Ena Partha
Bali’s 1st Dive Instructor

I have known Ena Partha, owner of Ena Dive Center in Sanur, for a few years. I recently learned that he was the 1st Bali person to be certified as a PADI Dive Instructor in Bali. He operates a 5 Star PADI Gold Palm Resort operation near the shimmering white sand beaches off Sanur.
Growing up in Bali, he held a strong love for the oceans around this magical island. Before he knew what a dive tank and a BCD were, he was free diving off the reefs in Bali to be educated at the marine life below. He would dive for about 3 minutes to see sharks feeding and the myriad of colors we divers seek. His ‘formal education’ was the sea.
As a young man, he began his diving as an Indonesia CMAS 1 Star open water certification. He and friends then participated in recreational dive club activities. In 1979, he trained and completed a coaching clinic for diving and trained with the Indonesian Navy in his diving skills. He then went into serious athletic training in diving to compete for the ‘All Indonesia Dive Competition’ in 1981 (sort of like an Olympics of diving). He placed 1st in this event, earning the Gold Medal.
Fresh from his Gold Medal, he completed CMAS Instructor 1 Star training and the local Bali POSSI training in 1982, both qualifying him to teach as a Dive Instructor. In 1983, he spent six months in Singapore to cross train with PADI in the skills from Rescue Diver to Dive Instructor. On return home in October 1983, he was the 1st in Bali to be PADI qualified. Consider that his certifications were only 21 years ago. This dates diving in Indonesia as a very young ‘industry’. He completed the requirements for Master Dive Instructor in 1999.
The new dive instructor found work in Bali with the Bualu Hotel in Nusa Dua until 1990 when he started his own diving and fishing business. He and a brother founded Bali Marine Sports in 1990. His association with his brother continued until March, 1993. Ena was determined to found his own company and ‘go it alone’.
So, with the help of about 15 staff and friends, he organized Ena Dive Center with nothing more than a sound idea and a super strong work ethic. His first office was in his father’s house in Sanur near his present operation. He borrowed dive equipment from friends in Java and rented local boats for diving trips and ocean fishing. ‘Pioneering’ is not quite adequate to describe his activities.
Within ten months of opening his dive company, he owned three boats, all locally made by Bali craftsmen to his designs. He obtained some necessary financial support to expand from divers he met in Hong Kong, Japan and the United States. In each situation, he repaid the loans within six months of the assistance. After these years, all remain good friends.
Today, Ena Dive Center operates with six boats configured for diving or fishing. He owns all of his equipment from air compressors/tanks/6 vans/2 trucks and a support SUV; a modern office building which support dive training, equipment repairs and rentals and initial briefings pre water activities. He employs a staff of about 55, including 3 PADI Instructors who are multilingual. Nitrox is now available at 32 or 40% mixtures to give divers a choice in the air mixes they wish to use in dives.
A reader may think that this is a man… ‘who has it all’ and is sitting on laurels. No, not correct. I find Ena to be a most humble and a gracious person and is honest in his dealings in private and in business. He has expanded in another dimension; that of creating a set of luxury two bed room villas in short walking distance from his operation in Sanur. What is next? Probably quite a bit as Ena has involved two of his 3 daughters in the business. Novi, the eldest, is understudying the dive/fishing operation while Yani is in charge of the Villa activities. Novi spent three months in Japan to learn the market. Both sisters spent six months in Australia for the same purposes. There is another sister, Koming, in school preparing for a future role. Ena and his wife, have born to Bali a ‘Diving Dynasty’. (BTN/*)

Paradiso Bowling & Billiard Center
Keep On Rolling With Billiards

Sports bowling & billiard were established in Bali in 1990’s. But the sport became popular in the 2000’s, especially for youngsters. In Denpasar there are some sport centers that offer bowling & billiard activities, and you can find it at Puputan Renon Street, Teuku Umar and Diponegoro. Even though you can find it in some tourism objects like in Kuta, Legian and Seminyak area, plus restaurant, bar and music entertainment.
Paradiso Bowling & Billiard Center (PBBC) is the example, which provides some facilities like 44 nine feet table, 1 snoker table consists of 6 holes for billiards, where all tables are “Oriley”. For bowling, PBBC provides 8 lines. “In this moment we still promoting our business in Bali,” Reza Mahendra explained, while added, PBBC has three time as a place for Bali International Billiard Open (2003, 2004 and 2005).
The International championship was attended by International players like Rayes and Fransisco Busta Mante (Filipino), Alex Pagulayan (Canada) and Mike Imonen (Ireland). “They have shown their prestige and also left their sticks in this place,” said Reza, Guest Relation & PR, Paradiso Bowling & Billiard.
PBBC has 60 acres in extend, and give guarantee to the visitors and international players feeling safe and comfortable to do their activities. There are some facilities like AC, restaurant & bar, which provide various food and beverage. For those who’s want to learn about these sports, some talented instructors will teach you there. For that purpose the organizers are offer some packages called ‘daily promo’, for example on Monday there is ‘Monday Girl Power’ or more popular with “ladies night. “Most of them who are playing on Monday are beautiful and sexy girls with special rate”, he explained
On Tuesday (for student); Wednesday you can play as satisfy as possible and just need to pay Rp.30.000; Thursday special for tourism industry; Friday & Saturday (normal price) and Sunday ‘Billyard Maniak’. The price that offered is not too expensive; Rp.23.000/hour (Billiard) and Bowling Rp.21.000/game. That prices valid either for locals and foreigners. “In a day, not less than 100 people come to this place, even for special day visitors reach 500 people,” said Reza.
Visitors especially Australian and Japanese are tending to do Billiard & Bowling, even every Wednesday Japanese club usually plays Bowling in this place. Paradiso Billiard & Bowling Center was launched in 2003 and the location itself situated at tourism center Kuta, at Kuta Center. Have a nice game.
(BTN/013)

Tanah Lot 10-K

Tanah Lot, 30 km west of Denpasar is the most popular place of interest in the regency of Tabanan. In the effort of alluring for both domestic and foreign tourist, the first Tanah Lot 10-K was conducted on Saturday morning (24/12), a day before X-mas celebration.
The event was opened by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Jro Wacik at the start line at Kediri village. Under the theme of “Solidarity Run for Bali”, the minister told the press that Tanah Lot 10-K is the action for ‘recovery’, Bali is save to visit. The Minister supported some of Rp.100 millions and hoped that such an event will be annual promotion in the future.
Tanah Lot 10-K is held for promoting exotic nature and culture seen at Tanah Lot and surrounding. While running, the 7.500 participants enjoyed the village scenery, green rice field, traditional market and of course the scenic wonder at Tanah Lot. The participants welcome by baleganjur (traditional marching band), Balinese pop song concert and jegog performing. (BTN/Lanus Sumatra)