Advice, please! Menjangan or Amed/Tulamben in Bali for rookie divers?

[cruth82]

I'm new to the forum, so first of all, hello to everyone, and thank you in advance for your help on this topic!

My husband and I are going to Bali this July and are trying to decide between Menjangan and Amed/Tulamben for diving. If you've been to both, which one did you prefer and why? We're both pretty inexperienced - I got my PADI certification in Koh Tao, Thailand in 2006 but haven't dived since, and my husband will be brand new to the sport (he will hopefully get certified before we go). The idea of wall-diving in Menjangan sounds exciting but intimidating - I like the comfort of knowing the ocean floor is right below me, but from what I've heard it might be worth it! The wreck at Tulamben sounds interesting, as well. Mostly, we hope to see lots of colourful coral and a variety of marine life - a pretty standard goal for new divers, I think. Koh Tao set a high standard, so I'm excited to get back in the water and see what Bali has to offer!

Thanks so much in advance for any insight you could provide - I appreciate it!

Cheers!

 

[zivva]

Koh Tao set a high standard, so I'm excited to get back in the water and see what Bali has to offer!

Koh Tao was may be setting high standards 7 years ago but it is now considered by many as one of the worst place to dive in Asia : way too many divers & intensive industrial fishing in such a tiny area ...

Would say difficulty (none, perfect for beginners) & quality of diving around Menjangan / Amed / Tulamben is pretty much the same. Your final choice might depend more of how much time you intend to stay in Bali & your trip schedule : the Amed / Tulamben area is closer to Bali's main attractions.

 

[Mike Veitch]

I would suggest both! Do three days in Menjangan area, easy dives with beautiful corals and not that busy, the walls there are not intimidating at all, more sloping than wall and the currents are very mild except on the two corners (which you certainly can avoid as there are kilometres of reef in between) Then take the 3 hour or so drive over to Tulamben/Amed and stay there for a few days as well, also some outstanding dives there which range between very easy to advanced. If you would like more detailed information please let me know

 

[Tauge31]

I was in bali last year to do my advance course. with only 5 logged dives, I was initially nervous as well.
i did my course in tulamben and amed area and I had a blast.
The dives were relatively easy with little or no current, the marine life was amazing. Also, I did night diving for the first time at the liberty wreck.
for most of the dives, you will have the ocean floor right below you. So if you're worried, tulamben is pretty easy to pick it up.
The drop off was my favourite dive site.

I had so much fun that I extended my trip and did fun dives around nusa ped/lembongan. Which, I would not recommend to beginners due to the strong currents. However, if you're feeling more comfortable after a few dives in tulamben, do give nusa ped a try.

Which ever dive sites you choose to initiate your husband, I'm sure that with a good dive op, you guys will enjoy it. Bali is amazing and I would go back anytime.

 

[Divedoggie]

They are both so great! But if you only can choose one, I'd go with Tulamben/Amed. Simply because its almost all shore diving. As a new diver, you will be able to get more dives in, practice more, plan your own dives, and see some amazing creatures.

 

[Quero]

I prefer Tulamben, personally, but I find that Pemuteran/Menjangan has more coral cover. So if you're looking for coral, then go to Pemuteran and dive not just Menjangan island, but also the offshore reefs at Pemuteran.