Best Bali Liveaboard Reviews
The Famous Island of Bali and the waters separating it from Komodo, are packed with Legendary Scuba Diving, which can be Best Experienced through a Bali Liveaboard.
Although many folks who find themselves in this part of Indonesia opt for a Komodo Liveaboard, and indeed many Komodo and Bali Liveaboards follow a very similar destination itinerary, there are a few differences.
Most Komodo Liveaboards focus entirely on providing Kickass Scuba Diving around the Phenomenal Waters that surround Komodo National Park.
Don’t get us wrong…Komodo National Park is one of the World’s Greatest Dive Destinations and not something you will tire of any time soon (sic: ever)!
Booking yourself a Komodo Liveaboard, might just be the best Scuba Diving Choice you ever make.
But if what you crave is a glimpse beyond the waters around Komodo in this fabled region of Indonesia, then a Bali Liveaboard might be for you.
You see, the routes between Bali, Maumere, and Labuan Bajo give you a few extra peaks into the wonders of this still mysterious region. For More info Check out Our Bali Liveaboard Diving Highlights Section!
From wrecks, to volcanos, to wildlife, to beautiful corals you can see a little bit of everything with Bali Liveaboards, so we decided to give you a quick overview of Diving Squad’s all time Favourite Bali Liveaboards
- See the volcanos of Sangeang and Banta along with the Waters around Bali!
- Daily price: €€
- 10 Days/9 Nights
- Operates Year Round
The Bali-Komodo itineraries offered by the Mermaid I liveaboard are amongst the best overall methods to catch of glimpse Bali’s splendor. From comfortable and thoughtful onboard amenities all through the diving, you’re in for a treat from beginning to end.
For the diving aspect of this trip you’ll be taken to the spectacular sights that accompany Sangeang volcano and Banta island. The black sands of both these volcanic locations make for ideal muck diving.
But there is also more than enough beautiful coral reefs full of snappers, sweetlips, and parrot fish to go around, especially at the hydrothermal vents at Sangeang! Amongst all this beauty you’ll likely spot plenty of reef sharks such as white and black tips along with ever lurking barracudas!
You’ll have your choice of 4 different cabins ranging from budget to master suites, all of which have plenty of storage, en-suite bathrooms, and individual air-conditioning.
The plush indoor saloon and relaxing outdoor sundeck both offer the perfect place to recharge in-between dives and digest the delicious meals that are served up onboard.
All this combined with the mermaid I liveaboard diving adventures makes this our best overall recommendation for diving near Bali!
Diving Squad Presents:
Best Bali Liveaboard for Luxury & Advanced Divers
Visits the beautiful volcanic islands of Sangeang and Banta, and the coast of Bali
Daily price: €€€
Trip Length: 12 Days/11 Nights
Operates Year Round
Just 14 guests enjoy the near limitless luxury of the Mutiara Laut liveaboard. Every cabin features a double bed with en-suite bathrooms while topside you have your choice between a beautifully furnished indoor lounge or outdoor sundeck, both providing ideal places to relax. The kitchen also produces stellar gourmet food that perfectly fuels the diving adventures.
While much of this liveaboard’s itinerary covers areas in Komodo that we’ve already discussed, the routes between Bali, Maumere, and Labuan Bajo give you a few extra peaks into the wonders of this region.
Gili Banta – or Banta island – and Sangeang Island will both give you a peak into critter filled muck diving where you may possibly spot an octopus or Cuttlefish! The nutrient rich waters of both islands are also ideal for vibrant corals of orange, green, and red that are absolutely perfect to explore!
While off Bali, your itinerary may take you to the famous USAT liberty wreck near the pristine Amed beach. What’s more, the minimum number of dives to join these trips sits at 50, so you can be sure of an adventure to match your skills!
If the allure of Bali diving is too much for you to pass up, and you’d prefer to complete your diving adventures in comfort, then the Mutiara Laut liveaboard is for you. Phenomenal accommodation, amenities, and diving all come together to provide a once in a lifetime experience that you’ll always remember!
- See beautiful Bali and the marvels of Sangeang and Banta islands.
- Daily price: €155
- Trip Length: 8 Days/7 Nights
- Operates Year Round
If you’d prefer to experience the fantastic diving of Banta island on a more budget friendly trip, then the Empress II is just for you.
Their occasional Komodo-Bali routes include the very best that Komodo National Park has to offer, but also throws in Banta island which resides outside of the park.
The four different types of cabins are adequately furnished without too many frills to ensure your costs stay low, but with only 10 guests aboard you’ll still feel an exclusive aura as you relax in the comfortable lounge or sprawl out on the sundeck.
Beneath the waves you’ll learn just how fertile the waters around volcanos are as you explore everything Sangeang island has to show you.
From hydrothermal vents hosting blazing green and red corals to black sands that hide waspfish, devilfish, and the occasional octopus, you’re sure to enjoy every last minute exploring this volcano’s secrets.
Banta island will provide yet another volcanic themed adventure as you dive into the bay that used to be its crater and explore the beautiful gorgonian fans, sponges, and corals that have since taken up residence.
If the waters around Bali and Gili Banta have forever captured your imagination, then the Empress II liveaboard is our top recommendation for experiencing these areas on a budget, or if you are still relatively new to diving. Striking corals and wildlife along with a personable, comfortable, and friendly shipboard atmosphere are all within your reach!
3 Diving Highlights of Bali Liveaboards
Sangeang Volcano
A definite ‘can’t miss’ volcano in the waters between Bali and Komodo that should be on every diver’s list.
The wonders it holds are truly jaw-dropping; from phenomenal muck diving in volcanic black sand where you can possibly spot waspfish, octopus, and devilfish; to blazing colors of red and green coral at active hydrothermal vents.
Sangeang definitely makes for some truly epic diving and life-long memories!
Tulamben - USAT Liberty Wreck
Directly off the shores of Bali lies the famous Liberty wreck that was torpedoed in 1942 and towed to the beach for salvage.
The wreck stayed there until 1963 when a nearby eruption at Agung mount pushed it slightly offshore into the ocean where it is now a beautiful home for corals, jackfish, and bump head parrotfish.
Just to the south, you’ll also find Amed beach which is perfect for black sand muck or wall diving.
Gili Banta
This partially submerged volcano in the waters between Komodo and Bali offers a huge range of different diving opportunities from reef, to muck, to open water, all of which can take place within the bay that used to be the crater of a volcano!
The nutrient rich water is home to a plethora of fish including stargazers, snappers, and sweetlips all the way to larger reef sharks and barracudas.
You’ll also see beautiful corals throughout the volcanic rock forming striking reefs that are all ripe for diving!
Bali Diving Season
May-October: Primary diving season. This is generally the driest and hottest portion of the year for a sizeable chunk of Indonesia, including Bali – and is therefore one of the best times to dive as the weather is very clear and calm.
November – April: Monsoon season. This marks the rainy and volatile weather period for much of Indonesia. The increase in rain can definitely have a detrimental effect on diving visibility, but that doesn’t stop many divers from visiting during this time!
Just be prepared for slightly more unpredictable weather. Additionally, the rainy season also tends to be the high season for mantas in the area if you want to spot a few during your trip!
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EPIC FAIL HUMANITY:
- Over 18 billion pounds of plastic enters the World’s Oceans every year. That’s enough trash to cover every foot of coastline around the world with five full trash bags of plastic (Every. Year).
- As well as containing it’s own toxic chemicals, like BPA, plastic absorbs even more potent toxins from other pollutants in the Ocean such as oil, untreated sewage and radioactive waste.
- Plastic is indestructible and never degrades. Instead it simply breaks down into smaller pieces which accumulate together, en masse.
- Today, each square mile of ocean has over 45,000 pieces of plastic floating in it.
- Plastic is mistaken for food and eaten by marine animals. Because it can’t be digested, it fills their stomachs and causes them to starve to death.
- For those “lucky” individuals that don’t eat plastic, the toxic chemicals present in every part of sea water from plastic, wreck havoc throughout the ecosystem causing changes in animals behaviour, immune systems and reproduction.
- There are 200 known ‘dead zones’, or areas deprived of oxygen and devoid of life, (area between 1 and 70,000 km²), in the world ocean, due to plastic: this number has doubled every decade since 1960.
- Chemicals in heavily polluted waters can make their way back to us and cause serious health issues like reproductive problems, hormonal problems, kidney damage, and nervous system damage.
- It’s estimated that by the year 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish (by weight). AND IT’S GETTING WORSE
The Time to Act is NOW
To Diving Squad, the grizzly stats above are appalling, tragic and completely UNACCEPTABLE. That’s why we are working hard towards combating plastic pollution in the ocean.
How do we do this? Through spreading awareness, providing informative guides on eco friendly diving and donating 10% of all profits that we make towards combating plastic pollution in the Ocean.
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We then donate 10% of this towards Marine Conservation Schemes that target plastic pollution.
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So help us…help you…help the Ocean. Together, we can do this.
To which Marine Conservation charity do we donate, you might ask? Our squad is already hard at work selecting the ideal candidate. The winner will be announced at the end of 2019. Have a suggestion? We’d love to hear… If we pick your suggestion, there just might be something in it for you…
Contact us at: Alex Hatton: ajhatton55@gmail.com (Grand Admiral at Diving Squad).
