We had an EXCELLENT experience in Anilao, booking through Bluewater. Crystal Blue was a great resort for our foursome and we really enjoyed having our own boat and amazing dive guide. Macro and super-macro photo opportunities were around every corner and we were treated like family at the resort. We will definitely be coming back - can't wait!
I did my Divemaster training and internship in Bali and have been coming back every year since! While the mola mola and manta cleaning station are the draw in the summer months (July/August), this is an excellent time to dive macro because everyone is...well...looking for mola mola! The Eastern side of Bali (Tulamben/Seraya region) is excellent for macro and muck diving photography. Mola are found at Nusa Penida. Mantas are generally at Manta Point. Amed has a lovely wall and lots of octopus. Padangbai is great for macro but the conditions are finicky so you really need to watch the moon cycle.
The only time you may want to consider NOT planning to scuba dive in Bali is on Nyepi, the most holy Hindu holiday and day of silence for Balinese. Windows will be covered, shops will be closed, lights will be off, streets will be vacant and most people will be indoors in silence to celebrate this special quiet holiday. You can check the local calendar in advance for this and other annual holidays to ensure an active and enjoyable vacation that you will not soon forget!
Want an additional dive certification? Roatan and Utila are great for dive training - warm water, easy conditions, close dive sites and very inexpensive diving on both islands. You can also take ferries between islands (not super simple, but doable). Whale sharks often frequent Utila waters in season. At ~$25USD/dive, I consider this a great value destination for diving but there is not much to do topside and the marine life is not comparable to other Caribbean destinations like Cozumel, Bonaire or Cayman. Inexpensive accommodations are widely available and Utila is well known as a backpacker paradise. Watch out for biting sand flies and sand fleas in the hot month of April unless you do not mind spots on an exposed regions though :) Also, wear exposure protection when the water is warm because the jellies coming out during this time, as expected.
I attended the Socorro photo workshop with Bluewater in March 2017. The daily workshops were fun and also informative for everyone on our boat, from novice photographers to experienced professionals. We learned tips and tricks about lighting, framing and even post-processing. I have since applied a number of the techniques during future trips and have noticed significant improvement in my photos. Thanks Erik!
I rated Socorro as a destination as 4 stars because the conditions can be intense (especially the crossing if you experience motion sensitivity), water is chilly and excellent water skills and experience swimming into strong currents is advised. Such great exercise! Seasonality and weather can also greatly affect the amount of pelagic life that you might see. Some dive groups might spot humpbacks, dolphins, Galapagos sharks, hammerheads or even a whale shark like we did, but other groups may not. That is expected diving the deep blue so as long as you set your expectations properly, it can be a nice experience.
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