Absolute Scuba Bali Dive Resort

The ocean-view room was the highlight for us, with a great view across the bay. It’s not a five-star room, far from it, but the view really was exceptional. We chose Absolute Scuba for two nights before leaving Bali for Gili, and were glad we booked one of the two rooms overlooking the water. We spent the first day wandering around town, visiting the cheap supermarket, then walking to Blue Lagoon for a snorkel. The steep path to the beach was manageable, and snorkeling from shore was great. On the way back we spotted a family of monkeys, which was a fun surprise. Breakfast the next morning was amazing: omelette, bacon and toast, fruit, a banana pancake more like a crepe, then jam and honey on toast with a pot of tea. It’s a working scuba resort, so people use the pool for lessons before heading to the dive sites. It was lovely seeing kids and grandparents learning on holiday. While I was walking through town today, the manager called out to me. My wife had to get my attention, it took me a moment to get my brain going. He was a South African chap who just wanted to introduce himself and congratulate us on our anniversary, which was really nice. This place feels a world away from southern Bali. If you’re coming into or leaving Bali through Padang Bai, I recommend giving it a try, especially the ocean-view room.

We first meant to stay three nights at Absolute Scuba Diving in Padang Bai. That became four, and now we’ve extended again. We’re here for the fourth time, so clearly it keeps drawing us back. It’s a short three-minute walk from the harbour for boats to Lombok or the Gilli's. The rooms are fresh, comfortable and peaceful, and the whole place is beautiful and spotlessly clean. We love the views and the atmosphere in the morning, with the ocean and light all around. The staff are warm, genuine and always ready to help. They make you feel like a returning guest, not a room number, and the manager is especially kind and helpful. We keep meaning to try something else on the menu, but end up ordering the pizza again. It’s crispy, generous and delicious, and we think it’s the best in the world. The local Bali food is fantastic too, and so is breakfast. It’s a relaxed, friendly place where the days slow down. This is our favorite spot on Bali, and we’ll be back again and again. (4-ever)

We had a great time diving with Absolute Scuba Diving. Everything was well organized, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Pupung was excellent at finding things for my video. Our sea-view room had a very nice view, though it could get noisy from the ferry horn and the main road nearby. If having a sea view isn’t important to you, you may want to avoid that room. We enjoyed our stay and would probably come back.

We spent 10 days at Absolute Scuba Bali with my family, and I loved our stay. The diving was great, the instructors were helpful, the equipment fit well and worked, and the sea life was amazing. The pool has a great 3-meter-deep section and a swim-up bar. Our rooms were nice and mostly free of bugs, and the Wi-Fi worked perfectly. We also liked the food, especially the local dishes and their large, satisfying portions. The staff were polite, friendly and helpful. I’d highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for good diving in Bali.