8 Day Bali Scuba Diving Retreat

Eat. Pray. Dive
Slowly, respectfully, and with purpose

Bali retreat at a glance
Location:
Amed, Bali (4 nights); optional Ubud extension (3 nights)
Duration:
5 days / 4 nights (Amed base) or 8 days / 7 nights (with Ubud Extension add-on)
Accomodation:
Bali Dive Resort & Spa, Amed (base); Grand Sehati Inn & Spa, Ubud (with extension)
Group size:
maximum 4 guests
Level:
Beginners welcome — no experience required
Diving:
PADI course (OW or AOW, chosen at booking) + USAT Liberty wreck dive, Tulamben
Certification:
Optional add-on — PADI Open Water or Advanced Open Water (incl. ECO variants)
Who is this for:
Women, beginner to intermediate, solo-traveller friendly

What’s Included

• Airport pickup and drop-off (Denpasar DPS)

• [Transfer to Ubud available with optional Ubud Extension add-on]

• 4 nights accommodation at Bali Dive Resort & Spa, Amed (Private Deluxe room, single occupancy)

• Daily breakfast at Bali Dive Resort & Spa

• PADI certification course — Open Water (3 days, 4 training dives) or Advanced Open Water (2 days, 5 specialty dives) — chosen at booking. Includes a dive at the USAT Liberty wreck, Tulamben.

• All standard scuba equipment (mask, wetsuit, BCD, regulator, tank, weights)

• [Ubud cultural visits available with optional Ubud Extension add-on][Temple fees included only if Ubud Extension add-on is taken]

• WiFi at the resort

• Host support before, during, and after the retreat

What’s Not Included

• Flights to and from Bali

• Travel insurance (required)

• Lunch and dinner

• PADI certification course — optional add-on at booking (see Investment)

• Underwater photoshoot at the Liberty wreck — optional add-on

• Welcome massage — optional add-on

• Personal expenses and optional activities

Volunteer in a marine conservation project

For those who feel called to give something back to the ocean, an optional conservation experience can be arranged in Amed with NGOs such as Ocean Gardener or Livingseas Asia.

These are not staged activities, but real restoration projects led by marine biologists and local teams. You may take part in coral reef recovery, support underwater nurseries, and learn how fragile ecosystems are being rebuilt — one fragment at a time.

Contribution from approximately 80–100 USD supports ongoing reef restoration, research, and local conservation efforts.

Participation is always optional, and designed as a quiet, meaningful way to connect more deeply with the ocean.

Highlights

• Dive the legendary USAT Liberty wreck: a WWII cargo ship torpedoed in 1942 and reshaped by Mount Agung's 1963 eruption, now draped in coral and full of marine life, just metres from shore.

• Learn or dive with a PADI 5-Star Eco Center: conservation built into the teaching — optional ECO course upgrades add a Dive Against Debris conservation dive and a second PADI AWARE certification on top of your PADI course.

• A two-halves week — salt water, then sacred water: four days of diving in Amed, then three days in Ubud moving through waterfalls, rice terraces, and a closing Tirta Empul melukat water-purification ceremony.

• Plant a coral fragment with Ocean Gardener: optional visit to a working coral nursery in Lipah Bay, snorkel the restoration site with a marine biologist, and leave a lasting piece of you on the reef.

• Small group, women-only, solo-traveller friendly: kept intimate on purpose. You are not a number on a trip list — you are one of a few.

• Founder-led and Swiss-organised: a real person (Rocío) behind every booking, answering questions before, during, and after the retreat.

• Flexible at the core — designed for certified and uncertified divers: already certified? Dive all twelve. New to scuba? Add the PADI course at booking and complete it inside the same week.

*Available at an additional cost to support local ecosystem projects.

How booking works

1. Reserve your place
   Send an enquiry or secure your spot for the Bali retreat.

2. Confirm your setup
   We confirm your room, your freediving or scuba path, and any optional add-ons.

3. Prepare for arrival
   You receive your retreat guide, practical details, and support before you travel.

Welcome to Bali

Bali is one of those rare places where the ocean, the land, and the spiritual feel genuinely inseparable. This retreat brings together two of the island's most distinctive settings: Amed, a quiet coastal village on Bali's northeast coast known for its black-sand beaches, calm and clear water, and a diving community that takes the ocean seriously, and Ubud, the cultural heartland of the island, surrounded by rice terraces, jungle, and centuries of temple life.

Over eight days, you will move between salt water and sacred water — between the focus of a guided descent and the quiet of a landscape shaped by ritual and intention. The retreat is designed to feel calm, meaningful, and easy to navigate alone.

The Retreat in Brief

This retreat is designed for women who want a more thoughtful way to meet the underwater world through scuba diving — breathing from a tank, moving with intention through coral reefs and historic wrecks, guided by someone who knows exactly what they're doing. Four nights in Amed at Bali Dive Resort & Spa, three nights in Ubud at Grand Sehati Inn, and your PADI certification course — with training dives across some of Southeast Asia's most celebrated sites — the USAT Liberty wreck in Tulamben, Jemeluk Bay, and the reefs of Amed itself.

If you already hold a dive certification, the base retreat is your week: dive, rest, dive again, then shift inland to Ubud for waterfalls, rice terraces, and a closing water purification ceremony. If you are uncertified, you add the PADI course as an optional add-on at booking and complete it inside the same retreat week. Either way, the arc is the same: you enter through the ocean, you leave through sacred water.

Not a performance retreat. Not a competition. Just you, your breath, and the ocean floor.

Typical day

Training days in Amed

Morning: briefing + ocean session (technique, safety, comfort-based progression)
Midday: rest, journaling, lunch on your own terms
Afternoon: second session (pool or ocean depending on conditions and path)
Evening: free time, early dinner, calm group connection

Cultural days in Ubud

Morning: slow start + breakfast
Daytime: guided cultural visits (temple/terraces) + optional personal exploration
Late afternoon: rest time
Evening: unstructured, quiet integration

A Note on Certification

This retreat is designed to work for both certified divers and those wanting to earn their certification. The base price includes your PADI certification course (OW / OW ECO / AOW / AOW ECO — chosen at booking). If you already hold a PADI Open Water (or equivalent) qualification, you can take the Advanced Open Water course or ECO variant as a certified guest. If you are not yet certified, you add your course at booking and it runs inside the same eight-day window.

PADI Open Water (beginner) is the entry-level scuba certification and runs over three to four days. It covers theory, confined-water pool sessions, and four open-water dives — everything you need to dive safely and independently anywhere in the world. No prior experience required.

PADI Advanced Open Water is for those who already hold an Open Water certification and want to expand their range — deeper dives, navigation, buoyancy refinement, and specialty skills. Runs over two to three days and includes five specialty dives, one of which is the USAT Liberty wreck.

Your course is conducted by Wayan, a certified PADI instructor with years of experience in Amed and Tulamben, based at Bali Dive Resort & Spa. Wayan is known for the calm, patient quality of his teaching — unhurried, technically precise, and genuinely adapted to each diver's pace.

PADI ECO course upgrades — Dive with Purpose

Bali Dive Resort & Spa is a PADI Eco Center. Both the Open Water and Advanced courses are available as ECO variants: one of your training dives becomes a Dive Against Debris where you actively remove marine debris from the reef, identify it, and submit your data to the global PADI AWARE database used by researchers and policymakers worldwide. You leave with two certifications instead of one — your PADI course plus a PADI AWARE Dive Against Debris specialty. If ocean conservation matters to you, this is the most direct way to act on that while learning to dive.

Scuba diving

Bali Dive Resort Amed
For scuba diving in Bali, we chose Bali Dive Resort Amed because of its strong local reputation, professional standards, and real commitment to marine conservation. As the only PADI Eco Center in Amed, and a partner working with the MERO Foundation to protect local reefs and support community education, they reflect the kind of scuba partner we want for this retreat: experienced, safety-conscious, and genuinely aligned with responsible ocean travel.

Wayan — PADI Instructor

Wayan is a professional PADI scuba diving instructor based across Amed and Tulamben, certified in Emergency First Response (EFR). He works with divers at every stage — from those taking their first pool breaths to certified divers exploring complex reef and wreck environments. What divers describe most consistently is the quality of calm he brings underwater: patient, unhurried, and genuinely adapted to each diver’s pace.

“Move slowly, breathe calmly, and let the ocean set the rhythm.”

Underwater memories

During selected moments of the retreat, our highly trained instructors will capture underwater videos of you, so you can stay fully immersed in the experience while your memories are beautifully documented.

Meet the local experts behind your Amed & Ubud retreat

Your Full Itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival in Bali / Transfer to Amed

Morning: Arrive in Bali (DPS). Your private driver meets you at the airport and transfers you to Amed — approximately 2.5 hours along Bali’s northeastern coast.
Afternoon: Check in at your accommodation in Amed, steps from the water.
Evening: A gentle first evening — dinner at leisure, early sleep, and the sound of the sea outside your window.

Day 2 — Freediving Training, Day One
Morning: Breakfast, then your first session with your certified freediving instructor. You will begin with the theory and physiology of breath-hold diving, relaxation and breathwork techniques, and your first pool session.
Afternoon: Static and dynamic apnea practice in the pool. By this afternoon, you will have already held your breath longer than you thought you could.
Evening: Free time to rest or explore the beachfront.

Day 3 — Freediving Training, Day Two / Open Water
Morning: Your first ocean dives — descending the line, equalising, moving through the water on a single breath. Your instructor is with you at every moment.
Afternoon: Continued open water practice. Advanced students work on deeper dives, rescue skills, and equalization.
Evening: Sunset by the water. A free evening in Amed.

Day 4 — USAT Liberty Wreck Freedive — Certification Day
Morning: An early start for the most memorable experience of your certification: a freedive at the USAT Liberty wreck in Tulamben. Torpedoed in 1942, resting just metres from shore, encrusted with coral and alive with marine life. To descend on one breath through its structure is something quite unlike anything else. Underwater footage included.
Afternoon: Return to Amed. Beginner students receive their AIDA 2 / Wave 1 certification. Advanced students complete their final dives and receive their AIDA 3 / Wave 2 certification.
Evening: Celebrate. A free evening in Amed.

Day 5 — Transfer to Ubud
Morning: A free morning in Amed — a last swim or slow breakfast by the sea.
Afternoon: Your private driver takes you to Ubud — approximately three hours through the mountains and terraced valleys of central Bali.
Evening: Check in at Grand Sehati Inn & Spa. Dinner at leisure.

Day 6 — Ubud — Waterfalls, Rice Terraces & Luwak Coffee
Morning: An early start — out before the crowds to reach the waterfall by 8AM, when the valley is quiet and the light is still soft.
Afternoon: Tegalalang Rice Terraces and a stop at Bali Pulina for a traditional luwak coffee tasting.
Evening: Free evening in Ubud — some of Bali’s best restaurants within easy walking distance.

Day 7 — Ubud & Tirta Empul Purification Ceremony
Morning: A slow morning — sleep in, explore the Ubud market, or enjoy the greenery of the inn.
Afternoon: Visit Tirta Empul for respectful participation in the melukat water purification ceremony — a Balinese Hindu ritual of cleansing and renewal practised here for over a thousand years. Sarong and guidance provided.
Evening: Closing dinner or final evening at leisure.

Day 8 — Departure
Morning: Breakfast and a slow check-out.
Afternoon: Private transfer to Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS).
Evening: Travel onward — certified, renewed, and carrying something real from Bali.

What Makes This Retreat Bali

The USAT Liberty Shipwreck — Tulamben, Amed A US Army cargo ship torpedoed in 1942, the Liberty was pushed ashore and eventually rolled into the sea in 1963 after a volcanic eruption. Today it rests at 5 to 30 metres and is one of the most accessible and visually extraordinary dive sites in the world — its hull now a continuous living reef of soft corals, reef fish, and schools of jackfish that circle it in slow, unhurried orbits.

Lempuyang Temple — The Gates of Heaven Perched on the slopes of Gunung Lempuyang in East Bali, this ancient temple complex offers one of the island's most iconic views — a stone split gate framing the sacred volcano beyond. It is one of Bali's nine directional temples, believed to protect the island from negative forces. A place of genuine spiritual weight, not a backdrop.

Tirta Gangga Water Palace — East Bali Built in 1946 by the last king of Karangasem, Tirta Gangga is a network of tiered fountains, ornamental pools, and stone sculptures fed by natural springs. The name means Water of the Ganges. Walking through it is a lesson in how Balinese culture understands water — not as a resource, but as something sacred and alive.

Tirta Empul Temple — Water Purification Ceremony One of Bali's most important temples, built over a thousand years ago around a natural spring that Balinese Hindus believe possesses holy healing powers. The purification ritual — moving through a series of fountains in a specific sequence — is a genuine act of spiritual renewal that locals practise regularly, not a performance for visitors. To close the retreat here is intentional. You began in the ocean. You end in holy water. The circle completes.

Who is this retreat for?

This retreat is created for those who want more than a holiday, who want to reconnect with themselves through the ocean, in a place where the learning is gentle and the experience is real.

This retreat is for you if you:

• Want to reconnect with yourself through the ocean.

• Are curious about scuba diving — the practice of breathing underwater and moving through the ocean in near-silence.

• Are drawn to meaningful experiences over performance.

• Prefer calm travel with personal flexibility.

• Are travelling solo and want structure without losing freedom.

• Value ethical wildlife encounters and thoughtful ocean travel.

This retreat is probably not for you if you:

• Are looking for a party or social-first atmosphere.

• Prefer fast-paced group tourism.

• Want an intense or competitive training environment.

You don’t need experience. You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to be a little curious — about the water, about yourself, and about what a different kind of travel can feel like.

Where You’ll Stay - Amed

Your accommodations are carefully selected across every island to match the retreat's rhythm. At each stop, you stay in a private room designed for rest and comfort after your ocean sessions and explorations.

Your retreat unfolds across two of Bali's most captivating landscapes.

On the coast of Amed, you’ll rest in a charming lodge where the sea is your backdrop. Rooms open onto private balconies, the air is salt-kissed, and the pace of life slows to match the rhythm of the tides. A dedicated dive training pool on site allows you to practice and refine your skills in a safe and focused environment, while the open ocean is just 100 metres from your door. A daily breakfast is included, ensuring you start each morning nourished and ready for the adventures ahead. After a day in the water, unwind by the pool or gather with fellow travellers at the bar — good food, good company, and the warm glow of an Amed sunset always within reach.

Where You’ll Stay - Ubud

In the cultural heart of Ubud, your stay shifts to a serene boutique sanctuary nestled among lush tropical gardens. Elegant rooms with private balconies overlook a sparkling outdoor pool or peaceful garden, while a full-service spa, rooftop terrace, and on-site restaurant complete the picture of refined comfort. Just steps from sacred temples, art museums, and the iconic Monkey Forest, the location places you at the very soul of Ubud — while the calm interiors ensure you always have a quiet refuge to return to.

Ethical approach and wildlife responsibility

We follow a low-impact approach to wildlife encounters: no touching, no feeding, no teasing, no blocking an animal’s path, and no forcing an interaction.

Where relevant (for example, visits to forest areas in Ubud), we align guest behaviour with established guidance for observing long-tailed macaques responsibly. This includes keeping a respectful distance, avoiding direct eye contact, not showing teeth or smiling at the monkeys, securing loose belongings, and allowing the animals to move freely without interference. Monkeys are intelligent and curious, but they remain wild animals and should never be encouraged to interact closely.

Wildlife encounters can never be guaranteed or controlled. The intention is not to create staged experiences, but to observe respectfully and allow animals to remain calm in their natural environment.

The point is not to “collect” animals — it is to meet nature with awareness and respect.

Safety and responsibility

Safety is never a vibe. It’s a system.

All underwater sessions are conducted by certified professionals through partner schools and operators. Ocean Calling Retreats coordinates the retreat experience and logistics, but does not act as a freediving or scuba instructor, and does not make in-water safety decisions—those are made by the licensed professionals running the sessions.

We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that includes medical and emergency cover, and appropriate freediving or scuba coverage depending on your chosen path.

Insurance can be added during checkout at the time of booking.

Questions before booking?

Message us, happy to help you choose freediving vs scuba.

What guests often say

Guests often describe Ocean Calling Retreats as calm, supportive, and deeply memorable. Many mention feeling safe in the water, welcomed as solo travellers, and grateful for the small-group atmosphere. Others speak about the slower pace, the thoughtful guidance, and the way the experience stayed with them long after the retreat ended.

For many guests, this is more than a diving holiday. It is a small-group ocean retreat designed to feel personal, safe, and meaningful — especially for travellers looking for a more intentional way to experience the ocean.

To read recent feedback and follow the journey, you can explore our reviews and social platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

Which country does Bali belong to?

Bali is an island in Indonesia, located in Southeast Asia. Entry requirements follow Indonesian immigration policies.

Official information:
https://www.indonesia.travel
https://www.imigrasi.go.id

What language is spoken?

Bahasa Indonesia is the national language.

English is widely spoken in tourism, hospitality, and diving environments throughout Bali.

What currency is used?

Indonesia uses the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).

Credit cards are widely accepted in Bali, especially in hotels and restaurants. Cash is useful for small local shops, temples, and markets.

ATMs are available in both Amed and Ubud.

Currency information:
https://www.bi.go.id

Travel & Entry

Do I need a visa?

Many travellers can enter Indonesia using a Visa on Arrival (VOA), valid for 30 days and extendable once, or an e-VOA purchased online before arrival.

Travellers from the EU/Schengen area, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland are generally eligible, depending on passport validity.

Official visa information:
https://www.imigrasi.go.id

How do I get to Bali?

You fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Denpasar.

Transfers between locations during the retreat are arranged.

Airport information:
https://www.bali-airport.com

Season & Environment

What is the weather like?

Bali has a warm tropical climate year-round.

Air temperature: 27–32°C
Water temperature: 27–29°C

Expect mostly sunny weather with occasional short tropical showers.

Ocean Experience

Do I need experience in freediving?

No. Beginners are welcome.

Amed’s calm bays offer very good conditions for learning freediving safely and progressively.

What if I feel nervous about holding my breath?

Feeling unsure is very common.

Freediving focuses on relaxation and technique rather than performance.

You are always guided safely and progress at your own pace.

There is no pressure to reach a certain depth.

Can I choose between freediving and scuba diving?

Yes. You may choose a freediving or scuba diving certification path depending on your interests.

Both options are beginner friendly.

Is equipment included?

Yes. Standard freediving or scuba diving equipment is included within the course framework.

Equipment rental is included during the scheduled training sessions and certification activities. Outside of course sessions, equipment rental is not included but can be arranged locally if desired.

If nitrox is selected, the dive centre may charge an additional fee.

What ocean life might we see?

In Amed and Tulamben, marine life may include:

reef fish
coral reefs
sea turtles
macro marine life
occasionally dolphins

Wildlife encounters happen naturally and respectfully.

Sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Accommodation & Group

Where do we stay?

Accommodation is in two boutique properties:

one in Amed on Bali’s eastern coast
one in Ubud in the island’s interior

Both locations are selected for their calm atmosphere, connection to nature, and proximity to the experiences included in the retreat.

Guests can choose between a private bedroom or a shared bedroom, depending on their preference and availability.

Is this a resort?

No. The accommodation consists of small boutique-style properties chosen for their calm atmosphere and connection to the environment, rather than large commercial resorts.

Can I stay in my own hotel or villa?

Yes. If you prefer to arrange your own accommodation, the retreat can be adapted to include guiding, equipment, and activities only.

Is this retreat suitable for solo travellers?

Yes. Most guests join solo.

The small group environment allows connection while maintaining personal space.

How many guests will join?

The group is intentionally small to allow personalised guidance and a calm atmosphere.

Meals & Daily Life

Are meals included?

Breakfast is included daily.

Lunch is not included. During training sessions, lunch can be pre-ordered directly at the school café for convenience, allowing the group to eat together without losing time between sessions. Payment is made directly at the café.

During activity days, we usually eat together at local restaurants. Meals are paid individually.

Dinner is flexible, allowing each person to choose freely according to personal preference and explore local restaurants.

You will always be informed in advance about the daily schedule so you can plan comfortably.

Is there Wi-Fi?

Yes. Both accommodations offer Wi-Fi suitable for messages, calls, and light work.

Amed is quieter and more remote than Ubud, but connection is generally stable.

Booking & Practical Information

Will I receive underwater photos?

Yes. Underwater photos are taken during selected moments of the retreat, including freediving sessions and the Tulamben shipwreck experience.

Images are shared after the retreat.

Do I need travel insurance?

Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Your policy should ideally cover:

medical care
freediving or scuba diving activities
travel interruption

You may have the option to purchase travel insurance during checkout when completing your booking.

Common providers:

https://dan.org
https://www.worldnomads.com

Do I need vaccinations for Bali?

There are no mandatory vaccinations required for most travellers entering Indonesia.

Common travel recommendations may include:

Hepatitis A
Tetanus
Typhoid

Recommendations vary depending on personal health and travel history.

Travellers should consult their doctor before departure.

Health information:

https://www.who.int
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/indonesia

Preparation

What should I pack?

A detailed packing list will be sent before the retreat.

Typical items include:

light clothing
swimwear
reef-safe sunscreen
comfortable footwear
modest clothing for temple visits (shoulders and knees covered)

Reef-safe sunscreen guidance:

https://savethereef.org

Policies

What is the cancellation policy?

Please refer to the cancellation policy here:

https://oceancallingretreats.com/cancellation-policy

If your booking is made through an external platform, the applicable cancellation terms will be those provided by that platform at the time of booking.

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