Bali: How safe is this place?

[dmpaq20]

Reefwalker this is what I was looking for, someone who had been there frequently. This is how Scuba Seraya described it and your take on it really hit home for me.

I have been contemplating Yap or Bali. Having been to Yap in January and spent a week at Pathways and diving with BTR, I loved it. It was my best dive experience (people, diving, weather etc) to date. However, I am looking for something new (I do this several times a year, the first week I am on business alone in Taiwan or China, the second week I am diving in Palau, Guam and Yap etc). I have not repeated a trip to date, Bali is next on my list. Scuba Seraya gave me a sweet deal on a package and I am very seriously looking at going.

I will sleep on it and make up my mind tomorrow. You guys are awesome, thanks for ALL of the comments?

Dave

BTW, speaking of Aussies, I know one thing, never play quarters with them as they will kick your *****!

After reading this thread I actually wonder how many of the people who commented here have actually been to the Tulamben area of Bali (where Scuba Seraya is located).
Tulamben is just over 100 kilometres from Denpasar and 130 kilometres from Kuta (where the terrorist bombings were). The villages surrounding Tulamben are occupied by peaceful Balinese Hindu's who fish the local waters or farm the local lands. It is located in one of the quietest parts of Bali (or the World) imaginable.
My wife & I are expat Aussies who have owned a property here for over two years and visited/dived the area regularly since 1980. We don't feel unsafe living here and have bought our kids here since they were 8 years old.
We don't have security screened windows and doors, we leave keys in our car ignition, we walk the streets at night and often a fisherman from the local village (whom we don't know) will drop-past with a fish to give us for dinner, just to promote friendship!! I don't know where you guys or girls live - but we certainly haven't lived with those kind of privilages in metropolitan/suburban Australia, and I'm darn sure its worse in the good old USA!
Interestingly we only see a small number of Aussies diving in Tulamben and thankfully the 'Yobbo element' stay in Kuta/Legian drinking beer, though many of them no longer come to Bali (Excellent).
I guess my basic statement here is - If your frightened to come to Bali to dive. Then stay at home wrapped in a bullet proof vest, hiding behind a solid steel door in a concrete bunker and order your food via the internet so you don't need to leave the bunker.
Enjoy your life in solitary confinement - The rest of us will enjoy exploring the World.

 

[dmpaq20]

They are telling me that it takes 3 hours to get there?
Whoa, I am landing at 9:30, so that puts me in at 12:30 AM.
Is it the roads, cars or people that make it so slow going?

BTW: Do I need a visa?

After reading this thread I actually wonder how many of the people who commented here have actually been to the Tulamben area of Bali (where Scuba Seraya is located).
Tulamben is just over 100 kilometres from Denpasar and 130 kilometres from Kuta (where the terrorist bombings were). The villages surrounding Tulamben are occupied by peaceful Balinese Hindu's who fish the local waters or farm the local lands. It is located in one of the quietest parts of Bali (or the World) imaginable.
My wife & I are expat Aussies who have owned a property here for over two years and visited/dived the area regularly since 1980. We don't feel unsafe living here and have bought our kids here since they were 8 years old.
We don't have security screened windows and doors, we leave keys in our car ignition, we walk the streets at night and often a fisherman from the local village (whom we don't know) will drop-past with a fish to give us for dinner, just to promote friendship!! I don't know where you guys or girls live - but we certainly haven't lived with those kind of privilages in metropolitan/suburban Australia, and I'm darn sure its worse in the good old USA!
Interestingly we only see a small number of Aussies diving in Tulamben and thankfully the 'Yobbo element' stay in Kuta/Legian drinking beer, though many of them no longer come to Bali (Excellent).
I guess my basic statement here is - If your frightened to come to Bali to dive. Then stay at home wrapped in a bullet proof vest, hiding behind a solid steel door in a concrete bunker and order your food via the internet so you don't need to leave the bunker.
Enjoy your life in solitary confinement - The rest of us will enjoy exploring the World.

 

[cdiver2]

They are telling me that it takes 3 hours to get there?
Whoa, I am landing at 9:30, so that puts me in at 12:30 AM.
Is it the roads, cars or people that make it so slow going?

BTW: Do I need a visa?

Visa info for you http://www.projectvisa.com/

 

[Bowmouth]

I have been planning a trip in August to Scuba Seraya in Bali for several weeks. This resort looks awesome and I am excited to go.

However, I have been reading a darker side of Bali of what COULD happen if things go wrong (http://www.fugly-bali.org, corupt police and customs agents etc). never mind terroism. I am not one that scares easy and I do NOT want to let the bas**rds win. But I do have a family (I am traveling alone) so need to ask the question:

How safe is this place?

Thanks, Dave

Bali is unsafe and so is the rest of Indonesia. PNG isn't the safest place either and neither is Southern Thailand. Malaysia is a muslim country so shouldn't be dived either. In fact to be completely safe divers better don't come to South East Asia at all. It's no good to dive in the Carribean either because maybe a hurricane can hit and your resort or liveaboard may be wiped away. Diving in the quarries of your hometown isn't all that safe either because you may loose sight of your buddy or catch a cold. Best to stay at home and read dive magazines only with articles about all those unsafe places and wonderful dive destinations. But make sure you read them in a safe place.....

 

[almitywife]

Bowmouth - you forgot to mention the sharks in the water also :laughing:

 

[cdiver2]

He asked a question politely and I am sure the Lady's and gentlemen of the board can/will answer politely.

 

[MoonWrasse]

Bali is unsafe and so is the rest of Indonesia. PNG isn't the safest place either and neither is Southern Thailand. Malaysia is a muslim country so shouldn't be dived either. In fact to be completely safe divers better don't come to South East Asia at all. It's no good to dive in the Carribean either because maybe a hurricane can hit and your resort or liveaboard may be wiped away. Diving in the quarries of your hometown isn't all that safe either because you may loose sight of your buddy or catch a cold. Best to stay at home and read dive magazines only with articles about all those unsafe places and wonderful dive destinations. But make sure you read them in a safe place.....

What about paper cuts from reading dive mags?
Cut the wrong thing and you could bleed out

 

[PaulChristenson]

This is the US State Dept travel warning site...
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html

This is the US State Dept travel warning for Indonesia
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_918.html

Here's the warning...
"Due to ongoing concerns about the possibility of terrorist attacks directed against American or other western citizens and interests, the Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Indonesia."


Then they go on to say...
"The Department urges Americans who choose to travel to Indonesia despite this Travel Warning to observe vigilant personal security precautions and to remain aware of the continued potential for terrorist attacks against American or other Western interests. Americans should monitor local news broadcasts, be aware of their surroundings at all times, vary their routes and times in carrying out daily activities, and consider the level of preventive security when visiting public places in Indonesia. Americans considering non-essential travel to popular tourist and vacation areas in Indonesia, such as Bali, despite this Travel Warning should consider the level of security provided by hotels, restaurants, beaches and other entertainment and recreation areas when planning their trips. "

End of the legalese...If you want to go you can...

 

[Cacia]

I am happy that I am going and I plan to shop till I drop. Ubud looks amazing....

gotta save some money is all. I bought reefwalker's book and it is great. I have always heard wonderful things and that it is Hindu, and the bombers came in from somewhere else. The Aussies dont even scare me!

Sometimes I think the state department has to say that so people will not count on them negotiating for you.....let you know you are "diving solo" kinda thing!

 

[Tassie_Rohan]

The Australian government has issued similar vague warnings about most countries I have worked or travelled in over the past decade.

That way they have covered themselves - should something happen somewhere out there and an Australian is injured or killed the department of foreign affairs can say 'we warned them'.

Despite this I have had many great experiences and many fantastic dives on my travels.

Yes there is risk. But the odds are minimal (200 killed in Bali bombing in last 5 years per X million visitors to Indonesia per year) and even lower if you stay away from tourist hot spots.

Whats a life without risk?

Cheers,
Rohan.