An eco-friendly dive resort
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The local dive sites are very nice, you'll find special and ordinary ones as well. Maybe one of the most memorable places of Bali was the Underwater Temple Garden. Back in 2005 Reef Seen built a Balinese-style temple under water with the help of the local people, which is now covered by inhabitants of the seafloor. The traditional gate and the many sculpture are as spectacular as the marine life with its huge sea fans and sponges, and species like ghost pipefish or nudibranch live here. So you can expect interesting themes for macro and wide angle photography as well in this nice dive spot. The dive centre established an usual artificial reef as well, called BioWreck from the shape of the first of two cage sculptures, the second more recently added large turtle, BioBoomer. First you'll encounter the wooden wrecks than you can swim around a reef which was partly destroyed by the dynamite fishing but recovered again, and you'll finish the dive at the metal frameworks where, thanks to the electricity from solar panels at the surface, corals grow. You'll learn about corals and have a special experience at the same time.
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The Reef Runner
(Click for the underwater gallery)
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The other dive sites are very diverse, there are spots covered with soft or stone corals, some with shoals of fish, or with a little luck big animals. You can do the night dives in front of the dive center where you can find some artificial objects as well, but the main attraction is the dance of the mandarin fish. With the dive center's boats it's possible to reach the dive sites of Menjangan island, where most of the spots are wall dives. Sometimes you'll encounter shark or turtle, and you'll find the famous Eel Garden dive site where eels live in a huge area. Menjangan's sites are nice but the local dive sites are definitely worth visiting as well.
When we think about Reef Seen Divers Resort we have to say the guests of this dive center get something which is a real rarity: Chris is the center of the community and does a lot for environment above and under water. It's enough to mention the finishing of the dynamite fishing, the protection of the reefs and making new ones, and certainly the famous turtle project. They buy the turtle eggs which they keep in the dive center, raise the turtle babies, and release them. All the guests can watch this during their stay, the small turtles are swimming in their pools. Sadly the old "mascot" Green Turtle, Boomer died in 2010. They released him for five times but always came back on the next day like a boomerang- this is the origin of his name. Everybody liked Boomer but they now have Buddy, a Hawksbill who is taking over as the attraction, as he likes the people around who scratch him- turtle encounter is guaranteed for all the guests of Reef Seen! The kids can try pony rides, and it's possible to visit a local pearl farm. The dive centre acts as a local community centre as well, the local children practice the traditional dances here, and the Reef Seen Dance Club will perform by request- exciting experience, absolutely worth watching.
Because you won't experience mass diving at Reef Seen, during your stay you'll feel like you are staying with a small group of friends. The atmosphere is familiar, everybody knows each other, the crew assemble the divers' equipment, and they remember every special needs. Usually the divers do two dives and a night dive per day, but it's possible to dive more. The divers can stay in a wonderfully located place, in a relaxing village, and they will have a lot of unforgottable memories under and above water as well.
We recommend visiting this dive center to anybody who travel to Bali.
(average: 4) average conditions 
