Upcoming Bali/Wakatobi trip 10/12

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Sideways

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Messages
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Location
Huntington Beach, CA
# of dives
500 - 999
So.... we've been researching this trip for almost a year now. We've already booked the 10 day stay in Wakatobi, 10-12 to 10/22. Now its time to focus on the Bali part of the trip. We're looking at 6 days on the front end of Wakatobi, and 2-3 days on the back end to relax. The front end part I'm thinking we can dive 2-3 days. Most of what I've read is "Do Tulamben" Here's the thing, we're not big wreck fans, and we figure we're gonna get our share of Macro in Wakatobi. So, I'm thinking reefs and pelagics. My initial thought is to do the Padangbai or Candidasa area? From there, if I'm reading right, we can hit a lot of sites? Overall besides diving, we'd like a lil beach resort feel, with a lil nightlife in the immediate area.

So....our Priorities...

1. Access to pelagic and nice reef sites (seeing we won't see anything big in Wakatobi)
2. Smaller resort/hotel with pool, on or VERY close to a nice beach
3. SOME nightlife - not looking for a massive party scene, but would like to be able to leave hotel for some night time fun and diversity

Couple other questions.

1. What are our chances for Manta's in October? What's the best possible site(s) to see them?
2. Suggestions for Hotels and dive ops.
3. I asked some of these questions months ago on someone else's thread. The answer I got then was Sanur, thoughts?
3. Here's a stoopid question... I'm not 100% on the visa requirements. If I'm reading it correctly, coming from the US we get our Visa when arriving in Bali? We don't have to do anything prior through a consulate here in the US??

Thanks for any and all input!!

Greg
 
@Sideways staying at Pandangbai would be your best options for all your needs,easy access to nearby reefs and possible for seeing sharks also. From there dive trip to Nusa Penida etc.. and seeing Manta's,you can see them year round and not too late for you to also see mola mola.

Pandangbai is a small village and small nice enough white beach,small hotel's and pool can be found there,goggle and choose,nightlife small scale but nice and various restaurants.everything is on the beach front and on arrival you can purchase a 30 day visa $25 as for dive centres there are various ones there to choose from and you may well consider one who supports the Bali Shark Project http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/in...shark-season-bali-slaughter-begins-again.html

Also you can be met at airport and transfer to Pandangbai and takes about a hour
 
... transfer to Pandangbai and takes about a hour

Have they finished the road construction project from Denpasar? The time was seriously beyond an hour the last time we did that route.
 
Visas are easy and you get them upon arrival in Bali for $25. We saw the mola molas in late September when we dove with Gangga divers out of the Lotus Bungalows Resort in Candiasa! EXcellent operation and great small resort! Check them out!
 
If you are looking for something very different from Wakatobi out of Bali, go to Nusa Lembongan for a couple of days. That's where the mantas are (they are actually at Penida, but the nearest boats are based at Lembongan). There's a nice little diving culture on Lembongan that you can take advantage of, and while it's not a nightlife capital like Kuta on Bali, you can certainly get out and eat at different sorts of places and go for a drink. For the days you aren't diving, you might like to spend them at Ubud and soak in some Balinese culture.
 
Thanks everyone for the input! I Have been researching extensively, this is where I'm at right now....

From my research and folks I've talked to, we found that Padang Bai is probably not for us. It seems to be more geared towards backpackers and younger folks. Bottom line is we are older, resort diver types. Also, it sounds like there's little to nothing with regards to nightlife. Maybe a bar or two in Padang Bai, and 2 bars in Candidasa. We're quite social, and would like a lil more nightlife. With that being said we're now leaning towards Sanur for the 6-7 day stay before Wakatobi, then on the backside of Waka, we'll probably do Candidasa for 3 days of relaxation before coming home. I understand that Sanur probably doesn't have as nice beaches as Paidang Bai, but in the balance of all considerations, Sanur wins out for Social and as a diving base for Penida.
 
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