Kelpfish 15 Posted April 13, 2019 Hello everyone, I very much enjoyed Lembeh and since have been to other cool places. Now, I am going back to Indonesia, but in Bali, Scuba Seraya resort. Did a lot of homework and landed on this place but my GAP was not reaching out to this experienced group for advice. So since I am all booked and leave in early June, can anyone recommend or share any nuggets I should know or "to-dos" that are not advertised? Of course I am shooting with my new D850 Nautical system so I want as group-less of diving as I can get and we will pay, if needed, for a private guide. Seraya is saying that it is a one-guide per buddy team but they do offer more private diving for a fee (which isn't too much). Can anyone who has been there recommend how to best navigate the diving operation to optimize privacy and quality but with tact and professionalism? I am not going with a group. I booked this myself. I have read reviews where that is a mistake. The guy who posted that said the resort really treated them as second class to the bigger groups and they were denied dives due to weather while they still took out the bigger group. Now, fun transparency, I do not believe that. I've been around the block a time or two and think there was more to that story than was told. But to my point, do you have any "watch outs" I need to be aware of or "do this"kind of thing? Guides are important as well. Anyone have experience with specific guides I might request? I'd like to get tight with 1-2 of them and my wife and I plan to invite all of the working staff to dinner one night. I think you folks know what advice I'm looking for but one last thing. Is there a specific product or something I can haul there that the dive team or staff would enjoy? Perhaps some kind of dive gear that is harder to get there? In Fiji I left quite a bit of gear there, giving some items to the dive staff and helping a local kid learn to snorkel, leaving him a mask, wetsuit and booties (they had fins). Anyhow, any advice, tips, tricks, do's, don'ts etc. would be really appreciated. Thank you in advance. Joe Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeVeitch 0 Posted April 13, 2019 Lol.. Joe, why didn't you tell me you were coming to Bali? My guides would have taken great care of you... Let me know when you are here, would be good to meet up Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kdgonzalez 37 Posted April 13, 2019 (edited) I really enjoy diving a bit farther north in Amed. Its a very sleepy fishing village but amazing muck diving right off the beach. It is also a short boat ride from the Liberty wreck. I dive with a small company Amed Zen Divers, the owner is Wayan he always leads my dive, just me and him. We usually spend about 90 minutes each dive on the water. I always tell him what it is that I want to see and he finds it for me. He also charges the same as all the other dive shops for a 2 tank dive but its incredibly awesome to have your own guide for an unlimited time. Edited April 13, 2019 by kdgonzalez Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelpfish 15 Posted April 13, 2019 Lol.. Joe, why didn't you tell me you were coming to Bali? My guides would have taken great care of you... Let me know when you are here, would be good to meet up Mike, Damn. Wish I'd have known that...or "connected the dots". I am there June 12-28. Would be cool to hook up for dinner or something. How far are you from Seraya? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeVeitch 0 Posted April 14, 2019 Mike, Damn. Wish I'd have known that...or "connected the dots". I am there June 12-28. Would be cool to hook up for dinner or something. How far are you from Seraya? I am down south in Sanur. So if you are staying before or after the trip for a night down south then that works. Or, I may be up that way at some point during that time, not sure. Will let you know if I do. The guides at Seraya are great and know the reefs and critter sites exceedingly well. No worries about staying there, you will have a good time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DCurry 0 Posted April 19, 2019 I just got back from Scuba Seraya last week and if you’re looking for quiet relaxed diving you won’t be disappointed. There were a maximum of 5 guests at any one time in the resort, the majority being photographers. There are 2 ribs so for the whole week it was just me, my partner and the dive guide. The package we booked included 2 boat dives in the morning and unlimited house reef diving in the afternoon and evening. For the house reef you can go in unescorted, the staff are amazing and they were happy to accommodate any requests. If there’s anything specific you want to know just ask. One thing that would be useful to take would be a decent water bottle. You get a few bottles of water at the beginning of your stay then you just fill them up from the water coolers in the dive centre or dining area. Thanks Dave Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlMitch 2 Posted April 23, 2019 Joe Having been there three times (you can search my trip reports on Scuba Board) I can honestly say that you will have a great dive trip. In terms of diving, you dive when you want, where you want and how you want! As for tips... 1) One "criticism" is that they are fairly hands off at the resort, there is no real manager coming around to ask how you are (some might call this a blessing). So if you need something or want to know something go and ask. Ask and you will get! As soon as something is not going to your plan then let them know. They will bend over backwards to make you happy. 2) The ocean Villa's are more expensive, but if you can afford it I would say they are definitely worth it. The day bed outside facing the ocean is such a great place to chill out between dives. 3) We had a few days of big waves and it was dangerous to get into the boats. So that can happen. BUT as you said I can not believe they would let one group dive and not someone else, unless they had good reason to! 4) Leave a good tip for the whole resort...they all work hard and deserve it. 5) The early morning dive at the wreck for the bumpheads is a ZOO!! But it is worth doing it once. 6) In terms of expectation setting, the food is ok to good but not amazing, and the diving is good but not as good as Lembeh. Enjoy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelpfish 15 Posted April 27, 2019 I just got back from Scuba Seraya last week and if you’re looking for quiet relaxed diving you won’t be disappointed. There were a maximum of 5 guests at any one time in the resort, the majority being photographers. There are 2 ribs so for the whole week it was just me, my partner and the dive guide. The package we booked included 2 boat dives in the morning and unlimited house reef diving in the afternoon and evening. For the house reef you can go in unescorted, the staff are amazing and they were happy to accommodate any requests. If there’s anything specific you want to know just ask. One thing that would be useful to take would be a decent water bottle. You get a few bottles of water at the beginning of your stay then you just fill them up from the water coolers in the dive centre or dining area. Thanks Dave Thanks for that, Dave. Good intel. Joe Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelpfish 15 Posted April 27, 2019 Joe Having been there three times (you can search my trip reports on Scuba Board) I can honestly say that you will have a great dive trip. In terms of diving, you dive when you want, where you want and how you want! As for tips... 1) One "criticism" is that they are fairly hands off at the resort, there is no real manager coming around to ask how you are (some might call this a blessing). So if you need something or want to know something go and ask. Ask and you will get! As soon as something is not going to your plan then let them know. They will bend over backwards to make you happy. 2) The ocean Villa's are more expensive, but if you can afford it I would say they are definitely worth it. The day bed outside facing the ocean is such a great place to chill out between dives. 3) We had a few days of big waves and it was dangerous to get into the boats. So that can happen. BUT as you said I can not believe they would let one group dive and not someone else, unless they had good reason to! 4) Leave a good tip for the whole resort...they all work hard and deserve it. 5) The early morning dive at the wreck for the bumpheads is a ZOO!! But it is worth doing it once. 6) In terms of expectation setting, the food is ok to good but not amazing, and the diving is good but not as good as Lembeh. Enjoy Excellent advice and watch outs. Much appreciated. Is there any "better time"to dive the Liberty? I guess shooting it with super wide could be a problem with other divers around and something Ill have to deal with. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeVeitch 0 Posted April 27, 2019 Excellent advice and watch outs. Much appreciated. Is there any "better time"to dive the Liberty? I guess shooting it with super wide could be a problem with other divers around and something Ill have to deal with. 15:30 -17:00 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimG 62 Posted April 27, 2019 Excellent advice and watch outs. Much appreciated. Is there any "better time"to dive the Liberty? I guess shooting it with super wide could be a problem with other divers around and something Ill have to deal with. Hi Kelpfish It's not as though you can photograph "the whole wreck' even with super-wide of course. The Liberty is huge. Even when busy it's not hard to find a good colourful chunk of wreck to photograph. There are some superb coral-encrusted metal swim-throughs - great if you have a buddy who will work with you as a model. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelpfish 15 Posted April 28, 2019 15:30 -17:00 10-4 sir. Hi Kelpfish It's not as though you can photograph "the whole wreck' even with super-wide of course. The Liberty is huge. Even when busy it's not hard to find a good colourful chunk of wreck to photograph. There are some superb coral-encrusted metal swim-throughs - great if you have a buddy who will work with you as a model. Perfect, Tim. I think my wife may play model for a while if I give her a cookie:) Joe Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimG 62 Posted April 28, 2019 10-4 sir. Perfect, Tim. I think my wife may play model for a while if I give her a cookie:) Joe Joe, you are such a charmer....... TG Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlMitch 2 Posted May 3, 2019 After an early morning dive with the bumpheads I love spending time up at the stern. It is super colorful and there are always a ton of fish swimming around and with the sun low in the sky you can get some great sun beam shots. _DSC5330 by Angmo Al, on Flickr Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Quinn 5 Posted May 3, 2019 Hi, I have been to the resort several times in the past, never with a large group and have never felt slighted by the fact. Komung/Komang? has guided me on two of those stays, and I was very pleased with his efforts . What I did for the staff, was arrange with the resort manager to offer a pig roast which we all greatly enjoyed. Have recommended the resort to others through the years, and none were disappointed!! Have a great adventure!! Cindy. Ps.. I like diving with Mike as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
