Amed or Tulamben for 4 Days Diving?

[miniwid]

Hello gang,

I'm looking to dive in September for 4 days at either Amed or Tulamben. I've stayed at Liberty dive resort before (enjoyed it there) but only dove the Liberty wreck a few times and the Kubu wreck.

I want to return to the east coast to do some easy diving, primarily focused on muck diving but happy to do the odd reef dive should there be any decent ones. I'm into my night diving also.

Would you recommend Amed or Tulamben? Not too fussed about night life or a town atmosphere, really just there to dive, eat and sleep.

Recommendations on dive resorts/dive guides would also be welcome.

Cheers.

 

[Luko]

No brainer. Muck = Tulamben.
Try Villa Utama they also can provide blackwater if interested. Some of the best Tulamben dive guides operating in a resort.

 

[miniwid]

No brainer. Muck = Tulamben.
Try Villa Utama they also can provide blackwater if interested. Some of the best Tulamben dive guides operating in a resort.

Thanks Luko, looks like a lovely resort. Would you recommend Villa Utama over Villa Utama 2? Any particular dive guides I should ask for?

Thanks for info, much appreciated

 

[Luko]

Villa 1 is cozier, Villa 2 is more extensive and has the restaurant next with views on the Agung on the rooftop. YOu won't go wrong with any of their guide.

 

[-Kit]

I went with Bali Reef Dive Center in Tulamben last year and they were pretty good as well.

Not sure if you've done the wall there, but for muck, Tulamben was better, check out Gerambong as well.

IMO the 2 locations are close enough that it doesn't matter much where you're based for a short trip. Driving between the 2 locations takes maybe 20-30mins, up to 45 if you go to the far ends of either.

 

[Luko]

IMO the 2 locations are close enough that it doesn't matter much where you're based for a short trip.

It absolutely does, esp. if you're on a short stay and want to see which critters are "hot" on the best sites.
The guides in Tulamben share their information within their community, they won't with outsiders especially from Amed.

Just an example : I remember a rainy day in Sidem, there was a rhinopias located in the morning by T'ben guides. all parties led by T'ben guides had the opportunity to spot it, then came an experienced guide from Amed with his customer, went diving, when coming out was asked whether it was good one, the T'ben guides seemed smiling as he didn't report seeing any rhinopias : why? because none of the 5 or 6 T'ben guides told him where to check, and they certainly wouldn't.
Diving Tulamben with an Amed guide is a completely different experience.

for muck, Tulamben was better, check out Gerambong as well.

Tulamben diving area well known from Tulamben guides encompasses sites northWest from Nusu, (further away than Gerombong/Batu Ringgit) to Southeasternmost Bulakan which is 10 minutes from Amed. That leaves about 20 muck sites to explore (outside of the mainly reef/wreck sites).

 

[Searcaigh]

I regularly dive at Tulamben and stay at Villa Alba, which primarily deals with Chinese guests, not only from China but Singapore and Malaysia too.

They do have their own private house reef which has reasonable corals for wide angle.

Recommend Gerombong as well as Batu Ringit, less busy than Melasti and Sidem unless you go to the latter early morning (8am).

The slope to the right of Liberty is pretty good for macro too.

 

[miniwid]

Villa 1 is cozier, Villa 2 is more extensive and has the restaurant next with views on the Agung on the rooftop. YOu won't go wrong with any of their guide.

Thanks Luko. Unfortunately both properties are fully booked for my dates, I pinged them on WhatsApp earlier.

Any other recommendations are welcome.

Another quick question I had, were we to stay at an Airbnb for instance, can we arrange a free lance guide to pick us up and provide dive gear? Or would we always need to go via a dive shop?

There's a lovely villa next to Kubu Indah dive shop but not sure if that's a decent dive shop to go with. Is it also a bit too far north for the much sites?

Sorry for all the questions.

 

[Luko]

Sure, you can stay anywhere and arrange your dives with a free lance that's what I've been (mostly) doing for the past 14 years, even when at Utama.
Be aware that the good free lancers were usually the best and most demanded guides at their resort, that's why they prefer to go freelance, so they're often booked a very long time in advance.
The freelance would also need to have all the arrangements (their main issue is usually the transport) if they don't go through a dive shop.
Kubu would be a longer way to the sites south like Batu Niti, Kuanji, Sidem, etc. but why not.

Otherwise plenty of other dive centers : you already stayed at Liberty dive (select Gede Ardha as a diveguide and ask for muck) or you can ask local dive centres whether they can fetch you at your place like Let's Dive or Oceanus.

 

[miniwid]

Sure, you can stay anywhere and arrange your dives with a free lance that's what I've been (mostly) doing for the past 14 years, even when at Utama.
Be aware that the good free lancers were usually the best and most demanded guides at their resort, that's why they prefer to go freelance, so they're often booked a very long time in advance.
The freelance would also need to have all the arrangements (their main issue is usually the transport) if they don't go through a dive shop.
Kubu would be a longer way to the sites south like Batu Niti, Kuanji, Sidem, etc. but why not.

Otherwise plenty of other dive centers : you already stayed at Liberty dive (select Gede Ardha as a diveguide and ask for muck) or you can ask local dive centres whether they can fetch you at your place like Let's Dive or Oceanus.

Thanks. Booked accommodation here Palm Springs Bali Dive Resort - PALM SPRINGS BALI with free cancellation til September. They have a dive centre but no idea if the spotters or setup is any good.

Would some dive centres let freelance guides come and work/use their equipment?

Or would I avoid dealing with the dive centre altogether and let the freelance guide sort everything separately?