Diving Bali - March 5-7

[malaysia-islands]

Raining could spoil the mood but not necessarily the visibility though. Apart from this Menjangan dive that was raining, I've had snorkeled in torrential rain in Langkawi and the photos I took was among the most satisfying for my experience.

The bad news is that rain can also cause bad visibility and there is no way to tell that until we hit the water.

 

[four_engines]

Aww.. you're going all the way to Bali for the nightlife? I can't comment much, sorry. But then I'm more of a tree-hugger (or in diving, shark-hugger?)

I go to Bali for the day dives, and the nightlife. Not ONLY the nightlife. Furthermore, this time, I'm going with my mate so we're gonna have a blast!

Coral lover? What that means? I thought every diver is a coral lover, otherwise they'll be staying home watching Cinemax

Anyway, to answer to your question, I use Canon A70 + WP-DC700 u/w casing which are about 2 yrs old. They are still doing good for me.

From your pics, I see corals, corals and more corals, and even more corals. For me, I love nudibraches.

Just A70? No external strobe?

F/E

 

[malaysia-islands]

I did take one nudibranch photo (too small though) and the photo was blurry.

Oh, no strobe! I don't even use flash underwater. Just use whatever available light in the 20-30 meter depth, then use post processing power of Adobe Photoshop to correct the light balance. It usually works.

 

[Bali-Freak]

I assume you are doing these as day-trips (fron Seminanyak no less). <snip> I assume you will leave for Nusa Peneda from Padang Bai...not so far but about an hour drive each way.

It's pointless to drive to Padang Bai from Seminyak (about 1.5hrs.) then take a 45 minute speedboat journey to Nusa Penida. Much better to take a 20 min. drive to Sanur, then take a 45 minute speedboat journey to Nusa Penida.

 

[four_engines]

Thanks Jonnie B for your input. Personally, I don't mind the travelling. Gives me a chance to soak in the sight and maybe sound of Bali. What we're trying to do this trip is to have the best of both worlds. To dive and to enjoy the nightlife in Kuta. Hope lightning won't strike the same place 3 times. *fingers crossed*

F/E

Agree that it will still be rainy season in Bali in early march...not really the best time to go there. Also, your dive plan is taking you all over the island criss-crosing back and forth with longgggggg drives to and from the divesites. I assume you are doing these as day-trips (fron Seminanyak no less). It will be 2-3 hours to Tulamben and 3 hours to Menjagen both ways so you are looking at 4-6 hours per dive day just to get to and from the sites. Not my idea of a fun dive day. I assume you will leave for Nusa Peneda from Padang Bai...not so far but about an hour drive each way.

A better plan is to eather go out to the divesites to stay or pick one of them for this trip and spend the 3 days diving all the sites in that one area Nusa, Tulamben, or Menjagan each have many sites and can easily keep one occupied for 3 or more days.

 

[four_engines]

Amazing results without flash! I must admit that I didn't notice the nudibranch...

Speaking of that, strolled into an aquarium today in Singapore and saw nudibranch for sale! I didn't know that you can keep them as pets now!

F/E

I did take one nudibranch photo (too small though) and the photo was blurry.

Oh, no strobe! I don't even use flash underwater. Just use whatever available light in the 20-30 meter depth, then use post processing power of Adobe Photoshop to correct the light balance. It usually works.

 

[pinklizard]

hiya Heading to Bali 16 to 20th March, hoping to get 2 full diving days in. Is there any good operator that offers unlimited diving for 2 days, accommodation for 1 night, picks you up from main tourist areas like Sanur or Kuta, drops you back there?

 

[MGW]

Head over to Gilli Trawangan off the coast of Lombok. You can take a fast ferry there. Awesome place to hang out, Amazing dive sites all within 20 min...

 

[scottfiji]

try not to stay in the south of bali (e.g. - sanur). Padang bai is great, try to hook up with OK divers, they offer the best service imho. manta point was the highlight. Biaha and gila mimpang are also awesome dive sites, don't miss them. do a night dive in the blue lagoon. prices for everything are much cheaper in padang bai, and feels like a cozy village.

the japanese fish wreck in amed is great, you can do that as a shore dive from a car.

my trip was amed-tulamben-padang bai, it was awesome. I didn't get to menjangen, didn't feel like doing all that travelling.

enjoy the trip!

scott
www.oceanbeauty.org

 

[pinklizard]

Thanks Scott for the OK divers recommendation. Its run by Europeans?

Padang Bai looks good, centralized and close to both Tulamben as well as the main areas. Reason being my friends at in Kuta and I was thinking of spending the last day (prior to flight) there with them. Are there any other recommendations of dive ops that are single-friendly and easy with anything? (eg: unlimited dives, long dives)

MGW: I'll leave lombok for now as I haven't been to Bali in a couple of years and would like to spend some time there.

Thanks guys