Bali with the Underwater Tribe

[Aquapaul 26]

My Wife and I booked a trip to Wakatobi for last month and it turns out you have to have an over night in Bali, so why not stay a few more. This was our 2nd trip to Wakatobi, our last trip we spent a few days in Ubud taking in the sights and falling in love with the Balinese people. But I always wondered about the diving, there must be some good diving here some where. I knew from the Martin Edge books I have about the Liberty wreck so I thought that may be a place to start. Well last winter I saw a trip review on Wetpixel for the Underwater Tribe. From the trip report and Underwater Tribe's website we determined Underwater Tribe was the way to go.

 

We ended up staying in Amed and diving at Amed, Tulamben and Seraya. We had three days to dive three dives a day with some limited touring to and from. I have to say the way the Underwater Tribe handles everything makes everything worry free. First contact was with Miho at the airport. She then handed us off to our driver (Gede) and dive guide(Gede) who pretty much handled EVERYTHING from there on until dropping us off at the motel the night before our flight to Wakatobi. If you would like to dive here but are intimidated by whatever, these are the people for you.

 

One of the things that made this short holiday so worry free and I am not sure I realized it until I was home is how everything is handled. The price quoted for trip included everything. breakfast and lunch everyday, rooms every night, tips for sherpas, boat and driver, tanks weights. There were no hidden cost, none.

 

The diving. It was awesome and varied.

 

Day 1 we dove a sloping reef at Amed out of a small boat for a day. It was a good day, we hadn't been in the water in a few months and I had to remember what all the buttons do on my camera.

 

Day 2 we dove the Tulamben area. Two dives on the Liberty wreck and a wall dive all shore dives. Gede recommended I bring my macro but I insisted on wide angle, well I should have listened.

 

Day 3 we dove the Seraya area, Black sand gravel beach dives. Blue water muck dives all three. Some current but manageable. Kind of amazing all the creatures that live here. My camera skills need some improvement I am afraid and will have to come back here if they improve. Frog fish, Nudibranch, Gobies, Ghost pipe fish and list goes on and on.

 

Slide Show below, critics welcome.

 

[Aquapaul 26]

Whoops, wrong slideshow try this one.

 

[Oceanshutter 121]

NIce Job Paul. I need to get to Bali. Was there, last year but didn't dive.

Dustin

[MikeVeitch 0]

Hi Paul, thanks for the review, was great to meet you in Tulamben and I am very happy that you enjoyed diving with us, glad we could make your Bali trip memorable and hopefully see you again on your next trip to Indonesia!