Bali Luxury Divers, BLD

Located in the traditional fishing village of Amed on the north-east coast of Bali, Bali Luxury Divers (BLD) has been operating since 2010. The area is defined by its unique underwater landscape, ranging from shallow shipwreck sites to dramatic drop-offs and protected coral gardens.

Amed offers a distinct diving experience compared to the busier southern parts of the island. Many of the best sites are easily accessible from the beach, making it a practical destination for those looking to combine diving with the relaxed pace of village life. The centre is approximately a three-hour drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport.

The centre is led by a local instructor and is fully affiliated with both PADI and SSI. This dual affiliation ensures that divers can access a wide range of training programmes and certification standards.

The team is multilingual, with instruction and guidance available in English, French, and German. This makes the centre a reliable choice for international divers looking for clear communication during technical briefings or training sessions.

The centre provides a comprehensive training catalogue through PADI and SSI. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving or the Bubblemaker programme for younger divers, progressing through to the Open Water Diver certification.

For those looking to advance their skills, the centre offers Advanced Course training, Rescue Diver, and Divemaster programmes. They also provide React Right training to ensure divers are prepared for emergency situations.

For trips outside the immediate bay, the centre uses traditional jukung boats to reach sites like Batu Kelebit and Alamanda. These local vessels allow you to follow the rocky slopes and reef flats away from the shore.

Night dives and certain reef excursions are also organised via boat. On board, the team provides coffee, tea, water, and Balinese cakes, with lunch available upon request.

A full range of diving kit is available for hire, covering everything from regulators to wetsuits and fins. This allows divers to travel light while still having access to reliable equipment.

After your dives, the centre provides water and towels. The facility is set within a tropical garden featuring an infinity pool overlooking the ocean, providing a space to relax between sessions.

The reefs around Amed are home to a diverse array of fish, including Napoleon wrasse, Goliath grouper, and various species of reef sharks such as whitetip reef sharks and blacktip reef sharks. You will often see large schools of jacks and humphead parrotfish navigating the coral structures.

The walls and slopes provide sightings of larger residents like barracuda, moray eels, and octopus. In certain areas, blue spotted stingrays can be found patrolling the sandy patches near the reef.

For macro enthusiasts, the area is exceptional. The sandy bottoms and coral crevices host seahorses, ghost pipefish, sea moths, and nudibranchs, alongside harlequin shrimps and various species of shrimp.

Fixed life is abundant, with healthy colonies of hard and soft corals, sponges, and barrel sponges providing the framework for the ecosystem. You will also encounter garden eels, anemones, and various types of scorpionfish and stonefish.

Diving conditions in Amed vary depending on the specific site. While many locations offer easy shore entries with low to moderate currents, sites like Gili Selang can experience strong currents that require more experienced handling.

Some sites, such as the Amed Wall and the USAT Liberty, may experience occasional currents. The centre organises both calm reef dives and more challenging drift dives to suit different experience levels.