking at exploring Bali's extremely varied and exciting dive locations during your time here really getting the best out of it!!

We are based in the South of Bali along with many other dive shops in a small town called Sanur, the easiest and most accessible location for transit over to Nusa Penida for a few days diving, a simple 45 minute boat trip across to some of the regions premier dive spots. If you chose a custom safari with us, all accommodation, transport and private guide would be arranged for you around the whole of Bali so you would have no worries about long excursions to and from dive sites as you would be staying on location.

Please take a look at our website pages dedicated to arranging custom made safari packages like the one you are after at:

Bali Diving Safari | Ultimate Bali Dive Trip

As you can see we have many different styles of packages available along with our full custom safaris that can simply be arranged by emailing in your details and inquiries to diving@blueseasonbali.com

BLUE SEASON BALI

PADI ASIA PACIFIC REGIONAL AWARD WINNER 2010; Outstanding Dive Business 2010
Commitment to Instructor Development 2010

Diving Bali | Dive Courses Bali
PADI Divemaster Internships | Scuba Diving Internships| PADI IDC
www.baliocean.com
ww.idc-asia.com​

 

[kathydee]

We plan to dive Tulamben, Amed, Padang Bay, Lembongan & Nusida areas. We'll most likely skip the Gili's as these seems to be over-rated
Besides diving, we also plan to chill out a few days in Ubud and Munduk as well a possibly trek round Gunung Agung.


From an accommodation perspective, we are looking for low to mid-range budget lodges with good location, clean room & bathroom (can be shared, but clean). Our preference is to find accomodations close to dive/visit sites in order to avoid back & forth intraday travel.
Would have any Dive-shops and accommodations to recommend in the above mentioned places?

A travel saffari is probably the easiest way to make this trip but far from a budget option. Remember the local salary is something like $4 US a Day , avoid the tourist luxuries & prearranged tours and your dollar will stretch MUCH farther. Perhaps prices have changed a little bit in the last year --- but I can give advice from annual trips for the past 5 years before.

For a nice budget place in Tulamben - check out the place to the far north/west of town. Puri Madha. There is only a tiny sign marking the dirt road. So best to go down to the public access "beach" and then face the ocean and turn left - you will come to Puri Madha next. Simple rooms were about $7-$8 US $ including a basic breakfast and nicer bungalows with hotwater/air con were about $22. You can just rent tanks for about $6 a dive and dive right off shore or make a deal with the guides (for something like $10-$15 a dive). Also they can arrange local fishing boats for something like $10 a ride to take you over to Muck diving at Seraya point. (If you make it there, please tell them Kathy from the USA says hi ;-) There are tons of dive shop in the area, but no ATM's. You should be able to just show up in town and make the best arrangements to fit your needs.

Same is true in Padang Bai Bay. Many dives shops always looking for customers and many budget places to stay. I like Kerti Inn (which is 1/2 way between the ferri terminal and blue lagoon - think simple rooms should be around $8-$9 per night and include breakfast. Plenty of access to many dive shops from there. You can book trips down to Nusa Penida from Padangbai.

I like Rumah Roda Home stay in Ubud - good luck getting reservations, book early. For budget stays the Lonely Planet travel guide book will be your friend for budget accomodations and trecking arrangements, also check into the Lonely Planet online "Thorntree forum"

Best to book trekking and base in Ubud or even Padang Bai. It's a zoo if you try to head straight to Agung. - I would not try. You can probably make arrangements (if weather permits) from Tirta Ganga which is quite a pretty place to over night, between Padang bai/Ubud and near Agung. Sorry I don't have info about stays in Amed or Munduk. Just keep in mind that Nov could be rainy season with reduced vis.

Have fun and don't miss Wyan's massage at Body Works in Ubud on Hanoman St - ask around everybody knows Body Works.

One more piece of advice, bargan hard - prices are often inflated more than 300% for naive first time Bali travelers ;-).

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.

Have fun!!

 

[thebib]

Hi all, Thanks for the infos,
I’m not too much in for an “all-in“ safari for 2 reasons:
First, it limits our freedom during our holidays; indeed we might decide to stay one or more extra days in a place than originally planned or vice-versa.
Second, the aggregated cost is most likely higher than a DIY tour.

Kathydee, thanks for all your tips, I’ll have a deeper look and probably come back with more questions.
Just one pops up right now. To dive Nusida & Lembongan; what would you recommend as base for a few days ? Padang Bai or Lembongan ? As said, I’d like to avoid back & forth intraday trips, and we are also appreciating nice beaches, scenic landscapes and laidback atmosphere (in short, beach life...:cool2. At first glance, lembongan seems to match these standards.
Do we have any chance to spot the mola-mola in early November ?

 

[kathydee]

To dive Nusida & Lembongan; what would you recommend as base for a few days ? Padang Bai or Lembongan ?

Sorry I'm not sure. I've only been diving at Crystal Bay looking for Mola Mola and Manta point in Nusida - the trips launched out of Padang Bai. Have never stayed in Lembongan

As said, I’d like to avoid back & forth intraday trips, and we are also appreciating nice beaches, scenic landscapes and laidback atmosphere (in short, beach life...:cool2. At first glance, lembongan seems to match these standards.
Do we have any chance to spot the mola-mola in early November ?

Not sure, I think you will miss it. Just read info on a site that says Bali Mola Mola season runs from February through to around August/September & sometimes October. But I'm not certain.

Feel free to PM if you have other questions.

 

[scubabjs]

Kathydee, thanks for all your tips, I’ll have a deeper look and probably come back with more questions.
Just one pops up right now. To dive Nusida & Lembongan; what would you recommend as base for a few days ? Padang Bai or Lembongan ? As said, I’d like to avoid back & forth intraday trips, and we are also appreciating nice beaches, scenic landscapes and laidback atmosphere (in short, beach life...:cool2. At first glance, lembongan seems to match these standards.
Do we have any chance to spot the mola-mola in early November ?

I was there 2 years ago on Lembongan in November, and saw 6 or mola mola at two different locations. IMHO what you need to do is find a dive operator that can take you out in a six-pack, and get to crystal bay very very early in the morning. We did that one morning and we were the only 3 divers in the water with 2 mola mola's. If you come at the standard times you will be fighting with 2 dozen other dive boats (it's fricking insane). Too many divers will spook the mola's and their gone. Plan to spend 2-3 days on the island so you will get more than one shot at the mola's. The island has some ripping currents at times, so enjoy the ride.

I dove with Bali Diving Academy | Diving Bali | Bali Scuba Diving | Bali Diving Adventures and they were very laid back let me choose where to go, and were flexible and allowed me to change my diving plans at some
of their other locations to spend more time on Lembongan. You can book diving at all of their locations, and they can arrange rooms if you want at any hotel.

I stayed at Bali Hai Beach Club, and their beachside huts really are something that will make your stay memorable. I have also stayed in town which was fine as well I had a villa at the top of the hill, with a great view (but it's 97 steps up, and down) The island is dead at night after 6pm or so and there is not much to see on the island. There is a boat ferry from Bali to Lembongan that your diving operator can setup for you.

 

[Valwood1]

Tulamben Wreck Divers has good rooms at a reasonable price.

World Diving on Lembongan is a good dive op and the attached hotel is inexpensive and good; a/c garden rooms are about $40 USD/night. Lembongan is a nice place to stay when diving Nusa Penida, but there's not much nightlife on the island.

 

[pughio83]

Lembongan is easy to get to from sanur/nusa penida etc...It is a paradise with good beaches, not the best but good, and the diving around it and nusa penida is easy to organise and good, crystal bay is a must though i think november is a bit late for mola mola though anything can happen. Also care regarding currents in crystal bay area as i here they can be crazy at wrong time and im not sure what nov is like. World diving is probably the best dive op there but like others say ppl use others also. snorkelling around lembongan/penida is also excellent. Lembongan tends to shut down v early, i struggled to get food after 9pm in high season, no nightlife hence. Also if you have time try go Ubud for few days, that was a highlight of my trip, and if u like try horse back riding over deserted beaches!!! If you stay elsewhere eg padang bai, and want top dives in bali do check out secret bay and tulamben.