Bali Macro Diving
Only true macro lovers know how to appreciate the small things in life. It is easy to spot a shark or manta, but to find little yet fascinating animals takes some trained eyes and years of practice. That is why, we invite you on a three-day journey on locations we know perfectly as we have them as second home.
You will search for little critters with our skilled and patient guide who understands that it takes time to observe them closely. If you are also diving in Bali with underwater camera, he will wait for you while you are taking your new favourite diving photograph.
Learn more about Bali macro diving
Padangbai Bali is our home and we have dived here for more than 15 years. We perfectly know where to dive in Padangbai and will gladly show you the best of what it has to offer. For your macro adventures, we have chosen Jepun and Jetty. The Padagbai Jetty was built as a docking station for cruise ships, but was never used in such way.
In a few years of its existence, the pillars have been covered by soft corals. It is one big nursery for juvenile fishes what attracts hunters like frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, wasp-fish, mantis shrimps, cuttlefish, sepias, octopus so make sure you have your camera ready.
If you are passionate about unusual marine species, you can spend plenty of time at Jepun without getting bored. Here we will explore the white sand slope that is home to all kinds of small animals. This place is very photogenic, enjoyable, easy to dive and usually without current. If you are lucky seahorses, crabs, shrimps, nudibranchs and rhinopias will join you here.
Why Tulamben Bali? Because in one day of diving you will have fun at the famous USS Liberty shipwreck and see the dazzling variety of beautiful macro at the same time. First of all, we will start at the charming wreck, which quickly became home to tons of small creatures. In fact, it resembles more of an artificial reef than the actual shipwreck. Doesn’t matter how many times we have dived in Tulamben, this is one of those Bali dive sites where there is always something new to discover.
Next, we will explore the Seraya secret or Melasti. Compared to busy shipwreck, these spots can seem rather empty for an untrained eye. However, you, as a true macro lover, will appreciate all the little critters that live here. You have chance to find harlequin shrimp, tiger shrimp, nudies Shaun the sheep and Doto. Some parts evolved into cleaning stations where small shrimps restlessly clean larger fishes from parasites in a beautiful symbiosis.
Before you even get into the water, you will be pleased by Bali Amed’s landscape framed by majestic Agung volcano and traditional Balinese village. We start diving at Bunutan with black sand – making an interesting background for your pictures. If you have never dived on bottom, even well-known species will suddenly seem new for you.
During this colourful dive, you will see numerous garden eels at the depth of 5 meters, and we will search for nudies and mimic octopus too! As soon as you will go further down, the current will pick you up and take you to a slope with sea fans, sponges and large schools of various small fishes. As we descend further, you might even spot some barracuda or giant trevally as well as healthy coral reefs.
The second dive of the day will be at Pyramids. This dive site is characteristic by pyramid-like concrete block structures. They were created by fishermen 20 years ago in order to attract large fishes. However, the opposite happened and now it is a nursery for little creatures.
You can find many cleaning shrimps and a variety of crabs in every pyramid. There is also a chance to see various nudies, leaf scorpionfish or a blue-spotted stingray. We will finish the dive at fun drift in the shallow drop off with nice scenery, sometimes even followed by turtles.
- 3 days of diving, 2 guided morning dives each day for 2 divers
- Nitrox for certified divers
- Scuba equipment
- Refreshments on the boat between the dives (tea, fruit, cookies)
- Lunch at our restaurant after the dives (set menu: main course and water)
- Transport from OK Divers to the dive sites
- Dive center facilities – showers, toilets, pool
