Adventure Divers: Diving In The Best Of Northeastern Bali

Off the tourist trail

While this part of Bali may seem far off the tourist trail, in fact, many tourists do make the effort, and are not sorry they did. A three hour drive from the tourist centers of Kuta and Seminyak in the south, deciding to spend at least a few days in this corner of the world is worth your while.

Even if you have never tried scuba diving, the two towns of Amed and Tulamben hold some wonderful surprises in store for you. Donning your scuba equipment and diving into the deep blue, a whole world opens before your eyes that you could never imagine including sea creatures, fish, corals, rocks, mountains and valleys.

Magnificent colors and shapes create unforgettable scenery just below the surface, and scuba diving allows you to get right up close to the flora and fauna of the great underworld.

Choosing your dive club

Once you have made the decision to go for a day or two or three up north, you need to choose which club to dive with. This is no small decision, as dive clubs line the streets of Ahmed and Tulamben.

Researching the various clubs, Adventure Divers of Bali consistently have great reviews.The owners and hosts, Lise and David, are hospitable and welcoming, ensuring a comfortable, safe, and fulfilling experience, with all your needs met including a full range of diving courses leading to PADI certification for both beginner and advanced divers.

Find Adventure Divers in a tropical garden!

Unlike most clubs, Adventure Divers is situated in a beautiful tropical garden, with a lovely restaurant serving breakfast and drinks. Both breakfast and lunch are included in the cost of diving. Approximately 60 USD (approximately 780,000 Rupiah) will buy you two guided dives, equipment rental, as well as breakfast and lunch. A good deal, indeed.

Discover some of the best dive sites in Bali

Amed and Tulamben sport some of the best dive sites in Bali. Tulamben is home to the famous wreck “Liberty,” a World War II ship that lies just off shore, and is between 14 and 20 meters (approximately 40-60 feet) deep. Liberty is now home to rich coral growth drawing spectacularly tropical fish of all sizes, shapes and colors. After donning equipment, checking that all is in working order, and entering the water, it is a short swim to the portside of the Liberty and then a leisurely 45 minute dive exploring the shell of the boat from bow to stern.

A few minutes’ car drive from the Liberty is a coral wall and dropoff that are rich in coral and sea creatures ranging from turtles and blowfish to baby sharks. Ahmed, a twenty minute drive away has many dive sites as well. Both Tulamben and Ahmed offer dive sites that are accessible from the shore as well as sites that require a short boat ride. Luckily, the dive clubs are very accommodating, taking care of all the details of transporting both the divers and equipment and providing towels and bottled, cold water, as well as refreshments during diving breaks.

Snorkelling vs. diving

Not everyone is keen on diving, and for those who prefer staying above the water, snorkelling is a wonderful option. Both Tulamben and Amed offer wonderful snorkelling in addition to dive sites, often at the same location, allowing for ease in planning.

Snorkelling has the added advantage that the colors of the fish and coral are much brighter than what the average scuba diver sees, as the sunlight is more direct. Additionally, snorkelling carries with it the ease of only three pieces of equipment: mask, snorkel and fins as compared with scuba diving, which is much more cumbersome.