Tulamben Dive Resort

Tulamben Dive Resort is a small, diver-focused resort in the heart of Tulamben, opened in 2016 with eight Deluxe Cottages. The mood is straightforward: comfortable rooms, a peaceful outdoor pool and a tropical garden where you can slow down without having to dress up for the occasion.

This suits you if diving is the reason for coming, but not the only thing you want to do with your day. A terrace, a pool and a restaurant give you somewhere to sit, eat and compare notes once the mask is back in the bag. The resort also welcomes families, with rooms accommodating two adults and one child under eight sharing the bed.

You are in Tulamben, Indonesia, on Jalan Raya Amlapura-Singaraja in Kubu, Karangasem, Bali. The resort sits by the sea, with Tulamben Beach about 400 metres away on foot. It is a pebble beach, so pack sensible footwear rather than expecting a soft-sand entrance worthy of a postcard.

The immediate surroundings are useful for a small village stay. Warung Makan Pak Waka 2 is about 150 feet away, Warung Rusti about 350 feet, and Warung Dewi Bulan about 450 feet. Lake Batur lies about 21 miles away and Besakih Temple about 25 miles, giving you clear options for a day out when the surface starts to look more interesting than usual.

The rooms are built around the useful details rather than decorative fuss. You get air conditioning, a private bathroom with a hot-water shower, a terrace with a ceiling fan, a writing desk and chair, and a small indoor sitting area looking towards a pond. Garden, pool or mountain views give the choice a different feel, depending on the room you book.

For a couple, the Deluxe Double Room gives you a super-king-size bed and a terrace for cooling down with a drink. The Deluxe Twin Room makes more sense when two divers prefer separate beds; nobody needs a diplomatic incident before the morning briefing. The Deluxe Triple Room is the practical option for three, with a super-king-size bed and a king-size bed in the same room.

A refrigerator, kettle, tea and coffee facilities, complimentary drinking water and an in-room safe cover the small jobs that matter between dives. Cold drinks from the minibar are charged to your personal account at check-out. Daily housekeeping, free WiFi and a clothes-drying rack keep the room functional, while the terrace provides the obvious place to sit and let the day catch up with you.

The resort has one restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with Indonesian and international cooking based on fresh ingredients and simple flavours. Breakfast is included and comes in continental, American, Asian or à la carte form, with options such as warm dishes, pancakes, fruit and juice. It is the sort of start that works before getting wet, rather than a decorative coffee and a biscuit pretending to be a meal.

The menu ranges from Nasi Goreng, Satay, Nasi Campor, Gado Gado and Mie Goreng to grilled fish, prawns, seafood curries, burgers, sandwiches, pasta and familiar meat dishes. There are also desserts such as black rice with coconut milk, banana pancakes, Pisang Goreng, yoghurt with honey and fresh fruit salad.

Drinks include Bintang and Bali Hai beer, Plaga and Hatten wines, fruit juices, lassis, soft drinks, hot drinks and Arak. Room service is available, which is handy when the legs have finished negotiating with the rest of you. Lunch after the dive and dinner in the tropical garden keep the daily routine pleasantly uncomplicated.

The outdoor pool is the main place to reset between dives, with a sun terrace, loungers, outdoor furniture and pool or beach towels. The garden and terraces add room to sit in the shade or let the air move around you, while the room terraces come with their own table and chairs. One pool is enough to cool down; competitive aquatics can wait for another holiday.

When you want to leave the resort without committing to another underwater outing, bicycle hire, hiking, snorkelling and local-culture tours are available. The tour desk can help arrange trips around East Bali, including Tirta Gangga Water Palace, Lempuyang Temple, Taman Ujung Water Palace, Mount Agung viewpoints, Besakih Temple and the scenery around Lake and Mount Batur.

A massage is also available for an extra charge, giving you a less ambitious option when the only expedition required is from the lounger to the restaurant. The setting works particularly well for couples who want a few hours of separate quiet after diving, followed by an easy dinner together.

Ngurah Rai International Airport is about 59 miles away by road, with a typical drive of around one hour and 29 minutes. An airport shuttle can be arranged on request, and the resort also offers a shuttle service and car hire. Free private parking is available on site, with no reservation needed.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to midnight, while check-out is from 08:00 to 12:00. A 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, lockers, a tour desk and wake-up service cover the practical edges of a dive trip, especially when flights and early departures refuse to cooperate. Laundry is available for an additional charge.

WiFi is free throughout the property. Cash is not accepted, so plan to pay by card. Children of any age are welcome, and extra beds can be requested for rooms accommodating a third person; availability depends on the room selected. Pets are not allowed.