Welcome to Bali

The upside is that you never have to wait for a table at a restaurant and you can always catch a cab. I’m meeting up with two different groups of MBA trekkers but first I have a week of SCUBA diving on the east side of the island. I’m using Blue Divers which is run by Jonathan, a friendly British ex-pat.

I’m diving three times a day with my own private dive master, Komeng. Not cheap but considering the last minute arrangements, it’s definitely worth it. First, I am staying in Tulamben for some shore diving around the USS Liberty Wreck. Shore dives require a little more work because you don’t just put on your gear and fall off a boat. Fortunately, the locals swing into action and carry our gear to the beach for us. I split my feelings between guilt and awe as I watch middle-aged women balancing 50 pound steel scuba tanks on their heads.

The wreck itself is not in great condition and the visibility has been relatively poor but there is plenty of marine life, including some very rare species. This is “macro” diving which refers to the macro camera lens used to photograph small sea life. Without Komeng’s experienced eye I would probably miss about 80% of the fish because they are so well camouflaged. Top sightings include a ghost pipefish, circling schools of jack fish and an octopus.

Just as important are the gentle conditions since I am a little out of practice. Plus, I’m breaking in my new SCUBA gear and underwater dive camera. The dive camera is really just an underwater case for a standard Canon point and click digital camera. It’s a cheap solution but it works pretty well, at least until 40 meters deep.

The next dives are off the island of Nusa Penida. The currents here can be very dangerous but Komeng is familiar with the conditions so risks are pretty low. Unfortunately the currents are too strong to visit Manta Point (to see Mantas). Also, it’s a little too early in the season to spot sun fish (mola mola). I’m going to have to come back for that. We did see a few sea turtles, moray eels and various types of scorpion fish. I don’t recall ever seeing this many different types of sea life- which makes sense because the Caribbean only has about 600 species while the Pacific has 4000. All this diving is great but I’m getting tired of the solo travel. I’m looking forward to taking a break from the diving and being social with the other MBA grads coming into Bali.

written by  benjgolf on May 21, 2007 from Sanur, Indonesia
from the travel blog: Tour de Asia
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