I am headin to Bali at the beginning of March and am looking to find a spot to complete my Divemaster. I would also like to have some nearby surf for my free time. Does anyone know of a spot that has both good diving and good surfing within a relatively close distance either on mainland Bali or a nearby island?

Hi Scoots

I'm back in Bali March 10 - 22 & am heading back to Padabgbai (east coast area) for my PADI OWD cert. There are a heap of places to learn there, but I decided to head back to 'Geko dive' in Padangbai because of the confidence I felt with them. I was pertified, but they handled me very professionally. But if your at the level of obtaining master, you dont need to hear that!

I'm not too sure about the surfing there, but Im also looking to lear to surf so will be looking for somewhere as well.

Have a good time

Rob

I'd say Nusa Lembongan. You've got ShipWrecks, Playgrounds and Racetracks to surf at, plus some fast current, cold water diving, just the thing for an advanced guy like yourself.

Thanks Nick, I was wondering about Nusa Lembongan. Being close to Denpasar will be convenient for time's sake. I'm still thinking about the Gili Islands (which I have dove before... incredible) but I don't know about the surfing around there. I think it is somewhat minimal.

Rob... did you already dive in Padangbai? How was the visibility?

jason

Hi Jason

it varied when I dived Blue Lagoon (Padangbai).

It ranged from 5-15mtrs.

Be good
Rob

Just looking through this, diving from Padang bai is very good, ranging from easy, Blue Lagoon, to extreme, some of the dives around Nusa Pendida. They are not for the inexperienced, cold 19 deg C water is a shock if the ambient air is up in the 30's, and fast currents 3-4 knots is not uncommon, sometimes downwards will sweep you to 270 feet, so just be careful and make sure your experience level is up to it.

Use nature's water current meter, watch the fish, if there heading towards the reef or rock and facing into current and swimming then current is getting stronger and changing. Exhaust bubbles are another good visual cue, when they are heading south, it's time to be like a limpet, don't forget a spare mask, you may need it.

The last time I dived Tepekong i retrieved a qualified "rescue diver" with a few hundred dives experience, because the current had swept him under the dive boat and knocked him out.

Geko dive are a good organisation as are AquaMarine Diving Bali.

The diving is first rate, especially when diving for Manta and Mola Mola, if you're lucky enough to see 5+ Mola at the cleaning station, it'll be one of your best dives ever.

Have a great trip, and post experiences, it'll be good to read about them.

I did my OW at World Diving on Nusa Lembongan several years ago. The outfit was very professional, and Nusa Lembongan is a little piece of paradise. Someone above mentioned the surf breaks - Shipwreck and Lacerations are a couple of them. There's hardly anyone out in the water, which is refreshing after the crowded breaks on Bali.

I've done 100+ dives since certification, and I've still never seen anything as good as Nusa Lembongan outside of Indonesia.