We decided to dive with AquaMarine as they have a 5 Day/4 nights ADEX promotion which is a real bargain. Its $550 all inclusive, equipment and insurance included. If you think of it, its actually more expensive to go Tioman if you calculate the number of days and dive included in the package. On top of that, divers who had dived with them have always good thing to say about them.
Everything was exceptional, right from the start. Email follow-ups are speedy and detailed and Barbara are so patience and attentive with your request. They have new equipments, boats and buses are very comfortable and staffs are extremely professional yet friendly. Our guide, Muly is humorous and accommodating. In fact, all of them are!
They are big on safety. Our first dives at Crystal Bay, there are 2 of us, plus Tamsyn, their off-duty staff. We have 2 guides among us. It’s low season but then again, 2 guides for 3 divers? It’s very impressive. During briefing we were told that, one of them will lead and one of them will go down deeper to look for the Molas. We just hover around the 15-20 meters to save air and as it quite cold as it get deeper, not to mention the erratic current. Now that is awesomeness!
We didn’t get to see the Molas but that’s no fault of theirs but we get to see at least 9 or 10 mantas at Manta Point. We dived 3 times at Crystal Bay but no sign of Molas, its not the season anyway. We did get to see the famous orangutan crab. Our 3rd day was 3 dives at Tulamben. It was a relaxing dive, from mating squids, baby lionfish to schooling of jacks and of course the impressive wreck. Our bottom time was between 60 -70 mins. It was all good!
Our accommodation at Candidasa was at the Natia, a beachfront resort. It was nice, except for the faulty water pump that have shampoo dried out of your hair. But overall it was ok. After the last dive, we got to stay in a beautiful villa at Seminyak which we extend for another day, just to enjoy the luxury.
It was a very good trip and I must say I am very impressed with AquaMarine. Now I am contemplating to go again in Oct for the Molas with them. If any of you are going to Bali, I strongly recommend you to go with AquaMarine. You can contact Barbara at barbara@aquamarinediving.com and you’ll see what I mean.
