Do you enjoy snorkeling and diving? Bali has some delightful areas to explore underwater and as the temperature is always warm in this tropical zone, there’s no need to don a wetsuit.
This year’s Balinese underwater adventure was enjoyed by Mr T and our daughter: the trip was a birthday gift from daughter to father, and will be another diving adventure they will recall forever. Due to my increasing lack of confidence on the open sea, especially in an area known for some ‘interesting’ currents, I remained behind and enjoyed another massage. These photos were taken mostly by Mr T, with his cheap underwater camera.
One of the best diving spots in Bali is in the north-west of the island at Pemuteran. The village, at present, is delightfully calm and traditional: the tourist trade here centers around diving tour operators and small, discreet guesthouses. There are a few warungs along the main road and very little shopping.
Many diving boats operate tours each day, especially in July and August, the main European tourist season. A day trip costs between AU$45 and AU$55 per person. This includes snorkeling gear, lunch, drinking water, driver and underwater guide.
It was Mt T’s second trip to the reefs off Pemuteran. He also enjoys snorkeling off Lembongan Island and near Amed. Although no turtles were spotted this time, plenty of colourful fish passed by.
Environmental notes
Coral conservation and and a turtle breeding programme are two postive outcomes of tourism in this area. “A community-driven reef restoration and conservation project started in 2000 that has changed not only the reef itself, but also the attitudes, livelihoods and economy of the entire region. Bio-Rock is a technology that uses low voltage electrical current on artificial underwater structures to encourage growth of corals and other reef life. Experiments with the technology worldwide have shown that it can help counteract some of the difficult environmental factors affecting coral growth.”¹
“The Turtle Hatchery of Pemuteran in the utmost west of Bali started in 1994 after Australian Chris Brown, the owner of a diving company in the area, bought a sea turtle from a local fisherman who caught the animal in one of his nets by accident, to save its life; the turtle was tied to a rope and let out to graze in the sea during the day, and at night brought into a small pond. A second turtle soon joined the first and thus the Turtle Hatchery Project became a fact. The Turtle Hatchery project’s mission is to promote the protection of the wild turtle population and to stop, or at least diminish the worthless slaughtering of turtles. Up to 2001, more than 3000 juvenile turtles have been released into the ocean as well as many larger adults.”²
¹ https://www.wonderfulbali.com/turtle-hatchery-pemuteran/
² http://www.pemuteranbay.com/en/things-to-do/diving-and-snorkeling
ALMOST ITALIAN 
What wonderful photos, Fra!! So glad to hear tourism is having a positive impact on the area. I’m with you though – I don’t go into the sea ever! I’m too shortsighted to see where I’m going without “land” marks. 🙂
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It was Stuart’s 70th birthday last week. It has been a huge week with all our children and grandchildren here- 15 of us. Most have gone back home now, but Rachael and her family remain.
I used to love snorkeling around these parts but my fear has only come over me in the last 8 years or so.
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BASTARDS!!
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That produced a loud guffaw from Mr T!!! hahahhaha, Wish you both were here.
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Love the photos, especially the header and the last. *smile* Having been born on the freezing Finnish Gulf where summer temps are oft colder than our winter ones in Australia, swimming and diving have never much featured in my life plans either . . . . . somehow missed that boat and looking for Nemo . . . . . but as an ardent Greenie, love the environmental notes !
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Stolen pictures but was there in spirit.
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Wow! Beautiful photos with the cheap camera.
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Thanks Karen.
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Mr T at 70!!! Who’d of thought that 20 years ago we considered that to be really old? At look at him now – younger at heart than ever. Happy Birthday lad! Francesca, wonderful to learn of the conservation and environmental programmes are paying off and the reef and marine life is benefiting through the community commitment. Shame about the Great Barrier Reef being devastated by the hideous chemical runoff from spraying all the coastal and hinterland plantations. My we learn from our near-neighbours.
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70 is the new orange.
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What a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday. Great shots. I’m with you Francesca not a deep water fan. I’m a chicken but knowing me I would be on the boat worrying what was happening below to the family members. Louise
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Reblogged this on Rantings Of A Third Kind and commented:
Great post from : ALMOST ITALIAN:
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The photos are truly amazing…wow…hold on to that cheap underwater camera…it works!
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Thanks Jeanne. I was surprised at the quality too.
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Bali all too often attracts bad press, so good to see real reporting from a source I trust. Happy Birthday Mr T. I’d quite missed that your escape from winter had bgeun. And in such a lovely way ♡
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Yes, it has begun Dale, and now we are about to head off for 4 months from here. It’s a big one this year. Next up- Thailand and Hong Kong before heading to Europe.
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Just “wow!” Also glad to hear about the coral reef conservation and turtle breeding programme.
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Hi HTG, Yes, one positive benefit of tourism up in the north.
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Hey F how wonderful that Rachael has joined you! Love that first shot of her snorkelling. I bet Mr T is very pleased with that camera. Ah snorkelling, a great holiday past time 😃
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What a lovely water paradise…looks so cool and refreshing. When snorkeling in Hawaii, I am always so mesmerized by the vibrant colors of the fish. There is a whole different world down there.
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Thanks Susan. Bali is close to us, just as Hawaii is to you. And the warm water guarantees a pleasant dive each time.
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