Penida Project Welcome Guide

WELCOME GUIDE

WELCOME GUIDE

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations! We are pleased to accept your application to join the research team at our Penida Project in Nusa Penida, Bali! Thank you for supporting us with your time and effort. Projects like this are possible because of the hard work and dedication of people like you, so thank you for making all of this possible.

In this welcome package you will find useful tips for planning your trip and for your stay with us at our research station. We are here to help you in any way so if you have any further questions please don't hesitate to ask!

Lauren Sparks Founding Director Indo Ocean Project

Conservation Activities

Workshops

Species Identification I & II

Manta Conservation

Shark Conservation

Turtle Conservation

Mola Conservation

Mangrove Conservation

Coral Ecology

Coral Identification

Coral Restoration

Nudibranch & Macro Life

Citizen Science

BRUV & BRUV Viewing

Species Sizing

Field Work

Roving Survey Dives & Fish

Identification

Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUVs) - Deployments & Viewings

Benthic Survey Dives

Dive Against Debris & Community / Beach Cleanups

CoralWatch & Coral Health Surveys

Coral Restoration

Water Quality Analysis

Citizen Science Identification ProjectsManta ID, Turtle ID, Elasmobranch ID, and Macro ID

If you are using this program for university credit please contact lauren@indooceanproject org to assist with any pre-arrival administration

Divemaster & Development

Not applicable if you are registered for Package #5 Researcher

Divemaster

Briefings & Assisting Workshop

Leading Dives & Tides Workshop

Knots / Search & Recovery Workshop

PPB / Fin Kicks & Lift Bag Workshop

Mapping Workshop

Gas Planning & Communication

Workshop

Rescue & O2 Workshop

Science of Diving / Dive Tables

Workshop

What Next Workshop

PRACTICAL

SMB Training & Practice

PPB & Fin Kicks Dive

Search & Recovery / Lift Bag Dive

Skills Development Pool / Confined

Course Assists with Students

Mapping Dives

Deep Scenario

Rescue Scenario

Night Dives

Watermanship Assessment (Stamina Test)

Equipment Exchange (Stress Test)

Leading Dives

Additional courses available upon request You can book these directly through our partnering dive shop on your arrival

REEFLEX DIVERS

Nusa Penida - Bali

Reeflex Divers is an eco friendly dive resort nestled in the jungle minutes away from the iconic Crystal Bay This dive centre opened in 2018 and features 2 all natural swimming pools, restaurant, bamboo bungalows and dive centre.

Reeflex is our partnering dive centre and hosts our project, you will be scheduled to receive any standard training courses (open water, advanced, rescue) with one of the experienced Reeflex instructors before you begin your divemaster training

Visit Reeflex’s Website

Follow their journey...

https://www.facebook.com/reeflexdivers

reeflexdivers

Reeflex Divers Penida

Welcome Home! ACCOMODATION

Your home away from home on Nusa Penida is located at Namaste Resort and Bungalows directly across from project headquarters at Reeflex Divers.

You will be just footsteps away from the classroom and living in a beautiful eco-friendly island resort with shared basic cooking facilities, chill out spaces and pool facilities

The rooms consist of three 4 bed mixed dorms shared with your fellow interns, only minutes from local restaurants, a 15 minute walk / 3 min scooter ride from the iconic Crystal Bay and sunset beach, and a 15 minute scooter ride from nearby Toyapakeh village.

Scooters are available for rental and local markets are 5 minute drive away.

Private bungalows are available in Namaste for monthly rental for approx 3,500,000 IDR/month **

Contact penida@indooceanproject.org for more information and to book your private bungalow.

*Prices subject to change without notice.

VISA & IMMIGRATION

Indonesian immigration can be daunting at first. That is why we work with a team of agents and lawyers to ensure all laws are followed and help monitor and ease your process. We'll reach out to you six weeks before you arrive to start confirming your visa options.

You will be responsible for covering all costs associated with obtaining an Indonesian VISA, but we are here to help!

UPDATED: June, 2024 - subject to change without notice

For independent visa processing, you can contact the Indonesian consulate in your country To avoid costly errors and get better in-country advice, we recommend using our trusted agent, eVISA Bali Mention "Indo Ocean Project" as your reference info@evisabali.com / https://www.evisabali.com

There are 2 VISA options, depending on your travel plans:

Option 1 - eVOA (Electronic Visa On Arrival)

Be worry-free and avoid a long visa-checking queue by trusting eVISA Bali to organize your 30-day eVISA On Arrival for 650,000 IDR You can extend this visa for another 30 days (a total of 60 days) once in the country If you obtained the electronic version, you can extend it through eVISA Bali After 60 days, you must leave the country Extensions cost IDR 650,000 through eVISA Bali

*This option is recommended if you are joining the 6 or 8-week program and do not plan to stay in Indonesia longer than the program's duration

Option 2 - B211a and C9 SHORT COURSE VISA

This is a 60-day OFFSHORE VISA, which can be extended ONSHORE for an additional 60 days x 2 for a maximum stay of 180 days in Indonesia. These extensions can be made directly with eVisa Bali and do not require you to take a day to visit immigration. If you choose to forgo our suggested agent and complete the process in person, you risk mandatory immigration visits, which will be scheduled at your nearest immigration office

Key Highlights:

Total price is 3,250,000 IDR + 2,750,000 IDR per 60 day extension

The process takes 10-12 business days

Once the Visa is approved, you have 90 days to enter the country before it expires

Maximum 180-day VISA (extension required every 60 days)

*VERY IMPORTANT*

Indonesia has very strict labour laws that prohibit foreigners from working in Indonesia without the proper VISA's. Please remember when you are applying for your VISA or entering the country that you DO NOT talk about working in the country. You are here to take part in a SCUBA diver and scientific diver training program VISA’s are legal agreements between an individual and a state. We will do our best to help guide you but ultimately VISA’s are your responsibility.

ARRIVAL PROCEDURES

BALI - DENPASAR NGURAH RAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (DPS)

We will contact you 4 weeks before your internship start date to confirm your travel plans, if you would like to book your flights sooner please get in touch for our latest travel advice at penida@indooceanproject.org to make sure your flights are landing at the right time.

Once your flights are confirmed we will help arrange your domestic incoming travel to the program. You will need to land in Bali the day before your program start date and stay in the Sanur area. If you would like to come earlier you are welcome, to help ease the jetlag however be aware the accommodation is only available to you on your start date, we have suggestions for private accommodation available.

We will then arrange for a driver to meet you at your Bali accomodation early on the start date of your program to bring you to Sanur harbour for transfer to Penida. Once you reach Penida our driver will be waiting for you in an Indo Ocean Project tshirt and will bring you to the dive shop (the accomodation is across the road).

Fast boats depart at 3 X per day from Sanur between 08:00 and 16:00 daily. You are unable to get to Penida the same day if your flights lands after 12 noon. We recommend Booking.com, Agoda, or Airbnb to find good deals on accommodation in Sanur where you will be picked up from your hotel the morning of your travel to Penida. Note: If you stay outside the Sanur area you will need to make your own way to the fast boat.

EXTRA COSTS

PLEASE NOTE THAT INDO OCEAN PROJECT IS NOT RESPONISBLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGES DUE TO CAUSES OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL. WE RECOMMEND INVESTING IN TRAVEL AND TRIP INSURANCE TO COVER ANY UNFORESEEN COSTS.

Flights - International and domestic flights. Bali has an international airport which is easy to fly into directly.

VISA - B211A VISA costs vary depending on how long you will stay in the country Please see the Indonesia Visa Procedures page for details

Equipment - Equipment can be rented from the dive centre for 1,500,000 IDR/4 weeks paid directly to them monthly. This covers your BCD, regulator, wetsuit, and fins. You will need to purchase some of your own equipment (see equipment page)

Insurance - Dive, health, and travel insurance are all required to make sure you are covered. These plans vary depending on your length of travel and terms and requirements. Plans can start for as little as $65/year.

Marine Park Fees - Marine park fees will be collected in cash on the first day of your internship to cover the daily entrance fee, based on the package you are signed up for. Prices: Package 1 (750,000 IDR), Package 2 (875,000 IDR), Package 3 (1,000,000 IDR), Package 4 (1,250,000 IDR), Package 5 (525,000 IDR), Additional Weeks (100,000 IDR / week).

Divemaster Training Materials and Processing Fees

The price varies depending on which ageny you choose PADI costs a total of around 7,350,000 IDR (depending on exchange rate) and SSI costs 3,950,000 IDR. This is paid on your arrival either to the agency or through IOP.

Spending money - Things are cheap in Indonesia but if you are into finding western luxuries you may find it more expensive.

Food on the Island

Restaurants include American, French, Canadian, Spanish, Chinese, Italian, vegan/vegetarian, cafes, and much much more! With such a large selection of local and international cuisine you can spend your evenings exploring all the dinning options

Staff favourites include: Reeflex - Toyapakeh Area: Warung Tu Pande, Surabaya, Happy Eating, Wyn's Cafe, Sunnys.

PED - Sampalan Area: Penida Colada Beach Bar, Coco Penida, Secret Penida, Aguan, Sampalan Night Market, The Chill.

Indonesian cuisine is delicious! There are many local dishes and restaurants to explore on Nusa Penida. It is focused around rice and noodles prepared with meat, veggies, soy beans and seafood. There are a variety of dishes including fried noodles, fried rice, peanut based sauces, spicy sauces, sweet and spicy curries, soups, mixed rice and more.

There are also a large selection of western restaurants throughout in the island ranging in price from 50,000 IDR per meal to 1,000,000 IDR + .

Transportation

On your first day, a car will bring you to The Sanur Beachwalk Harbour. Your first ticket has already been arranged so you just need to check in. If you wish to travel to Bali on a day off or for immigration, we can assist in arranging your transportation.

Downloads apps like GoJek and Grab and get the best deal on transportation in South Bali.

The primary mode of transportation on Nusa Penida is motorbike. Motorbikes are available for hire for around 1,300,000 IDR/month or 75,000 IDR/day. Petrol costs around 20,000 IDR to fill up your bike and can last for several days. Although motorbike hire is optional, it is recommended. Often interns will split the cost and share a bike to explore the island.

There are several places to rent motorbikes from on the island, on arrival ask your fellow interns for assistance

Mandatory Equipment

The following equipment items are mandatory as part of your Divemaster and you should try arrive with them (or pre-order them for your arrival date from us):

Dive Computers

With all dive gear there’s an enormous variety to choose from. Entry level computers are absolutely fine, such as Cressi Leonardo, Suunto Zoop, and Mares Puck Pro. However for many people the preference is generally for wrist style watch computers such as Mares Smart, Suunto D4i Novo, and Aqualung i200

Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) / Reel / Noisemaker

Due to the conditions in Indonesia we encourage everyone to have a self-sealing 1 8m/6ft DSMB with oral inflation (pictured above) For the reel we recommend a basic finger reel with minimum 30m line Noisemakers can be in the form of a pointer stick, double ended clip or something you can tap against your tank to get the attention of those around you These items are all available for purchase on arrival

Mask and Snorkel

The most important part of a mask is that it fits your face properly! You should be able to hold the mask to your face without the strap over your head by just inhaling through your nose.

Other equipment items: BCD, Wetsuit, Fins and Regulator can be rented from Reeflex Divers for 1,500,000 IDR Per Month.

Note: If you bring your own DIN regulators you will also need to bring a yoke adaptor.

Other Useful Items

Laptops

As we are doing a lot of theory and research work during your internship we strongly advise that you bring your own laptop with you. We have a lot of resources that we can share with you during your stay that are just too big to upload online If you are a researcher intern only it is MANDATORY for you to bring a laptop.

GoPros / Underwater Camera

Whilst we are able to provide cameras necessary for BRUV and Benthic Surveys, we are unable to lend them out for personal use - if you would like to get involved in our photo ID projects or document your experience we recommend bringing a GoPro or if you are looking to try UW photography - the Olympus TG6 is the recommended starting compact camera

Diver Safety

It is mandatory that you have active dive specific insurance to take part in your program. You will be asked to present these documents on your arrival.

We STRONGLY recommend DAN (Diver's Alert Network) for the duration of your stay which provides an extra level of cover for your diving activities Visit the DAN Insurance website for further details - for DAN you are looking at the Sport packages If you choose any other dive insurance we will need to check with our local healthcare providers that they can coordinate your evacuation directly with the insurer.

We also implement the following rules during your program to minimise the risk even further:

Refresher Workshop - All interns (regardless of certification level) take part in a confined refresher session on their first day to acclimatise you to the new equipment and refresh your memory of the basic dive skills you may have forgotten

Check Out Dive - All interns undergo a check out dive on their second day to review your diving skills in the open water and help you adjust your weighting before any dive courses begin

Dive Briefings & Buddy Checks – Plan your Dive and Dive Your Plan Full dive briefings and buddy checks will be completed before every dive

No Decompression Diving Only – We do not push the limits, we will check you know how to use your dive computer and know how to avoid exceeding these limits that keep you safe

No Touching – Don’t touch, don’t take, don’t break – you are becoming role model professionals. Take only pictures, leave only bubbles.

No Sleep / Too Much Drinking the Night Before = No Diving for You! Any of the IOP or Reeflex team reserve the right to remove you from activities if they do not think you are physically fit to dive.

All project staff are trained emergency first responders and certified dive professionals with up to date first aid training. All necessary emergency equipment is located on the dive boat or at project headquarters including first aid kits, and oxygen.

DIVERS ALERT NETWORK INSURANCE

THE WORLDS LEADING DIVE INSURANCE PROVIDER

Indo Ocean Project is a proud partner of DAN World All of our staff are DAN members and we have an excellent corridor of communication. DAN has consulted on all of our remote Accident Management Plans

Although it is not the only global dive insurance provider it is one of the most popular Plans are affordable (starting from $65/year) and available worldwide

SCAN ME TO REGISTER WITH INDO OCEAN PROJECT’S DAN ACCOUNT

SOME USEFUL LINKS:

Review the 2022/2023 DAN insurance packages here. Considering the medical evacuation route for serious injuries is to Bali, Manado or Jakarta, We recommend the Master Worldwide plan ($100 USD/year).

Know before you go: how to plan your dive trip. Plus, how to return to diving safely, DAN's Diving Accident Action Plan, and more...

This guide is a resource for travelers, divers, paramedics, first aid providers, physicians, and others to help prevent, recognize and manage travelrelated illnesses and injuries.

REVIEW YOUR PRE ARRIVAL RESOURCES

Once your deposit has been confirmed you will be sent an email to access our Pre-Arrival Resources page

From here you will find access to useful documents such as;

Equipment Masterclass

Webinar

Equipment Kit List

Conservation Management Plan

Our online study programs!

Prioritise the pre-arrival learning materials to maximise your time enjoying Indonesia and actively engaging as a research assistant Investing effort upfront will ensure a smoother academic journey with less time spent catching up on studies while on program.

Pre-Arrival

Species Identification Online Learning

Our brand new online learning course will guide you through the first three sections of your species identification learning

Level 1 - Sharks, Rays & Turtles

Level 2 - Fish Family Identification

Level 3 - Key Species & Species of Interest Identifcation

Manuals, videos and flashcards will help guide your learning.

You will get access to level 1 straight away, and you will be emailed a login to our online testing system 6 weeks prior to your arrival date.

Familiarising yourself with the fish identification materials prior to your arrival will give you a head start in your training week and will allow you to be certified to collect valuable data a lot quicker.

Certifications

During your internship you will receive the following certifications:

Species Identification Specialty

Manta Conservation Specialty

Shark Conservation Specialty

Turtle Conservation Specialty

Mola Conservation Specialty

Mangrove Conservation Specialty

Nudibranch & Macro Specialty

Ocean Gardener Coral Diver Specialty

Depending on your program you may also receive:

SSI / PADI Divemaster

SSI React Right Course

SSI Diver Stress & Rescue Course

SSI Advanced Adventurer Course

SSI Open Water Course

Certifications will be processed when performance requirements are met at the end of your program You will be responsible for managing your time to make sure all knowledge development is completed before you leave and will be scheduled independent study time to do so Each course has knowledge development plus practical skill evaluations, as well as a huge resource list that will boost your reference and knowledge library.

Additional Courses (Optional Extras)

If you want to do even more diving on your days off our partnering dive centre offer additional specialty courses such as:

SSI Deep Diving Specialty

SSI Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty

SSI Night Diving Specialty

SSI Navigation Specialty

SSI Perfect Buoyancy Specialty

The cost of these courses will be sent to you when you arrive and you can decide to complete them over your days off or at the end of your internship.

These courses are arranged directly through our partnering dive centre and Indo Ocean Project does not take an responsibility for the planning of cost.

For dive professionals who are wanting to work in the industry we strongly advise you get your deep and nitrox specialties as well (plus they are a LOT of fun), however these are completely optional.

JOIN OUR FACEBOOK COMMUNITIES

Past, present, and future interns as well as staff meet and discuss the project and current related events

Feel free to post any questions you may have to your peers and follow along with the project updates!

MEET THE TEAM PENIDA GROUND TEAM

SELENE GAIANI

MANAGER & MARINE BIOLOGIST

Water is her element! Selene's passion for the water started when she was very young as an agonistic synchronised swimmer. She is a Marine Biologist, carrying out her thesis project research about coral reef rugosity effects on fish abundance across dive sites around Nusa Penida at IOP after she completed her divemaster and research program in 2021 Now, as an instructor she can teach people how to respectfully explore and appreciate her passion, and form the next generation of divers.

RINALDI GOTAMA

MARINE BIOLOGIST & DATA ANALYST

Rinaldi is originally from Jakarta but spent most of his adult life in Hong Kong where he graduated with a degree in Biology from Hong Kong University in 2017. He started diving in 2016 and joined Indo Ocean Project as a divemaster and research diver intern in early 2022. His background and skills in data analysis and research made him a perfect fit for the team and he started working for Indo Ocean Project in June 2022. He is a passionate underwater photographer and always up for a chat about macro critters & data analysis.

I NENGAH SWARYA (ARYA)

DIVE GUIDE & PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Arya comes from our very own Nusa Penida island and has been working alongside IOP as a Dive Guide in Penida's waters for more than 2 years. He is one of the founding members of the CorAlliance project and is Pascal's right hand man. You cant miss Arya's enormous smile and he is always happy to help you learn Bahasa in exchange for practicing his English! Arya focuses on mangroves, community work and CoralWatch, however he has fast become the best at fish identification.

MEET THE TEAM PENIDA GROUND TEAM

PRAJIT

TIMBADIA

PENIDA PROJECT COORDINATOR

Prajit comes from from India and has been working as an animator for 10 years. He started diving in 2022 and found peace underwater. Prajit loves the slience and the feeling of weightlessness in diving. He joined IOP in 2023 and completed his Divemaster and Research internship on Penida before going on to become a Padi Dive instructor in 2024 in Thailand He joined the team in Nusa Penida as a Program Co-ordinator and Dive Instructor. Apart from diving Prajit likes to practice karate (he's an instructor in that too), go running and is also into winter extreme sports.

MEET THE TEAM REEFLEX

ROMAN MARAL REEFLEX FOUNDER & OWNER

Originally from Toulouse (France), a long time expatriate, Roman has been calling Penida his home for many years now. As an experienced instructor Roman has logged several thousand dives around Penida and is a night dive and macro expert, always looking to explore and find new dive sites. You will find Roman in Reeflex shop daily, organising and ensuring a smooth operation, always with laughter and a massive smile.

HARRY LE GAL

REEFLEX FOUNDER & OWNER

Originally from France Harry has worked as a dive instructor in South East Asia for over 10 years before founding Reeflex Divers with Roman. As an experienced equipment technician and technical diver Harry is the go to person for advanced training and all things maintenance related. He spends his days ensuring the quality of the Reeflex rental equipment and compressors and offers our interns the chance to see into his nerdy world with additional workshops you can take on your days off. Harry is also an SSI Instructor Trainer.

EX DIVE SHOP MANAGER

Iyez is likely to be the first person you will see when you step inside the Reeflex shop each day. He spends his days ensuring the smooth running of all of the support team within the dive shop alongside the founders. Yaz can always be found with a smile on his face and a joke at the ready and is one of the people that make every intern's day brighter!

MEET THE TEAM HEAD OFFICE

LAUREN SPARKS FOUNDING DIRECTOR

Lauren founded Indo Ocean Project in 2017 combining her passion for teaching diving and marine research Originally from Canada she has spent the last 10 years living in Indonesia She become a dive professional in 2007 and her background is in biology and theatre. She has published 5 papers in marine science and policy. With over 15 years in the diving industry she has worked as a research diver and dive instructor in the Caribbean, Australia, South Pacific, and South East Asia. She is also a passionate freediver and underwater photographer.

SERENA STEAN PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Serena is an award-winning PADI IDC Staff Instructor & SSI Master Instructor with over 1000 certifications She has been working in diving for the last 11 years, 7 of those directly involved in marine conservation, with a focus on marine megafauna and elasmobranchs She spent 2 years working in at the world’s greatest shark dive in Fiji She’s a published scientist, underwater photographer and is responsible for developing and maintaining our Divemaster and Research Diver curriculum

PASCAL SEBASTIAN SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR

Pascal comes from Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, and completed his masters degree at James Cook University in Australia, with a focus on coral and bryozoan taxonomy. Before joining Indo Ocean Project he previously published 2 papers and successfully identified 6 new species of bryozoans Pascal is also an experienced dive instructor with over 6 years diving in the Penida MPA He plans to use the research at Indo Ocean Project to complete his PhD and is the driving force behind CorAlliance and all of Indo Ocean Project’s research and publications

Kelingking Beach

Explore Penida

Diamond Beach freshwaterspring &cliffjumping

Jungle Treks at Tembeling Forest

CaveTemple

BAngel's illabong

Broken Beach

THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL CHECKLIST

Before getting on the plan here are some useful things to pack!

THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL CHECKLIST

LEARN SOME BAHASA!

Welcome

Hello (general greeting)

How are you?

Reply to 'How are you?'

Salamat datang

What's your name?

Apa kabar?

Baik (fine)

Baik baik saja (all fine)

Sehat (Healthy)

Bagus (good)

Anda? (And you?) -------------------------------------------

Siapa nama anda?

Anda namaya siapa?

My name is....

Nama saya....

Seya bernama....

Where are you from?

Anda berasal dari mana?

Saya dari....

Selamat Pagi

Selamat Siang

Selamat Sore

Selamat Malam

LEARN SOME BAHASA!

Good

Selamat tinggal (when leaving)

Selamat jalan (when staying)

Sampai jumpa lagi

Selamat makan

Saya mengerti

Saya tidak mengerti

Do you speak english?

Anda bisa bicara bahasa inggris?

Permisi

Terima kasih (Thank you)

Terima kasih banyak (thank you very much)

Makadih (thanks)

F A Q

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: How long does it take to get from the airport to the project headquarters?

The average time from the Denpasar (Bali) International Airport and the harbour in Sanur is approximately 45 minutes. The ferry from Sanur to Penida is around 45 minutes. Indo Ocean Project is located 20 minute drive away from the harbour in the village called Sakti.

Around 2 hours total travel time, but this can vary depending on boat schedules, weather conditions, and traffic. Traffic can be very heavy in south Bali during rush hour.

Q: How big is Nusa Penida?

Nusa Penida is the largest of the three islands in the Klungkung regency It is around 20km away from South Bali across the Badung Strait.

It is around 200 square kilometres.

The interior of the island has an altitude of 524 meters. The local population is around 25,000 people.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q What activities can I do on my weekend?

The neighbouring islands of Nusa Lembongan, Bali, Lombok, and the Gilis are a short boat ride away and are easily accessible if you want to get off the island and explore. But there is lots to do right on Nusa Penida!

Yoga, surfing, diving, snorkelling with the mantas, cliff jumping, hiking and culture experiences are at your doorstep. Nusa Penida is know for being an outdoors lovers paradise.

Meanwhile, 45 minute boat ride away is the busy and developed island of Bali with world class resorts and a range of activities from zip lining to water parks, to some of the best night life in the world.

There is no shortage of things to do on your free time! Ask our staff for more details and special tips when you arrive.

Q: What is the weather like in Indonesia?

Rainy season is from November - March, but don't let this hold you back! It does not rain everyday, all day. In fact it's mostly light rain in the afternoons every few days. It is also the time of the year when the jungle comes alive with colour. And to share a little secret, there is no better feeling than a natural shower after a long hot day on the water!

The average temperature is between 27 C and 32 C and the average humidity is 80% all year round.

Q: Is there a hospital/clinic/doctor on Nusa Penida?

There are several clinics which provide basic healthcare and medication. For serious injuring or healthcare issues we recommend to go to the international hospital in Bali (Siloam or BIMC), which are less than 1 hour away.

In case of an extreme emergency there is a helicopter evacuation pad located on Nusa Lembongan.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Should I be concerned about malaria on Nusa Penida?

Although there is malaria throughout Indonesia, the risk to travellers staying in Bali and the surrounding areas is quite small and prevention by malaria tablets is usally not prescribed. Check with your local health authority for the latest recommendations.

Some basic prevention recommendation include using repellents and covering your body around sunrise and sunset.

Q: What is the local currency?

The local currency is Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). Keep in mind that there are a lot of zeros in the currency and it can be confusing. 1,000,000 (yes, a million!) is roughly equal to USD$70, EURO € 60, GPB £ 45, AUS$ 100

Where do I get drinking water?

You can not drink the water from the tap. Water jugs and refill stations are available throughout the island and drinking water dispensers are available at the project headquarters and the intern accommodation. You can refill your water bottle at Reeflex for just 10k ($0.50) with proceeds going to Reeflex local staff.

Q: Are there ATM machines on the island?

Yes, we have several ATM machines which accept most international debit and credit cards, however sometimes they can not have cash for a few days at a time. There are also international banks located in south Bali and mainland ATMs are always working. We recommend getting some cash out in Bali when you land prior to arriving on the island.

Make sure you contact your bank before traveling to avoid any account freezes.

Q: Is there internet access at the project?

Wifi is available at Reeflex and in your accommodation. However it can not compare to Western standards. No streaming, downloading, or playing online games is permitted on the project internet connections. However video calling and all your basic internet needs are covered

We do strongly advise you pick up a local simcard, Telkomsel has the strongest connection on the island and is available to easily purchase at the airport. Once you have it you will find data is pretty cheap in Indonesia.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What kind of food is available on the island?

There are an assortment of international restaurants found all around Nusa Penida and the neighbouring island of Nusa Lembongan, which you can access by the local water taxi. Indonesian food is delicious! Based around mixed rice with your choice of meats, fresh fish, and vegetable. There is a lot of spicy food in Indonesia but you can always ask for "tidak padas" (not spicy!)

Q: How is the electricity on the island?

This is a small island and the power comes from large solar panels and power stations on the islands. This means that island wide rolling blackouts are very common But it is all part of the fun!

We advise bringing a surge protected travel plug as well as a battery pack for such occasions.

Q: Can I buy toiletries and feminine products on the island?

Yes, there are plenty of little shops that sell toothpaste, shampoo, soap, etc. There is also a larger market in Toyapakeh where you can find almost everything you need.

A warning for the ladies, tampons are not widely used in Indonesian culture, although maxi pads are available. Sometimes it can be very challenging and very expensive to get them on the island. We recommend to bring a box with you or invest in a Diva/Moon cup, plus it's better for the environment!

Q: What transportation is included in my internship?

Your transfer from Sanur to Penida is included in your package and is organised by Indo Ocean Project for you when you confirm your travel details.

However please be aware your return journey when you leave is not included. Additional journeys for recreational or medical reasons are also not included. You are responsible for organising any transportation or trips other than your arrival.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Is hot water / AC available at the project?

Hot water showers are available at the accommodation (across the road), and open air cold water showers are available at the dive centre.

AC is available at the accommodation but the dive centre does not use AC in order to conserve the environment and save power.

Q: What are the diving seasons in Penida?

“Rainy season” in Penida is technically from November - March, however not much rain is experienced in November and December in Penida. Rainy season also does not mean rain all day, it is usually sharp refreshing bursts that are followed by clear skies.

All dive sites and manta sightings are available year round on Penida.

The water temperature is coolest during the months of June - October when a full 5mm wetsuit is strongly recommended as thermoclines can dip down to a chilly 18 degrees celsius (usually 22 - 25 degrees)however this brings the molas!. During the warmer month 25 - 29 degrees water temperature is normal.

Q: What dive insurance do I need?

Regular travel insurance is not sufficient for the amount of diving you will be doing, or the remote nature of the Bira Project Therefore it is mandatory that all interns purchase additional dive-specific insurance to protect yourself in case of emergency. Please see the Dive Safety page for details.

If you choose any insurer other than DAN please email the project team first to check it provides the cover needed - as we need to check the local healthcare providers are able to co-ordinate directly with the insurer.