Padangbai - Nusa Penida
Padangbai - Nusa Penida
Bali
Bali is situated just east of Java and west of Lombok and is one of the 17,000 islands of the Indonesian archipelago. It may be small in size but its prominence as a destination is huge, and rightfully so! Whether you are a “hardcore” or a “soft” diver, a nature or an art lover, traveling with a non-diver companion or with kids, there is something for everyone on the Island of the Gods.
Views over picturesque rice terraces, tranquil mountain lakes and a stunning coastline are breathtaking. Hindu temples dot the landscape, atmospheric ceremonies are organized almost daily, and the artistic swirl of Ubud is a counterpoint to misty treks amid the active volcanoes. All of this combined with the friendliness of the Balinese people, glorious weather and white, gray and black sand beaches make Bali one of the world’s most fascinating islands.
Southeast Bali, Padangbai and Candidasa
Padangbai is a small fishing village located on a perfect little bay near Candidasa, in Southeast Bali. With its three white sand beaches and its dozen of restaurants and bars, it is a lovely place for those who prefer a small town atmosphere over Bali’s large scale tourist destinations. It also serves as a ferry port for travel to Lombok, the Gilis and Nusa Penida.
The daily life of traditional fishermen, the busy crowd in the harbor and the wonderful beaches are just among the attractions. Padangbai is also known for its sacred (Silayukti, Tanjung Sari and Penataran Agung) temples and its amazing underwater sceneries! It provides an easy access to the world-class dive sites of nearby Nusa Penida and Lembongan, and is a very convenient base from where to explore many of Bali’s highlights, from Ubud to Mount Agung.
The ride from Denpasar airport to Padangbai takes about 2 hours.
Diving Padangbai, Nusa Penida and Lembongan
Padangbai is situated to the south of Amuk Bay, an ideal location to explore the best dive spots of southeast Bali. The area has it all! Pelagics, coral gardens, critters, drop-offs, muck etc… more than enough to please everyone, from big fish lovers to critter fanatics!
The bay features 6 dive sites and is the perfect getaway to the world renowned Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan, where another 10 sites can be found. Day-trips to Amed and Tulamben, on Bali’s most-eastern tip, are also regularly arranged.
Dive sites range in depth from 5 to 40 meters. Diving is conducted year round, but weather conditions might be poor during the months of January and February. The visibility is usually between 10 and 50m, with an average of 20m. It never takes more than 10 minutes to reach dive sites within the Amuk Bay, and about one hour to reach Penida and Lembongan.
Because the nearby Lombok Strait is one of the exit points of the Indonesian Throughflow, water temperature may drop suddenly and currents can be very strong (and sometimes down). To comfortably and safely enjoy your dives, we recommend you have earned your Advanced Certification with over 30 logged dives.
Currents bring nutrient-rich waters that attract all sorts of marine life. The area features very diverse underwater fauna and flora, from pelagics to macro critters and beautiful coral gardens. Lembongan offers very good chances to spot manta rays, while Nusa Penida becomes the world’s capital of mola-mola (also known as "the sunfish") between August and October. Closer to Padangbai, black or white tip and nurse sharks are commonly encountered. Many macro species, such as leaf scorpion fish, ribbon eels, frog fish, nudibranch, or hairy squat lobsters also populate dive sites, which are covered with hard and soft corals, or barrel sponges.
Some of the Most Famous Dive Sites
Geko Dive Center
Geko Dive is a Padi 5 Star Dive Resort run by British management and located right on Padangbai’s main beach. It operates 2 speed boats powered by twin-85hp and twin-200hp Yamaha engines, and 1 traditional wooded outrigger boat for close reef dives. These boats can comfortably accommodate 8 to 14 divers, depending on weather conditions and dive schedule, and are fitted with medical oxygen and first-aid kits. The diver-to-dive-guide ratio never exceeds 4 to 1.
The dive center also provides the full range of Padi courses up to Divemaster level. Please note that for your own safety, your first dive will be a check dive to evaluate your skills.
Technical and Admin Information
- rental equipment: Apeks and Aqualung regulators, Aqualung and TUSA BCDs, and Mares, Adrenalin and Bare wetsuits
- 12 liter aluminum tanks (international cylinder valves, DIN adaptors can be provided free of charge) tanks, weights and weight belts are provided
- night dives possible every night, torches can be rented
- Nitrox not available (and not recommended, because of down currents)
- dive computers are provided free of charge if you do not have one
- logbook - dive certification card
- medical clearance for scuba diving from a physician, issued within the last 12 months
- evidence of repatriation insurance
Recommended diving equipment and documents: 5 or 7 mm wetsuits (water can be fresh, especially around Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan) and torch, safety sausage, insurance covering dive-related injuries (DAN or equivalent)
The closest hyperbaric chamber is located in Denpasar, all dives are within no-decompression limits.
Other Activities and the Kid's Corner
A typical day for a diver in Padangbai-Candidasa goes as follows:
- breakfast
- two dives, from 9:00 AM till 2:00 PM, with a surface interval of at least one hour, and an optional third dive in the afternoon or at night
- two dives in the morning, a third dive after lunch and an optional night dive on one of Padangbai’s dive sites (day-trips usually start between 7:00 AM and 09:00 AM)
Baby sitting service can be arranged, so divers can feel comfortable while enjoying their passion (please let us know in advance).
Apart from sunbathing and lounging around the pools or on the white-sand beach, the area of Padangbai-Candidasa offers interesting activities for non-divers and kids (teenagers like it too but might overdose on peace and tranquility after a few days – unless they are scuba divers of course!), including:
- Excursions:
- Ubud: approximately one hour away from Padangbai, Ubud is a place for art, nature and culture lovers, with scenic rice fields, small villages, art and craft communities, ancient temples, palaces, rivers…
- Trekking on Mount Agung: for very early birds, one of Bali’s best trekking adventure. From the summit (3,142 m), views over the island are breathtaking!
- Amlapura: hire a bicycle and visit this former Dutch colonial town, with some beautiful palaces and lush water gardens
- Tirtaganga and its famous Royal Bathing Pools and wonderful rise fields
- Besakih to Lake Batur: located on the slopes of Mount Agung, Besakih is known as the “Mother Temple” in Bali and features the biggest Hindu temple on the island. Lake Batur is Bali’s widest lake and lies down in the feet of Mount Batur and Mount Abang
- Snorkeling
- Spa
- Rafting
- Cooking classes
Puri Rai Hotel
The Puri Rai Hotel is located in the center of Padangbai, right on the village’s main beach, and less than 1 minute walk away from the dive center. The resort features 8 Family and 22 Standard rooms with king sized or twin beds, all boasting en-suite bathroom with hot shower, TV, mini-bar, AC or ceiling fan, and private balcony with sea or pool view. 2 Garden Villas offering 2 separate bedrooms are also available for larger families. Rooms are serviced daily, towels are provided.
Other facilities include 3 swimming pools (!!), a pool-bar, a bar and an open-air restaurant serving a la carte meals. There is no internet access in the resort, but WiFi is available, free of charge, at the dive center’s facilities.
Information Summary
Required and Recommended Equipment and Documents ><(((°>- How to get there/Flight information ><(((°>- Health and Safety ><(((°>- History and Culture ><(((°>- Country Facts and Practical Information
Required and Recommended Equipment and Documents
In addition to your documents related to your repatriation insurance (and for divers: your logbook, dive certification card and a medical clearance for scuba diving), you will need:
- your passport, which must be valid for a minimum of six months beyond intended date of entry into Indonesia
- a visa, which, for nationals of most countries, can be purchased on arrival. Please make sure you have one entire blank page for the placement of your visa (we made the mistake and paid the price...).
At the time of research (you may double-check with your local Indonesian Embassy for updates to the visa policy):
- nationals of the following countries and territories were eligible for a "Visa Free" facility for a visit of up to 30 days: Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Morocco, Chile and Peru.
- nationals of the following countries and territories could obtain a “Visa On Arrival” processed at the gate of entry following the payment of a USD 25 (for a 30 day visa): Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherland, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, People's Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Surinam, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America.
Citizens of countries not included on the above lists must apply for a visa overseas before arriving in Indonesia.
The visa on arrival facility will only be available at the following international airports: Medan, Pekanbaru, Padang, Soekarno-Hatta (Jakarta), Halim Perdana Kusuma (Jakarta), Surabaya, Denpasar (Bali), Manado, Yogyakarta, Solo, Mataram (Lombok), Balikpapan, Makassar, Kupang.
We also recommend you bring with you:
- sun cream
- mosquito repellent
- adaptor-plugs
- batteries
How to get there / Flight information
You will need to land on Bali’s international airport, which is located in Denpasar, where our local partner will be waiting for you. From there, it takes approximately 2 hours to reach your resort.
At the time of research, we found direct flights operated from the following cities: Shanghai (on Thursdays and Sundays), Seoul, Perth, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei and Bangkok.
Health and Safety
Bali is not a malaria-endemic area. The only vaccine required by international regulations is yellow fever. Proof of vaccination will only be required if you have visited a country in the yellow-fever zone within the six days prior to entering Southeast Asia. Travelers to Southeast Asia should be up to date with vaccinations against polio, tetanus and diphtheria. You may also consider a hepatitis A shot.
Full medical insurance, including medical evacuation outside of your country of residence, is mandatory. We also recommend scuba divers to ensure their personal insurance covers dive related injuries. Should you consider becoming a member of DAN Asia-Pacific, please click here
Bali is generally considered a safe destination. However, there has in recent years been an increase of petty crimes, like pick-pocketing, etc... Therefore, the general rule of not showing off your wealth is advisable and usual travel precautions apply, such as restraining your urge to go wandering around seedy areas alone late at night and not leaving valuables or important documents unattended.
History and Culture
Bali has been populated since early prehistoric times. Around 2,000 BC, the island was inhabited by Austronesian peoples who migrated originally from Taiwan. Culturally and linguistically, the Balinese are closely related to the peoples of the Indonesian archipelago, the Philippines, and Oceania. They were strongly influenced by Chinese, Indian and particularly Hindu cultures. Not much is known of a period that started in the 1st century, and the earliest records are stone inscriptions dating from 914 AD. Rice was being grown under a complex irrigation system, and some traditions still in existence today can be traced back to these times. Bali and Hindu Java then underwent several episodes of conquering each other. When the Majapahit Empire on eastern Java declined, at the end of the 15th century, most of its intelligentsia moved to Bali, including the priest Nirartha, who is credited with introducing many of the complexities of the Balinese religion. Artists, dancers, musicians and actors also fled to Bali.
In 1597, a group of Dutch explorers were the first Europeans to set foot in Bali, where prosperity and artistic activity were at a peak. As the Batavian colonial domination expanded across the Indonesian archipelago in the 19th century, the Dutch increased their political and economic control over Bali. After several assaults at the beginning of the 1900’s, the Dutch governors managed the administration of the island, but local control over religion and culture remained intact. Dutch rule over Bali was never as well established as in other parts of Indonesia and was short-lived, as Indonesia fell to the Japanese during WWII. Following Japan's surrender, the Dutch promptly returned to the island to reinstate their pre-war colonial administration and established Bali as one of the 13 districts of the newly-proclaimed State of East Indonesia. When the Netherlands recognized Indonesian independence on 29 December 1949, Bali became part of United States of Indonesia, which in 1950 became the Republic of Indonesia.
The 1963 eruption of Mount Agung killed thousands, created economic havoc and forced many Balinese refugees to relocate to other parts of Indonesia. Then, Bali saw conflicts between supporters of the traditional caste system, and those rejecting these values. An attempted coup in Jakarta was put down by forces led by General Suharto and the army became the dominant power. Suharto was able to maneuver Sukarno out of the presidency and relations with western countries were reestablished. In the early 1970’s, the tourism boom started and helped pay for improvements in roads, telecommunications, education and health. Though tourism has had some adverse environmental and social effects, Bali’s unique culture has proved to be remarkably resilient. Beginning in the 1990's there has been vocal public opposition to some controversial tourist developments, which indicates that Balinese people will play a more active role in the development of their island.
Country Facts and Practical Information
- Climate: equatorial, with the wet season from November to March, and the dry season from April to October. Temperatures rarely drop below 25C (78F), with usual day temperature at around 28C (82F). Cyclones and typhoons are absent in Indonesia.
- Population: the 2000 census indicated a total population of 240 million people, including 3.1 million in the province of Bali
- Language: in addition to Bahasa Indonesia, the official language in Indonesia, people in Bali speak Balinese, a Malayo-Polynesian language also spoken in northern Nusa Penida, western Lombok and eastern Java. Most Balinese people also speak English.
- Religions: the 2000 census indicated that 86% of the Indonesian population label themselves Muslim (primarily Sunnis), 9% Christian, 2% Hindu, and 3.4% "other or unspecified". One of the most fascinating facets of Bali is the influence of Hinduism (over 90% of the population adhere to Balinese Hinduism) on the island’s culture: there are temples in every village, offerings being made at every corner and ceremonies organized almost daily!
- Electricity: electric current is 220-240 V, 50 Hz, and uses the common European two round pins plugs and the two parallel flat pins with ground pin plugs.
- Time difference: GMT +8 hours (excluding daylight saving time considerations)
- Telephone: international access codes 001 and 008, country code 62. Mobile phones can be used in the resort with roaming for international customers. Local prepaid SIM-Cards can also be purchased.
- Internet: it can be accessed from the dive center and from internet cafes
- Currency: the official currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
- ATM & cash: there is an ATM machine in Padangbai