Indonesia > Snorkeling in Bali

At eight o’clock, the van for snorkeling arrives at the hotel. Robert is there too. He introduces me to Diwas, a young boy wearing striking blue sunglasses. I estimate he’s not yet twenty. He will be my guide for today. We drive in the van to the office to collect the snorkeling equipment. The gear looks good. Then we drive for just over an hour toward the harbor, picking up a few more guests along the way.

Indonesia - Snorkeling in the sea around Manjangan Island

At the harbor, I transfer to a small boat. Today, there are nine of us in this boat. In half an hour, we reach Manjangan Island. The captain docks at the pier, and Diwas indicates I can put on my snorkeling gear. I jump into the water and immediately see fish and coral. Diwas also enters the water and signals me to follow him. The coral runs along a cliff, making even deeper areas visible. Diwas points out the different fish. He shows a starfish, a hairy-looking piece of coral, and lifts a pufferfish from the seabed, handing the startled little creature to me. It feels like a water-filled balloon. After an hour, I return to the boat.

Indonesia - A fishing boat on the beach at Lovina

Lunch is served along with a Coca-Cola, and I sit on a small beach. From the beach, I can see the clear water with the Ijen volcano on Java in the background. The volcano looks stunning in the sunny weather. Before the afternoon, the boat moves to another spot and anchors. Diwas assures me the coral is better here. I dive back into the water. The variety of fish is much greater here, and the coral is more diverse. I can easily see down to about ten meters. The water is clear. Satisfied, I climb back on board. Back at the harbor, there is an opportunity to shower. Then the van takes me back to Lovina, where I arrive in the late afternoon. On the beach, I meet Robert again and book a dolphin tour for tomorrow morning. With a beer in hand, I enjoy the setting sun. The ladies on the beach all remember my name and are eager to sell me something. In the evening, I head into Lovina. The hotel taxi takes me to the town center, which I estimate is a few kilometers away. Along the boulevard, there are some nice restaurants. Unfortunately, the live music gets increasingly loud throughout the evening, making it difficult to have a conversation.