Looking for Bali resort with some diving

[stephen1254]

Sorry I couldn't come up with a better title. We will be in Bali for a week early November, 2025, in between a liveaboard in the Coral Sea and a liveaboard in Raja Ampat. We are primarily looking to relax but we'd be up for two or three days of diving as well. I'm looking for a nice resort that offers diving but isn't strictly focused on diving. We'd be open to a place on the mainland or possibly Penida. Any thoughts?

 

[clavell]

Sorry I couldn't come up with a better title. We will be in Bali for a week early November, 2025, in between a liveaboard in the Coral Sea and a liveaboard in Raja Ampat. We are primarily looking to relax but we'd be up for two or three days of diving as well. I'm looking for a nice resort that offers diving but isn't strictly focused on diving. We'd be open to a place on the mainland or possibly Penida. Any thoughts?

I have been to Alam Batu Resort near Tulamban. Very nice place. Well run. Good diving, including the Liberty wreck. Quiet. No TV. Great infinity pool and good spa for massages on site. They also can arrange day trips to waterfalls etc. They are however a dive resort, so it may not be what you are looking for. their website is helpful as well. No beach at the resort; just walkable shoreline. Beautiful sunrises there. have fun!

 

[Luko]

Since your prime interest is not into diving , I cannot foresee an interest of settling on Tulamben/Kubu area which is away from Bali main cultural/sightseeing spots, it would only take you more driving hours (trust me driving/sitting in a car all day long in Bali is tedious).

Hence if you want to couple landtrips and tuck in some diving, you might consider Padang Bai/Candi Dasa area, which is still on Bali island but in front of Lembongan/Penida islands, offfers good local diving plus Nusa Penida daytrips and also nearer to Bali touristic sites (Ubud, Sidemen, anything in the center of Bali). It's also closer to the airport (1,5-2hrs drive vs. 3hrs drive and more for Tulamben/Kubu).

 

[Carlos Diver]

Absolute Scuba was a good operation when I was in Bali. Diving is easy, they have an on-site pool and spa services. I would not define it as a ``resort'' but its a full-service dive hotel. If you just want a couple days to relax with easy diving, it would fit the bill.

 

[cetacean]

@stephen1254

As others have suggested... don't venture much farther north than Candi Dasa if you want to stay within a reasonable distance from diving.

The northeast of Bali is where the amazing critters are, but most people stay up there to dive up there (and that's nowhere close to the other activities you are likely going to want to do on the island.

November is a decent time to dive Nusa Penida, with a reasonable chance of seeing the mola molas.

 

[Alastor]

Try Lotus Bungalows in Candidasa, they are very kind with an internal diving and they usually arrange for different diving sites.

 

[Centrals]

Absolute Scuba as suggested #4.