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Diving Bali | Padangbai and Amed | Indonesia
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From world-famous Tulamben, south through Amed and down to the village at Padangbai, Bali's best known dive sites run along the island's east coast. Sitting on the edge of the deep water Lombok Channel, location of the Wallace Line, the coastal reefs are fed by the sweeping currents that link the Java Sea with the Indian Ocean and by the rich volcanic nutrients that leach into the water from Bali's volcanic soil.
Dive sites that can be accessed from deep-water Padangbai are hidden gems. Just to the north, Blue Lagoon was where the first ever Rhinopias eschmeryi was seen in Bali. Offshore are the islands of Tepekong and Gili Biaha. These rocky pinnacles are washed by currents, which can make the dives rather lively, but the things you will see are incredible – from gangs of whitetip sharks huddling in a cave to iridescent nudbranchs mating and laying eggs. The variety of diving is remarkable.
The cluster of small villages along this stretch of coast are collectively referred to as Amed. Some of the offshore dive sites are quite unexpected. The tiny wooden fishing boat know as the Japanese Wreck is promoted as a critter site but the wreck is thick with fan corals. A little further along the coast on a flat plateau is Pyramids, an area of stacked cement blocks that have created a fascinating artifical reef.
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Padangbai and Amed diving photo gallery |
Scuba diving features |
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Marine Life |
Crabs
Leaffish
Nudibranchs
Rhinopias
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Top dive site |
Blue Lagoon |
Seasons |
All year |
Visibility |
10 – 30 metres |
Water temperature |
25 – 29º C |
Deco chambers |
Bali |
Flights |
to Bali then a 2-3 hour road transfer |
Accommodation |
There are options all along the east coast: The Watergarden and Alila Manggis in Candidasa; Anda Amed Resort in Amed and back on the south coast, the Elysian in Seminyak. |
Dive operators |
Extremeley numerous but we mostly use AquaMarine Diving - Bali. |
Liveaboards |
Divebooker.com |
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INFORMATION |
EXPLORE |
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PROS and CONS
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Bali is such a lovely place, it's hard to think of any serious cons, a very personal opinion, but there you are. Parts of the south of the island have become commercial and busy, which some people may not like. If that's the case, then staying on the east coast is a great option especially if you want to do a fair deal of diving. Always bear in mind that Bali is a big island with dive sites in several locations. Cross island journeys are the perfect opportunity to see the island and it's culture.
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SCUBA DIVING
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Because Padangbai is also the ferry port for neighbouring Lombok, the water inside the bay can be murky. The dives are good regardless and quite safe as the boat zone is defined by beacons. Likewise, dive sites in smaller bays to the north and up to Amed can be a little murky at times while those around the offshore pinnacles are usually clear, with rich corals and pelagic species. The single-most famous site in this area may well be the Tulamben wreck but these other sites can be just as exciting.
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OPINION
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Bali has always been a special place for us. We've spent many months there while trekking around the globe, returned for our honeymoon and many times since. There are so many good things about Bali and Balinese – nothing that ever happens seems to dampen their spirit and personality. |
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MAP |
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IMAGES on this page are available as prints. Take a note of the name then go to the photo order form. |
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