Planning a trip to Bali
 

Has anyone here been to Bali?

My boyfriend and I are planning a trip. We are just in the beginning of the plans. It seems like the best time to go would be June to be in the good part of the season, but also to avoid the biggest tourist crowds in July and August. Our main attraction will be beaches and water. We both plan to get our PADI Open Water dive certificate while there. We are much more interested in the coral reefs than pelagic fish and open water. As well as endless hours of snorkeling if the waters permit. We would like to stay away from touristy areas and resorts. We would prefer to go in April, but are worried about water clarity and humidity. It would be pretty cool to check out some of the coral "farms" if that's possible too.

I have a friend who's boyfriend is actually from Bali (moved here 2 years ago), and he was a tour guide there. He will be helping me plan my trip as well.

Any suggestions from anyone? I'm haunting the Lonely Planet forums now. I've been looking at books too, but will have to order something in instead of being able to view the book first. Does anyone have recommendations on books? Edit: Looking for Bali dive books, not tourist books.

Cheers and Merry Christmas!!

Here are a couple of links which might be helpfull.....(not sure what info you are looking for)
- http://www.indonesia.travel/
- http://www.baliguide.com/index.html

If you have time, you should check Bunaken Island in North Sulawesi. Its a great place to dive. http://www.north-sulawesi.org/bunaken.html

sounds like fun. But with your padi do everything here except your open water. Gives your more time to dive

Was just going to post that, if you can do the open water in Canada I would suggest that also. You will find better prices here plus diving in 1 degree water is so... EXTREMELY REFRESHING (And appendage shrinking). Make sure when the two of you go that you snap as many underwater photos as possible for us.
Levi

i would rather wait till i get there than to do a dive here. I have only heard horror stories of how cold it is. Thats what i am doing this year, and i have over 20 dives completed including a 120 foot wall dive without my padi LOL

But your open water will only be a 30-40 foot dive which is super easy. just regulate your breathing so that your using less air as well

Cold water diving isn't to bad, it's actually a nice change in pace. Head down to Waterton National Park if you want to try it out, there is an amazing wreck there and the waterfall has some sweet currents that throw you around.

Back on topic, Myka do you guys plan on flying there direct or are you planning on a few stops?
Levi

Thanks for the links Van-rookie!! I have heard North Sulawesi come up many times as a must see for diving.

Well, I have looked into PADI both here and in Bali. It seems like there are several reliable places to go in Bali, and the certification is only about $300, where here it is about $1200. we plan to be in Bali for a month, so taking the 4 days of certification shouldn't be an issue.

$1200!!! Who on earth quoted you that?

Ya really!!! I was just quoted $350 for everything. Classes/equiptment/ texts/ 5 openwater dives.

Ya really x2. But at the other extreme...where did you get the $350 quote? I was looking at $500 here in Vic.

Cheers,

It was $250-350 per dive, and you need 4 dives to get the certificate. Maybe I read it wrong. I know my cousin took the course a few years back and it was $1200. It was all done in a large swimming pool, and not outside. If I can do it locally in Saskatoon for cheap like that I will, but I dunno about diving in the river at -30! :D

hey Mindy My close friend has a dive bussiness here in manitoba in Brandon he is a instructor. I try to get ahold of him for you ok .

I spent 3 weeks in Bali and I would go back tomorrow if I could. Out of all the places I've travelled, I think it is the ideal mix of beaches, culture and nightlife and shopping for native crafts. I think more people probably go there for the surf than the diving. I snorkeled of the eastern end of the island and although, I saw a stonefish, I thought the snorkeling was much better in Fiji.

Most of the cheap accomodation is around Kuta and the resorts are at the south end of the Island so your contact could probably inform you where the diving resorts are but I believe they are on the volcanic north end of the island which is quieter and a little out of the way.

Once you plan your trip, you may find that it changes from just a diving holiday because there is so much to do. If you are in the Kuta area, you can rent bikes and cycle past the rice paddies to the markets in Denpassar or to the temple at Uluwatu at the southern tip of the Island. There are scores of thousand year old temples all over the island. Some have bats living in them, others crawling monkeys and one is on a little rock island that you can walk to at low tide - watch out for the sea snakes nesting in the crevices.

The area around Kuta has gentle sloping sand beaches with no rocks that is perfect for body surfing or boogie boarding. Waves were about 6 - 10 feet when I was there.

The Balinese music, dancing and culture is very unique because Bali's religion is Hindu surrounded by the Muslim majority in the rest of Indonesia.

Because of this, there have been the terrorist attacks and I believe the Australian government still has a travel advisory for its citizens This also means it is very cheap. There is a travel agent here in Vancouver with a package for air, hotel and breakfasts for 2 weeks starting at $1299. Its a long way from Canada so plan an itinery that gives you a stop over in Japan, Hong Kong or Singapore so you don't waste any time recovering from a long plane ride when you arrive.

this is just bad advise and poor judgment. But it is a great way to die

Ogden Point in Vic is offering Open Water for $400 right now http://www.divevictoria.com/

I got mine for $300 in Prince George by Blue H2O Sports. Considering how bad I was at maintaining my buoyancy, how fast I went through my air and how clumsy I was starting out I'd definitely recommend getting your certification before going so that you can spend more of your vacation vacationing rather than schooling.

I have been lucky enough to have traveled quite a bit in that area of the world because my father lives in Singapore and I would say Bali is quite disappointing for diving compared to some other areas close by. Other than the Liberty Shipwreck, Bali wasn't too impressive. It was however one of the best trips I have been on because of the nightlife. The clubs there are amazing! There really are not all that many non-touristy areas anymore.

Raja Ampat in Indonesia was by far my favorite spot so far in South East Asia. Some really good spots in Malaysia too but not as great for for the rest of the vacation.

Are you guys "stuck" for a month just in Bali? Or can you travel around a bit? I think a month in Bali is a waste of going all the way to South East Asia if you have the choice to travel around. Your so close to Thailand.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that Raja Ampat was also MUCH, MUCH more beautiful than Bali above water too. Just stunning. Doesn't have the nightlife of Bali but is much more relaxing and serene.

Thanx for that. That's 100 clams cheaper than "the other guys" in town.

Cheers,