Ikandive

IKAN DIVE has been operating in Padangbai, Bali, since 2004. Situated on the east coast, the centre serves as a gateway to some of the most varied diving in Indonesia, from the calm, macro-rich reefs of the local bay to the high-energy channels of Nusa Penida.

The centre is deeply integrated into the local community, with a team primarily composed of the families of the local residents. This local connection, combined with a French-Balinese identity, allows for a personalised approach to diving, whether you are looking for a structured training course or a custom-designed dive safari.

The team consists of seven staff members, including two instructors qualified in PADI and FFESSM/CMAS. They are supported by three dive guides, an administrator, and a dedicated driver to assist with logistics.

Instruction is provided in English, French, and Indonesian. The centre focuses on sharing both the underwater richness of the region and the local Balinese culture, often tailoring programmes to suit the specific interests of the divers, such as photography or specific species encounters.

IKAN DIVE offers a comprehensive range of training through PADI, SSI, and FFESSM/CMAS. For those starting their journey, the SSI Try Scuba, Basic Diver, and Scuba Diver programmes are available, leading into the full SSI Open Water Diver certification.

Advanced divers can progress through the SSI Advanced Adventurer course or specialise with various PADI and SSI specialties. The centre provides training for Deep Diver, Underwater Navigation, Peak Performance Buoyancy, and Wreck Diver. They also offer specific skill-based sessions such as Drift Dive, Multi Level and Computer Dive, and AWARE Fish Identification.

The centre is equipped with a Nitrox compressor, allowing you to optimise your no-decompression limits on many of the local sites.

On-shore facilities include a dedicated space for dining and discussing your dives, as well as showers and toilets. For those looking to relax between dives, the centre also features a spa offering massages.

The local reefs are a haven for macro enthusiasts. You can find a vast array of small creatures including nudibranchs, seahorses, pygmy seahorses, and various species of shrimp such as harlequin shrimp and cleaner shrimp. The sandy areas and muck dives often reveal mimic octopuses, ghost pipefish, bobbit worms, and many types of crabs and snails.

For those looking for larger pelagics, the area offers significant opportunities. Depending on the season, you may encounter mola mola, hammerhead sharks, or whale sharks. In the deeper channels and around Nusa Penida, reef sharks, manta rays, and large barracudas are regularly sighted.

The permanent residents of the reef include turtles, cuttlefish, and various reef sharks. You will also see a diverse range of fish such as frogfish, stonefish, leaf scorpionfish, and parrotfish, alongside many species of wrasse, damselfish, and anemone fish.

Fixed life is abundant across the sites, from the soft corals and gorgonians on the walls to the various sponges and sea anemones found on the reef flats. Electric clams and various types of corals provide the structural foundation for this thriving ecosystem.

Diving in this region can vary significantly depending on the site. The waters around Nusa Penida and the Gili islands are known for having very strong currents, which can range from manageable drifts to high-speed channels.

Seasonal weather also plays a role in accessibility; for example, Gili Biaha can become impassable during the windy season from July to September.