Bali – Pemuteran 27/4/16 – 29/4/16
It took 2 hours to get to Pemuteran from Lovina, and once there we were transported another 10 minutes up the road, as we had organised a days snorkelling trip off Menjengan Island. The boat ride across the sea took 30 minutes, but was the clearest blue sea ever. The boat went over many corals and we could see the bottom as clear as, it was stunning. On our trip today were 3 people diving and us 2 snorkelling, with three guides.
As soon as anchor was laid, me and Tina were in. The sea was very warm, warmest we’ve been in so far, and like I said earlier it was crystal clear, with viewing up to 20 or 30 meters. As there was only the two of us snorkelling the guides went off with the divers, leaving me and Tina to get on with it. There was nobody else there, it was amazing. Every colour of the rainbow went passed us in the form of the vast verity of fish, some in great scholes, others as individuals. Every size imaginable. And not forgetting the corals, as impressive and different as the fish were. In Australia – Outer Great Barrier Reef – we learnt a lot about coral bleaching from pollution to higher sea temperatures. Here just off the north coast of Bali, we found no coral bleaching and the temperature of the sea was warmer. So that leads me to believe that pollution could be a main contributor towards the ever increasing coral reef dying in Australia. However we have been extremely shocked by the sheer volume of litter that is scattered around and in amongst the reef. Its a crying shame that in a place as unspoilt natural beauty, visitors and locals can’t take away their rubbish. 2 or 3 times I dodged jelly fish to realize they were actually plastic bags floating around. I even came across a KFC drink carton, and I haven’t even seen a KFC in Bali yet! It’s totally shocking and unfair to one of nature’s natural beauties….
We swam for just over an hour before being called back for a delicious Balinese BBQ lunch on the beach. Very nice indeed. On our way back to mainland, our guides stated we were going for a second dive/snorkel around the other side of the island. If the first site was impressive then we were in awe with the second. Again just me and Tina for the first half hour before a second boat arrived full of people. They were noisy, boystress, and very uncomfortable to be around. 1 or 2 of them swam in the shallows, broke pieces of the reef off, 1 even dislodged a starfish and brought it to the surface to show the others. Terrible behaviour. Their boat only stopping for 10 minutes so soon they were off again, leaving me and Tina in total tranquillity, swimming with the fish in and around the amazing reef.
We were dropped off at our next place. The Global Dive bungalows in Pemuteran. Again yet another tropical oasis of sheer luxury. This place only has 6 bungalows, so very peaceful and beautiful in every way. Our bungalows bathroom being partly outside, yet very private, so we can shower, (or whatever), listening to the birds sing, under beautiful trees, next to the mountain ranges. Very nice indeed. Not to say after a lengthy shower, I soon fell fast asleep for a few hours in our 4 poster bed complete with mosquito net as I was knackered.
A great and relaxing stay for a couple of nights. Other than the snorkelling/diving trip there’s not much more to see around here, so it was blistful relaxing few days. Great for catching up on FB, emails and our blog.
Roy and Tina Out of Office 