Snorkeling in Bali - Pemuteran?

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billt4sf

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Location
Vincennes, France near Paris
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We have some friends visiting us in Bali and they want to do some snorkeling. I know about snorkeling in Padang Bai, what about Pemuteran? Has anyone been there? Or anywhere else in Bali? We can't take the time to go to the Gili's unfortunately ... unless it could be done as a day trip from Ubud?

Thanks,

Bill
 
For me the best snorkeling in Bali would be over the Liberty wreck in Tulamben + Coral garden/part in front of TTT, some spots in Amed (Jemeluk, Lipah, Japanese wreck), also the Manta bay as well as Nusa Penida north coast shallows (Toyapakeh, SD, etc.) providing the current doesn't kick in too heavily.
Pemuteran is a long way for nothing special, the best sites like Napoleon reef are deeper.
 
I ended up in Pemuteran in October as a result of the Agung eruption. I saw hordes of snorkelers who come on day boats from Java snorkeling over shallows that were totally, as in TOTALLY, dead from a bleaching event two years ago. Many of the shallower 5m-10m areas of recognized dive sites were the same. I could not recommend it.
 
I spent a couple of weeks snorkeling and diving in Bali in November. Generally agree with the above posts. Pemuteran is rather lacking in pretty coral, but not totally dead; fish are not bad. There's a pretty good site at the east end of Pemuteran Bay known to the locals as Mucky Pirate's Cove (go east from the old pier). We spotted Bangai cardinalfish and radial filefish there, as well as a few other oddities. Snorkeling is much better at Menjangan Island, about a half hour fast boat ride from Pemuteran. As mentioned above, Jemeluk, Lipah, and Japanese Wreck also offer better snorkeling.
 
In the end we went to Nusa Penida with Geko Divers in Padang Bai and totally enjoyed the day. My friends loved the (cloudy) view of Mt. Agung as we motored out from the bay towards Penida. The wonderfully fun Made chose some sites for us that were gentle current and had great corals, fish, and turtles.

My friends thought it was great and were VERY happy with Geko's service. They made the point that they could have just picked some company maybe out of Trip Advisor or whatever but they got great personal attention from Geko and Made. For a very reasonable price I might add.

It was interesting for me to snorkel, as I had not done so in so long. Diving is definitely better!

- Bill
 
. Snorkeling is much better at Menjangan Island, about a half hour fast boat ride from Pemuteran.

It was primarily Pulau Menjangan that I was referring to in my post above.
 

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