Coral reef restoration diving in Bali. Join a scuba diving program specializing in coral restoration in Indonesia. You'll learn all about coral reef restoration and take advantage of your days off to visit Bali! All stays in Indonesia
Coral reef restoration
Our partner Bali Conservation Diving is a diving center located in Tulamben, north-east Bali. It offers coral reef restoration programs, PADI diving courses and guided dives around the island. Conservation projects are carried out with local communities who build and deploy artificial reefs in areas where coral has disappeared. Artificial reefs enable coral larvae to settle and develop naturally in sandy areas where they would otherwise be unable to do so. They are also designed to incorporate complex habitats for fish, and can rapidly transform a barren ocean floor into an ecosystem rich in biodiversity.
The role of divers is essential
Divers are essential to the reef restoration project. They dive several times a week at four restoration sites to deploy the artificial reefs alongside members of the local community. In the morning, the divers set up the artificial reef structures to create an ecosystem conducive to the return of fish. The second dive of the morning is devoted to studying the coral and fish communities that develop on the artificial reefs. In the afternoon, the team works on the morning's observations to develop their coral and fish identification skills.
Installation of reef structures and data collection
As divers in the restoration program, your role will be essential!
Morning program
- 8 a.m.: breakfast
- 9 a.m.: You leave for one of the coral restoration sites. Transport by truck takes between 5 and 20 minutes. As soon as you arrive, you prepare for a dive to deploy the artificial reef structures. For this first dive of the day, divers work in pairs to optimally install the structures so that they can be colonized by different organisms. The divers all descend together before swimming to the deployment site. There, they remove their fins and work as a team to transport a structure.
- After a short break, you'll make a second dive to observe and record data on fish and coral reefs. You can also contribute to the assessment of coral communities by using underwater quadrats to photograph them. Coral communities develop on the artificial reef. The aim is to assess the percentage of coral cover, biodiversity and colony size.
- 12pm - 1pm: lunch at the hotel in Tulamben
- The afternoon is devoted to data processing and identification workshops. You work together to develop your coral and fish identification skills.
- After data processing, everyone has time to relax by the pool before dinner.
- 6:00 pm (dinner)
Weekly schedule
The week begins on Friday morning and ends on Monday afternoon. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are free to travel and explore Bali at your leisure before resuming on Friday.
Dates
- Between 1 and 8 weeks, all year round
- Program starts on Friday. We recommend arriving on Thursday afternoon
Rate
- 1 week: $854 (approx. €810)
- 2 weeks: $1342 (approx. €1273)
- 3 weeks: $1829 (approx. €1734)
- 4 weeks: $2195 (approx. €2081)
- 5 weeks: $2561 (approx. €2429)
- 6 weeks: $2927 (approx. €2776)
- 7 weeks: $3,293 (approx. €3,123)
- 8 weeks: $3659 (approx. €3471)
Prices in euros may vary according to exchange rates.
Included in price
- 8 dives per week
- Housing
- Food
- Airport or accommodation transfer
- Internet
Not included in price
- Airline tickets
- Visa
- Travel insurance
- Travel outside the program
- From age 16
- Families welcome with children aged 10 and over.
- Language - basic English
- Diving certification: at least PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent. Non-divers can obtain their PADI Open Water Diver certification at an additional cost.
- Minimum stay: 1 week
- Maximum stay 8 weeks
Arrival
Our partner will pick you up on Thursday from anywhere on the island of Bali. If your flight arrives on Thursday, he can also arrange for you to be picked up directly from the airport. For those whose flights land before Thursday, you can take the opportunity to travel to southern Bali before our partner picks you up on Thursday.
Housing
Your accommodation is located in the diving center in Tulamben, from where you can admire the sunrise over the ocean in the morning and the breathtaking sunsets behind the Agung volcano in the evening. Rooms have a maximum capacity of two people. Most rooms are unisex twin rooms, with two single beds, although there are a few private rooms with double beds for couples traveling together. All rooms have shared bathrooms and ceiling fans for your comfort. Our partner also has a private swimming pool and bar for you to use in your free time.
Food
Local cooks prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner from Thursday evening to Tuesday lunchtime. Food can be prepared on days off for an additional charge. Please let the partner know if you have any dietary requirements and remind the cooks of them on arrival. Prepared dishes are sourced from local markets to ensure the freshest ingredients. Each meal is served buffet-style, with different options available
Breakfast: toast, eggs, pancakes, fried bananas, fresh seasonal fruit.
Lunch and dinner : white rice or fried rice, fried noodles, fresh garden salad, pasta, chicken, fish, tofu, tempe, eggs, fried potatoes and seasonal vegetables, with a side of spicy sambal and fried crackers.
- Up to 8 dives a week, deploying artificial reef structures at four different sites to help restore Bali's damaged coral reefs.
- Improve your coral and fish identification skills by taking part in our monitoring dives before adding the data you've collected to our database.
- See for yourself the results of the restoration program by diving on the artificial reefs and meeting the new fish and coral communities that have re-established themselves.
- Explore all that Bali has to offer with short excursions in the Karangasem region and longer excursions to the best sites on the island or surrounding islands on your days off.
- Relax at the diving center in Tulamben, where you can watch the sunrise over the ocean in the morning and the breathtaking sunsets behind the Agung volcano in the evening.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are free. This is your chance to visit the area or relax by the pool! The nearest beach and snorkeling spot are just a 5-minute walk away. The famous USAT Liberty Shipwreck dive site in Tulamben is also a 5-minute drive or 30-minute walk away.
You can organize short excursions
- Sunrise boat trip with local fishermen (These morning excursions are organized by local fishermen and, if you're guaranteed an exceptional sunrise, you may also be lucky enough to see dolphins).
- An evening at Sunset Point in Amed. The relaxed atmosphere really helps to set the mood and makes for a great evening out with friends, with delicious drinks and snacks to enjoy as you watch the sun set behind Mount Agung.
- Visit Lempuyang Temple - This temple is one of the island's most famous photo spots, and for good reason. The temple doors face outwards, from where you can admire the breathtaking view of the sunset behind Mount Agung.
Discover Bali and its surroundings
- As your rest days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, you'll have plenty of time to explore Bali and the surrounding islands.
- Discover Ubud, Bali's cultural center, where you'll find the best yoga and meditation classes, as well as traditional fire dances and rice paddy cultivation...
- Enjoy southern Bali, Indonesia's most popular tourist destination.
- Discover Nusa Penida, known for its picturesque cliffs and white sandy beaches, Nusa Penida is only a short boat ride from the mainland.
- Go to the Gili Islands, a small paradise of white sandy beaches!
About the partner
Bali Conservation Diving is a diving center founded in 2022, located in Tulamben, north-east Bali. Its members are passionate about scuba diving. For many years, they have been helping local communities to preserve the coral reefs of their villages, encouraging them to defend and protect their environment. They encourage all divers to practice environmentally-friendly diving. For divers who want to go further and learn the techniques of coral study and restoration, a coral reef restoration program has been created.
