tamarinera
Registered
Hi all,
I'm an experienced diver (200+ dives, 17 years), arriving in Bali Oct 12. This will be my first time in Indonesia: dove Thailand liveaboard (meh), Cairns liveaboard (pretty great), Red Sea liveaboard (simply spectactular) and Caribbean (Bonaire! and some others: good ol' standby, love the detail, pity there's lots of dead coral).
I'm going to Bali with two new snorkelers (good swimmers). I'd like to dive two days out of our 10 day visit (it's a teaser...might go back to Indonesia in the future to get a divemaster). I'm a backpacker type traveler usually, this time will do a little more comfort but not a fan of overbuilt overcrowded resorty places. Prefer white sand beaches over black volcanic, and love biodiversity: am hoping for the awe of Indonesian diving (first time there) and for some mola molas.
We'll spend the first two days at an AirBNB in Nusa Dua waiting for the third friend who gets in later (I know...it's crowded and resorty but there's a cultural festival and white sand beaches while we get over our jet lag). I had thought I should aim for Nusa Penida (for the manta rays and mola molas), leaving from Nusa Dua, and then head to Liberty Dive in Tulamben. But I'm wondering if I should consider Padang Bai instead of one or both of those? Or, Nusa Lembongan?
Here are thoughts/questions, with many thanks in advance for advice that will help stop the swirling information overload that's in my head.
1. Where is the best colorful mind-blowing biodiverse sea life? You know, orange-colored chromis everywhere, tangs, damselfish, tiny shrimp, gobies, intact coral, etc. I like macro, doesn't have to all be pelagics...color, architecture, etc... (I'm not taking photos underwater)
2. I understand Nusa Penida can be sketchy based on weather. Manta rays are of course jaw-dropping, but mola molas would be a priority for me if I had to choose. Would Padang Bai be better than Nusa Penida?
3. Where is the best snorkeling? Would love to know places where my friends can snorkel while I'm diving (maybe on the same boat), and also places we could just go to on our own on the days when I don't dive.
4. Would it make sense to go to Nusa Lembongan instead of Tulamben?
4. Appreciate any tips on operators. I've contacted Scuba Bali (expensive and only do two dives on Nusa Penida) and Joe's Gone Diving (three dives on Nusa Penida but no trips my first few days).
Thanks very much!
I'm an experienced diver (200+ dives, 17 years), arriving in Bali Oct 12. This will be my first time in Indonesia: dove Thailand liveaboard (meh), Cairns liveaboard (pretty great), Red Sea liveaboard (simply spectactular) and Caribbean (Bonaire! and some others: good ol' standby, love the detail, pity there's lots of dead coral).
I'm going to Bali with two new snorkelers (good swimmers). I'd like to dive two days out of our 10 day visit (it's a teaser...might go back to Indonesia in the future to get a divemaster). I'm a backpacker type traveler usually, this time will do a little more comfort but not a fan of overbuilt overcrowded resorty places. Prefer white sand beaches over black volcanic, and love biodiversity: am hoping for the awe of Indonesian diving (first time there) and for some mola molas.
We'll spend the first two days at an AirBNB in Nusa Dua waiting for the third friend who gets in later (I know...it's crowded and resorty but there's a cultural festival and white sand beaches while we get over our jet lag). I had thought I should aim for Nusa Penida (for the manta rays and mola molas), leaving from Nusa Dua, and then head to Liberty Dive in Tulamben. But I'm wondering if I should consider Padang Bai instead of one or both of those? Or, Nusa Lembongan?
Here are thoughts/questions, with many thanks in advance for advice that will help stop the swirling information overload that's in my head.
1. Where is the best colorful mind-blowing biodiverse sea life? You know, orange-colored chromis everywhere, tangs, damselfish, tiny shrimp, gobies, intact coral, etc. I like macro, doesn't have to all be pelagics...color, architecture, etc... (I'm not taking photos underwater)
2. I understand Nusa Penida can be sketchy based on weather. Manta rays are of course jaw-dropping, but mola molas would be a priority for me if I had to choose. Would Padang Bai be better than Nusa Penida?
3. Where is the best snorkeling? Would love to know places where my friends can snorkel while I'm diving (maybe on the same boat), and also places we could just go to on our own on the days when I don't dive.
4. Would it make sense to go to Nusa Lembongan instead of Tulamben?
4. Appreciate any tips on operators. I've contacted Scuba Bali (expensive and only do two dives on Nusa Penida) and Joe's Gone Diving (three dives on Nusa Penida but no trips my first few days).
Thanks very much!