Short dive trips in Indonesia: healthy corals/fish without too many bubbles!

[matts1w]

We just see things different, Luko and that is cool. Tulamben pretty much bores me to tears and the busses of crappy divers trucked up from Kuta every day make it that much more silly. I have had some amazing dives there around alone 6AM, but in general most are average and packed with people. The last time I was in Crystal Bay I swore I would never go back. There was a party boat from Bali anchored and packed with the most obnixous Aussie kids one has ever seen. They were screaming, doing back flips, chugging beers, etc... Add that to the novice divers in crazy current and cold water....it was pretty miserable. Honestly, it was pretty scary too. Anywhere in Lombok or Sulawesi is better than those places.

 

[gekodivebali]

Matt you do make it sound like these are the only 2 areas one can dive in Bali... Strange approach!

 

[vladimir]

We just see things different, Luko and that is cool. Tulamben pretty much bores me to tears and the busses of crappy divers trucked up from Kuta every day make it that much more silly. I have had some amazing dives there around alone 6AM, but in general most are average and packed with people. The last time I was in Crystal Bay I swore I would never go back. There was a party boat from Bali anchored and packed with the most obnixous Aussie kids one has ever seen. They were screaming, doing back flips, chugging beers, etc... Add that to the novice divers in crazy current and cold water....it was pretty miserable. Honestly, it was pretty scary too. Anywhere in Lombok or Sulawesi is better than those places.

I do not go to Bali during peak periods. You have described my idea of a nightmare, and it is also contrary to my experience in Bali. As I said earlier, I often have the reef pretty much to myself, occasionally all to myself. For those of you who share my aversion to divers (underwater), the weather during rainy season is not that bad. You need pretty heavy rain to foul the visibility (which you will no doubt get, occasionally, if you go often enough, but I have pretty much dodged that sort of weather so far). There have been many days where I marvel at a beautiful, calm, sunny day devoid of divers (and, to the consternation of the hotel staff, guests).

 

[matts1w]

Matt you do make it sound like these are the only 2 areas one can dive in Bali... Strange approach!

Fari enough, and I do not want to sound like I don't enjoy diving around Bali and Lembongan. I very much do with the exception of a few places.

 

[zivva]

matts1w : you are describing what happens during peak season. Why the hell, living in Jakarta, do you choose the worst moment to dive Bali ?



The OP living in Singapore, he may have the chance to dive Bali at its best ( = off-season).

The area is starting to get more and more busy at this time of the year. When flexible I would recommend to dive Bali before beginning of June or after August. Definitely not during peak season !

 

[matts1w]

matts1w : you are describing what happens during peak season. Why the hell, living in Jakarta, do you choose the worst moment to dive Bali ?



The OP living in Singapore, he may have the chance to dive Bali at its best ( = off-season).

The area is starting to get more and more busy at this time of the year. When flexible I would recommend to dive Bali before beginning of June or after August. Definitely not during peak season !

Actually that was the first week of January this year. I think January 5th or 6th. I was diving with Two-Fish; they were great. I teach high school so am limited by the usual school vacation times, but it wasn't August either.

 

[zivva]

Strange, I'm more used to crazy currents, cold water & the Bali Hai catamaran @ CB in summer than in January

 

[charlier]

Hi, original poster here. Thanks for. All the suggestions. It's interesting reading different views, based on experience. Since our schedule is flexible (except in December - travel to USA), we can pick and choose based on conditions and seasons - we can avoid crowds. More later on the three choices I posed in my original post, but today, we are in Candidasa, waiting for a lift to Manta Point. The swell is about 2.5m at the nearby Lembogan buoy, winds at about 15+knots. At least it's sunny and from here, calm seas. I'll report back. Cheers, Charlie

 

[zivva]

we are in Candidasa, waiting for a lift to Manta Point. The swell is about 2.5m at the nearby Lembogan buoy, winds at about 15+knots.

Wow ... and wind is picking up this afternoon.

It's definitely a "perfect" day for Manta Point !

Just by curiosity, which dive op bring you to MP with such sea conditions ? Hope they give sea sickness pills to their guests

 

[gekodivebali]

Let us know if you had any mantas then...

---------- Post added May 11th, 2013 at 05:13 PM ----------

Just reread your post. Did you really say calm seas?