Diving in Bali – Choose The Right Dive Centre
Welcome to Bali Scuba Dive Centre!
With many hotel and dive centre websites advertising diving in Bali it’s hard to know which ones are the real deal. Here’s some points to consider when making your selection:
- Are they a PADI 5 Star Centre? The PADI 5 Star title is only given to dive centres who meet certain regulations in terms of staff, facilities and track record.
- Do they have their own swimming pool? If you are taking a beginners diving course (such as your PADI Open Water) it’s a more comfortable experience if the dive centre has everything under one roof; classrooms, pool, dive centre and shop. If you’re fun diving it’s also nice to take a dip when you return and soak up the sun.
- Do they have their own boats? A dive company with their own boats has more flexibility when scheduling dive trips. You’ll have more chance of going to Bali’s best dive sites. It also means the boats are designed for divers, by divers.
- What level of teaching staff do they have? There are different levels of PADI Instructors, with Course Director being the highest available. A centre that has an in-house Course Director usually means regular staff training and maintaining of standards. (Bali Scuba has two Course Directors on staff).
- Do they have their own vehicles and provide pick ups? A company with their own vehicles, is more likely to pick you up on time and drive more carefully.
- Are they an actual dive centre or a tour company or hotel which then passes you on to a third person? Book through a dive centre direct so you can ask questions from people who understand diving and what Bali has to offer.
- What is the quality of the email responses? Okay, so you’re not diving with the office staff but swift replies and appropriate information implies a certain level of service, care and attention to detail.
- Are the staff friendly and well presented? Smart uniforms rather than casual clothing implies a sense of pride. Friendly staff are usually happy staff. Who wants to be stuck on a boat with a grumpy Divemaster?
- Just as hotels and restaurants receive awards, so do dive centres. Ask what PADI awards they have obtained to date – the more the merrier for your diving trip.
- Are they happy to discuss their rental equipment with you or show you around the kit room? Your gear is life saving equipment and the kit room should be well organised and the gear well maintained. Likewise, ask to look in the compressor area and see how the tanks are filled. An organised filling area is essential, if it looks like someone’s junk shed, it’s probably wise to stay away.
At Bali Scuba we have all of the above facilities plus a whole lot more. Our friendly and professional staff are genuinely passionate about diving and sharing it with you. You’ll never be solicited for tips, you’ll be well looked after and you’ll see why we have a 100% safety record.
If you’d like to come and join us and enjoy Bali’s best dive sites with a fun, friendly and welcoming team let us know: letsdive@baliscuba.com
We are looking forward to welcoming you and diving with you soon here in Bali!