Things to do in Gili islands

Gili islands located in Lombok is known as “Party Islands” for many years, specially Gili Trawangan, but its not the only thing the island has to offer, and that is not the reason why we in Balinest love this islands. So here is things to do in Gili Islands

Gili Trawangan street view

#1 Diving (scuba diving or freediving) / snorkeling

Gili islands has clear sea water, the visibility is around 20m and warm, most beach around Gili islands is shallow around 5 meter deep, then if you swim out for 20 meter it will drop from 5 to 30 meter deep.  With this condition there is diving spot all around Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air, with vary dept and condition, some area may best for scuba diving, some for freediving or snorkeling.

The best time to dive is from May to September, when the wet season ends.

Diving Freediving and Snorkeling in Gili islands, lombok

#2 Relaxing spa

After diving or snorkeling, or after a long bike ride around the island, or just tired because of hot temperature, there many reason to enjoy spa time. There many place you could try, but the one we would recommend is the one in Aston Hotel, the price is affordable, nice place, friendly therapist, good massage, relaxing spa treatment.

#3 Bike ride around the island

You might already know that there is automobile and motorized traffic is prohibited on the islands, the only method of transportation is walking, bicycle or horse cart. There are amazing view of blue sky, and turquoise beach around the island, sunset view and sunrise view everywhere; a real vision of heaven. Rent a bike and ride it along the sandy road around the island and experience all those amazing view, bring also your snorkel and fins just in case you feel like snorkeling in some spot.

If you in Gili Trawangan, start in the morning when the water is still a little cold and fresh, right after breakfast; you could also bring your lunch box, that way you don’t need to bring your wallet, just for safety reason, ride your bike and start pedaling. Riding bike, snorkeling in several spot, lunch at the beach, and back to where you start, all will take around 8 hours. But if you in Gili Meno or Gili Air, bike ride around will take less time, because the island is smaller then Gili Trawangan.

(remember to take lot of water, to prevent dehydration and don’t litter)

Bike around Gili islands, or use cidomo instead

Bike around Gili islands, or use cidomo instead

#4 Meditation / yoga

Yoga is a spiritual, mental and physical discipline, while meditation more focus on the mental and spiritual. Both yoga and meditation could practiced daily, but to get more result and faster progress, yoga and meditation need to be practiced in a long and continues time, that’s why most serious yoga and meditation practitioner would go on a retreat.

You could found many place to learn yoga and meditation in Gili Trawangan, Meno or even Gili Air, the service vary from beginner class to expert, even to serious retreat. Checkout GiliYoga…

(in north Bali, Brahmavihara Arama at Singaraja provide many meditation retreat through the year, in many discipline)

#5 Enjoy beach vibe

Maybe it’s the day you don’t want to do anything, you just want to have a moment with yourself, with someone important, or any reason; walking, reading, sun bath, enjoying peaceful beach vibe. Bring your towel and water, there is quite beach everywhere, some in walking distance, some need extra effort (depend on where you stay), but most nice and quite beach is in north of Gili Trawangan, if you in Gili Meno then its everywhere (this is the least popular island, second largest), if you in Gili Air then most quite beach is at west of the island.

enjoy holiday in Gili island, lombok with balinest

#6 Water activity

Its literally beach everywhere in Gili Island, other then diving, freediving and snorkeling you still can enjoy other water activity such as surfing, SUP boarding, canoeing, kayaking, and have fun with subwing. All of those activity can be easily found specially near the harbor, except for subwing, there is only one place that provide subwing service, here…

The subwing board is build from two separate board wings which are connected with rotatable swivel. By holding on the front edge of each wing with one hand, it can be easily be controlled in all direction. To make subwing fun, you will be towed, start from 2 knots to allow you get familiar with the board, after you give ok signal you will be pulled a bit faster, maximum speed is 4 knots.

Read More

Plan trip Jakarta to Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan is the largest island of Lombok’s Gili islands. Gili islands consist of 3 island, and Gili Trawangan is one of them, the other is Gili Air and Gili Meno. The name Trawangan originates from Indonesian word Trowongan mean tunnel, due to the presence of a cave tunnel build during Japanese occupation in world war 2, war of the Gilis. Gili Trawangan is famous among tourist who enjoy diving, snorkeling, nature and beach.

For scuba diver, diving around Gili islands is rather nice but nothing compared to other places like Komodo island or Bunaken. However it is a very good place for beginner divers as the conditions are usually good. The current is generally very gentle and the visibility good around 20m; that’s why Freediving is also big in Gili (this is the reason we go to Gili) there are Freedive Gili, Freedive Air, Freedive Blue Marine and Freedive Flow; this is several freedive center we can choose.

Gili islands located

To go to Gili Trawangan, we need to get to Bangsal Harbour in Lombok island, located in northwest of the island. The main access to Lombok is Lombok International Airport (LOP) or if you from Bali there is speedboat from Padang Bai harbor (located at east Bali). If you from the airport, there is several way to get to Bangsal Harbour, first by shuttle car (sharing or private) we try using lombokcartransport.com from internet; we contact them through whatsapp, and got replay quickly and book our car. Second option is to rent car, this will cost more but give more comfort along the road. The third option is to use official airport transportation which is a taxi directly to Bangsal harbour or take bus to Mataram city then take a taxi to Bangsal harbor.

Bangsal Harbour and Lombok airport

Then from Bangsal harbor crossing to Gili Trawangan have 2 option with regular wooden boat or with fast boat. Regular wooden boat will take approximately 45 minute, while fast boat will take 7 minute to arrive at Gili Trawangan. We can bought the ticket right at the harbor (we choose regular wooden boat).

So, roughly the transportation to Gili Trawangan and back home is clear. Now for the hotel, my friend recommend me to stay near the harbor, it would be more convenient if we want to go to the other Gilis / islands. 

Below is what we plan for our Gili Trawangan trip :

#first day – we arrive and take a rest, having a relaxing dinner and then a good night sleep. (because the road is long, from an early flight - 2 hour by car - then a boat - and last one is going to the hotel). And please note that there is no motor powered ride on the island, so the option is bicycle or horse cart.

#second day – we planning on biking around the island, swim on beach,spa at the hotel and have a dinner with old friends from Bali. (Its our first time to Gili, so we think we need to explore the island)

#third day – having a snorkeling trip around the Gili’s islands, then having a relaxing dinner (we decide to take the 5 hour trip which include snorkling spot at Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air)

#fourth day – we want to take a good rest in the morning, get ready to go back home (same reason with the first day, we need to get energized for a long road trip back to Jakarta)

For the hotel, in the whole Gili’s area there many option for place to stay, with vary price from 200.000 IDR to more then 5.000.000 IDR. But the main difference we found is that place with beach will cost more then the one without, the price range for place in front of the beach more then 800.000 IDR, while the one without beach will cost less then that. As you can see on our plan above, me and Endah will have a swim, beach walk, snorkeling and freediving, so we choose hotel with beach access. We end up choose Aston – Gili Trawangan because it has beach in front of it, and we familiar with the service standard. Flight, car, boat, hotel, and itinerary is clear, ready to gooooo….

Read More

Fun Dive : Blue Season Bali

Diving in Bali, With Balinest and Blue Season Bali

Blue Season Bali is the Bali scuba diving industry's premier dive center. Their service are structured around nine core service product ranging from Discover Scuba Diving experiences and PADI courses to scuba diving internship, technical diving instructor training programs and ECO Internship. If you want top quality scuba diving service, you have found your solution at Bali's top rated five-star PADI Career Development Center.

Diving in Bali, offer so much from Shipwreck in Tulamben to Sunfish and Manta rays in Nusa Penida. There is also some macro dive sites like Seraya to see Mimic Octopus, Harlequin Shrimps, Hairy Frogfish and other rare and unusual critter life. Bali diving is very varied and it is suitable for all levels of divers from complete beginner divers to experienced professional divers. We also offer technical diving trips & an award-winning scuba diving internship program if you are ready to go down the professional path. Read More about Diving in Bali...

Book your diving or snorkeling with Balinest, and get this special price for you :
all price in IDR (Indonesian Rupiah)

Contact us by email at info.balinest@gmail.com
Mobile phone at 081293920411
or PM at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Read More

Tenganan Village

Before the 1970s the village was known by anthropologists to be one of the most secluded secieties in the archipelago. Rapid change has occurred in the village since the 70s, such as the development of local communications by the central government, the opening up for tourism, breaking of the endogamic rules. Tourist are attracted to Tenganan by its unique Bali aga culture (still holds the original traditions, ceremonies and rules of ancient Bali).

The people of Tenganan village is called Bali Aga - the original Balinese. They descend from the pre-Majapahit kingdom of Pegeng. There are strict rules as to who is allowed to live in the village. Only those who is born in the village can stay in the village and become full member of the community. There are rules regarding of marriage and anyone who marries outside of the village has to leave. A strict protocol regarding marriages among the kin group have steered the Tengananese through the genetic perils of intermarriage although with increasing contact with the outside world there rules have relaxed somewhat.

Based on folklore, once upon a time Bedahulu King lost one of his horses. The people looked for it to the east and the horse was finally found dead by Ki Patih Tunjung Biru, the King's right hand. For his loyalty, the king finally gave him an authority to govern the land as far as the aroma of the carrion of the horse can be smelled. Ki Patih was an intelligent person, so he cut the carrion into pieces and spread it as far as he could. Thus he receive a quite large area.

Read More

Tirta Gangga, Water Palace

Tirta Gangga literally means "water from the Ganges", strictly the name refers to the water palace built in 1948 by the King of Karangasem, Anak Agung Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem.

 

The garden of this Bali water palace shows a unique mix of Balinese and Chinese architecture. The grounds of the water garden consists of 3 separate complexes each with ponds and many sculptures. The complex on the lowest level has two large ponds and a water tower.

At second complex (middle level) of the water palace, are the swimming pools (open for public, bring your swimsuit and try to swim here, the water is so fresh and clean). The third level houses the main complex with the country home of the former king (now become a restaurant and 4 bungalows, which open for public).

The water of Tirta Gangga has always been regarded as holy and is regularly used for religious temple ceremonies, led by the local temple priests. Check below youtube video for more detail footage...

Read More

Rent Car PROMO (June July 2016)

This month on June, is the time for our moslem friend and family to have their 1 month fasting before Idul Eid, a big celebration. To feel the same joy with them, to celebrate Idul Eid so we also giving a IDR 30.000/day deduction from our normal rate.

But this deduction only for those booking / ordering on June - July 2016. 

So if you plan on going to Bali around those date, contact us for inquiry and booking :)

Whatsapp -> 082211777610

Email -> info.balinest@gmail.com

Social Media -> FB, TWT, IG

Read More

Balinest - Rent Car

Hai, so you need car to rent?

If yes, then you in the right page, we provide cars with driver to rent. Our car is Toyota Avanza / Daihatsu Xenia fit for 6 people include driver, with AC and stereo system (depend on availability). All of our car is in good condition and driver ready to give great service, so you can fully enjoy your time in Bali.
*if needed we also provide tour-guide

Booking : Email or Whatsapp
For booking by email -> to info.balinest@gmail.com
For booking by whatsapp -> to 082211777610
(we will reply as soon as possible)

Use subject "Car Rental" and please provide us :
1. Full name
2. Nationality
3. Hotel /Villa (pickup place) name and address
4. Rent Start date / time
5. Rent End date / time

Confirmation : Ticket and Hotel
We will need your plane ticket or hotel reservation photo/screen capture/scan copy,
and also id/passport photo/screen capture/scan copy.
We only confirm and booked the date, if we receive both copy.

Current 2016 Package and Price

We have 2 package for you to choose, both with driver and same type of car as mentioned above. If there any doubt or question, dont hesitate to contact us, we would be happy to answer all your question...

Payment term : Cash on Arrival (*international only) / Down Payment (*domestic only)
* For Bank Transfer currently we available only on BCA

Bank BCA - Godean, Central Java
Account Name : Vidya Putra
Account Number : 8020066084


Please remember to book, because we have to check car schedule and availability. Thank you, and hope to meet you soon :) here is several place to visit...

Read More

Just an Introduction to Mindfulness (Balinest)

Background :
First of all before we start, i want to share the background of Balinest : Mindfulness, why we decided to add this division on Balinest, other then Balinest : Underwater.

Maybe its luck, karma or gods will - i feel so blessed to have a father with strong Buddhist knowledge and meditator. His name is Franky Dhammanatha, well know in Bali's Buddhist community and meditator, you could contact him at his Facebook here. Any way if you interested on more serious meditation retreat // Vipassana Meditation you might interested on practicing at Brahmavihara Arama in Banjar, Singaraja, North Bali, here is the 2016 schedule...

I grow up practicing meditation and hearing lots of spiritual chat and discussion, but it doesnt mean that iam an expert. With Balinest : Mindfulness i want to share this knowledge, meet with others with same interest, practice together and making progress together.

Mindfulness :
The word Mindfulness means maintaining a moment by moment awareness of our mind, body and surrounding environment, and accept anything that happend without judging if its good or bad, like or dislike.

Though Mindfulness has its roots in Buddhist meditation, here in Balinest we dont just about Buddhist meditation, we embrace anything, any practice that would bring happiness - but still similar or relate to mindfulness... it could about yoga, meditation, being kind, doing good deeds, healthy food, etc.

 May All Being be Happy, and Freedive

Read More

Freedive Buddy List

You must have heard the famous word

Never Freedive Alone

But we freediver, not always have friends on out trip, sometime our friends is busy or we just want to be alone, or any other reason. Based on that and based on our personal experience, we think it would be great to be able to find buddy in a certain area, easily. So we try to create list of people / community where we who willing to be a buddy. (for now the list is sort, iam still contacting several people i know; if you want to put on your name or organization, just DM us at our ig @balinest)

-> Vidya Putra, SSI Lv.2; around Jakarta/Bali, Indonesia (@vidyaputra)
-> Jason Hakim, AIDA Master Instructor; around Jakarta, Indonesia (@jason_hakim)

-> Dewata Freedive; around Bali, Indonesia (@dewata_freedive)
-> Lombok Freedive; around Lombok, Indonesia (@freedivelombok)
-> Bandung Freedive; around Bandung, Indonesia (@freedivebdg)
-> Cikini Freedive; around Jakarta, Indonesia (@cikinifreediving)

-> Apnea Culture; around Jakarta, Indonesia (@apneaculture)
-> Apnea Bali; around Bali, Indonesia (@apneabali)
-> Fusion Freediving; around Bali, Indonesia (@fusionfreediving)
-> Freedive Komodo; around Komodo National Park, Indonesia (@freedivekomodo)
-> Apneista; around Bali, Indonesia (@apneistafreedivingbali)

Read More

Casa Luna Restaurant

On my long holiday in Bali, I decided to review and find place with good food and vibe (check out also Angelita tea salon and patisseries). In my mind everytime I hear the name Ubud, I would directly thinking of art, healthy food and natural view; so me and my brother heading to ubud with those 3 thing in mind, and end up at Casa Luna at Raya Ubud street; right at the center of Ubud.

Casa Luna give comfort and relaxing tropical vibe, very nice waiters, very polite add the comfort feeling. with selection of Balinese and Mediterranean dishes. We can enjoy the pizza, chicken and mashed potatoes or pumpkin ravioli or if we feel adventurous we can try fresh flavors of Vietnamese salad, Malaysian laksa soup or Indonesian nasi campur.

Casa Luna open at 8.00 AM till 10 PM, the address is at Jalan Raya Ubud, Kec. Gianyar, Kabupaten Gianyar – Ubud, Bali (0361 – 977409), below is the map
Checkout an interview of the owner, the owner twitter and Casa Luna

We order Lebanese salad, Marlin sandwich, Persian salad, with papaya – lime juice and melon juice, and all is good food J

Read More

Angelita tea salon & pattiseries

On this long holiday season in Indonesia, I decide to review several place for good healthy food and place with nice vibe, hangout spot. One of the spot that we found is Angelita tea salon and pattiseries located in Seminyak.

From outside, the place look simple and just like a regular restaurant, only after entering the place then I immediately fall in love with the place, remind me of “Alice in wonderland” movie, so shabby chic, Parisian look-a-like. Angelita tea salon & pattiseries mainly doing French pattiseries and bakery. It cozy, colorful and petite; with friendly attendant; tasty bread, cake and tea.

I visit Angelita’s together with my mom and brother, and I would recommend this place for hangout in this place with friends and family to share love and having quality time. Angelita’s open at 09.00 AM till 22.00 PM, the address is :

Jl. Raya Kerobokan, No.10 A, Banjar Taman, Bali. (0361 – 747 3138), below is the map
Facebook, Instagram

We order Croissant, almond croissant, eclaire, lava cake, mushroom soup and jardeen tea, and all is good food J

Read More

3 Thing to Consider to choose a mask

For any divers, mask needs to fit our specific face, therefore between all other diving equipment we can rent, but its better to have our own mask. Before we buy our own mask, first we need to know what is it for?

1. The difference between diving mask and snorkling or swimming mask is that diving mask have strong tempered glass that can withstand the pressures of diving, while snorkling / swimming mask dont necessary have.

2. Next, after we know the difference we then need to know about the mask's skirt. A transparent skirt will allow for more light, and give wider sight and openness feeling, but it has tendency to cast images or reflection in the inside of the lens causing distraction and glares.

A dark skirt will reduce light and glares, give more focus feeling but also could give "claustrophobic" feeling to some people.

Me personally will prefer clear silicon mask for recreational dive and silicon mask for more serious dive.

3. The last consideration is the volume of the mask, is it high volume or low volume mask. The air volume of mask is important on freediving but not as important on scuba diving; as a diver descends, water pressures creates an effect that pushes the mask against the divers face where a diver must equalize. To equalize the mask, a diver needs to exhale from the nose into the mask.

With a low volume mask, a freediver requires less air to equalize, and able to save more air for longer dive. But for a scuba divers, equalizing mask isnt really a problem, because they have a lot of air on their tank to use.

I have use a high volume mask and low volume mask, and i would always suggest low volume for comfort reason. It also feel so light and free

After considering this 3 things, i hope would help to narrow down the options and find the right mask that :) happy diving...

Read More

Equalize air space in our body

Our middle ears are dead air space, connected to the outer world only by the Eustachian tubes running to the back of our throat. On dive, the underwater pressure will squeeze our eardrums and causes painful middle-ear, this is the most common pressure-related ears injury. Therefore, we need to equalize so the pressure in our outer and inner ears match.

This is one of the basic skill that every diver need to practice, so we can dive safely. Another part that will needed to be equalized is our mask, because it contain air. The deeper we go, we will feel our mask squeeze and even cause pain. To equalize it we can blow a little air from our nose, enough to reduce the pressure.

If you dive without equalizing your middle ears, you can experience painful and damaging middle-ear barotrauma. Step by step here is what happened :
1. At one foot below the surface, you feel pressure on your ears.
2. At four feet, your ear drums bulge into your middle ears. Mucus begin to fill your Eustachian tubes, making it deficult to equalize your ears if you try. You start to feel pain.
3. At six feet, ear drums continue to bulge even further and tissue begin to tear causing inflammation that will last for 1 week. If small blood vessels in your eardrums breaks, this will last for up to 3 weeks. Your Eustachian tube are now locked shut by pressure, making equalization is imposibble.
4. At eight feet, if you are lucky, blood and mucus is sucked from surrounding tissues and begin to fill you middle ears. This is called middle-ears barotrauma. Fluid, not air, is now equalizes pressure on your eardrums.
5. At 10 feet, Eardrums may break. Water will flood your middle ear. The suddent sensation against your balance mechanism, your vestibular canals, may cause vertigo, especially if only one eardrum is breaks. Temporary or permanent hearing lost may result.

There is several ways to equalize, all methods for equalizing your ears are simply ways to open the lower ends of your Eustachian tubes, so air can enter.
-> Valsalva Maneuver, this method is the most common method. Pinch your nostrils and blow through your nose. The resulting overpressure in your throat usually force air up to Eustachian tube. But this methods do not activate muscles which open the Eustachian tubes, so it may not work if the tubes are already locked by a pressure differential.
-> Toynbee Technique, with your nostrils pinched or blocked against your mask skirt, swallow. Swallowing pulls open your Eustachian tubes while the movement of your tongue, with your nose closed compressed air against them.
-> Lowry Technique, this is a combination of Vasalva and Toynbee. While closing your nostrils, blow and swallow at the same time.
-> Edmonds Technique, while tensing the soft palate and throat muscles and pushing the jaw forward and down, do a Valsalva maneuver.
-> Frenzel Maneuver, close your nostrils and close the back of your throat as if straining to lift a weight, then make the sound of “K”. This will force the back of your tongue upward, compressing air against the openings of your Eustachian tubes.
-> Voluntary Tubal Opening, tens the muscles of the soft palate and the throat while pushing the jaw forward and down as if starting to yawn. These muscles pull the Eustachian tubes open.

When to equalize? Sooner and more often then you think. 

Read More

Lembongan short trip

Nusa lembongan is a small island off the southeast coast of the main island of Bali, its approximately 8 km in size and is one of the neighbouring island. Many areas around the island are good for diving and snorkling, with abundant marine life and healthy coral.

With our Lembongan short trip, you can spend 2 days 1 night in Lembongan with minimum 3 person. The package include :

-> Pickup/drop from hotel to speedboat harbour in Sanur beach

-> Speedboat tickets for 3 person

-> Hotel at Reef Hut Hotel Lembongan

-> Snorkling equipment and boat, in 3 snorkling spot

-> Hotel breakfast

-> Lunch box for 3 person

This package is great for those in short schedule, need intro to Lembongan, love snorkling or if you just want to relax away from Bali's city hectic. The price is only 1.350.000,- / person with minimun 3 pax (person).

What to wait, contact us for booking or just asking question via email : info.balinest@gmail.com

Or check out our twitter and facebook.

Read More

What can you do if you got stung by jellyfish?

There are a lot of sea creatures that are harmful to humans, one of them is jellyfish. Jellyfish is a sea creature that is gelatinous; they have a gelatinous umbrella shaped body with trailing tentacles. Jellyfish are not a good swimmer; they are drifted by the sea current.

Some jellyfish have season. Their number increases during a certain time. In Indonesia jellyfish season usually happen in September during seasonal change from dry season to rainy season.

Not all jellyfish are stinging, many are harmless to humans. There are some species of jellyfish that are deadly to humans such as the box jellyfish, Portuguese man of war also known as the blue bottle, so it is best to avoid touching if you see one. Jellyfish sting usually happen accidentally, people accidentally touch the jellyfish because they didn’t see it, because their body is transparent. We can avoid the jellyfish sting by wearing protective clothing (wet suit, dive skin and gloves).

What can you do if you got stung by jellyfish?

1. Get out of the water immediately, as calmly as possible.

2. Pour some warm saltwater over the affected area. (Do not use fresh water. Fresh water will cause the venom cells to release their toxin )

3. Remove the tentacles carefully. You can use a credit card to lift and scrape the tentacles from the skin.

4. Once the tentacles have been removed you can use ice to numb the sores skin or take a recommended dose of painkillers.
5. Get to hospital if the pain is very strong.

Symptoms :

1. Burning, stinging pain

2. Red, brown or purple tracks on the skin

3. Itching, tingling pain

4.Swelling, numbness

5.In several dangerous case, is hard to breath

Note: The English popular name Jellyfish has been in use since 1769. It has traditionally also been applied to other animals sharing a superficial resemblance. As Jellyfish are not true fish, the word Jellyfish is considered by some to be a misnomer. Public aquariums may use the terms Jellies or Sea Jellies.

Read More

Mammalian Dive Reflex

In 1949, an Italian air force lieutenant named Raimondo Bucher decided to try a potentially deadly stunt off the coast of Capri, Italy. Bucher would sail out to the center of the lake, take a breath and dive 100 feet to the bottom. Scientist warned Bucher that, according to Boyle’s Law, the pressure at a hundred feet would shrink Bucher’s lungs to the point of collapse and would kill him, but it didn’t happened. In 1962 a Swedish-born researcher working for US named Per Scholander gathered a team of voulenteers, and they found MDR.

Mammalian Dive Reflex or MDR is a reflex in mammals which optimizes respiration to allow staying underwater for extended periods of time. Including human, and this MDR  help human/freediver to dive in minutes (World record is around 11 minutes, 2015).

The effect of MDR when activated is

Bradycardia – The heart slows down. This is the first response to submersion. Slowing the heart rate lessen the need for bloodstream oxygen, leaving more to be used by other organs. This is why splashing cold water on our face make us feel more refresh and calm.

Peripheral Vasoconstriction – The blood moves from the legs and arms to vital organs. When under high pressure induced by deep diving, capillaries in the extremities start closing off, stopping blood circulated to those areas. Start from fingers, hands and feets, then arms and legs; more blood for vital organs.

Splenic Contraction – The spleen releases extra red blood cells, meaning it is possible to carry more O2 in the blood.

Blood Shift – On deep dives the lungs are highly compressed and blood vessels enlarge to fill the space so that the chest not collapse with the pressure.

MDR benefits to freediving :

1.       Extended dive times

2.       Deeper relaxation

3.       Better handling of pressure of depth

4.       Oxygen conservation

MDR will active when the face is submerged, receptors that are sensitive to cold within the nasal cavity and other areas of the face relay the information to the brain and this will activate Bradycardia and Peripheral Vasoconstraction. After a while, CO2 in the body will cause Splenic Contraction to active; the the pressure will cause Blood shift to active. So totally there is 3 triggers that will activate all 4 MDR, the receptors within the nasal cavity, CO2 and water pressure.

The deeper we dive, the stronger and amphibious reflexes becomes. For more detail about the researcher Per Scholander (1962) visit here.

Read More

Trip : Amed and Nusa Lembongan, Bali 2015 (2)

(have you read the first part)

Its our third day on the trip, after spending 2 days in Amed for Lv.1 SSI Freedive course we decide to take a rest around Denpasar, and then going to Padang padang beach. 

We wakeup late and enjoy our night sleep then first we go to find a gift to bring back to Jakarta. There is several place to go and bought gift, The first one is Sukawati Art Market (this place is known for many years as the place to buy gift from Bali) but we didn’t go there because its not on the same direction to Padang padang, where we heading.

We choose to go find a gift shop around Denpasar which is very easy to find, Krisna or Erlangga is the biggest and famous in Denpasar.

After getting all gift we need, we go straight to Padang padang beach. The beach located between cliffs, and great place to swim and having some sunburn. 

From there, we move on to another beach nearby named Suluban beach. Almost the same with Padang padang beach, located between cliffs, but Suluban isn’t swimmable, but the best for chatting, have a drink and enjoying sunset until the night is late and time to go back home to sleep and energizing for our next trip.

Nusa Lembongan is a small island located on the southeast side of Bali island. Nusa lembongan is one of three neighbouring island, the other island is Nusa Penida and the smallest is Nusa Ceningan. To reach Nusa Lembongan from Bali island is by boat, although you can use helicopter but of course that is expensive.

There is several way to reach Nusa Lembongan by boat, but mostly available from Sanur, such as Bali Fast Boat, Mushroom Lembongan Paradise, The Marlin Cruise, Blue Beach Boat, Sea Horse Lembongan, etc.

At that time, we almost late and had to run to the boat, it almost ruined our day with bad mood but when we arrive at Nusa Lembongan, we all feel happy again. We met our motorbike owner (we rent motorbike to go around the island) and head to Java Café, our meeting point to snorkel around the island. The boat take us to 3 snorkling spot, the first one is “Gamat Beach”, then “The Wall” and the last one is “Mangrove”.

Gamat, The Wall and Mangrove, all is a superb place to snorkeling and reef freedive. But our favorite is The Wall, its located along rocky cliff with good depth (from 4 meter near the cliff and decending to more then 10 meter). The best part of it is there the  sea current moving from one point of the wall to another point, up to 1 km long; so all we have to do is just dive and float around, super fun

Anyway I think that’s all I want to share here, if I go with detail it will need another part. The point is its super fun, relaxing with a little sunburn. Come join us on our next trip.

Read More