CANDIDASA ISLAND

Candidasa is the ideal base for explorations, as well as a quieter alternative to the southern centres. From here see Bali's spectacular unspoiled natural beauty- dramatic views of the sacred volcano Mount Agung; lush green rice terraces clinging to steep valley walls; traditional villages following old-age customs; vivid ritual ceremonies; and seas rich in coral and marine life.

DIVING AROUND CANDIDASA

CANDIDASA & PADANG BAI
Amuk Bay, with the villages of Padang Bai in the south and Candidasa in the north, is about 4 miles across and located on Bali's east coast. Close to Candidasa there are two larger islands, Tepekong and Biaha, as well as an area with small rocks called Mimpang or Batu Tiga. The diving in this area is astonishingly rich.

Batu Tiga (Mimpang)
This site comprises three rocks that jut up from the ocean. It is suitable for both divers and snorkellers as the shallows have good hard coral cover. The dive site is a steep sloping wall covered with hard and soft corals. There is abundant fish-life with schools of blue lined snapper, unicorn fish, and butterfly fish. Moray eels are commonly found and white-tip reef sharks are usually in residence.

Tepekong
The dive site is a steeply sloping wall along the north and east faces of the island. There are several caves at depths of 15-30m in which sharks are occasionally found. The site has excellent coral cover with extensive stands of stag horn coral (acropora) and massive bommies as well as soft corals. Angelfish, Moorish idols and butterfly fish are commonly sighted. Mola-mola (giant sunfish) have been sighted here in cold water conditions that occur in September and October.
A more demanding dive is to be had in the canyon at the southwest side of the island. The currents here attract schools of feeding fish and predators. Usually the water is cold and there are strong currents, so this site is for experienced divers only and conditions have to be right to dive here.

Amuk Bay
The dive site is a steep slop covered in hard corals. It is often swept by currents. The site is renowned for its macro-life with a good selection of nudibranchs to be found. There is an abundance of smaller reef fish such as anthias and basselets.

Blue Lagoon (Tanjung Sari)
This is a small beach northeast of Padang Bai. You start the dive on a sandy slope then dive on a large wall and on several large coral blocks. It is a very good place for small animals like nudibranchs and flatworms, but you also always find frogfish as well as ribbon eels and sometimes a cat shark. But the most interesting sight is a reddish Rhinopias-scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri). Night dives are excellent in Tanjung Sari (Blue Lagoon).

Gili Biaha (Likman Island)
There is a blowhole which spouts jets of water, so Biaha looks like a large whale! This dive site is not for beginners. The inside area of the crescent (the east side of Biaha) has a cave large enough for several divers to enter (4 to 5 m high). In the cave there are nearly always several white tip reef sharks.

Cemeluk
Cemeluk is found at the eastern end of Amed bay. With a sandy centre, the bay has profuse coral growth on the east side, and a good wall starting at its eastern end. The dive offers a good variety of hard and soft corals with a good representation of gorgonian fans and barrel sponges. Fish life is profuse and colourful.

Tulamben
The premier dive site of North Bali is the Liberty wreck found only 50m off-shore. During WWII the ship was torpedoed and beached, and in 1963 spectacularly slid into the ocean during the eruption of Mt Agung. It is SE Asia's most dived wreck.

Approximately 100m long, the wreck is close to shore and easily reached from the beach. The hull is badly broken up, with the stern at 5m and the bow pointing towards the deep at 28m. While the wreck is not whole, it is so large that parts of the hold are intact and accessible. A second site in Tulamben is called the Drop-off and it is equally impressive.

About 500 m to the east of the Liberty wreck and close to the temple, the underwater wall drops to a depth of 60m (the top is around 3 to 5 m). There are three coral covered lava spurs that reach down to 50 or 60m but usually you dive at the one that lies to the west of the temple. The wall is home to large barrel sponges. On the first spur at 30m is a huge Muricella gorgonian fan, which is over 2m in diameter! This spectacular gorgonian fan is also where pygmy seahorses are occasionally found. There is good soft coral cover along the wall. There are a number of cleaner shrimp stations and nudibranchs both on the wall and in the shallows.

LOTUS BUNGALOWS

Lotus Bungalows is located at the entrance of Candidasa and is only 1.5 hours away from the International Airport. With a very high standard of service and comfort, it is the perfect place for honeymooners, diving enthusiasts and anyone who wants to leave the beaten path without forgoing comfort or convenience.

Lotus Bungalows features twenty bungalows, each with elegant furnishings, a Balinese-style open air bathroom with hot and cold water and a veranda overlooking the ocean. Each of the room's furnishings reflects the beauty of Bali.

Mini-bar
Private veranda facing the sea
Beach beds
Balinese style bath room
Hair dryer
Complimentary coffee and tea maker
Complimentary bottled drinking water
Other services we offer include:
Concierge service
Ticket reconfirmation
IDD calls
Safety deposit boxes at Front Office

The Swimming Pool Bask in the warmth of the tropics around Lotus Bungalows' large swimming pool which overlooks the Lombok Strait. At one end there is a children's area and at the other a sunken bar, making this elegant pool the perfect place to relax.

The Restaurant serves a wide choice of Mediterranean and Indonesian dishes to delight your taste buds, all prepared with fresh local produce.

DIVING CENTRE:

Gangga Divers, already well established in Gangga Island Resort & Spa, Manado, North Sulawesi, operates the PADI Gold Palm Diving Centre where the highest international standards of diving safety, and personal service are upheld. The Diving Centre is perfectly located in the best position to reach the best dive sites in Bali, including Candidasa's Tepekong Canyon, Tulamben's Liberty Wreck and Padang Bai's dive sites.

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