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Dive Review of Ocean View tulamben in
Indonesia/Bali

Ocean View tulamben: "closest thing to liveaboard diving from a land based operation", Jul, 2015,

by joanne pannell, WA, AU ( 2 reports with 2 Helpful votes). Report 8296.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Ocean view shares frontage of the famous liberty wreck with one other resort. Ocean view is on the left side of the laneway which terminates at the shore entry to the wreck, the other resort on the right. Liberty wreck divers is behind ocean view up a slight hill.
This outstanding location is taken full advantage of by the dive operation at this resort, allowing the guests a dive experience similar to that of a live aboard operation. Diving happens whenever and wherever you want it to occur, with duration and frequency completely up to you. My dive schedule was a roll out of bed, struggle into the wetsuit, slip on the gear, walk 20 paces to the water, sunrise dive to see the humpheads wake up and leave the wreck for the day, walk 20 paces back to the dive centre, one of the best breakfast I had in Indonesia, digest, snooze, jump in the back of a pick up and be delivered to another nearby dive site, the wreck gets a bit crowded during the day, dived a nice wall, pickup back to resort, really nice lunch, snooze, afternoon dive, pickup to a drift dive along a slope, almost drifted back to the wreck but not quite, snooze, night dive on the wreck, dinner, sleep, repeat. Night dives can also be conducted after dinner.
I was assigned an outstanding personal dive guide, who had all the critters well trained and knew where to find them all. I could request specific critters, from orangutan crabs to a particular colour crinoid shrimp to pygmy seahorse to to tiniest pygmy cuttlefish I have ever seen (5mm!) I very rarely spent more than a minute without some sort of critter in my sight. There are also some large cod and various other large fish on the wreck, who liked to stalk me when diving at sunset.
A decent sized swell came through while I was there, this was a mega bonus as the majority were scared off from attempting the entry/exit,meaning I had the wreck all to myself at one point. Mysteriously, despite the swell and rough entry, there was no surge on the wreck. Not even the slightest sway. The entry and exit does deserve a special mention. This is a volcanic smooth boulder beach, and despite my previous shore diving experience the smooth, slippery, round boulders were tricky to navigate and I fell over more than once. I am young enough to bounce so this isn't much of a problem for me. I was also dealing with some respectable surf but I am led to believe that the severity of the conditions I experienced were unusual.

The restaurant serves both Indonesian and Western cuisine, and set the bar very high for the rest of my trip, I was disappointed whenever I went anywhere else!

The rooms were spacious, clean, and well laid out and had everything anyone could desire in a room, except a tv ( but why could you possibly need one anyway?) the only downside was that the electrical sockets seemed to have been installed by someone who was not a qualified electrician, welcome to Indonesia! Make sure your adaptor has some sort of safety device built into it!

The staff at this resort were brilliant, from the driver who picked me up at the airport to the receptionist, the dive guides, and even the general staff.

After reading this review you are probably thinking this place sounds nice, but I bet its pricey. Not so. I was quoted more for a all- inclusive package, that did not include a private dive guide, I.e. I would be diving in a group at set times with an unknown insta-buddy, at the resort behind ocean view!
Websites Ocean View tulamben   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Western Australia, south coast to ningaloo, Florida, raja ampat
Closest Airport Bali Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm, choppy
Water Temp 26-27°C / 79-81°F Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 10-15 M / 33-49 Ft

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Personal dive guide, do whatever you want within recreational limits. Dive where, what and how you like, (within reason)
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities 5 stars
UW Photo Comments I am not a photographer, however, this was critter heaven on black sand, and I would go so far to say that the slope next to the wreck was a better dive than the wreck itself. The dive guide was the best critter finder I've ever had, seemed to have them trained. The wreck itself would be worth a go with a wide angle lens. There were designated photographer rinse tubs and other facilities. The dive guides were excellent at assisting with the tricky entry and exit.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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