First time Indonesia where to go?
- Thread starter George Scherman
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George Scherman
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So, Bali is looking pretty good. Thanks to everyone for their input. We are rookie photographers underwater, but recently had some pretty good results in Hawaii. Are there reliable locations for sharks and Mantas? We love the little stuff but I would love to see some bigger critters as well.
Woodiver
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I agree with Judy G, Bali and Scuba Seraya would be a good fit for land based. Great location, great dive masters and a good place to stay. You're not going to see mantas or sharks but you will see a mix of want Indo has to offer. When you are ready to try a liveaboard, Komodo is great location but you do need to be able to deal with the currents. The diving in Komodo is much better than Bali but the currents equal big stuff....
Go dive at Nusa Penida and you will most likely see Mantas there (Manta Bay/Manta Point). It can be reached by boat from Sanur.
I went with Crystal Divers and also visited Tulamben where I saw blacktips. You can see a video of the mantas here: Nusa Penida - YouTube
I went with Crystal Divers and also visited Tulamben where I saw blacktips. You can see a video of the mantas here: Nusa Penida - YouTube
Wingy
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Nusa Penida - Manta Point..dived there many years ago with Bali Dive Academy at dawn, was magnificent.
Luko
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If you want both sharks and mantas, then I'd suggest you dive Nusa Penida for the mantas and molamola (I've seen both on Mamta bay , as well as a thresher shark on Crystal bay) , Candi Dasa area wil be great for the sharks (Gili Mimpang and Gili Tepekong). Padang Bai dive centers arrange both locations almost on a daily schedule, it's also more convenient than staying around Sanur which means a lot of car ride everyday (and not so great surroundings).
But don't skip Tulamben, which is really good diving, giving the best of coral and macro (I've also seeen blacktips patroling on the shallows on a reguar basis)
But don't skip Tulamben, which is really good diving, giving the best of coral and macro (I've also seeen blacktips patroling on the shallows on a reguar basis)
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George Scherman
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Is it worth spending the time to go up to Menjangan for a couple of days?
Andreni
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Personally I found Menjangan a bit bland. There are nice corals but last summer we didn't see that much fish or anything really special. But if you want to try muck diving there are some nice places in north bali (Gilimanuk, Puri Jati..) and you can still combine it with Menjangan. My favorite dive trip in Bali is a combination of muck diving (North-Bali, around Tulamben and Padang Bai) and diving with the big stuff (Mantas, Mola Molas around Nusa Penida). In my opinion Bali is one of the most underestimated dive destinations of Indonesia.
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George Scherman
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Thanks again everyone. Andreni, Tulamben and Nusa Penida sound like a great combo. Now I just need to figure out what I would like to see and do topside.
Warmwater Wank
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Welcome to SB! Missing in this is the basic: where will you be traveling from, how long do you have, time of year etc. Flight durations, datelines and connections have a way of eating into vacation dates, not to mention the sort of delays you can encounter on the ground. Flying out of SFO I can land at Denpasar (DPS), Bali and be in Tulamben by dinner time, 2+ days after leaving home. A good night's sleep (because I'm back on Bali!!!) and I'm ready to dive the next morning. That's about as fast as I can do it and it's now almost 4 days after leaving home from on the west coast.
Surface travel on Bali is part of the island's charm, which is to say don't even think of driving yourself. Stay at a place like Liberty Dive Resort in Tulamben and Wayan will arrange to have a driver at the airport, holding a sign with your name on it. It's a couple hours drive through beautiful scenery but not something I would want to do at night necessarily. An afternoon arrival time will avoid that. Most resorts will provide this sort of pickup service, arrange tours, drivers etc. just ask.
Maybe add Ubud to your list for topside attractions when you are done diving. Worth an extra day or 2. Yeah, do the craft markets but it's the out lying areas (like Keliki district) that are the real attraction. There are lot's of folks and outfits that can setup some land based touring, find a good one and they will no doubt help you have a more trouble free time. The diving in Tulamben, Serya and nearby Amed is quite superb. Chances are you'll be planning your next Indonesian dive trip before you leave the island! // ww
Surface travel on Bali is part of the island's charm, which is to say don't even think of driving yourself. Stay at a place like Liberty Dive Resort in Tulamben and Wayan will arrange to have a driver at the airport, holding a sign with your name on it. It's a couple hours drive through beautiful scenery but not something I would want to do at night necessarily. An afternoon arrival time will avoid that. Most resorts will provide this sort of pickup service, arrange tours, drivers etc. just ask.
Maybe add Ubud to your list for topside attractions when you are done diving. Worth an extra day or 2. Yeah, do the craft markets but it's the out lying areas (like Keliki district) that are the real attraction. There are lot's of folks and outfits that can setup some land based touring, find a good one and they will no doubt help you have a more trouble free time. The diving in Tulamben, Serya and nearby Amed is quite superb. Chances are you'll be planning your next Indonesian dive trip before you leave the island! // ww
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