Big Fins

Located in the Karangasem Regency of Bali, Big Fins operates with a dual focus on high-level technical diving and active marine conservation. The centre is split between a training centre in Purwakerti and an office in Tulamben, providing access to some of the most diverse reef systems in Indonesia.

Since its establishment in 2020, the centre has built a reputation for treating every dive as a technical opportunity. This philosophy extends beyond simple recreation, integrating diving skills with environmental science and community development to protect the local ecosystem.

The team at Big Fins is composed of technical instructors, conservation managers, and an IDC Course Director. This professional structure ensures that whether you are training for a recreational qualification or an instructor development course, you are supported by specialists in their respective fields.

Communication is straightforward for international divers, as the team is multilingual, providing instruction and guidance in both English and Chinese. The centre's approach is heavily influenced by its involvement with local NGOs like Peduli Alam, meaning you are diving with a team that understands the local marine environment intimately.

Big Fins provides a full spectrum of training through PADI and RAID affiliations. For those starting their journey, they offer the Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver courses, alongside specialty training such as Deep Diver and Sidemount Diver.

For technical divers, the curriculum is extensive, covering Decompression Diving 40m OC, Decompression Diver 50m OC, and Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) training. The centre also serves as a professional training hub, offering the Instructor Development Course (IDC).

The reefs around Tulamben and Karangasem are vibrant, with hard corals (Scleractinia) and soft corals (Alcyonacea) providing the structural foundation for a massive variety of life. You will find dense thickets of branching corals and large sea fans (Gorgoniidae) that support a high density of reef fish.

Pelagic and demersal species are frequently encountered, including reef sharks (Carcharhinus), whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus), and blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus). Larger visitors like turtles and various species of rays, including eagle rays (Aetobatus), add to the diversity of the open water.

Macro life is abundant for those with a keen eye. The reef habitats host a wide array of nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti), and various species of shrimp (Caridea). You can also find ghost pipefish (Solenostomidae), boxfish (Ostraciidae), and various species of octopus (Octopus vulgaris) among the coral structures.

Small reef fish, such as damselfish (Pomacentridae), butterflyfish (Chaetodon), and various species of wrasse and snapper (Lutjanus), move in schools through the reef flat and along the walls. The presence of diverse invertebrates, from crabs (Brachyura) to colourful sea slugs, ensures there is constant movement to observe.

Diving in the area involves a variety of environments, from calm fringing reefs like Jemeluk Bay to sites like the Pyramids where moderate currents are present. The topography ranges from shallow reef flats to steep drop-offs.