Bali dive safari

Deco stops
If you’re looking to immerse yourself in Balinese culture during your dive safari, head to Ubud. It’s located almost in the island’s center and well-away from any diving, but easy to reach from Bali’s dive areas — it’s the perfect place to wind down among the lush serenity of sweeping rice paddies. Within Ubud, you can witness mesmerizing performances of Balinese dance, from the legendary drama of Barong to the famous Kecak, where a choir of bare-chested men assembles in a fire-lit circle chanting hypnotically whilst swaying in rhythm. 

Everywhere you go in Bali you’ll hear the haunting, beautiful sound of gamelan, a percussive orchestral music unique to Bali. If it sounds a little familiar, that’s because American minimalist composers like Steve Reich and Philip Glass have been heavily influenced by it.

Ubud’s accommodations suit all tastes and budgets, but if you’re looking for real opulence and second-to-none service, get pampered at the justly renown Oberoi hotel and resort in Bali’s trendy Seminyak District, just up from Kuta Beach. Thanks to tourism, antiques are built on demand in Bali, so if you want the real thing, head to Toko Antique in Ubud, which verifies the authenticity of each item it sells.

The guide to Bali
Average water temperature: 29 degrees at Tulamben and Menjangan, 25 degrees at Lembongan and Secret Bay 

What to wear: 3 mm to 5 mm fullsuit

Average visibility: 90-120 feet 

When to go: April through October for mola molas.

Must do
Balinese Massage: After two weeks of nonstop diving or an arduous long-haul flight, try a Javanese body scrub and deep-tissue massage.

Must dive
Crystal Bay, Nusa Lembongan: The highlight of this dive — popular with mola molas —  is the underwater bat cave.

Emerald Point, Tulamben: Between the cabbage corals and pale-white sand, look for cuttlefish and exotic nudibranchs.

USS Liberty, Tulamben: Best done as a shore dive, this World War II wreck receives many visitors by midday.

Eel Garden, Nusa Menjangan, Pemuteran: A strong current along this wall dive lures sharks; along the reef’s edge, look for pygmy seahorses.

Puri Jati, Pemuteran: At this muck diving hotspot, look for coconut octopuses, seahorses, eels and stargazers.

Travel tips
Bali has one airport, Ngurah Rai, which is located on the south side of the island. It’s served by a wide variety of international airlines with connections to the U.S. from Guam, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Tokyo, among others. Although you can spot mola molas during the dry season between April and October, August to October is considered prime time.

Price of paradise
Ever dreamed of living in Bali? Check out our online guide to owning a piece of this diver’s paradise.

Must have
An original artwork from the Puri Lukisan Art Market, an extension of the Ubud art museum of the same name.

Rigged & ready
Joby Gorillapod: Secure your camera to almost any surface with this tripod’s flexible, gripping legs.

Aqua Lung Aqua Flex Hooded Vest: Add extra warmth with this 6/4 mm vest that has four-way stretch neoprene side panels, 4 mm Thermoskin Titanium front and back panels, and a 4 mm face seal.

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