Marine Tourism in Bali

Menjangan Island

Menjangan Island is an unpopulated slab of 175 ha. It comprises rock, stone and black volcanic soil. Undersea potential around this island is immensely appropriate for marine tourism activities, starting from snorkeling to scuba diving.

Its undersea life is tremendously attractive as coral reef that has various marine flora and fauna of dissimilar colors. This destination offers alluring tranquil sea and bay panorama. Various decorative fish that could only be found in some certain areas all over the world fills up its undersea life.
Down two or three meters, there is a marine rock complex with steep wall up to 50 meters deep. After that area, the rock surface slopes slightly, sandy and alternated with fascinating coral. Surrounding this area, there is a rocky grotto. If entering the grotto, the diver can go down 5 meters , and then go to another.
Menjangan Island is situated to the north of Bali Barat National Park belonging to Sumber Klampok Village, Grokgak sub district, Buleleng. It is about 76 km from Singaraja. To get the island, visitors should catch or charter a motorboat taking 30 minutes from Labuan Lalang. Diving in the waters of Menjangan Island can be performed all year round (January-December). Mangrove forests can also be found here.
Tulamben
The point of interest of Tulamben area is seen from its marine potential that is all the time used as a marine tourism arena (scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing and sailing). Tulamben is one of the best diving destinations in Bali since its water is clear all the year round. Here, there is no mighty stream and its location is not far from the beach side.
The shallow wreck of US “Liberty” sunk in 1940 by the Japanese is located in about 50 meters and now is an alluring undersea park. Around the body of the ship is festooned with many kinds of corals reef in various colors and therefore becomes a good habitat for fish, especially coral fish. 300 meters from the beach, there is seabed that is predicted to be the deepest in the world.
Tulamben Beach nestled in the Tulamben village, Kubu sub district, Karangasem, some 25 km from the heart of Karangasem city. Facilities at its surrounds are not complete yet, since it is still relatively newly introduced as an object of marine tourism. There are some home stays, hotels and restaurants there.
Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida Island is located in Nusa Penida sub district, Klungkung. This island can be reached by motorized jukung from Padangbai, Kusamba and Sanur. Nusa Penida and two other smaller islands, namely Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan, are lately visited by many tourists. Many cruise companies provide marine tourism activities there enjoying activities like diving, fishing and water-skiing.
The distinctiveness of marine tourism, especially at Nusa Lembongan is diving. Diving varies ranging from 5 up to 15 meters deep, so it makes an ideal place for all grades of divers, both beginners and professional. Its water is never murky all the year round and there are several kinds of decorative fish and coral reefs. One of many decorative fish found here is the species of Balistoideniger and Manta a kind of gigantic devil ray that lives in tropical seas.
Its high rolling up waves on these waters is also known as an area of playing surfing. The waves that run in the middle part and never touch the lips of beach are known as “ombak sangkur” (short and curved waves) come to be a point of interest for surfers. (BTN/*)

“Ogoh-ogoh” in Denpasar’s Anniversary

Celebrating the 13th anniversary of Denpasar City on 27 January 2005, an Ogoh-ogoh Competition will take place involving artists, societies, and related government institutions. This event held on (20/1) which was opened by Denpasar City Major Puspayoga categorized into two performances which is traditional ogoh-ogoh and new creation ogoh-ogoh.

The assessment will be taken at Catur Muka junction, whilst the performance will be technically staged with a nyatur desa parade, which means towards the town center. The parade begins with the eastern group that will start from Kayumas Kaja sub village (Surapati Street), the northern group starting from in front of Pasar Burung Satria/ Satria Traditional Bird Market (Veteran Street), the western group will start from in front of BNI office (Gajah Mada Street) and the southern group will start from in front of Bank BII (Udayana Street). All groups perform in front of the VIP stage for five minutes, and then finish at Puputan Badung Memorial Park.
The competition carried the theme “Through the epic worth, let us swell the art and culture creativities, to realize the divergences and peacefulness to create Ajeg Bali”, by performing the epic episodes of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Sutasoma. The assessed elements including creativity, composition, expression and performance.
This collaboration event was held by Denpasar City Government together with Listibiya, Majelis Madia and Parum Desa Pakraman in Denpasar. About 60 people participated, starting from children category, teenagers, and adults (teruna-teruni) who dressed orderly in Balinese traditional costume with assorted colors.
According to the event organizer I Nyoman Astita, MA, the event aimed to give sustainable opportunities for potential art creativities of Denpasar society. It said also, city governance inclined to orderly arrange the Nyepi execution within dharma agama context and create Denpasar City as a cultural vision city. “This competition is expected to continue annually and become a cultural event in supporting Denpasar as a cultural vision city,” he explicitly said.
The winner will be awarded with a trophy, certificate, and cash money. For traditional ogoh-ogoh category, the first winner was awarded with Rp 7.500.000, the second winner is Rp. 5.500.000, the third is Rp. 3.500.000, forth winner is 2.500.000, and the fifth winner is Rp. 1.500.000. Meanwhile, for New Creation ogoh-ogoh category, the prize in row is Rp 5.000.000, Rp. 4.000.000, Rp. 3.000.000, Rp. 2.000.000 and Rp.1.000.000. Each competitor was supplied with cash money for preparations amounting to Rp 400.000. (BTN/015)