Help! Planning a trip to Bali June next year (3 couples), staying at Kumala Pantai for 1 week, and the Tjampuhan at Ubud, but would also like to do a side trip for a few days of relaxation and snorkelling. Have snorkelled at Menjangan Island and did a Bali Hai day trip only to Lembongan last time...Menjangan seemed to have the better snorkelling. We are still novice snorkellers, and not keen on strong currents or having to go far out to sea. Original thought was 3 days on the Gilis, and the Bali Hai 3 Island tour when staying in Legian.
Had hoped to go to the Gilis on the Bounty boat as it seemed a leisurely, straightforward way to get there, however have recently been told (by their rep. at the Perth Bali Expo) that it is no longer running to the Gilis due to lack of patronage. Members of our party on not keen on flying on a small plane, then having the hassle of getting in and out of cars and boats to get there.
Another person at the Expo suggested that snorkelling is much better at Nusa Penida (so best to stay on Lembongan) and that coral bleaching around the Gilis is extensive. I have searched on this forum and found mostly good reports on both islands, but a few state that the coral is dead on the gilis, and that there is not much life on Lembongan (do prefer to have a choice of eating places, and maybe somewhere to go for the odd cocktail in the evening).
Has anyone been to both recently, so able to comment on the quality of the snorkelling? Would hate to encourage my friends to go on a complicated journey somewhere and have them disappointed (one of them has dived the Great Barrier reef, so there might be comparisons made). Grateful for any advice!!