Joanna James
Tropical Bali is a diver's haven; prepare to be enchanted and beguiled by the gorgeous coral and variety of marine life from the exotic to ridiculously fascinating. Here are the best sites to explore.
Tulamben is a rustic coastal village which has nothing much to offer in terms of the landscape; this factor is almost a kind of camouflage for what lies beneath the blue waves. Here is a site which is not just stunning, but offers divers a wreck to explore! The USAT is the most iconic attraction for scuba divers exploring Tulamben, the relic is now a refuge to a host of colourful corals and many varieties of fish. The waters in part are home to natural reef walls and seabed's formed from volcanic eruptions, hence, the variety of marine life. Apart from the usual residents of the reef and seabed, divers are treated to sights of migratory sunfish, sea turtles, dolphins and manta rays.
This is a dive site which is open to divers of various skill levels. You can take a transfer to the site from Kuta, which is roughly two hours away; and is ideal for a day trip. In the area, you will find Jemeluk Bay and Amed Beach for chilling out and enjoying the warm sunshine, when not exploring the deep. Visibility at this dive site is excellent, all year round, look forward to sights of coral reef walls in varied hues, dense growths of gorgonian gardens and 35 meter drop-offs, which you can dive into from the traditional wooden jukung crafts, which will take you out there. At Amed, one is treated to sights of parrot fish, sea turtles, barracuda and stingrays.
Pemuteran is home to the largest bio rock reef on the globe. Attracting some of the most enthusiastic divers from across the world this site offers excellent visibility. The purpose sunk reefs are covered with a variety of coral and are constantly expanding and spreading.
This site, which is a little under 50kms from Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort, is perfect for a day out while staying at such charming Bali Uluwatu hotels. Nusa Penida is the largest amongst the three islands, located off the mainland, and is perfect to explore. August to October is ideal to dive around the island, as it is high season for migrating pelagic species of fish. The strong currents mean you can spot the gorgeous, Mola Mola or Sun Fish; while heading over to Manta Point will leave you in awe of the giant, kite-like, creatures.
The shallow reefs of Menjangan Island are home to the most exquisite tropical fish and corals, making this a favoured site amongst divers and snorkelers. Check out, 'Temple Wall' home to beautiful cardinal fish and 'Anchor Wreck' where a large number of barracudas thrive amongst the reef sharks. The 'Eel Garden' as the name suggests, offers one sights of twisting and twirling eels, fascinating to observe and a beautiful sight indeed; don't forget the underwater cameras.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
