[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":409},["ShallowReactive",2],{"footerItems":3,"$fo6B6_I3bPY5II0mF5gxX9h9h7_p6UnTzRVpIY2YH6B4":158},{"footerCta":4,"footerSocialNetwork":9,"footerNavigation":13,"footerAboutZublu":146,"footerLeadingText":147,"footerBottomLinks":148},{"primaryText":5,"primaryCtaText":6,"secondaryText":7,"secondaryCtaText":8},"Contact a dive travel expert:","Chat with us","Find your perfect dive destination:","Find a destination",{"facebookLink":10,"instagramLink":11,"twitterLink":12},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002FZuBluDiving\u002F","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fzublu_diving\u002F","https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002Fzubludiving",[14,64,90,107,138],{"setMenuTitle":15,"setMenuList":16},"Top Destinations",[17,28,34,40,46,52,58],{"menuItemLocation":18,"menuItemType":21,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":26,"menuItemUrl":27},{"title":19,"url":20},"Maldives","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fdestination\u002Fmaldives",{"label":22,"value":23,"selected":24},"Entries","entries",true,false,"Diving in the Maldives","",{"menuItemLocation":29,"menuItemType":32,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":33,"menuItemUrl":27},{"title":30,"url":31},"Indonesia","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fdestination\u002Findonesia",{"label":22,"value":23,"selected":24},"Diving in Indonesia",{"menuItemLocation":35,"menuItemType":38,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":39,"menuItemUrl":27},{"title":36,"url":37},"Philippines","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fdestination\u002Fphilippines",{"label":22,"value":23,"selected":24},"Diving in the Philippines",{"menuItemLocation":41,"menuItemType":44,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":45,"menuItemUrl":27},{"title":42,"url":43},"Red Sea","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fdestination\u002Fred-sea",{"label":22,"value":23,"selected":24},"Diving in the Red Sea",{"menuItemLocation":47,"menuItemType":50,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":51,"menuItemUrl":27},{"title":48,"url":49},"Galapagos Islands","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fdestination\u002Fecuador\u002Fgalapagos\u002Fgalapagos-islands",{"label":22,"value":23,"selected":24},"Diving in Galapagos",{"menuItemLocation":53,"menuItemType":56,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":57,"menuItemUrl":27},{"title":54,"url":55},"Mexico","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fdestination\u002Fmexico",{"label":22,"value":23,"selected":24},"Diving in Mexico",{"menuItemLocation":59,"menuItemType":62,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":63,"menuItemUrl":27},{"title":60,"url":61},"Thailand","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fdestination\u002Fthailand",{"label":22,"value":23,"selected":24},"Diving in Thailand",{"setMenuTitle":65,"setMenuList":66},"Guides & Insights",[67,74,78,82,86],{"menuItemLocation":68,"menuItemType":69,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":72,"menuItemUrl":73},null,{"label":70,"value":71,"selected":24},"Static URL","staticUrl","Travel guides","\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights?opt=category&value=zublu-digital-portal",{"menuItemLocation":68,"menuItemType":75,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":76,"menuItemUrl":77},{"label":70,"value":71,"selected":24},"Liveaboard guide","\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fliveaboard-diving",{"menuItemLocation":68,"menuItemType":79,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":80,"menuItemUrl":81},{"label":70,"value":71,"selected":24},"Destination inspiration","\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights?opt=category&value=destination-inspiration",{"menuItemLocation":68,"menuItemType":83,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":84,"menuItemUrl":85},{"label":70,"value":71,"selected":24},"Marine life","\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights?opt=category&value=marine-wonders",{"menuItemLocation":68,"menuItemType":87,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":88,"menuItemUrl":89},{"label":70,"value":71,"selected":24},"News","\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights?opt=category&value=news-opinion",{"setMenuTitle":91,"setMenuList":92},"Sustainability",[93,97,102],{"menuItemLocation":68,"menuItemType":94,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":95,"menuItemUrl":96},{"label":70,"value":71,"selected":24},"Ecoventures","\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fexplore-and-restore-with-ecoventures",{"menuItemLocation":98,"menuItemType":101,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":99,"menuItemUrl":27},{"title":99,"url":100},"Conservation","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fconservation",{"label":22,"value":23,"selected":24},{"menuItemLocation":103,"menuItemType":106,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":104,"menuItemUrl":27},{"title":104,"url":105},"Green Fins","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fconservation\u002Fgreen-fins",{"label":22,"value":23,"selected":24},{"setMenuTitle":108,"setMenuList":109},"ZuBlu",[110,116,120,126,133],{"menuItemLocation":111,"menuItemType":114,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":115,"menuItemUrl":27},{"title":112,"url":113},"ZuBlu Concierge","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fenquiry",{"label":22,"value":23,"selected":24},"Plan your trip",{"menuItemLocation":68,"menuItemType":117,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":118,"menuItemUrl":119},{"label":70,"value":71,"selected":24},"Join us","\u002Fenquiry\u002Fcareer",{"menuItemLocation":121,"menuItemType":124,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":125,"menuItemUrl":27},{"title":122,"url":123},"About ZuBlu","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fabout-us",{"label":22,"value":23,"selected":24},"About us",{"menuItemLocation":127,"menuItemType":130,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":131,"menuItemUrl":132},{"title":128,"url":129},"Guest Reviews","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fguest-reviews",{"label":70,"value":71,"selected":24},"Guest reviews","\u002Fguest-reviews",{"menuItemLocation":134,"menuItemType":137,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":135,"menuItemUrl":27},{"title":135,"url":136},"Partners","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fpartners",{"label":22,"value":23,"selected":24},{"setMenuTitle":139,"setMenuList":140},"Support",[141],{"menuItemLocation":142,"menuItemType":145,"menuItemOpenNewTab":25,"menuItemName":143,"menuItemUrl":27},{"title":143,"url":144},"FAQ","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Ffaq",{"label":22,"value":23,"selected":24},"ZuBlu is the leading dive travel agency to search, compare and book scuba diving and underwater adventure travel worldwide. With 800+ exceptional resorts and liveaboards to choose from, you can travel green while exploring the big blue.","Book your next scuba diving holiday",[149,152,155],{"linkUrl":150,"linkText":151},"\u002Fterms-conditions","Terms & Conditions",{"linkUrl":153,"linkText":154},"\u002Fterms-of-website-use","Terms of use",{"linkUrl":156,"linkText":157},"\u002Fprivacy-policy","Privacy Policy",{"title":159,"slug":160,"url":161,"entryType":162,"date":163,"lastUpdated":164,"banner":165,"coverImage":166,"category":167,"author":169,"introduction":175,"tags":176,"articleContent":178,"featuredArticles":311,"flipsnackCode":68,"typeformCode":68,"seomatic":343},"Which is better, diving in Bali or Lombok?","bali-vs-lombok-diving","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fbali-vs-lombok-diving","newArticle","07 Sep 2020","13 Sep 2024","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FBalivsLombokbanner.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FBalivslombokthumb.jpg",{"title":80,"slug":168},"destination-inspiration",{"firstName":170,"lastName":171,"authorSubtitle":172,"shortHighlight":173,"photo":174},"Matthew","Oldfield","Co-founder, dive travel expert","\u003Cp>Matthew has lived in Indonesia and Malaysia for the last 20 years, and explored some of the world’s best scuba diving destinations as a photographer. He is our resident expert at finding the perfect dive resort, the best time of year to explore, and destinations with the best street food!\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fcpresources\u002Fuserphotos\u002FMatt\u002F100\u002FMatt-staff.png?d=1716890315","Trying to decide between diving in Bali or Lombok? Read on to to discover the differences and similarities to these neighbouring islands. \r\n\r\nBali is Indonesia’s tourism capital, renowned for sublime, picture-perfect scenery and action-packed excursions. Lombok on the other hand is a quiet, more reserved destination that has, until recently, remained in the shadow of its more popular neighbour. Yet both islands offer some truly incredible diving. And, while scuba diving has become part of Bali’s identity, many of Lombok’s dive sites remain relatively under-explored.",[177],"bali",[179,182,188,190,195,197,202,204,209,211,215,217,220,222,226,228,231,233,237,239,242,244,249,253,257,259,262,264,268,270,285,287,291,293,307,309],{"type":180,"text":181},"paragraph","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Those in the know might find it tough to choose between Bali and Lombok for their next dive trip, while others may be blissfully unaware of the equally-impressive underwater experiences offered by the next-door island.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Read on as our travel experts - many of who have lived in Bali for many years - explore the similarities and differences between these two world-class dive destinations, and decide for yourself whether Bali or Lombok is the right choice for your next scuba vacation.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":183,"heading":184,"headingType":185,"text":27},"heading","Diving in Bali vs diving in Lombok",["Reactive",186],{"label":187,"value":187,"selected":24},"h2",{"type":180,"text":189},"\u003Cp>Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, home to a staggering 17,508 islands. A handful of these islands have become stand-out favourites, known the world over as must-visit destinations – and for good reason. But there are also others that fly under the radar for most visitors, who might be unaware of their potential for adventure. \u003Cbr \u002F>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The neighbouring islands of Lombok and Bali are classic examples. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fdestination\u002Findonesia\u002Fbali\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bali is Indonesia’s tourism capital\u003C\u002Fa>, renowned for sublime, picture-perfect scenery and action-packed excursions. On the other hand, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fdestination\u002Findonesia\u002Flombok\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lombok is a quiet, more reserved destination\u003C\u002Fa> that has, until recently, remained in the shadow of its more popular neighbour. Yet both islands offer some truly incredible diving. And, while scuba diving has become part of Bali’s identity, many of Lombok’s dive sites remain relatively under-explored. So, the question is, which is better?\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":183,"heading":191,"headingType":192,"text":27},"Diving experiences",["Reactive",193],{"label":194,"value":194,"selected":24},"h3",{"type":180,"text":196},"\u003Cp>Like much of Indonesia, Bali and Lombok together deliver an exceptional diversity of dive experiences, from wrecks and reefs, to muck and more. Both islands tend to feature calm, laid-back coral reef diving in the north and pelagic-packed encounters in the south, allowing every diver to get their fix. \u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":183,"heading":198,"headingType":199,"text":27},"Corals in the north, currents in the south",["Reactive",200],{"label":201,"value":201,"selected":24},"h4",{"type":180,"text":203},"\u003Cp>Bali’s southern coast lies exposed to the swell of the Indian Ocean, and has become revered by surfers for its year-round curls which roll in from the south – as well as tourists looking for beaches and parties of course. Unfortunately, while this wave energy is great for surfers, it’s less than ideal for coral growth, so the reefs along this coast are less developed. Despite this, many divers are still drawn south – to the Nusa Islands in particular – thanks to the thrill of rip-roaring currents and encounters with big fish, including manta rays, sharks, and mola mola. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bali’s northern coast is sheltered from these waves and corals are free to flourish in the calmer conditions. This means divers can expect vibrant reefs packed with life, and an all-round more relaxing experience. It's no surprise that Bali’s best reefs, including \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fdiscover-menjangan-islands-best-diving\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the coral gardens of Pemuteran and Menjangan Island\u003C\u002Fa> in the northwest and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fdiving-tulambens-usat-liberty-wreck\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tulamben’s Liberty Wreck\u003C\u002Fa> in the east, are located along this sheltered coastline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interestingly, this north and south divide is obvious on the Nusa Islands themselves. Along the north divers can explore coral gardens that flourish in the currents along the coast, while the pelagic playgrounds are located towards the south – making the Nusas a fantastic all-round dive destination.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":205,"image":206,"description":207,"size":208,"text":27},"image","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FInspire-Pages\u002FBali-Experiences\u002FBali_Lembongan_Mola.jpg","An ocean sunfish, or 'mola mola', in Nusa Lembongan","medium",{"type":180,"text":210},"\u003Cp>Lombok’s most famous diving is arguably located in the northwest, around \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fdestination\u002Findonesia\u002Flombok\u002Fgili-islands\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the renowned ‘Gili Islands’ – Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Trawangan\u003C\u002Fa>. The diving around these northern Gili Islands, is characterised by gentle conditions and laid-back drifts with a focus on small and colourful reef life – \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fwhy-learn-to-dive-on-the-gili-islands\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the ultimate place to learn to dive\u003C\u002Fa>. Much like in Bali, if you head to the south coast of Lombok the diving tells a very different story. The exposed conditions of Belongas Bay rival that of Nusa Penida, boasting adrenaline-fuelled currents packed swirling barracuda, swooping rays, and even the chance of hammerheads. Not bad for one of Indonesia’s lesser-known dive destinations.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":183,"heading":212,"headingType":213,"text":27},"Muck diving",["Reactive",214],{"label":201,"value":201,"selected":24},{"type":180,"text":216},"\u003Cp>Bali has earned a reputation as an island with a little of everything. And thankfully, muck diving is no exception. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fpuri-jati-bali-muck-diving-part-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Puri Jati\u003C\u002Fa> and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fsecret-bay-bali-muck-diving-part-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Secret Bay\u003C\u002Fa> in the north and northwest are both fantastic muck sites in their own right, along with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fseraya-secrets-bali-muck-diving-part-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Seraya Secrets\u003C\u002Fa> on the eastern coast. More recently, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fdestination\u002Findonesia\u002Fbali\u002Fpadangbai-candidasa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Padangbai has become a firm favourite among macro-enthusiasts\u003C\u002Fa>. Here, the rubble-covered slopes beneath a disused jetty play host to a variety of miniature heavy-hitters including pygmy seahorses, ornate ghost pipefish, and the ever-elusive wunderpus. Plus, it’s easily one of the best sites in Bali to find Rhinopias!\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":205,"image":218,"description":219,"size":208,"text":27},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FFrogfish_Bali.jpg","A frogfish found in Bali",{"type":180,"text":221},"\u003Cp>For muck divers, Lombok’s northwest coast hides a few gems – dive sites that hold their own amongst some of Indonesia’s best. Kecinan Bay has an expansive sandy bottom peppered with patches of algae, providing cover for leaf scorpionfish and nudibranchs. Often referred to as Seahorse Bay – for obvious reasons – neighbouring Mentigi Bay is also home to frogfish, ribbon eels, ghost pipefish, and bobtail squid. Finally, sharp-eyed visitors to Teluk Nara’s fantastic jetty dive can find anything from painted frogfish and waspfish to mimic, coconut, and blue-ringed octopuses – not to mention lots of interesting juvenile reef fish. \u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":183,"heading":223,"headingType":224,"text":27},"Wreck diving",["Reactive",225],{"label":201,"value":201,"selected":24},{"type":180,"text":227},"\u003Cp>Located on Bali’s northeast coast, Tulamben’s diving revolves around one of Southeast Asia’s most stunning shipwrecks. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fdiving-tulambens-usat-liberty-wreck\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The 120-metre Liberty Wreck sits just a few fin-kicks from the beach\u003C\u002Fa> and is decorated from bow to stern in beautiful soft corals and sponges. And, with a minimum depth of just five-metres, this superb wreck provides beginner divers with a truly spectacular introduction to the underwater world. But there’s tons to excite advanced divers as well, with deeper areas to explore and plenty of opportunity for penetration. Other noteworthy wrecks include the recently-sunk Boga Wreck in Kubu, as well as the shallow Japanese Wreck in Amed.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":205,"image":229,"description":230,"size":208,"text":27},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FIndonesia\u002FBali\u002FTulamben\u002FBali_Tulamben_Liberty_Diver.jpg","Tulamben's Liberty Wreck offers plenty of swim-throughs",{"type":180,"text":232},"\u003Cp>Located on the edge of the Lombok Strait between the mainland and the tiny island of Gili Air, the Japanese Wreck is an old WWII vessel covered in hard and soft corals. Sitting in perfect isolation in a desert of sand, this 20-metre patrol boat is a sight to behold. Lying at 45-metres depth this wreck is strictly for advanced recreational divers and burgeoning tec divers. For less experienced divers, the current-swept Glenn Nusa Wreck and the slightly shallower Bounty Wreck both offer easier introductions to wreck diving.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":183,"heading":234,"headingType":235,"text":27},"Diving offshore islands",["Reactive",236],{"label":201,"value":201,"selected":24},{"type":180,"text":238},"\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fdestination\u002Findonesia\u002Fbali\u002Flembongan-nusa-penida\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan\u003C\u002Fa> – known as ‘the Nusas’ – are Bali’s three main offshore islands. Although well developed with a thriving tourism industry, these islands still hold on to much of their authentic charm, providing a pleasant respite from some of Bali’s busier towns. Sitting deep within the Lombok Strait, the diving around Nusa Penida and Lembongan features plenty of cold currents and drifts, packed with pelagic species, creating unbeatable experiences for adventurous divers. Seasonal mola mola sightings are one of the highlights, while tuna, Spanish mackerel and reef sharks all add to the excitement. And, to top it off, Nusa Penida is one of the best places to dive with manta rays in Asia.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":205,"image":240,"description":241,"size":208,"text":27},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FArticles\u002FLearn-to-Dive-in-the-GIlis\u002FGili-Islands-Dive-Boat.jpg","A traditional dive boat in the Gili Islands",{"type":180,"text":243},"\u003Cp>Lombok’s offshore islands are known as Gilis – meaning ‘small island’ in Sasak – and are far smaller than Bali’s Nusa Penida. The popular northern \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fdestination\u002Findonesia\u002Flombok\u002Fgili-islands\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gili Islands\u003C\u002Fa> offer a lively island-life atmosphere with easy-going, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fwhy-learn-to-dive-on-the-gili-islands\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">beginner-friendly diving\u003C\u002Fa> and an abundance of green and hawksbill turtles. Water temperatures sit in the high 20s year-round, and you’ll have access to over 25 dive sites within 30 minutes of your resort. In contrast, the lesser-known southern Gilis, located in Sekotong, deliver a genuine sense of isolation, picturesque beaches, calm dive conditions, and unspoiled fringing reefs. Due to their remote location, it’s highly likely you’ll be the only group in the water, adding to the peace and tranquility.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":245,"heading":246,"text":247,"search_path":248},"search","Discover the best dive resorts in Bali and Lombok","Can't decide between these two great dive destination? Let our list of quality dive resorts help.","\u002Fs\u002Fresorts\u002Findonesia?destinations=812,811,809,806,810,807,808,805",{"type":183,"heading":250,"headingType":251,"text":27},"Atmosphere on Bali and Lombok",["Reactive",252],{"label":194,"value":194,"selected":24},{"type":183,"heading":254,"headingType":255,"text":27},"Culture",["Reactive",256],{"label":201,"value":201,"selected":24},{"type":180,"text":258},"\u003Cp>Almost 90% of Indonesians follow Islam, making it the largest Muslim nation in the world. That said, the majority of Balinese people actually practice a form of Hinduism – known as Agama Hindu Dharma – with Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian minorities adding to a rich and vibrant culture. Frequently referred to as the ‘Island of the Gods’, Bali is awash with temples, and visitors will regularly find themselves tip-toeing between painstakingly-prepared offerings placed on the pavement. And remember, while shorts and bikinis are acceptable, particularly in the southern coastal regions, tourists should always try to cover up when travelling to more remote and traditional locations. \u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":205,"image":260,"description":261,"size":208,"text":27},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FArticles\u002FBali-What-to-do-when-not-diving\u002FBali_Ceremony2.jpg","Festive ceremonies are common on the island of Bali",{"type":180,"text":263},"\u003Cp>The largest ethnic group in Lombok are the Sasaks. Despite being Muslim, the Sasak culture features an interesting mix of Islamic and Hindu-Buddhist practices. For many visitors travelling between Bali and Lombok, one of the most noticeable differences is the call to prayer. Being a Muslim island, the call to prayer echoes out across Lombok several times a day, reminding you of their unquestionable devotion to religion. Remember to respect the Muslim culture at all times and cover-up in public, unless on a designated ‘bikini beach’.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":183,"heading":265,"headingType":266,"text":27},"Tourism",["Reactive",267],{"label":201,"value":201,"selected":24},{"type":180,"text":269},"\u003Cp>As one of the most popular holiday destinations in Southeast Asia, Bali has a very well developed tourism industry and every visitor is well-catered to, no matter what they are looking for. Accommodation, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Ftop-5-things-to-do-in-bali-when-you-are-not-diving\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">activities and excursions to suit any budget\u003C\u002Fa> are readily available, helping tourists create the holiday of their dreams. And for us divers, this means plenty of dive centres waiting to fulfil all of your diving desires. Head to one of Bali’s scuba hotspots and you’ll find dive shops flying the flags of all the top certification agencies, including PADI, SSI, CMAS, TDI, and more. Comforting stuff for many divers. \u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":271,"downloadBanner":272,"bannerInfo":276,"text":27},"download",["Reactive",273],{"label":274,"value":275,"selected":24},"Learn to scuba dive in Asia","learn-to-scuba-dive-in-asia",["Reactive",277],{"bannerId":275,"bannerTitle":274,"zohoLinkId":278,"bannerBodyText":279,"bannerCTAText":280,"bannerCTALink":281,"bannerBackground":282,"downloadGuideText":283,"downloadGuideUrl":284},"4308641000000366001","\u003Cp>All you need to know about learning to scuba dive in Southeast Asia\u003C\u002Fp>","Read now","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.flipsnack.com\u002Fzublu\u002Flearn-to-scuba-dive-in-asia\u002Ffull-view.html","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FGuides\u002FLearn-to-scuba-dive-in-Asia.PNG","Free guide to learning to dive in SE Asia","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Flearn-to-dive-zublu-guide",{"type":180,"text":286},"\u003Cp>Mainland Lombok, on the other hand, is only recently emerging as a travel destination of note, and has just a few isolated pockets of tourism. Senggigi is popular among backpackers and, although still a world away from Bali’s energetic namesake, Kuta Lombok has become a trendy surfing hotspot. While these areas also offer some interesting diving, they only have a limited choice of operators – far from Bali’s thronging, dive shop-stuffed streets. The northern Gilis are an obvious exception, providing facilities and ambience to suit any visitor and dive shops on almost every corner.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":183,"heading":288,"headingType":289,"text":27},"Travel between Bali and Lombok",["Reactive",290],{"label":194,"value":194,"selected":24},{"type":180,"text":292},"\u003Cp>Travelling between Bali and Lombok is simple. Regular flights run from Denpasar to Lombok International Airport and are the easiest and quickest option for travellers staying in the south. Fast boats also run from Padangbai to the northern Gili Islands, before arriving in Bangsal and travelling south to Senggigi. Journeys generally take up to three hours. Slow ferries also operate from Padangbai to Lembar.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":271,"downloadBanner":294,"bannerInfo":298,"text":27},["Reactive",295],{"label":296,"value":297,"selected":24},"Indonesian Dive Guide","indonesia-guide",["Reactive",299],{"bannerId":297,"bannerTitle":300,"zohoLinkId":301,"bannerBodyText":302,"bannerCTAText":280,"bannerCTALink":303,"bannerBackground":304,"downloadGuideText":305,"downloadGuideUrl":306},"Free Indonesia dive destination guide","4308641000019163001","\u003Cp>Discover the secrets of Indonesia in this FREE 150+ page scuba dive destination guide. Read online or download today and let us inspire your next diving holiday.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Findonesia-dive-destination-guide","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FArticles\u002FIndonesia-Destination-Guide\u002FGuide-Cover-Mockup-Indo.png","Free guide to diving in Indonesia","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Findonesia-dive-destination-guide",{"type":308,"text":27},"separator",{"type":310,"text":27},"subscribe",[312,320,328,336],{"title":313,"slug":314,"url":315,"entryType":162,"date":316,"lastUpdated":164,"banner":317,"coverImage":318,"category":80,"introduction":319},"Best dive sites in Bali","the-best-diving-in-bali","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fthe-best-diving-in-bali","28 May 2020","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FArticles\u002FThe-best-diving-in-Bali.png","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FIndonesia\u002FBali\u002FBali-Indonesia-Banner.jpg","Bali is Indonesia’s tourism hotspot, and was amongst the first of the country’s islands to be explored beneath the waves. Yet even as divers venture ever deeper to explore Indonesia’s remote regions, Bali remains top of the list for many divers. And for good reason.\r\n\r\nBelieve it or not, Bali is actually one of the country’s most diverse diving destinations - one of the reasons why ZuBlu made Bali its “home away from home”, with many of our team living, working, and diving from these sensational shores on a daily basis. \r\n\r\nThe island is home to a huge variety of dive sites, including flourishing reefs, wrecks, plummeting walls, and mucky slopes. Plus it attracts some of the planet’s most fascinating underwater marine life, including pelagics like manta rays and mola mola. In fact, in almost all of Bali’s diving destinations, you’ll find a site that can rightly claim a spot among Indonesia’s very best. \r\n\r\nRead on to discover Bali’s very best dive spots, with a list of world-class sites chosen by ZuBlu’s team of resident travel experts. ",{"title":321,"slug":322,"url":323,"entryType":162,"date":324,"lastUpdated":164,"banner":325,"coverImage":326,"category":80,"introduction":327},"Learn to scuba dive in Bali","learn-to-dive-in-bali","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Flearn-to-dive-in-bali","26 Aug 2020","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FArticles\u002FBest-places-learn-to-dive\u002FLearn-to-dive-banner.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002Flearn-to-dive-in-bali-zublu.jpg","It's no secret that Bali in Indonesia is home to some of the best diving on the planet. But, what you might not know is that it's also a great destination to learn to dive. Fortunately, our in-house dive travel experts - many of whom have lived in Bali for a number of years - know the island well, and we’ve distilled all of their most helpful knowledge into this article. \r\n\r\nRead on to discover the best places to learn to dive in Bali.",{"title":329,"slug":330,"url":331,"entryType":162,"date":332,"lastUpdated":333,"banner":229,"coverImage":334,"category":80,"introduction":335},"Diving the USS Liberty wreck in Tulamben, Bali","diving-tulambens-usat-liberty-wreck","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fdiving-tulambens-usat-liberty-wreck","11 Oct 2017","17 Jan 2025","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FIndonesia\u002FBali\u002FTulamben\u002FBali_Tulamben_Liberty_Diver3.jpg","The USS Liberty wreck has put north Bali – specifically, the small village of Tulamben – firmly on the scuba diving map. Correctly named the USAT Liberty, this site attracts excited divers from far and wide, all drawn by the promise of exploring one of Indonesia's best and most accessible shipwrecks.\r\n\r\nWant to know more about this iconic site? Our dive travel experts have all dived this noteworthy wreck themselves and this article is all about sharing their collective knowledge. So, keep reading for a deep-dive into the past, present, and prolific marine life of the USAT Liberty wreck and start planning your trip today.",{"title":337,"slug":338,"url":339,"entryType":162,"date":340,"lastUpdated":164,"banner":341,"coverImage":341,"category":80,"introduction":342},"Top five things to do in Bali on a diving holiday","top-5-things-to-do-in-bali-when-you-are-not-diving","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Ftop-5-things-to-do-in-bali-when-you-are-not-diving","01 Nov 2017","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FArticles\u002FBali-What-to-do-when-not-diving\u002FBali_Ceremony1.jpg","As a diver, you'll likely want to spend as much time as possible underwater during a trip. But you would be missing an amazing opportunity if you visit Bali and don’t make time to explore some of the island’s other attractions.",{"seomaticMeta":344,"seomaticHelper":363,"seomaticSiteMeta":368,"seomaticSocial":374,"seomaticIdentity":378,"seomaticCreator":384,"seomaticMainEntityOfPage":386,"seomaticTemplatePath":27},{"seoTitle":159,"seoDescription":345,"seoKeywords":346,"seoImage":27,"robots":27,"canonicalUrl":161,"twitter":347,"og":351,"breadcrumbs":361},"Can’t choose between diving in Bali or Lombok? Read on to compare the differences and similarities between these two neighbouring dive destinations.","scuba, diving, asia, destinations, travel",{"card":348,"site":349,"creator":27,"title":159,"description":345,"image":350,"url":161},"summary","@zubludiving","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FPhilippines\u002FVisayas\u002FMoalboal\u002FMoalboal_Sampaguita-turtle.jpg",{"type":352,"locale":353,"url":161,"title":159,"description":345,"image":350,"image:type":354,"image:width":355,"image:height":356,"site_name":108,"see_also":357},"website","en_us","image\u002Fjpeg","2000","1331",[12,358,359,360],"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fzubludiving","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fzublu_diving","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pinterest.com\u002Fzubludiving",{"Book your next scuba diving holiday":362},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com",{"twitterUrl":12,"facebookUrl":358,"googlePlusUrl":27,"linkedInUrl":27,"youtubeUrl":27,"youtubeChannelUrl":27,"instagramUrl":359,"pinterestUrl":360,"githubUrl":27,"vimeoUrl":27,"wikipediaUrl":27,"ownerGoogleSiteVerification":27,"ownerBingSiteVerification":27,"ownerGoogleAnalyticsUID":27,"ownerGoogleTagManagerID":27,"googleAnalyticsSendPageview":364,"googleAnalyticsAdvertising":365,"googleAnalyticsEcommerce":365,"googleAnalyticsEEcommerce":365,"googleAnalyticsLinkAttribution":365,"googleAnalyticsLinker":365,"googleAnalyticsAnonymizeIp":365,"ownerCopyrightNotice":366,"ownerAddressString":27,"ownerAddressHtml":27,"ownerMapUrl":27,"creatorCopyrightNotice":367,"creatorAddressString":27,"creatorAddressHtml":27,"creatorMapUrl":27},"1","0","Copyright ©2026 ZuBlu.","Copyright ©2026 .",{"locale":353,"siteSeoName":108,"siteSeoTitle":147,"siteSeoTitleSeparator":369,"siteSeoTitlePlacement":370,"siteDevModeTitle":371,"siteSeoDescription":372,"siteSeoKeywords":346,"siteRobots":27,"siteLinksSearchTargets":373,"siteLinksQueryInput":27,"siteSeoImage":350},"|","after","[devMode]","ZuBlu is the leading dive travel company to search, compare and book scuba diving travel worldwide. 600+ resorts and liveaboards to choose from.",[],{"locale":353,"twitterHandle":375,"facebookHandle":375,"facebookProfileId":376,"facebookAppId":27,"linkedInHandle":27,"googlePlusHandle":27,"youtubeHandle":27,"youtubeChannelHandle":27,"instagramHandle":377,"pinterestHandle":375,"githubHandle":27,"vimeoHandle":27,"wikipediaUrl":27},"zubludiving","1843817699193883","zublu_diving",{"type":379,"name":108,"url":362,"sameAs":380,"location":381},"Corporation",[12,358,359,360],{"type":382,"name":108,"url":362,"sameAs":383},"Place",[12,358,359,360],{"type":385},"Organization",{"type":387,"name":147,"description":372,"image":388,"url":161,"mainEntityOfPage":161,"inLanguage":353,"headline":147,"keywords":346,"author":390,"copyrightHolder":394,"publisher":398,"breadcrumb":402},"WebPage",{"type":389,"url":350,"width":355,"height":356},"ImageObject",{"type":379,"name":108,"url":362,"sameAs":391,"location":392},[12,358,359,360],{"type":382,"name":108,"url":362,"sameAs":393},[12,358,359,360],{"type":379,"name":108,"url":362,"sameAs":395,"location":396},[12,358,359,360],{"type":382,"name":108,"url":362,"sameAs":397},[12,358,359,360],{"type":385,"name":108,"url":362,"sameAs":399,"location":400},[12,358,359,360],{"type":382,"name":108,"url":362,"sameAs":401},[12,358,359,360],{"type":403,"itemListElement":404},"BreadcrumbList",[405],{"type":406,"position":407,"item":408},"ListItem",1,{"@id":362,"name":147},1780572559403]