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Dive Review of Reef Seen in
Indonesia/Bali: Pemuteran

Reef Seen : "Reef Seen Divers Resort in Bali", Nov, 2014,

by John Woolley, WA, US (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 11 reports). Report 7857.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling 5 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Starting my 36th year of scuba diving meant I was turning 60 (don’t forget, 60 is the new 40). So, I decided to turn 60 with style, sharing the joyous occasion with the island of Bali.

After a few trips in the 1980’s, we rediscovered the island five years ago, after a trip to Raja Ampat. Last year, after our second Raja Ampat trip, we ventured to the north part of Bali, to Pemuteran. Specifically, Reef Seen divers resort (Undercurrent readers can see my review from last year). Obviously, the first trip to Reef Seen was wonderful, as my 40th birthday (okay, 60th) needed to happen with style.

And what style. With no internal flights, I had a two bag--with each at 50 pounds--luggage limit, which meant five bottles of champagne would accompany me.

We spent the first few days in Bali in Ubud, the art capital of the island. When you go to Bali, do make certain you spend a few days to absorb the art in Bali, which seems to flow through the DNA of the Balinese.

Then it was two days in the mountains, with hikes and waterfalls, at 1,000 meters. This meant, for the first time ever in Indonesia, campfires and two blankets. What fun. After that, off to the coast for 10 days of diving.

The diving in Pemuteran is wonderful, as Chris and the crew at Reef Seen have worked on protecting the reefs since the early 90’s. A true testimony to how it can be done: protecting the reefs while benefiting the village--I continue to marvel. Not to say of course that everything is perfect: still too damn many plastic bags and plastic water bottles, with little solid-waste disposal infrastructure (be good and take a bag with you to buy stuff. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get around the need for disposal water bottles).

The Reef Seen “resort”, which is on the beach, has 10 very tasteful rooms. It’s not five star luxury, but very comfortable. There are many, many restaurants in easy walking distance, with the resort serving breakfast, light lunches, and beer until 10 (the important issue). And we do love Balinese cooking.

Most of the diving is just a few minutes by boat, with back rolls to get in. About 4 times a week, the resorts “big” boat goes to Menjangan Island: I’d recommend going there as many times as you can. While the local reefs are really nice, the diving at Menjangan is special. You kind of think your splurging, going to Menjangan, and then you calculate the Rupiah to Dollar exchange rate, and realize your “splurge” means you are paying about $35 a dive. In other words, go ahead and splurge.

One special treat this trip. We went with two friends who are both fish biologists, who live and breath fish, and of course eat a lot of fish. They had a local fisherman take them out into the Java Sea, about an hour’s ride. There they hit massive Jack fish and tuna schools, accompanied by about 200 dolphins. Needless to say, we had one yummy barbeque that night.

Enough said? Yes, I highly recommend Reef Seen and Pemuteran.
Websites Reef Seen   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Raja Ampat, Komodo, Thailand, Belize, Saba, Bahamas, Puget Sound, Australia, Honduras, Philippines
Closest Airport Dempasar Getting There We fly Seattle-Taipai-Bali

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm
Water Temp 81-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 30-50 Ft/ 9-15 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Most of the diving on the reefs is 75 or fewer feet. Our average dive was about 65 minutes, as the water is calm and the diving is relaxed.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? no

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Because the diving is mostly just a short boat ride, not much accommodation needed.
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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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