BALI IS GREAT!
I visited Bali several years ago and my 2 week visit went by very fast.
Like the above comments - the main cities of Kuta and Sanur are tourist areas - AVOID THEM. :upset:
The diving close to these cities is OK and I did a few dives close to town (Nusa Dua, Nusa Penida) and liked Padang Bai but found this was all surpassed by
Tulamben and Menjangan Island.
I spent a week at the town of Lovina, went diving everyday to Menjangen Island and was so impressed by the color and quanitity of sealife that it was the single event that got me back into Underwater photography. I seemed to never see the same coral, anenome, or sponge twice on a dive -
so much color and sealife diversity. There were huge schools of fish that layered themselves along the reef with the smallest ones closest and the larger ones further away from the reef. I kept wishing I had a camera.
The reefs were healthy, turtles would let you get within 1 meter of them and the water was warm/clear.
Yes during that week one tank blew an O-ring during setup and one of the rental SPG failed, but I carry my own regulator / computer so I never had any events.
If you are worried, take your own reg and avoid the rental ones.
I also went off peak season and found I could negotiate price VERY WELL. In Asia, higher denomination US currency ($50 or $100 notes) have higher exchange rates. Prior to arriving I was quoted $65 USD per day (2 tanks) over the Internet, when I got there I bargained HARD and got
3 days of diving for a $100 bill.
Topside there are
many other non-diving things to do; temple tours, snorkeling with a school of 100+ mini-dolphins, white water rafting, volcano and jungle hikes.
I am planning to go back this year, it was a great time in a nice place. I may go next month as I just found out that Singapore airlines has R/T airfares SFO-SIN for $495 through March.
Here are a few links on Bali diving to help you:
Bali Paradise
Bali SCUBA Directory