Tulamben - Which Dive Centre

[UKdreamer]

I'm travelling to Bali next week and will be staying in Tulamben for 5 nights at Mimpi. My husband and I are experienced divers and have dived around Manado, Lembeh, Raja Ampat before but not Bali. We are keen to go critter hunting and avoid big crowds. We'd also like to get out early in the morning for a couple of dives then have the afternoon free to spend with the rest of the family (we are bringing two young children and grand parents as baby sitters).

Any recommendations on the best dive centre to go with? Are Mimpi any good or am I best using another one. Also has anyone been recently and can advise whether the current El Nino has had much impact on the critter spotting?

Thanks!

 

[Lorenzoid]

Are the reviews of Mimpi's dive center not good?

 

[UKdreamer]

I'm not sure Lorenzoid hence my query really. I don't hear them mentioned as much as Liberty and TT.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I'm not sure Lorenzoid hence my query really. I don't hear them mentioned as much as Liberty and TT.

I suppose I picked Liberty for my own upcoming trip because they were mentioned over and over. But as an experienced traveling diver, you have probably noticed the same thing I have: Reviews tend to mention the same dive ops due to a momentum effect; divers choose the shops that get mentioned in the reviews. In a popular dive destination, a dive op that is sub-par will not survive long. I suspect Mimpi's service is as good as any other, but it will be interesting to see if any replies here suggest otherwise. Enjoy your trip!

 

[JohnN]

I'm travelling to Bali next week and will be staying in Tulamben for 5 nights at Mimpi. My husband and I are experienced divers and have dived around Manado, Lembeh, Raja Ampat before but not Bali. We are keen to go critter hunting and avoid big crowds. We'd also like to get out early in the morning for a couple of dives then have the afternoon free to spend with the rest of the family (we are bringing two young children and grand parents as baby sitters).

Any recommendations on the best dive centre to go with? Are Mimpi any good or am I best using another one. Also has anyone been recently and can advise whether the current El Nino has had much impact on the critter spotting?

Thanks!

By critters I hope you mean macro, because there isn't that much large stuff except around what's left of the wreck and the teaming hordes do an excellent job of chasing them off. My interest is muck diving looking, for macro critters and I can't say enough good things about Liberty. You will get your own dedicated guide, who will be happy to start as early (or late) as you wish and will take you anywhere you wish. Throw in the 'free' Nitrox and its a hard deal to pass up.

 

[AlMitch]

Hey we will be doing exactly the same as you in July. Young kids + grandparents! We stay at Scuba Seraya. The fact that they have boats and can zip around easily is one reason I like staying out there. And you walk down the steps of their dive center right into Seraya Secrets.
My suggestion would be to dive with the the resort that you are staying at as that way there is less likely to be any extra travel/ hassle = more time with the family. And all of your gear will be on site so if the kids go for a nap you can sneak off for a quick dive!!

 

[Luko]

In a popular dive destination, a dive op that is sub-par will not survive long. I suspect Mimpi's service is as good as any other, but it will be interesting to see if any replies here suggest otherwise. Enjoy your trip!

Unfortunately there are some cheap ops that are flourishing wih subpar services because some people tend to look at the cheapest price and forget the rest. They're happy wetting their fins with a dozen other divers and saving money for Bintang beers.
I know at least one that is operating in Bali which lost of group of divers in Nusa Lembongan 3 years ago (fortunately rescued on teh next morning) because they employ cheap gringo newbies as guides, the kind of zero to heroes who find themselves DMs with less than 90 dives and no idea about what current or critters are.
This Tulamben operation has opened 4 dive centres in Bali, you can see their cattle truck loading and unloadiing divers on the Tulamben bay dive sites..

 

[Tassi Devil Diver]

Have a look Villa Alba, dived with those guys two years ago great service run by Alex and his wife Kim , see Alba Dive Tulamben - Villa Alba Tulamben Home Page

 

[Wisnu]

In more than 10 years diving Tulamben, we stay and dive with various dive resort / centers in Tulamben, Although we stayed in mimpi twice, but they are not on our high list. The resort is good but the service quality is declining.
The dive center is not bad, and the guides has very good experienced but not the best critter spotter in Tulamben, In you're lucky, you'll get low guide to diver ratio, or even 1 to 1, but could also be 1 to 4. While in liberty you can get 1 to1 or 1 to 2 max at no cost.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Unfortunately there are some cheap ops that are flourishing wih subpar services because some people tend to look at the cheapest price and forget the rest. They're happy wetting their fins with a dozen other divers and saving money for Bintang beers.
I know at least one that is operating in Bali which lost of group of divers in Nusa Lembongan 3 years ago (fortunately rescued on teh next morning) because they employ cheap gringo newbies as guides, the kind of zero to heroes who find themselves DMs with less than 90 dives and no idea about what current or critters are....

I was basing my comments on having read many reviews on SB and other sites and not having seen any that I would call negative (as in "stay away from this dive operator"). Judging from the reviews, everyone seemed to have had a good experience with whoever they dived with in Tulamben.