• delayed surface marker buoy

    Myth Busting Drift Diving in Bali

    How much do you really know about Drift Diving in Bali? Have you heard some of these misconceptions about diving in currents?

    Here we dispel and bust the most common myths about drift diving!

    1. Drift diving is only for experienced divers

    Myth Busted!  There are currents in all bodies of water everywhere on earth, so actually a huge percentage of divers learn to dive as beginners in drifts! Drift diving isn’t a more ‘difficult’ type of diving, it’s just a different type of diving. Just as you need to plan any dive, and follow basic principles, the same applies to drift diving. Plan your dive and dive your plan!

    If you haven’t dived in drifts before and are exploring a new area with currents, you should be given a briefing before the dive in which any special procedures are explained. Listen carefully to briefings and if you are not sure about anything, ASK!!

    If you are planning to go drift diving we recommend that you brush up on your buoyancy skills if it’s been a while since your last dives. Buoyancy control is extremely important so you can avoid making contact with the reef and stay close to your buddies during your drift dives.

     

    drift diving bali
    All bodies of water are affected by currents, and drift diving can be enjoyed by divers of all experience levels.
    1. Drift Diving is Physically Challenging

    Not True!! Drift diving is the opposite – it’s actually the lazy way to dive because very little swimming is involved! Drift diving literally means diving with the drift or going with the flow.

    The main technique in drift diving is to establish neutral buoyancy and then allow the current to move you along while you simply relax and enjoy the show!

    1. Drift diving means you have to swim into the current

    No, absolutely not true. In drift diving, we dive with the current (see above) which means that we do not try to return to our entry point at the end of the dive. Drift diving opens up opportunities to explore new dives sites which are only possible to dive as drifts because swimming back into the current is not practical. On Nusa Lembongan, we dive from boats so that you can go with the drift and the boat will collect you from where you finish your dive.

     

    Jukung Balinese World Diving
    Drift diving is as easy as going with the flow and our experienced boat crew collect divers at the end of their dives
    1. Drift diving is scary

    Not with a proper briefing! If a diver is not familiar with currents and they are not given a briefing then yes, drift diving could be a scary experience – the same as any situation which you were not expecting. A thorough briefing and instructions equip divers with what they need to know, what to expect, and reduces anxiety.

    1. You can’t drift dive from a boat

    Drift diving from a boat is the best way to drift dive! Our team of boat captains and crew are trained in drift diving boat procedures which include tracking divers’ bubbles underwater and looking out for delayed surface marker buoys. These procedures enable the boat crew to maneuver the boat to the divers’ exact pickup point.

    It is also possible to make drift dives from shore in some areas but you will need adequate supervision on land to track your dive and meet you at your entry point.

     

    drift diving DSMB
    A deployed delayed surface marker buoy enables our boat crew to spot divers before they even surface
    1. You need special equipment to drift dive

    False! Drift diving requires standard dive equipment plus a Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (DSMB). A DSMB allows you to deploy your surface marker buoy prior to surfacing because it is attached to a reel or cord. For most divers, a signaling device is part of their standard equipment. All World Diving Divemasters and Instructors carry all essential items and additional spare gear so you do not need to have your own when diving here.

    1. You have to make a negative entry and fast descent when drift diving

    Myth Busted! When diving along the north coast of Nusa Penida we have kilometers of stunning coastline and reef to drift dive. There is no need to make a negative entry and a fast descent because you will not miss the dive site. In some areas,  when diving on a small submerged site or when trying to reach an exact point, a negative entry may be required but this is usually not the case around Bali.

     

    Diving Nusa Penida
    Diving in Nusa Penida from Big Boat – kilometers of reef to drift dive
    1. You don’t see as much when you are drift diving.

    Not True! When you are drift diving you see even more! Imagine riding a bicycle uphill for an hour versus going downhill. You will cover much more distance when going downhill because you don’t get tired – and this is exactly the same as diving in drift! The current moves you along rather than you expending energy which means you cover a greater distance and you don’t have to turn around at halfway and swim back – you continue in the same direction for the duration of your dive. If you want to see as much as possible, then drift diving is the way to do it!

    1. All diving around Bali and Lembongan is drift diving

    False! There are two factors that affect if a dive is a drift dive or not: the location and geography of a site, and the tides and phases of the moon.

    Not all sites are drift sites:

    Several of our sites are not drift sites because of their geographical location, some examples of these include Lembongan Bay and our House Reef, Manta Point, and Manta Bay. These sites are positioned in coves which are unaffected by the main current flow due to the shape of the reef and positioning of nearby landmasses.

    Not all drift sites always have currents:

    Our main drift sites have variable currents from no current at all through to faster drifts. The moon phase affects the tidal differences which affect currents. Around the time of full moon, there is the biggest difference between high tide and low tide which means between these two times a large body of water is moving a greater distance, so it moves faster. During neap tides, there is very little difference between high tide and low tide so the tidal exchange is very low meaning much less, to no current.

    Diving on or around high tide and low tide at any time during the lunar phase will result in much less current as the tidal exchange is mostly static. This gives us the ability to time our dive trips according to when conditions are best, unlike operators on Bali who are limited by their trip logistics and need to dive at the same time each day regardless of tides.

     

    diving bali
    Manta Bay and Manta Point are located in coves along the south coast of Nusa Penida

    Diving Techniques for Currents

    Here are a few tips to help you on your next dives:

    1. Stay behind your group leader, if you find yourself in front, wait and allow the leader to catch up and take the lead again
    2. Stay close to the reef where the currents are not as strong
    3. Try not to kick. Establish neutral buoyancy and allow the current to do the work!
    4. Stay close to your buddy
    5. Plan your dives carefully or request a thorough briefing if the planning is being handled for you
    6. Shallow up as you progress through the dive
    7. Check your air frequently and head to your safety stop at 70 bar.
    8. Surface using a delayed surface marker buoy.
    9. Have fun and enjoy the ride!!

     

    drift diving bali
    Enjoy going with the flow around Nusa Lembongan!

    Takeaway Drift Tip…

    If you are diving in an area that is known to have currents you have the opportunity to experience some phenomenal diving. To ensure you get the maximum enjoyment from your dives, choose a reputable operator, and insist on a briefing before each dive. We have over 20 years of diving experience in this region and our team has made thousands of dives at our dive sites. This local knowledge and experience allow us to plan our dives and optimize comfort and safety.

    You can also get prepared for your dives in advance by working on your buoyancy skills or taking the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Course. If you want to fully understand and master drift diving, take the PADI Drift Diver Specialty Course, or, if you are an Open Water diver, sign up for your PADI Advanced Open Water Course.

    If you plan on taking the Advanced Open Water Course here in Nusa Lembongan, we recommend taking drift diving and peak performance buoyancy as two of the optional dives included in your course.

    If you have any questions about diving around Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida, contact us or send us an email! We would love to hear from you and our team is on hand to help!

    We hope to welcome you soon to diving in Nusa Lembongan!

     

     

  • PADI Advanced Open Water in Nusa Lembongan, Bali

     

    Advanced Open Water Lembongan

     

    The PADI Advanced Open Water Course is your chance to develop your dive skills and experiment with new types of diving. It’s exciting, fun, and there are a lot of awesome dives to choose from when you are diving in Bali.

    Imagine diving to 30 meters, swimming with manta rays, or even mastering the art of underwater photography. It’s all possible when you are diving Nusa Lembongan and our surrounding area of Nusa Penida. During your Advanced Course, you’ll make 5 incredible dives in Nusa Lembongan, which include some of the most famous dive sites in the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area.

     

    Diving Nusa Penida
    Diving in Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area from Big Boat

     

    There are two required dives – a deep dive and an underwater navigation dive – and another three dives which you can choose from the following options –Drift diving, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Night diving, Underwater Naturalist, Fish ID, Boat Diving, Search and Recovery, Underwater Photography and Multilevel & Computer diving.

    Start your Advanced Open Water online now with PADI eLearning from home! Click HERE to sign up with PADI.

    In this Blog we will take a more in-depth look at the two mandatory dives and some of the options which we offer when you are diving Lembongan with us!

     

    Deep dive advanced
    Your PADI Advanced certification will certify you to dive to 30 metres

     

    Deep Dive: (Mandatory)

    Once you are certified as an Advanced Open Water Diver, you’ll be able to dive to a maximum depth of 30 meters, so it’s essential that you practise deep diving procedures during your course. In the theory section, you’ll look at depth and decompression issues as well as nitrogen narcosis. You’ll also learn how to plan dives before making one for yourself and discovering the amazing depths of scuba diving in Nusa Penida!

     

    Underwater Navigation: (Mandatory)

    Remember the compass skills from your open water course dives? The Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive refines your compass navigation skills, helps you better navigate using kick-cycles, visual landmarks and time. You’ll also discover some of the pitfalls of navigating underwater due to conditions and currents.

     

    Peak performance buoyancy
    Perfect your buoyancy skills in the Peak Performance Buoyancy dive

     

    Peak Performance Buoyancy Diving: (Optional)

    Are you still going up and down more than you’d like to? Do you use your air faster than your buddies? Do you have trouble staying still underwater? In the peak performance buoyancy dive, you’ll perfect your buoyancy skills. You’ll learn how to gauge the weights you need for diving, how to use breath control to fine tune your positioning, how to kick efficiently, and ultimately how to be more streamlined, comfortable and efficient underwater.

     

    Drift Diving: (Optional)

    There is no better place to learn drift diving than along Nusa Penida’s north coast. Drift diving is easy when you know how and it opens up a range of new dive sites. You’ll learn how to plan a drift dive and how to (literally) go with the flow. After making a drift diving entry and descent you’ll explore one of our favourite Nusa Penida dive sites and learn how to ‘read’ the currents along the way. At the end of the dive you’ll make a controlled ascent before being picked up by the boat.

     

    advanced open water
    From manta rays and turtles to Nemo, Nusa Lembongan has it all!

     

    Fish Identification: (Optional)

    Finding ‘that silver fish’ in marine life books is never easy so during the fish identification dive you’ll learn how to identify various families of fish by sight. You’ll learn how to record sightings including which features are most important to take note of in order to be able to identify the species later. You’ll find that the fish books which used to seem overwhelming suddenly make sense! With over 75% of the world’s tropical fish found at our dive sites, you’ll have plenty to learn!

    Night Diving: (Optional)

    Why limit yourself to seeing only the marine life that’s active during the day? As the sun goes down so many of Bali’s most cryptic critters come to life! You’ll learn how to plan a night dive, communicate with your buddy during a night dive, as well as mastering navigation at night. Be aware though… night diving can become strangely addictive! (Availability of night dives is subject to sea conditions and tides.)

     

    Advanced Open Water Lembongan
    Clownfish live in symbiosis with anemones. In the naturalist dive you’ll learn more about marine ecosystems

     

    Underwater Naturalist: (Optional)

    Many divers know the names of fish and various species found when scuba diving in Bali, but few divers know about the entire marine ecosystem, what it includes and how it all co-exists. During the underwater naturalist program you’ll extend your knowledge beyond fish to plants, corals, and the symbiotic relationships which hold the pieces of the puzzle together. This is a great dive for anyone interested in nature and eco-systems.

     

    Underwater Photography: (Optional)

    It’s hard to think of a better Instagram moment than when you are diving with manta rays or encounter a mola mola – which is definitely possible when you are diving in Nusa Penida. Say goodbye to blurry and blue images and say hello to crisper focus and colour! In this optional dive you’ll put into practice the SEA method (shoot, evaluate, adjust) and you’ll learn camera and housing preparation for dives, how to use underwater lights, camera settings, how to read histograms and invaluable underwater shooting techniques for capturing even the flightiest of fish!

     

    advanced open water lembongan
    Capture stunning images in the underwater photography dive

     

    Search and Recovery Diving: (Optional)

    In this adventure dive you’ll learn a variety of underwater search patterns and when to use each one and you’ll learn techniques for using a lift bag for lifting negatively buoyant objects off the bottom. During your dive you’ll put these techniques into practice – which is a rewarding challenge and a lot of fun! This is a great choice for anyone who plans to make underwater cleanup dives, or enter the diving industry on a professional or commercial level.

    Boat Diving: (Optional)

    Do you know your stern from your starboard? Learn to identify the parts of dive boats, boat diving entries and exits, signaling for boats on the surface – and the best bit of this option? Dives from our luxurious, traditional Big Boat or one of our speedy speedboats!

     

    world diving lembongan
    Learn more about diving from either big boat or one of our speed boats in the boat diving option

     

    Multilevel and Computer Diving: (Optional)

    When diving Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida we are most often diving on sloping reefs which are ideal for practising multilevel diving. A multilevel dive allows you to explore more of a dive site and have longer and safer dives than staying at depth. You’ll plan your multilevel dive then you’ll lead your instructor from level to level according to your plan! You’ll also learn how to read your dive computer (we will provide one if you do not have your own),  how to use it for dive planning, and how to retrieve dive information for your logbook after diving.

     

    Advanced Open Water
    Lembongan sunsets are the perfect way to end a day of diving in Nusa Lembongan

     

    Advanced Open Water Schedule with World Diving

    Remember the reading and theory from the open water course? The good news is that the Advanced has far less and we usually complete the course in 2 days.

    If you opt for eLearning there is a quick review (quiz) on your first day and you may need to read additional sections in the manual according to your dive choices.

    For divers taking the complete Advanced Open Water in Lembongan, there are 5 chapters to read (one for each dive) and some theory questions to review with your instructor. There is no exam for the Advanced Open Water course and reading can be done in afternoons or evenings when you are not diving.

     

    Advanced Open Water
    2 days of incredible diving, developing your dive skills, and a lot of fun!

     

    Our *2 day schedule includes a morning boat trip each day and one afternoon dive. During your 2 dive morning trips you’ll head over to Nusa Penida and dive Bali’s most vibrant and healthy coral reefs – if conditions are good you might even explore the most famous sites of Manta Point and Crystal Bay!

    You’ll dive from either our spacious traditional Big Boat or one of our smaller, speedier speedboats. A light lunch is provided during the surface interval on all boats in between dives.

    (*Scheduling is flexible to account for sea conditions, whether you opt for eLearning or theory in Lembongan, your arrival time on the first day, and your chosen dive options. To be safe, you should allow 2.5 days to complete your program)


    advanced elearning lembongan

    SPECIAL OFFER!

    Start your Advanced Open Water online now with PADI eLearning: Click HERE to sign up with PADI now.

    Book your course with us before the end of July (and pay your deposit) and we’ll give you a 30% discount in Lembongan PLUS free accommodation during your course!

    (If you can’t travel due to COVID19 we will also change your dates at no extra cost).


    Are you ready to take the plunge and become a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver? For more information or to make a reservation click here or send us an email to info@world-diving.com  and we’ll get right back to you.

    We look forward to scuba diving in Lembongan with you soon!