What kind of place is Sanur?
We love sleepy Sanur and its gorgeous beach. The town is still the size of the traditional fishing village it developed from and you can still see the locals each day bringing in their catch. Now it’s grown into a gentle tourist town with shops, restaurants and bars. It isn’t known for its nightlife like Kuta and Seminyak, however if you do want a night out, Kuta is only a 20min drive away!
The Balinese Hindu culture is still strong here so you’ll see people in traditional dress and colourful street ceremonies are a part of daily life. The Sanur community protects its fine reputation, you’ll find the locals warm, friendly, and honest. You can buy just about anything you need: clothes, souvenirs, medicines, electrical items, and there is a well-stocked supermarket here selling local and international food and drink.
How do I get from airport to Sanur?
As part of your Divemaster or IDC (Instructor course) we provide you with a FREE airport pick up. For other courses or dive trips we can arrange your airport pick up for just IDR 400,000. Just let us know your flight details in advance and a driver will be waiting – holding a sign with your name on it! Easy!
How do I get about?
There are local ‘bemo’ minibuses, taxis and grab / gojek available (if you have the app on your phone). You may prefer to rent a bicycle or motorbike. Transport is inexpensive and readily available around Sanur, everything can be reached within a few minutes.
If you want to rent a motorbike/scooter while you are here (costs less than $100 per month) you are advised to bring an International Driver’s License.
Where will I stay?
There are lots of accommodation options in the Sanur area, some within walking distance of our dive centre. You can check out our recommended hotels here.
If you are looking for budget long stay accommodation, there are several homestay type places which start from just IDR 4,000,000/month for a private air con room. Contact us for more details.
Where can I eat out?
Daily lunch is included during your dive program with Bali Scuba. For your evening meals Sanur has every kind of food available from $1 local dishes up to some excellent fine dining restaurants and everything in between. The seafood is great and in addition to Indonesian you’ll also find Italian, Indian, Spanish, Thai, Japanese and British restaurants.
There are lots of sports bars too showing all the matches live. Local food sellers bring their food stalls right to our door.
What is the climate like?
Lying just 8 degrees south of the equator, Bali enjoys a tropical climate. The average temperature hovers around 30°C all year round. The wet season usually starts middle November to middle of March, leaving most of its tropical downpours for the months of January & February. Although diveable year round, the dry season (middle March until middle November) is generally sunnier, less humid and from a weather point of view, the coolest and best time to visit.
What visa do I need?
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you arrive in Indonesia and you must have a return ticket. The immigration officer at the port of entry may ask you to produce any necessary documents (such as an onward flight ticket). Currently citizens from 90 countries can enter Indonesia Visa fee for up to 30 days.
Check online with your home country’s government website to see if you are eligible for free Visa on Arrival. If your country is not one of the 90 you should check for the most up to date information at the Indonesian Embassy closest to you (or on their web pages) – it may be that you need to purchase a Visa on Arrival for $35 US (Valid for 30 days) or meet other requirements.
What currency should I bring?
Rupiah is the currency of Indonesia (IDR). $US, AUD and €uro are widely accepted and can be changed easily in Bali as with most major currencies. If you have US$, make sure bank notes are in good condition and not older than 1999 or issued year 2001 with serial number starting ‘CB’. Money changers will pay lower rates for notes of less than US$ 100.
There are many ATM Machines in the main towns around Bali. It’s a good idea to let your bank know you are coming to Indonesia prior to departure. You can pay by Credit Card (Visa, Master, Cirrus) in most shops and restaurants. The standard surcharge for credit cards is 3%.
How cheap is it to live?
Living costs are very low here and you can easily survive on $15 per day. Lunch is provided every day when you are diving with us and there are plenty of cheap & tasty eateries around which cater well for vegetarians. There is also free flow tea, coffee and drinking water. Our staff can arrange budget accommodation for you and it’s cheap to travel around.
What voltage and plugs are used?
Electrical current in Bali is 220 volts at 50 cycles. Most electrical plugs are set to take a two-pin plug.
