We stayed at Scuba Seraya (SS) in November last year and it was such a good and relaxing trip that we decided to do it again. This time we took friends with which made it even more enjoyable.
If you haven't read my previous trip report, which gives more specifics on SS resort itself, here is a link to it: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/indonesia/495997-trip-report-bali-scuba-seraya-nov-2014-a.html
Nothing has really changed in terms of the resort. Still well kept, staff were still very helpful and happy, still very nice and quiet, the food was still pretty decent, beer was still cold, the villas very comfortable. The only thing the resort seems to lack is a "friendly manager type person" to come around and chat and check up on you now and then. Just to give it a tiny bit more of a homely feel. Don't get me wrong if you need anything the ladies at the restaurant or the dive guides WILL sort you out. I'm sure the manager is around, and the place is being run well, so ultimately he is doing his job well, but he is not very visible.
As for the diving, it seems like there were less critters around when compared to November. The diving was still good, but not as good. For instance this time we did not see a single frog fish the whole week, where as in November they were everywhere. The resident harlequin shrimps had vanished, the Coleman shrimps were gone and of course the Rhinopias we saw last time was also gone. We also only saw 2 small "normal" octo's. So there definitely is a shift in critters with the season. The water was definitely colder, down at 26 dec C. So that is probably one factor. And it does get a bit more wavy so that can mix things up.
BUT we did still get to see many other critters, such as tiger shrimp (one munching down on what appeared to be a nudi), Donald duck shrimp, tiny hairy shrimp with eggs, pregnant purple skeleton shrimp, Ghost pipe fish, tons of really amazing nudi's including many tiny "Shaun the sheep" nudis, I even saw I white version, which apparently is what happens to them as they get older, flatworms etc etc. So as you can see not too bad. And I'm not complaining.
For macro we dove Melasti, Liberty Slope, Seraya, Pong Pong, and a spot to the east of SS. No one was any more productive than the others really.
Purple Skeleton Shrimp
Whitish "Shaun the Sheep" nudi
Tiny hairy shrimp
Fierce Tiger!
Amazingly colourful and super happy flatworm! It certainly makes me smile!
The early morning dive to see the bumpheads was as nuts as last time and this time round we were there even earlier (in the water at 6 sharp, 30min before sunrise) and it seems like the bunpheads have just had enough of the zoo and buggered off pretty soon after we had arrived. SO it was too dark to get any shots of them. OH well the wreck is still stunning and when we did our safety stop at the stern the early morning sun light was just amazing.
Safety stop on the Liberty Wreck, so pretty!
We did one other dive on the wreck and then two other WA dives at the drop off and emerald. Both dives were not bad, the highlight being a massive cuttlefish that held it ground and let me get super close.
The dive crew are still brilliant. Super friendly and helpful and would spot the tiniest critters. At times I thought he was just joking and pointing at random grains of sand but every time is would be a tiny nudi or isopod or something.
They also went out of their way and regularly after a dive would off load all the gear from the boat and then my 2 year old would jump on board and they would take him for a spin in the boat. This was so generous of them and it was the absolute highlight of his trip.
You can see the rest of my pics here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/angmo-al/sets/72157656170514282
We had a great time and will gladly recommend SS.
If you haven't read my previous trip report, which gives more specifics on SS resort itself, here is a link to it: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/indonesia/495997-trip-report-bali-scuba-seraya-nov-2014-a.html
Nothing has really changed in terms of the resort. Still well kept, staff were still very helpful and happy, still very nice and quiet, the food was still pretty decent, beer was still cold, the villas very comfortable. The only thing the resort seems to lack is a "friendly manager type person" to come around and chat and check up on you now and then. Just to give it a tiny bit more of a homely feel. Don't get me wrong if you need anything the ladies at the restaurant or the dive guides WILL sort you out. I'm sure the manager is around, and the place is being run well, so ultimately he is doing his job well, but he is not very visible.
As for the diving, it seems like there were less critters around when compared to November. The diving was still good, but not as good. For instance this time we did not see a single frog fish the whole week, where as in November they were everywhere. The resident harlequin shrimps had vanished, the Coleman shrimps were gone and of course the Rhinopias we saw last time was also gone. We also only saw 2 small "normal" octo's. So there definitely is a shift in critters with the season. The water was definitely colder, down at 26 dec C. So that is probably one factor. And it does get a bit more wavy so that can mix things up.
BUT we did still get to see many other critters, such as tiger shrimp (one munching down on what appeared to be a nudi), Donald duck shrimp, tiny hairy shrimp with eggs, pregnant purple skeleton shrimp, Ghost pipe fish, tons of really amazing nudi's including many tiny "Shaun the sheep" nudis, I even saw I white version, which apparently is what happens to them as they get older, flatworms etc etc. So as you can see not too bad. And I'm not complaining.
For macro we dove Melasti, Liberty Slope, Seraya, Pong Pong, and a spot to the east of SS. No one was any more productive than the others really.
Purple Skeleton Shrimp
Whitish "Shaun the Sheep" nudi
Tiny hairy shrimp
Fierce Tiger!
Amazingly colourful and super happy flatworm! It certainly makes me smile!
The early morning dive to see the bumpheads was as nuts as last time and this time round we were there even earlier (in the water at 6 sharp, 30min before sunrise) and it seems like the bunpheads have just had enough of the zoo and buggered off pretty soon after we had arrived. SO it was too dark to get any shots of them. OH well the wreck is still stunning and when we did our safety stop at the stern the early morning sun light was just amazing.
Safety stop on the Liberty Wreck, so pretty!
We did one other dive on the wreck and then two other WA dives at the drop off and emerald. Both dives were not bad, the highlight being a massive cuttlefish that held it ground and let me get super close.
The dive crew are still brilliant. Super friendly and helpful and would spot the tiniest critters. At times I thought he was just joking and pointing at random grains of sand but every time is would be a tiny nudi or isopod or something.
They also went out of their way and regularly after a dive would off load all the gear from the boat and then my 2 year old would jump on board and they would take him for a spin in the boat. This was so generous of them and it was the absolute highlight of his trip.
You can see the rest of my pics here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/angmo-al/sets/72157656170514282
We had a great time and will gladly recommend SS.
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