Newbie - Bali Diving

I was actually wondering how the diving is in Palau. Now that we have just
returned from Bali we are eager to plan our next get away and a friend of
mine (non-diver) told me to check out Palau. My boyfriend also heard
interesting things about a place I have never heard of (which does'nt mean
anything)- "The Bikini Atoles"? He said this place is where the US used to
test military weapons on ships so now you can dive a bunch of shipwrecks
there. Have you ever heard of it? He was also interested in the Marshall
islands, but those seem hard to get to.

--
Message posted via http://www.scubamonster.com

Hi again!
Of course- I could go on and on forever about how cool it was in Bali!
Mostly what made it so enjoyable was the people. They were soooo
hospitable and gracious to receive any kind of tourism. They love
Americans and say that we are one of the most generous of people when it
comes to tipping them. This is important to anybody but especially these
people who make about 30$ a month or much less if working in the rice
fields (which were beautiful).
Anyway, the temples were fantastic. (There are about 1000, mostly all
hindu on the island). We stayed in Ubud and loved to be near the rice
fields and the center of all the crafts like wood and stone carving. What
made it even better was having a driver for the week for about 20-45$ a day
to take us all over the place. He spoke good english and had
airconditioning (very important) but also very informative. Just in case
anyone is interested- his name is Dewa Parwita and email:
Dewaparwita@hotmail.com or Baliexplore.com
The only place that rings a bell related to water was the "spring water
temple" which was really interesting because it is built around a natural
spring and the Balanese come to bathe in it to cleanse themselves
spiritually as well as give offerings. You can actually find "offerings"
to the gods all over the place in Bali as they are extremely conscientious
when it comes to their religion. They place these little grass woven
baskets with flowers and rice, etc out in front of every house, store,
marketplace, place of business and temple you can find! A very uplifting
place and very safe. Saw many lone female travelers there.

--
Message posted via http://www.scubamonster.com

Thanks for the great photos. Looks like Malaysia is the place to be. I'm
definitely taking notes! I can't believe that blue ringed octopus!

--
Message posted via http://www.scubamonster.com

morgand@cix.compulink.co.uk wrote:
>
> ...Bikini is where we would love to
> dive.........it is expensive to get to, the island only takes about a
> dozen divers at any time........no doubt others can comment with more info
> than me...............


Expensive trip, and deep wreck diving. Better have experience with
doubles and deco before you go.




-hh

morgand@cix.compulink.co.uk wrote:

"Fiji disappointing?"

I've had 13 trips to Fiji including three live-aboards. Apparently you didn't
get out to the remote spots. There's still fanstastic diving in Fiji but not
necessarily off the edge of Viti Levu. You have to go out on a dive charter.
Otherwise, you haven't exposed yourself to the best Fiji has to offer.

In article
<{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005-19E1AB.07570813042005@news.giganews.com
>, {NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com ( H. Huntzinger)
wrote:

> Expensive trip, and deep wreck diving. Better have experience with
> doubles and deco before you go.

It is indeed expensive, have tried to find ways of getting there on the
cheap but found nothing so far, if one decides that one can afford the
cost, the realisation soon dawns that there is a lot of diving that can be
done elsewhere for half the cost.

The doubles and deco, i believe that they do give instruction before
diving takes place, but i agree some experience is required.
200feet down is not the place to "see if you like it"

Chuuk (truk) was deep in parts but there are dives that are "shallow" and
would not faze less experienced divers, the Thorrfinn did have its own
deco regime that all had to follow regardless of computers showing no deco
needed. This is where we learn to "blow rings", while hanging around
decompressing..........


Take out the "goes diving" bit....
Trip photos on line at www.morg.co.uk

"Christie via ScubaMonster.com" <forum@ScubaMonster.com> wrote in message
news:762e959e3f31443fbfc7b944e22e7b2b@ScubaMonster .com...
> Thanks for all the great pictures. Yes, we did visit Tanah lot and
thought
> it was beautiful. Noticed your pictures of Costa Rica.

Those weren't my shots of Costa Rica, maybe you saw them on one of the sites
that had pics of Tanah Lot?

>We were
> considering going there next year. Looks like there can be lots of
sharks! How was your experience?

That's what I hear, but other than Cocos, I haven't heard too much to
recommend going to CR just for the diving.

> I was also looking into whether or not we should bother bringing our scuba
> gear along with us to Puerto Vallarta in a few weeks for a 5 day get away.
> Have you heard anything positive about diving there?

Not enough to make me bother to take my gear on a 5 day get away to PV.

But have fun anyway. PV can be a blast.

In article <425D33FD.8BB480AE@pop.cybernex.net>, dkessler@pop.cybernex.net
(Daniel Kessler) wrote:

> I've had 13 trips to Fiji including three live-aboards.

I would not argue with you, only having been the once.
We went out of Pacific Harbour, what we did we enjoyed, but after Sipadan
which was on the same trip we found it Dissapointing, and while were
talking dissapointing so was the Barrier Reef, the Maldives, and my wife
refuses to dive the Northern Red Sea again.....mind you she did'nt like
Papua New Guinea while i enjoyed it.

What suits one does not allways suit another, and I've learnt that you can
do the same dive on different occasions and they're worlds apart.......

My favourite dive site.......Yolande Reef, Ras Mohamed, Sharm El Shiekh,
Red Sea.

Take out the "goes diving" bit....
Trip photos on line at www.morg.co.uk

"Christie via ScubaMonster.com" <forum@ScubaMonster.com> pounded away
at his keyboard resulting in:
:I was actually wondering how the diving is in Palau.

It's rather quite nice. Lots of soft corals, giant clams, and pretty
fishies. If you go, think about doing a liveaboard. I've done land
based and liveaboard. Land based involved very long boat rides each
day. Liveaboards might have also, but that would have been at night
or during lunch.

Dan Bracuk
If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

Costa Rica!

I love the country. I love the people! It is a piece of Heaven on earth
except for San Jose.

But the shore diving leaves much to be desired. There is too much rain and
too many rivers, resulting in brown water and minimal viz along much of the
coastline. And horrible sand fleas (no seeums).

Cocos Island is wonderful diving for pelagics but a long boat trip. I think
it is about 320 miles from the mainland.

Stay Wet.

>
>>We were
>> considering going there next year. Looks like there can be lots of
> sharks! How was your experience?
>
> That's what I hear, but other than Cocos, I haven't heard too much to
> recommend going to CR just for the diving.
>
>> I was also looking into whether or not we should bother bringing our
>> scuba
>> gear along with us to Puerto Vallarta in a few weeks for a 5 day get
>> away.
>> Have you heard anything positive about diving there?
>
> Not enough to make me bother to take my gear on a 5 day get away to PV.
>
> But have fun anyway. PV can be a blast.
>
>