Bali Dive Resort and Spa

The long trip to and from the airport is the main drawback. With the arranged transport, it took between two and three hours depending on traffic. The tradeoff is a relaxing setting close to the dive sites. I stayed for a week at Bali Dive Resort and Spa at Tulamben in a sea-view room with full board. I did my Reactivate, Advance Open Water and Nitrox courses there, and booked airport transport both ways. The resort felt clean, luxurious and relaxing, with a large room, helpful and caring staff, excellent Wi-Fi and delicious meals with decent presentation. The dive sites were close, so there wasn’t much downtime between dives at different spots. Damien, Wayan and Maylise were responsive and helpful during my courses. The Indonesian and Balinese dishes were decent, and I enjoyed the carbonara and capricciosa pizza, but the hamburger and pesto pasta were bland. It would be good if the chefs seasoned western dishes while cooking, instead of leaving me to add salt and Tabasco after the first bite. A snack bar or vending machine would also be welcome. I got the impression the resort was well managed, the staff made sure I enjoyed my stay, and Nicole answered my enquiries quickly.

The dive sites were only a short boat ride away, with plenty of marine life and interesting wrecks. The instructors were skilled, professional and calm, and adjusted to my experience level, so each dive felt safe and rewarding. The resort itself was peaceful, with a warm atmosphere, and the staff were friendly and attentive throughout. I’d highly recommend it for good diving in a relaxed setting.

The booking process was smooth and paperless, which is good for the ocean ❤️. I had an amazing time doing my Open Water course here. The dive sites were incredible, and the staff worked hard and were kind. Maylise was the best instructor I could’ve asked for: patient, clear in her explanations, and really good at handling panic situations.

I struggled with taking off and clearing my mask, but Damien patiently explained different ways to do it and stayed calm while giving me all the time I needed. On my first dives he kept checking that I understood and was okay underwater, and I felt completely safe and looked after. I took my Open Water Diver course at Bali Dive & Spa Resort in Tulamben, and it was the best place I could have chosen to learn. Everyone was friendly and caring, and the safety rules and standards were high. They even picked us up from our villa and dropped us off after the dives, which made things easy. Since then I’ve dived with another center, and the difference in safety standards was clear. Bali Dive & Spa Resort’s dive center is above the others in my experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn or enjoy diving in a safe, professional and supportive place.