Thanks for the good advice everyone.
I think we'll do the rescue course in Lembongan and then maybe squeeze in Tulamben - Not sure yet - I haven't looked into the practicalities such as transport and distances in Bali...
We're staying 12 days in Bali, but basically have 8 full days for the course and diving - and rescue would take up 3/4 days - so I'm thinking it might be better to take it easy on Lembongan - unless there's a reason to try and do the course in Tulamben instead?
At the moment our plan is as follows: arrive in Bali early afternoon on the 13th (from Japan after a night in KL...Air Asia-ing it...), get ripped off at the airport to go to Ubud and spend two nights there to see a friend, take care of stuff and eat tacos.
Then leave early on the morning of the 15th in the morning and go to Lembongan (via Sanur I guess, arranging the boat through accommodation)- Stay there, do the course and dive.
We have a plane to Makassar-Sorong leaving late afternoon on July 24th (we'll be staying in a homestay in central Raja 4 for 19 days after this, with 30 dives planned if the wind is on our side like last August), so not really sure if we can squeeze in Tulamben without rushing.
Not too excited about being in French environment, but I guess there's no way around it this time, given the period - we'll just stick to Japanese to keep our own complaining private
ben