Dive & Protect The Reef In Bali (6D5N)

Dives in the best of Bali :

Serangan Island, Gili Manuk, Menjangan Island, Tulamben, Amed Area, Sanur, Nusa Penida.


Eco Projects and Activities:

• Karya Segara Reef Restoration Association, in collaboration with Planet Nomadas - adopt and plant a baby coral,
  
• TCEC Turtle Conservation and Education Centre - learn about turtle conservation and release a baby turtle,
  
• SERC (Scientific Education Research Centre),The Friends of Menjangan Initiative, Biosphere Foundation, Yayasan Dwi Asih Sejahtera – activities that make a direct contribution to the conservation of the natural environment and wildlife of Menjangan Island. Potential activities include Crown of Thorns population control, Coral Reef Identification, Tree reforestation,
  
• Reefcheck Organisation Indonesia - Learn about marine monitoring and conservation, complete two coral reef surveys, contribute to Scientific Reef Monitoring for promotion of Marine Protected Area,
  
• Local Desalination Project - visit local community run salt producing business,
  
• GUS Foundation (dedicated to improving Bali’s environment) - visit Waste Processing Facility, information about how we can have positive impact as tourists,
  
• The Coral Triangle Center - marine conservation activity, canoe tour of community run seaweed farms and mangrove plantations.
  

 

Day 1	SANUR - SERANGAN- SANUR (1 Dive + 1 Snorkel) Today we spend the day visiting two locally run organizations that are really making a difference through marine conservation projects. Departing after breakfast we make our way to Serangan Island stopping on the way at Karya Segara, a community-owned Coral Reef Restoration Initiative. This organization was set up by the local fishing community to rehabilitate the reef by replanting it, one coral at a time, and therefore sustain the fish populations upon which they depend. You will learn about the work Karya Segara are doing and then head out to the reef nursery for our conservation dive. You will get a little tour of the underwater nursery and bio-rock that holds most of the Serangan’s coral community, get the unique opportunity to adopt and plant your very own baby coral onto the artificial reefs. Don’t worry if you’ve never done this before, we’ll show you how. So you can see how your baby coral is growing, the team at Karya Segara will take one underwater picture every six months over the next 3 years and send it to you via email. After our dive we take a lunch break and then continue our trip to Serangan Island to visit the Turtle Conservation and Education Center (TCEC). Previously sea turtles used to lay eggs on the shoreline of this island, but sadly due to over development and other pressures turtle numbers have declined, with the formerly common green turtle now said to be virtually extinct in this area. TCEC was set up to promote turtle conservation, monitor turtle numbers and develop alternative livelihoods to local people that do not involve the illegal trading of turtles. At the Center you will learn more about turtles, the conservation project and also have the opportunity to experience releasing a baby turtle into the ocean! Once we’ve watched your turtles swim into the blue we head back to our dive shop in Sanur for an overnight stay and to reflect on our day over a beer.
Day 2	SANUR - PERMUTERAN (1 Dives) We depart from Sanur early in the morning for our adventure and take the scenic route towards to our favorite part of Bali, the quieter northwest coast. There’s plenty to see out the window and you’ll notice a change in the pace of life and the more rural landscapes. On the way we stop off at Gili Manuk for our clean up dive. This is a shallow site right beside one of the biggest ports in Bali which makes it great for muck diving and spotting a whole variety of little critters. When we’ve finished our first dive we continue our drive north to West Bali National Park (in Indonesian Taman Nasional Bali Barat). This park is the only National Park in Bali covering 158 square kilometers (61 sq mi) land and the remainder is sea. Several habitats exist in the national park, including savanna, mangroves, forests, and coral islands. We love the beauty and diversity here, and the diving of course, it’s really special! After lunch at a local warung (restaurant), we will visit the facilities of SERC – the Scientific Education & Research Centre – inside the National Park. Here you will learn more about the park and what projects and activities are going on to care for and protect the local natural environment and wildlife. You will participate in some of these activities as part of the safari, and others are optional at an additional cost. After our visit to SERC we will go with a local guide to a tree nursery located nearby. The area suffers from an invasive species called Lantana. We will help the staff here remove this species and clear the area so new trees can be planted. At an additional cost you can also choose to plant your own tree. Sunset is something that’s not to be missed in Bali; we will watch it this night from the Bird Watching Tower where you can also spot Bali Starlings and local Deer. After sunset we will stay overnight in a hotel in the nearby town of Pemuteran.
Day 3	WEST BALI NATIONAL PARK (2 Dives) After breakfast we transfer to the port and jump on a fishing boat for a leisurely cruise to the stunning Menjangan Island (or Deer Island). During this trip to Menjangan we will be doing two dives to support the work of the Friends of Menjangan Initiative. This project works in partnership with the Biosphere Foundation and Yayasan Dwi Asih Sejahtera, a community-based association who develop projects that are dedicated to the care and protection of Menjangan Island and its coral reefs. The main aim of our two dives, apart from enjoying the magnificent, healthy reefs of course, will be to make a direct contribution to the conservation of the island. Examples of projects the team have been working on are spotting and removing Crown of Thorns Starfish, coral bleach identification, reef and beach cleans. We will select our dive sites with the main aim of supporting their activities. After our dives, we have lunch on the boat and then take a mangrove tour around the coastline and visit the island’s re-plantation programme. Once back on the mainland you have the afternoon free to do as you wish. If you want you can get involve in some of the other activities the Friends of Menjangan offer, which include trekking, tree planting, bird watching (These activities are additional extras and are not included in the safari). Or if you prefer you can just relax on the beach, read a book, or take a beer. By the end of this day you will receive a certificate of participation in conservation issued by Friends of Menjangan and National Park Authorities as a thank you for your help. After we’ve finished with our Menjangan fun we return to our hotel in Pemuteran for a second night.
Day 4	PERMUTERAN - TULAMBEN (1 Dive + 1 Night Dive) After breakfast we head in the direction of Tulamben where the infamous US Liberty WWII Wreck is found. This is one of our favorite spots in Bali not only for the diversity of marine life, but also because it is actually the biggest artificial reef in Bali. We’re also really lucky because it is very easy to dive as it is close to the shore and accessible to all levels. To make sure you experience the best of this incredible site we do two dives on the wreck - one in the day and one at night - this way you get to experience the real diversity of this site. If you’ve not done a night dive before, don’t worry, we can show you how; it’s a really safe and magical environment for your first experience. After our day diving, we stay overnight in a hotel in Tulamben.
Day 5	TULAMBEN - AMED – GIANYAR (2 Dives) After breakfast we will go to Amed to get ready for the next Eco activity part of your adventure. First we offer you the opportunity to learn and experience reefs in a totally new way by completing two coral reef monitoring dives. It’s a really fun way to get some new skills, learn more about marine conservation and monitoring, as well as know that you are contributing approved scientific data to Reef check Indonesia, a reputable international conservation organization. We complete the dives in the calm waters of Amed, famed for its wall dives and spectacular sponges and soft coral. Before the two dives we give each of you an Eco-diver Kit that includes: a measuring tape, a plastic board & pencil and an underwater identification guide. You will learn how to use the kit to survey a precise area that needs to be sampled which includes identifying and logging species. All data you collate is logged with Reef check Indonesia and it is hoped that the data will enable them to push for a Marine Protected Area in the near future. We also give you a recycled paper certificate made by local children proving your contribution to environmental conservation. After your busy morning diving we provide you with a well earned fish barbeque lunch on the beach. All fish is caught by local fisherman from their small jukung, this means its super fresh and supports the local community. After lunch we make a couple of short stops to visit two different Eco projects that are making a real difference in Bali. The first one is a small community run project that’s providing livelihoods for local people. A Desalination Project has been set up on the beach in Amed which then produces salt which local people can sell. It’s a fascinating project to see at as the only resource they are using is ocean water. The second stop is to visit Bali’s Model Waste Processing Facility in Gianyar. Run by the GUS Foundation – a nonprofit organization committed to improving Bali’s environment - this plant is essential in helping to address the increasing amount of waste produced in Bali, much of which is a direct result of tourism. The facility is unique in that it avoids methane generation from landfill by a forced aeration composting processes which improves water and air quality. After this stop we head back to our hotel in Sanur for an overnight stay.
Day 6	NUSA PENIDA (1 Dives) After breakfast we go to Sanur harbor to take a speed boat to Nusa Penida, a beautiful island with a Jurassic feel, to the east of Bali. Here we will choose one of the many dive sites available for our first dive of the day. This will be a fun dive, so the aim is to relax and enjoy this stunning underwater world. Our second dive will support the activities of The Coral Triangle Center (part of The Nature Conservancy) which manages the Marine Park around Nusa Penida as well as others within the Indonesian waters. Depending on the needs of the Centre you may be involved in numerous activities including making boat moorings and buoys, and planting coral on artificial reefs. After lunch in the beautiful Crystal Bay, we will head off on a canoeing adventure. First we will visit the seaweed farms, one of the biggest income providers for the local community. Here you will see how the seaweed is grown, farmed and then turned into products for sale. After this our journey continues to the mangrove forests where you will learn about the importance of mangroves in maintaining the balance of the local ecosystem and also have the opportunity to contribute to their conservation by planting your very own mangrove tree. After this busy and unforgettable day we will head back to Sanur where our Eco adventure will come to an end. But, of course, you are always welcome to join us at our dive center for a few drinks to reflect on your week’s adventure.
Dive & Protect The Reef In Bali (6D5N) Guest Number   Public Price 2 People € 800 4 People or + € 750 INCLUDED : Dive Equipment Tanks Weights + Weight belt Transportation Accommodation with breakfast Lunch Drinks (Non Alcoholic) Marine Park Fees Dive guide fee EXCLUDED : Extra dive Dinner Laundry Extra bed Tips Welcome to the Eco-Diving, the diving you get involved with! What is Ecodiving? Ecotourism: “Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people” The idea of the eco-diving appears from mixing both the world of diving together with the concept of a sustainable tourism. This time you are involved in marine conservation. How do you become responsible? Because your actions in your visit to Bali this time will count. You are about to be involved in the world of diving from a different point of view. Part of your dives will be used for scientific and conservation purposes. You will help the promotion of a Marine Protected Area by collecting underwater data or you will release a turtle hatching to help in the conservation of an endangered species. How do you improve well-being of local people? These actions you take are helping and supporting the local community projects and local NGOs that are involved in marine conservation or restoration of the marine environments. Who are you helping when you participate in an Eco-diving safari or dive? Depending on what part of Bali you want to dive at, you will be helping one of the main marine conservation NGOs present in the area. By taking an Eco-safari you will actively promote and support the following initiatives: Karya Segara: Coral Reef Restoration and bay seahorse nursery, Turtle Center Educational Center: Prevents illegal baby turtle egg poaching, recovery center and release, The Reef Check Organization: Underwater surveys for Marine Protected Area Promotion, The Friends of Menjangan: Care and protection of Menjangan island, GUS Foundation: Environmental education and waste treatment, Bali Sea Turtle Society: Turtle hatching nursery and release. The price is subject to change. Please  contact us for more information.