Question Tulamben Bali Dive Resort Recommendations?

[Luko]

They do have very good guides but for serious macro and super macro

Yes but the problem with most of the Tulamben guides is they are almost all very good spotters and enthusiastic about it, however they are not equally skilled at photography techniques especially for demonstrating or teaching.
When I'm not diving with my usual überskilled lightmaster freelancer, I sometimes came across guides that didn't have a clue about lighting with a snoot or with a torchlight.

This is how I oriented my own reply, having a specific interest in photography technique on top of spotting critters.

 

[rmorgan]

Markisa is lovely, and has a good camera space and a guide for each bungalow as well as a very-entertaining house reef. The guide we were with had mad spotting skills, of course, but I didn’t call on him for snooty help. Blackwater is available any night for an upcharge, and dusk/night dives are routine.

 

[vivyung]

I've stayed/dived at/with Mimpi (3x), Joe (2x), Matahari, Paradise, TDR, LDR (3x), Ocean sun, and Puri Madha (4x) before move to Bali. All were okay, no major issues. The dive guide was good or very good.
Puri Madha offer the best location for diving the wreck and slope. You enter the water from their dive center and exit to their restaurant.
They do have very good guides but for serious macro and super macro, ask for Bagong; he's been diving the Tulamben area thousands times.

Thank you Wisnu, so out of all the resorts Puri Madha is the one you would recommend? I've already dived the wreck so probably would prefer concentrating on doing some uw photography and macro this time. Thanks!

 

[vivyung]

I've stayed/dived at/with Mimpi (3x), Joe (2x), Matahari, Paradise, TDR, LDR (3x), Ocean sun, and Puri Madha (4x) before move to Bali. All were okay, no major issues. The dive guide was good or very good.
Puri Madha offer the best location for diving the wreck and slope. You enter the water from their dive center and exit to their restaurant.
They do have very good guides but for serious macro and super macro, ask for Bagong; he's been diving the Tulamben area thousands times.

Thank you Wisnu, so out of all the resorts you listed, Puri Madha is the one you would recommend? I've already dived the wreck so probably would prefer concentrating on doing some uw photography and macro this time. Thanks!

 

[Wisnu]

Thank you Wisnu, so out of all the resorts you listed, Puri Madha is the one you would recommend? I've already dived the wreck so probably would prefer concentrating on doing some uw photography and macro this time. Thanks!

all good, up to you. On the last 4 trips, we chose PM for two main reasons, 1. location - the wreck is just meters away, very convenient for early and night diving. 2. Big parking area as we always rent a car. 3. I can use my rental car instead of their small pick-up car for diving outside tulamben area. I dont feel safe sitting on the back of non-passenger car, 4. more pocket friendly diving.
Note - they dont have in-house nitrox but they can provide you if you ask in advanced.
For UWP, do you need UWP instructor? The wreck itself offer both macro - specially at the slop as well as WA. When diving with Bagong I always told to show me anything bigger than 5mm; otherwise he love to show you something too small for my old eyes.
I love the soft corral formation at the wrecks. They can drop you at other location, Seraya, Melasti, Kubu ect. The Kubu artificial reef is lovely for WA.

 

[Wisnu]

Yes but the problem with most of the Tulamben guides is they are almost all very good spotters and enthusiastic about it, however they are not equally skilled at photography techniques especially for demonstrating or teaching.
When I'm not diving with my usual überskilled lightmaster freelancer, I sometimes came across guides that didn't have a clue about lighting with a snoot or with a torchlight.

This is how I oriented my own reply, having a specific interest in photography technique on top of spotting critters.

Correct, Bagong knows nothing about UWP. But for me, the most important this he can tell me where is the head and tail for something small, the rest is up to me.

 

[Wisnu]

Padang bai is also good destination for macro. There, I can recommend Widana Dive service - no frill dive stall. He is an avid UWP too, he will happily advise you on the composition, lighting and camera setting - at no cost. If he is busy with ceremony, his staff, Didu will take over, he is excellent on super macro UWP; sometime too enthusiastic where he will direct, adjust and put the subject in front your lenses.

 

[Wobbegong_th]

I'd stayed at Liberty Dive Resort in 2022, and Tulamben Dive Resort in 2023
Both places were good accommodations.

For Dive Guide, one of my friend who frequently travel to Tulamben, and arranged both of those trips, became acquaintance with a group of guys overthere, so he kind of 'contracted' these guys for our group. They were good at finding critters, know their subjects, a couple of them also good at UWP too.
If my memory serve me right, their names are: Tejas Glam, Tama Glam, and Gede Ardha.

 

[clofty]

I only arrived back from there a few days ago, 9 days there and 7 days diving, 14 dives Tulamben and Armed, the accommodation was every good at MimpiResort, I used a small local owned and run dive operation, not the one at the resort , I'll DM the OP the details.

I have sent you a DM about the dive operation you used thanks.

 

[doctock993]

I've stayed and dove from Villa Markesa and Alam Batu.
Recent 2week stays at Alam Batu in July 2023 and July 2024.
Both are excellent and beautiful resorts with wonderful accommodations and an ability to keep my gluten free food needs met (WITH me bringing multiple GF sauces and GF bread).
The guides at both are excellent AND are awesome with snoot assistance.

I'm still working on my 2024 images, but here are some from 2023...

Tulamben - 2023 - Russell K Burton

This gallery hosted by SmugMug; your photos look better here.

www.rkburtonphotography.com