| Diving in Bali | | | | fun diving around Padang Bay and the Blue |
| On simply hearing the name, Bali evokes visions | | | | Lagoon, where all manner of critters can be found |
| of tropical paradises. Writers keep inventing | | | | in the shallows. The sheltered bay is also an ideal |
| adjectives to describe Bali but few can surpass | | | | location for night diving. |
| the words of Indian prime minister Pandit Nehru | | | | The diving in this area is astonishingly rich. There |
| who named the island "the morning of the world". | | | | are also several excellent dive sites for sharks, |
| A world born out of the sea, delivered by the | | | | rays, large schools of fish and this is one of the |
| power of volcanic force. There is a deep world, a | | | | places where Mola Mola ocean sunfishes are |
| world within, the true morning of the world, a | | | | regularly sighted from August until October. Water |
| whole different world that belongs to Bali. A blue | | | | temperatures are quite chilly, there is always a bit |
| world of tranquility, of stillness, a world that lets | | | | of surge but visibility is normally quite good. |
| you forget the world… | | | | Amed and Tulamben: |
| As Indonesia's most famous tourist destination Bali | | | | Tulamben, home of the famous WWII wreck, is |
| has remained a somewhat underestimated diving | | | | the most known and the best loved diving site in |
| destination. To believe this would be a mistake. | | | | Bali. Tulamben Bay, is situated in the world's |
| If you dive Bali you will see that the diversity of | | | | richest marine biogeography zone with more than |
| Bali's reefs are awesome. When diving in Bali, allow | | | | 2500 different species of fish and 700 corals. |
| yourself to be surprised. As far as diving in Bali is | | | | Situated on the northeast coast, the bay receives |
| concerned, Bali's greatest charm is its wide range | | | | very plankton rich water from the major ocean |
| and variety of dive sites. Shipwrecks, drop offs, | | | | current that moves from the Pacific to the Indian |
| sand slopes, black volcanic seascapes, roaring | | | | Ocean and vice versa. |
| currents and quiet bays... all tastes are | | | | Amed is located on the northeast coast of Bali, |
| accommodated. | | | | about 2.5 hours drive from Kuta. From a |
| There are plenty well maintained diving facilities on | | | | landscape point of view, Amed is much prettier |
| Bali. For Package holidays you can contact Dive | | | | than Tulamben. You will see many rice fields along |
| Around Bali. | | | | the way, traditional salt-panning and also sandy |
| | | | | beaches as opposed to Tulamben's stony |
| There are four main diving areas in Bali that you | | | | beaches. The diving in Amed is still untouched and |
| can explore. | | | | you will encounter few fellow divers on these dive |
| Nusa Penida: | | | | sites. |
| Nusa Penida and the neighbouring island of Nusa | | | | There are also excellent dive sites that extend |
| Lembongan offer some of the finest Bali diving. | | | | from Tulamben to Amed and almost all the way |
| Nusa Penida is a large island located in the | | | | to Bali's eastern tip, some recently discovered, |
| southeast of Bali, across the Badung Strait. The | | | | many still waiting to be explored. The black sand |
| Balinese consider this dry, rough island to be | | | | bottom offers a dramatic backdrop for the |
| haunted, but it is the diving around this Island of | | | | amazingly rich fish life. |
| Bali, in it's clear, current swept reefs that's the | | | | |
| main attraction. | | | | Menjangan Island: |
| With its adjacent deepwater trenches, the main | | | | The reefs of Northwest Bali around Menjangan |
| attraction at Nusa Penida is the common | | | | Island are some of the most protected on the |
| encounters with the curious and otherwise very | | | | island. |
| rare oceanic sunfish, or Mola Mola, that come | | | | Clear calm waters, a mysterious old wooden |
| close to the reef to visit cleaner stations. | | | | shipwreck, and rugged, gorgonian covered walls in |
| There are a great many dive sites to choose | | | | excellent condition, make Menjangan Island on |
| from. In the season we can try to find the | | | | Bali's northwest coast, a premier dive site. |
| illustrious Mola Mola, but the heartland of Nusa | | | | About 14 dive sites to choose from with clear |
| Penida diving offers stunning visibility, healthy | | | | water and calm conditions. Menjangan is part of |
| reefs, and pelagics. And you won't even have to | | | | the West Bali National Park. It are the rugged |
| swim a lot here, as almost every dive is a drift | | | | gorgonian covered walls that make this island |
| dive. | | | | Northwest Bali's premier dive site. |
| Currents are often strong because the islands lie | | | | The coral walls around Menjangan drop vertically |
| right in the path of the Indonesian Throughflow. | | | | to between 30-60 meters, before gradually |
| The Lombok Strait separates the Indonesian | | | | sloping outwards. The reef surface is very rugged |
| islands of Bali and Lombok, it is the second most | | | | with caves, grottoes and crevasses breaking up |
| important strait through which water is exchanged | | | | the coral walls, textured with little nooks and |
| between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. | | | | crannies. Gorgonians of many kinds reach large |
| The best times to dive Nusa Penida are when the | | | | sizes here, and huge barrel sponges are abundant. |
| tides peak at slack and high, when water | | | | Soft corals blanket the colorful walls all the way |
| movement is the least. | | | | down. |
| Amuk Bay (Candi Dasa & Padangbai): | | | | Menjangan's western tip holds a deeper, but |
| Amuk Bay, with the villages of Padang Bai in the | | | | equally interesting dive on an old wooden |
| south and Candi Dasa in the north, is about 6 kms | | | | shipwreck. Called the "Anker" it is just off the |
| across and located along the south side of Bali's | | | | island shore, close to a small Park Service dock |
| eastern point. Close to Candi Dasa there are two | | | | and guard post. |
| larger islands, Tepekong and Biaha, as well as an | | | | More to the north, Gilimanuk offers some |
| area with small rocks called Mimpang or Batu Tiga. | | | | fantastic muck diving in Secret Bay and South |
| The islands in this bay are actually little more than | | | | there is an equally interesting muck site at PJ's. |
| current swept rocks, and have an untamed | | | | |
| beauty. The bay, which is fed by the rich south | | | | Now at last you can discover Bali's underwater |
| Bali upwelling, hosts' sharks, mola mola and schools | | | | world in a personal and complete way with Dive |
| of fish, making these Bali dive sites quite exciting. | | | | Around Bali. Feel free to contact me for more |
| If you are interested in special small critters you | | | | information. |
| should be diving around Padang Bai. This tiny inlet | | | | |
| is fringed with reef that starts as a shallow ledge | | | | Michel De Ruyck. |
| at a depth of ten meters. Macro fans will have | | | | |