Question Bali - Muck / Macro - general questions / where to stay / local dive shops

[Luko]

Does the above relate to Tulamben also? I've only been looking into Bali for a few weeks but I was under the impression that most sites there didn't generally have strong current...

Not really.
I've had only had strong currents in T'ben on very few occasions in >300 dives there.

That was I guess a comment related to Crystal Bay especially and Nusa Penida in general.

 

[FLST]

Not really.
I've had only had strong currents in T'ben on very few occasions in >300 dives there.

That was I guess a comment related to Crystal Bay especially and Nusa Penida in general.

Thanks!

 

[Dom23]

You can dive Nusa Penida from Padang Bai on daytrips, in fact I think it's preferable to dive from PB if you're looking for Mola mola since they're also seen on Gili Tepekong/Mimpang which are somehow "local" sites from PB.
Manta point is quite a crowded place. You can go although in season expect ten boats and somewhere between 40-70 divers at the same time. October maybe only 30 divers , Crystal bay similarly for molamola that's why I prefer Padang Bai's Gili Tepekong.

Yes I can imagine 30 chinese divers chasing after 1 mola mola, no thank you.
From your experince is october too late for mola mola or still likely to see some?

For 3 weeks I'd recommend 8-9 days Tulamben if you're fully into macro / 5 days Amed that has a limited range of interesting sites macrowise, make sure with the Dive Center you arrange to do Japanese Wreck for corals (best coral site in Bali) as well as JW for macro as a night dive (transfer from T'ben is 30 minutes so can be done in the morning before diving)/ 5 days PB you can do 2 day trips to Nusa Penida (arrange priorily with dive center Gekodive or Absolute), one trip on Tepekong/Mimpang and 2 days for local macro (transfer from Amed is 1,5 hrs can be done after afternoon dive, no need to dry/pack stuff for the transfers, just anticipate a BIG plastic bag where you put all your wet equipement so it doesn't drip water in the trunk of your driver's car.

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll check out these dive shops.

I also can add these more or less frequently seen critters on your check list :
- Favorinus nudibranchs eating ribbons of eggs
- Emperor shrimps running on the back of nudis
- Lots of Thorunna and Trapani anudis on Gerombong/T'ben.
- Spiny tiger shrimps
- Donald duck shrimps
- Hairy shrimps carrying eggs
- Gobies guarding eggs on tunicates
- ... but the specialty of Tulamben is the ghost shrimp, that I haven't seen anywhere else.

Those are some nice additions I also read about these. I didn't know there are Mototi in Bali.

You can check my gallery, you'll get an idea of what you may come across in Bali :

UW Bali 2011/25

All Bali areas between 2011 and 2025 : Pemuteran, Menjangan, Tulamben (mostly!), Amed, Padang Bai and Nusa Penida.

www.flickr.com

That's a nice collection you got there.

We have also stayed and dived with absolute Scuba in Padang Bai many times and really recommend them too. The Nusa islands are also excellent but we seem to always have better luck with spots on day trips from Padang Bai. You should see Mola Mola if you devote enough time to the Padang Bai area.

Thanks for the recommendation!

Lots of good advice above, Secret bay definitely no good now. Echo advice on Mola Mola, Tepekong and Mimpang etc are the places - see more here than Crystal Bay which in my view is overrated and like a circus now. Manta point best as a day trip now and late in day after the circus has gone.

Thanks for the advice!

I dove with Geko Divers in Padang Bai who do not have limits on dive times. I stayed at Matahari in Tulamben at Liberty wreck area for 5 days. In Amed you can do as a day trip but better to just stay there.

Thanks for the info, no time limit is definately a big plus.

I was staying in Lembonang when I went to Crystal Bay for Mola Mola. Was cold 22c water temp.
Mola was at 35m depth the the currents away from the wall can be really strong.

Nice video! I only saw 1 small mola mola once in Galapagos, but the visibility was only 5m, so no comparison.

 

[Luko]

From your experince is october too late for mola mola or still likely to see some?

You never know, sometimes until end of october/november.

You can as check out Yansu's facebook wall, he's the balinese owner of Let's dive in Tulamben who now specializes into big fish and Mola mola dives. Yansu Suartana
He seems to have a good place and tips for Mola hunting.

 

[Blackcrusader]

@Dom23 one thing about these sites is that they can have ripping currents. If you don't have a reef hook you might want to get one.

Does the above relate to Tulamben also? I've only been looking into Bali for a few weeks but I was under the impression that most sites there didn't generally have strong current...

At Tulamben currents are virtually none or not very strong. I had one day where currents were strong but not ripping like they can get in other places. Night dives are also fun

Just be aware that currents cant be an issue. My buddy and I dive using a satellite PLB in Indonesia.

@Dom23 Yes for the Mola you can get hordes of divers and our dive group went in at times when others were not diving. Also to get my video I went a little farther out and it was a nice workout in the current to get back to the sloping wall with my dive buddy. My dive trip for the Mola was in late September.

Tulamben also has quite rocky entry so I use dive boots with 5mm soles. I do not kit up first I bring my gear to the shore line then bring my gear out to the water with air in my bcd and kit up once I am in the water. Not fun to see divers in full kit fall over on entry or exit.

 

[JonnieB]

[/quote]
Bintang divers for Amed. There's one dive guide I forgot the name who's specialized in macro.
[/QUOTE]

"Blenk," but Bintang is Japanese owned.

 

[JonnieB]

Thanks for the advice. How would you split the time (let's say 3 weeks) there?


That's good to know, would you still recommend going there on a 3 weeks trip or leave it out to focus on Tulamben / Amed? I still need few days for Manta / Mola Mola, transfers etc., so more like 2 weeks available for macro.


Good point, I was thinking since those places are next to each other and operators offer both it would not make much difference. As for the 2 weeks of macro mentioned earlier how would you split the time inbetween the two, Tulamben and Amed?

Since you seem to be quite experienced with the diving there may I ask a more specific question concerning the critters there which might impact how to split the time. My most wanted critters on my bucketlist are:

- Rhinopias (Weedy)
- Kikutarobabai Nudibranch
- Harlequin Shrimp
- Donut Nudibranch
- Doto Ussi Nudibranch
- Mimic Octopus
- Ghostpipefish (Halimeda, Velvet, Harlequin)
- Blue Ringed Octopus
- Candy Crab
- Hairy Frogfish
- Ambon Scorpionfish


Thank you so much, that's great advice.

I came across Bintang Divers in Amed aswell and they seem to be really good.
As for Tulamben I was looking at Wonder Dive Bali. Looks like a local owned shop, not too big.
I do not have experience in getting a freelance guide, might give it a shot but not 100% sure.

Once again, thanks alot, very useful information.

Kadek Kocek, the principle at Wonder Dive, is a great macro spotter; and Bedug, their second, is no slouch either. It's also a very nice small locally owned op, with three comfortable villas and pool.

There is no need to split your time staying in both Amed and Tulamben and waste a day moving between the two; it's only a 20 minute dive between them. If all you care about is macro diving, base yourself in Tulamben and do day trips to Amed. If you want more topside activities, better food, and some nite life, stay in Amed and day-trip to Tulamben. Many of the sites are mid-way between Amed and Tulamben (Sidem, Cantik Point, Melasti Tulamben, etc.) so either place is convenient.

 

[Luko]

There is no need to split your time staying in both Amed and Tulamben and waste a day moving between the two; it's only a 20 minute dive between them. If all you care about is macro diving, base yourself in Tulamben and do day trips to Amed.

I would disagree.
You need to dive with Amed dive guides for the dives in Amed. The trip to the interesting Amed dive sites takes some time : let alone that it takes more than 20 minutes from one end to Amed to another (say Uyah to Abang), there will be no way with a Tulamben based operation to do the JW on a night dive.
The only dive spot which is really half way from Tulamben to the first Amed dive site (Melasti Amed) is Sidem, you can check that on a map. for instance Melasti Tulamben is just 5 minutes driving from Tulamben.

For photographers who sometimes need to go back to the resort after a dive (battery/lens change, forgot a lens, a light, etc.) it's much more convenient to be close to the accomodation.

I would add there's no time wasted for the transfers, you just wake up 30 minutes earlier one day and transfer from Tulamben to Amed dive centre and use the lunch break to check in to your hotel. I've done it many times.

 

[JonnieB]

I would disagree.
You need to dive with Amed dive guides for the dives in Amed. The trip to the interesting Amed dive sites takes some time : let alone that it takes more than 20 minutes from one end to Amed to another (say Uyah to Abang), there will be no way with a Tulamben based operation to do the JW on a night dive.
The only dive spot which is really half way from Tulamben to the first Amed dive site (Melasti Amed) is Sidem, you can check that on a map. for instance Melasti Tulamben is just 5 minutes driving from Tulamben.

For photographers who sometimes need to go back to the resort after a dive (battery/lens change, forgot a lens, a light, etc.) it's much more convenient to be close to the accomodation.

I would add there's no time wasted for the transfers, you just wake up 30 minutes earlier one day and transfer from Tulamben to Amed dive centre and use the lunch break to check in to your hotel. I've done it many times.

Lipah and Bunaten are on the far southern end of Amed and will be 45-50 minutes drive from Tulamben but the main dive sites in Amed (Pantai Melasti to Jemeluk) are in central Amed. Cantik Point to "Batu Nudi," and the sites in-between are about 10-15 mins from Tulamben and 15-20 mins from Amed. To get to Rubaya, Gorongbong, and other northern Tulamben sites from Amed is about 30 minutes. I'd consider packing and unpacking all my stuff and moving resorts a PITA if it's not really necessary. Again, me personally, I consider Tulamben/Amed one dive area and a good guide should be able to find stuff anywhere.

Also Amed)Tulamben has been very meh so far this year. Weird currents, often very low vis, and pronounced absence of critters...maybe the currents have swept them all away. Hope it's better by the time the op arrives.

 

[Luko]

I consider Tulamben/Amed one dive area and a good guide should be able to find stuff anywhere.

That not how it works and as a long timer in T'ben you probably know that.
It's a network of guides that communicates where's what : if you're not part of the network you will have to find by yourself, and that's a real challenge when you're not aware of the new stuff.

Also Amed)Tulamben has been very meh so far this year.

I was in T'ben for a short stay 3 days start of April, but usually I consider start of the year is never a great time, I prefer the last 4 months.
Gerombong was very good for nudis, some new comers in Batu Riggit (Hypselodoris Kaname with an emperor shrimp) Wunderpus on Sidem, Mototi on Kuanji but nothing really blowing my mind.