Bucketlist Dive: Bali & the Gilis

Across the 12 months ending 29 July 2026, our travelled groups were close to balanced, with about 55% women and 44% men. The median traveller was 34 and the median group had 9 people. That is a historical snapshot, not a promise about the mix on a specific edition.

We design each edition around the destination rather than using a standard tour template. The usual rhythm is one or two experiences a day, with room to take the place in instead of rushing through a checklist.

Yes. Anyone aged 18 or older can apply. Our groups often skew from the late 20s to early 40s, but fit, energy and the experience itself matter more than fitting a narrow age band.

Yes. You can apply solo or with someone you know.

The included Gili portion is a snorkel safari — turtles, reef, and the famous underwater statues. If you're now hooked on diving (very likely after your Open Water cert!), you can book the optional Gili certified fun-dive package locally, roughly $35-45 per dive including gear, since Gili T has some of Indonesia's best easy drift diving.

Included: PADI Open Water certification, all dive training dives, 4 nights Amed + 2 nights Gili T stays (double-share, breakfast), all ground/ferry transfers, Gili snorkel safari, 6 hosted group dinners, and your ExCo facilitator throughout. Not included: international flights, visa (₹3,000), travel/dive insurance, optional Gili fun-dive package, alcohol, personal expenses, and single-occupancy supplement if you want a private room.

Grab a local SIM at DPS airport on arrival — Telkomsel or XL Axiata, around 100,000-150,000 IDR (₹550-800) for a tourist data package with 15-25GB, decent coverage across Bali and the Gilis. Amed and Gili T accommodations have WiFi, though it can be patchy on Gili T since it's a small island — don't rely on it for video calls.

All ground and ferry transfers are included and handled for you — private van from Denpasar to Amed, fast boat from Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan, and return transfers back to Denpasar at the end. Within Amed and Gili T, most spots are walkable or a short cidomo (horse cart, Gili T has no motor vehicles) or bike ride away.

Your ExCo facilitator is with the cohort throughout and is your first point of contact for anything. Two Fish Amed has certified dive instructors trained in emergency response and is close to local clinics; Bali also has a recompression chamber (Sanglah Hospital, Denpasar) for serious dive emergencies. This is exactly why dive + travel insurance is non-negotiable — make sure yours covers scuba diving specifically.

Late Nov is the start of Bali's wet season — expect warm, humid days (28-32°C) with short, heavy tropical downpours, usually in the afternoon/evening, clearing up fast. Sea conditions in Amed and the Gilis are generally still calm this time of year, good for diving visibility. Pack a light rain jacket and quick-dry clothes over heavy rain gear.

Alcohol isn't included in the trip price — it's personal expense. Bintang beer runs about 25,000-40,000 IDR (~₹130-210), cocktails 60,000-100,000 IDR. Amed is chill and low-key in the evenings; Gili T has a livelier beach-bar scene if you want it. No pressure either way — plenty of the group usually just does sunset beers and calls it a night before early dive mornings.

Not at all. Bali is very veg-friendly — nasi/mie goreng, gado-gado, tempeh and tofu dishes are everywhere, and Ubud especially is full of vegan cafes. Gili Trawangan also has plenty of options. Hosted group dinners will always have a veg spread; just flag your preference to your ExCo facilitator on day 1 so warungs are briefed in advance.

Reef-safe sunscreen (mineral, no oxybenzone), a rash guard or light wetsuit top, quick-dry towel, waterproof phone pouch, motion sickness tablets for the Padang Bai-Gili ferry, a dry bag for boat days, flip-flops + one pair of sturdy sandals for Ubud walks, and a basic med kit (diarrhea meds, antihistamines). Cash in small IDR notes matters more than you'd think — many Amed warungs don't take cards.

Absolutely — this is designed for it. The PADI Open Water course starts from zero, with pool-style confined sessions in Jemeluk Bay before open water dives. Activity level is a 3/5 — you don't need to be an athlete, but you should be a comfortable swimmer and okay with moderate walking, boat entries/exits, and carrying dive gear. No prior diving experience required.

Beyond the INR 1,25,000 edition price, budget for: flights to Denpasar (₹25k-45k round trip from India depending on season), visa (₹3,000), travel + dive insurance (₹2,000-4,000), Gili fun-dive add-on if you want it (~$35-45/dive), alcohol and snacks (₹3,000-6,000), and personal spends/shopping. Realistic total buffer: ₹40,000-60,000 on top.

Yes. Indian passport holders get a Visa on Arrival (VoA) in Bali, valid for 30 days and extendable once. It costs around INR 3,000 (paid in IDR, roughly 500,000 rupiah, at Denpasar airport). Keep your passport valid for 6+ months and have a printout of return/onward travel just in case. It's quick — usually 15-20 mins at DPS.