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Dive Review of AquaMarine Diving - Bali/various in
Indonesia/Bali

AquaMarine Diving - Bali/various: "Variety on a dive safari around the island", May, 2015,

by Lisa C. Evans, CO, US (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 24 reports with 11 Helpful votes). Report 8615.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments This trip was based on Aquamarine's Best of Bali itinerary, with a few tweaks. Six of us were picked up in Denpasar, and we rode in vans clockwise around the island - Secret Bay (muck diving from shore), Menjangen (boat diving), Puri Jati, Tulamben (both shore diving), Padang Bai and Nusa Penida (boat diving.) We were supposed to go to Amed but that was cancelled because of strong currents and cold temperatures. The diving varied hugely on this trip - from so-so and low viz to really good and great viz. Water temperatures varied as well, though were mostly warm through Tulamben and then cooled down quite a bit (except for the Pacific/east side of Nusa Penida, which was warm.) There were tons of interesting critters, from nudis to robust ghost pipefish and things I'd never seen before (like a tunicate that looked like a 6 inch long floating pink fuzzy tube.) A few big fish and a few schools of medium fish, and lots of small fish. We saw mantas at Nusa Penida (but it was bone-chilling cold and very surgy) and even had a quick view of a mola mola there (also cold.) We only got one good dive on the Liberty wreck, as the currents and viz changed to shorten our second dive and the conditions were too bad to do a third dive. Highlights were the good dives around Tulamben - the wreck and from the resort - Mimpi Resort - to the south; as well as the Pacific side of Nusa Penida (beautiful healthy corals and lots of fish.)

Lodging was generally quite nice and the food was good. We did spend quite a bit of time in the van moving from one place to another, and once we got to Padang Bai, the hotel was in Candidasa, which was not too far but a 45 minute drive every day to the bay and the boat.

Dive guides were very good at spotting things, and very helpful with all our gear. As an amateur photographer, I was often left behind, but not too far - I could find the group when I was done taking pictures.

It was interesting to see and dive so many different places around the island of Bali. Because it was relatively inexpensive, I'd say it's a good value.
Websites AquaMarine Diving - Bali   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving GBR, Philippines, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Lembeh, Caribbean, Red Sea
Closest Airport Denpasar Getting There via Tokyo/Narita and Bangkok on inexpensive flight

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy Seas choppy, currents, no currents
Water Temp 67-86°F / 19-30°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 80-20 Ft/ 24-6 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Stayed with the guide.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? no

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas Squadrons
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 2 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities 2 stars
UW Photo Comments We were on day boats, as this trip was a land-based dive safari with shore diving and day trips. The boats had no photo facilities - a 5 gallon bucket to rinse the camera and I just put it inside a towel between dives. The shore facilities varied - but no camera rooms, generally a dedicated rinse tank and then I took it to my room.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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