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

[CJS]

@CJS @Pressurehead @Bookworm11

Cheers! Why I ask is not so much to have a guide, I’m happy to dive w/o a guide if they just give a good and thorough briefing and tell me where and when to surface. It’s rather if they have the infrastructure on their boat for photographers, most crucial a large enough rinse tank for a ”big” camera rig. I’ve been in touch with a few and it seems to be rare (haven’t found one yet). Most likely I’ll have to revert to a soft cooler bag operation, which is totally ok.

Have you dived Bali before? From my experience I think it unlikely that any dive op in Sanur is going to let you dive Nusa Penida sites without a guide.

 

[Christian]

Have you dived Bali before? From my experience I think it unlikely that any dive op in Sanur is going to let you dive Nusa Penida sites without a guide.

Bali is a place I have not yet dived. So do not know local protocol. Perhaps this is why I’ve been advised to not go with Sanur operators as they all cater to occasional holiday divers and really don’t have any routines for experienced divers. I don’t mind a guide, as long as he/she stay in the background. But don’t need one as long as they give good briefings. I very much prefer doing my own thing, if possible.

 

[Pressurehead]

Law number 7, minister of Tourism, of 2016 a diver must have to be accompanied by an Indonesian dive guide. The law also explicitly stipulate that solo diving is prohibited for recreational/tourist diver.

You may get away with it solo from the shore in some places , [how do I know this?, Don't ask] you would never be allowed on [or allowed to book a solo dive] on a fast boat to Nusa Pendia in Bali.
Also , do a search on here on this subject, just be aware it goes on ad nauseam .
Cut and paste this in the search:

Solo Diving in Indonesia​

Edit: My usual typos.

 

[CJS]

Law number 7, minister of Tourism, of 2016 a diver must have to be accompanied by an Indonesian dive guide. The law also explicitly stipulate that solo diving is prohibited for recreational/tourist diver.

You may get away with it solo from the shore in some places , [how do I know this?, Don't ask] you would never be allowed on [or allowed to book a solo dive] on a fast boat to Nusa Pendia in Bali.
Also , do a search on here on this subject, just be aware it goes on ad nauseam .
Cut and paste this in the search:

Solo Diving in Indonesia​

Edit: My usual typos.

I'd add that if you book your own dive guide, you can tell them how you want to dive and, unless you put yourself in danger (which is quite possible on some of the Nusa Penida sites) they will just cruise along with you. My experience with dive shops all over Bali, as a relatively experienced diver (certainly not an occasional holiday diver) is that if I am upfront with the shop about what I'm looking for, when I contact them, they will accommodate me. I've regularly had my own guide without paying extra for it and it is like having a competent local buddy who knows where the coolest stuff is, and who knows the local conditions, which in some places (like Nusa Penida) can be a bit 'variable'.

 

[Christian]

Law number 7, minister of Tourism, of 2016 a diver must have to be accompanied by an Indonesian dive guide. The law also explicitly stipulate that solo diving is prohibited for recreational/tourist diver.

You may get away with it solo from the shore in some places , [how do I know this?, Don't ask] you would never be allowed on [or allowed to book a solo dive] on a fast boat to Nusa Pendia in Bali.
Also , do a search on here on this subject, just be aware it goes on ad nauseam .
Cut and paste this in the search:

Solo Diving in Indonesia​

Edit: My usual typos.

Not doing solo, I have a buddy

 

[Pressurehead]

Not doing solo, I have a buddy

Is your buddy a local guide? If not.

Indonesian law mandates that recreational divers in Bali must be accompanied by a certified Indonesian dive guide or a foreign instructor with a work permit from a local dive shop.


DM sent.

 

[VsubT]

Photographer here. Not the cheapest option, but Aquamarine can work with you on dive sites, private guides who know photography / critter spotting, and accommodations. I’ve done two Bali trips with them and was happy with both.

Definitely recommend a private guide for photography, especially if you’re into macro.

Lance

 

[Christian]

Photographer here. Not the cheapest option, but Aquamarine can work with you on dive sites, private guides who know photography / critter spotting, and accommodations. I’ve done two Bali trips with them and was happy with both.

Definitely recommend a private guide for photography, especially if you’re into macro.

Lance

Cheers Lance, will reach out to them. Main reason is to shoot Mola Molas—so don’t need to have things pointed out.
Do Aquamarine have amenities onboard their boat for photographers—a proper rinse tank for a larger rig?

 

[VsubT]

Do Aquamarine have amenities onboard their boat for photographers—a proper rinse tank for a larger rig?

You would need to check with them directly. Most of my diving in Bali has been from small boats, but the guides and boatmen have been great with handling my camera rig.

They seem to have standing arrangements with lots of hotels/resorts and other scuba operations.

Lance

 

[Christian]

You would need to check with them directly. Most of my diving in Bali has been from small boats, but the guides and boatmen have been great with handling my camera rig.

They seem to have standing arrangements with lots of hotels/resorts and other scuba operations.

Lance

Yes, I’m checking. No doubt there are many great operators there, but not really set-up for serious uw photographers, it seems. Understandable and logical with the majority of clients being the occasional holiday diver. You work with what you have. Out of curiosity, how did you keep your gear wet between dives and during return to Sanur?