Bali/Komodo Marine Conservation Scuba Expedition
If you’re into marine science, scuba diving, and travelling to incredible locations, this is your trip. The trip begins in Bali where trip members work on a reef restoration project while staying next to the beach. There are a few refresher scuba dives while here to hone our dive skills for what’s to come. The focus of the trip is a liveaboard sail trip from island to island, beginning from Komodo Island where students learn about ocean biodiversity and conservation while scuba diving in some of the clearest and most life rich waters on the planet. The trip also spends a day on Komodo Island with the dragons, learning about the island and ongoing preservation methods and challenges. The trip then heads to the islands Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida where freedive instruction is coupled with diving with manta rays as part of ongoing research efforts. Take a surf lesson or two on the islands if you'd like, with local professional instructors.
Trip Tuition: $3,800 (Airfare not included. Group rates available)
Trip Dates: Year Round
Trip Dates: Year Round
Northeast BaliThis trip's main project is in partnership with North Bali Reef Conservation, outside the rural fishing village of Tianyar. One of Padma’s most immediately fulfilling projects, trip members make and deploy structures in the ocean to restore a section of destroyed reef. Each year the biodiversity of the targeted section of reef has nearly doubled thanks to our efforts. It’s hard to imagine a project that provides such directly and quickly visible benefits to our friends in the sea.
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UBUD
Trips begin in the cultural and spiritual hub of Ubud. Abounding with ancient temples, forests, rivers, terraced rice fields, and all sorts of intriguing people, Ubud is an ideal spot to learn, experiment, and capture creative shots while enjoying true Balinese culture.
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manta raysGentle and graceful giants of the ocean, trip members learn about and participate in ongoing manta ray research by getting into the water off the shores of Nusa Penida Island. Many trip members and trip leaders report their time with these manta rays as a highlight of their lives.
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Liveaboard Sail/Scuba TripSpending your days living on a sailboat in the ocean, floating across crystal clear blue waters is an incredible experience. Add to this, daily scuba diving amidst astounding biodiversity while learning about the habitats you’re visiting, and you have the trip of a lifetime.
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TRIP TUITION:
$3800 (GROUP RATES, SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE)
TRIP TUITION COVERS:
• ACCOMMODATIONS
• MOST MEALS (WE OCCASIONALLY ENCOURAGE TRIP MEMBERS TO EXPLORE LOCAL RESTAURANTS)
• LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
• PROJECT PLANNING, MATERIALS, AND MANAGEMENT
• ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES
• TRAVELLERS MEDICAL, EMERGENCY, AND EVACUATION INSURANCE
• LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRIP LEADERS
TRIP TUITION DOES NOT COVER:
• INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE (TRIP LEADERS HELP SELECT AND ARRANGE AIRFARE FOR GROUPS)
• LOCAL SHOPPING
• ADDITIONAL SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES
$3800 (GROUP RATES, SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE)
TRIP TUITION COVERS:
• ACCOMMODATIONS
• MOST MEALS (WE OCCASIONALLY ENCOURAGE TRIP MEMBERS TO EXPLORE LOCAL RESTAURANTS)
• LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
• PROJECT PLANNING, MATERIALS, AND MANAGEMENT
• ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES
• TRAVELLERS MEDICAL, EMERGENCY, AND EVACUATION INSURANCE
• LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRIP LEADERS
TRIP TUITION DOES NOT COVER:
• INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE (TRIP LEADERS HELP SELECT AND ARRANGE AIRFARE FOR GROUPS)
• LOCAL SHOPPING
• ADDITIONAL SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES
Passport:
If you do not have, or have not applied for your passport and are planning to join a trip, sooner than later is best. Passport delivery since 2020 has taken as long as several months to receive. You can order a passport at your local post office. Standard service (is supposed to) take 4-6 weeks, while expedited service is much faster but also more expensive. If you already have your passport it must have at least 6 months of validity from the day you arrive in Bali or it needs to be renewed. If you do not have 6 months of passport validity you will be refused entry to Indonesia.
Bali Tourist Visa:
All trip participants must bring $40 cash to purchase a one-month tourist visa on arrival in Bali.
If you do not have, or have not applied for your passport and are planning to join a trip, sooner than later is best. Passport delivery since 2020 has taken as long as several months to receive. You can order a passport at your local post office. Standard service (is supposed to) take 4-6 weeks, while expedited service is much faster but also more expensive. If you already have your passport it must have at least 6 months of validity from the day you arrive in Bali or it needs to be renewed. If you do not have 6 months of passport validity you will be refused entry to Indonesia.
Bali Tourist Visa:
All trip participants must bring $40 cash to purchase a one-month tourist visa on arrival in Bali.
Accommodations:
All accommodations in Bali are clean yet modest. Upon arrival in Bali we will stay in Ubud at a resort in eight person bunk rooms. In Tianyar students stay in bungalows on the beach designed for western visitors. For the sailing trip we spend our nights on our sailboat with accommodations for 14 passengers where we'll also eat all of our meals prepared by the liveaboard chef. Our trips takeover a forested resort while on Nusa Lembongan where students can enjoy the pool and views of the Indian Ocean. Roommates will be arranged based on your preferences and in consultation with chaperones and Padma staff.
Electronics:
There is little time for playing on screens during a Padma trip. That being said, be sure to have a camera or phone to take pictures throughout the trip. Feel free to bring GoPros and camera drones if you want. With a simple power converter (ask the omniscient Google for options) all US chargers can be used on your trip. Trip leaders will have local cellphones for your use if needed and to communicate with families back home. Smartphone apps such as WhatsApp, and WeChat offer free international voice messaging, and calling from anywhere with internet access. Trip leaders' and chaperones' primary international means of communication is through WhatsApp.
Meals & Water
Most meals are eaten together at reputable restaurants, or prepared by chefs at our accommodations. A special focus on hygienic, nutrient rich, and clean food is our goal to help avoid any gastrointestinal issue during the trip. We are careful to provide, and remind trip members to only drink, clean water. With abundant activity and the often humid and warm locations of our trips, it is important to drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration. Although we strive to provide ample food, many trip members also bring snacks from home. There are also opportunities for trip members to explore local restaurants on their own.
Alcohol & Drugs
Padma maintains a zero tolerance policy on illicit drug use, and it will not be tolerated. Depending on the severity of the incident, trip members may be immediately expelled from the trip at their family's expense. In many countries and areas we travel, trip members are legally allowed to drink alcohol. On such trips, trip members are allowed to drink alcohol responsibly unless parents/guardians inform us otherwise. No drunkenness, inappropriate, or disrespectful behavior is allowed and if it occurs, trip members may lose privileges or be sent home if Padma trip leaders conclude the situation warrants expulsion.
Disciplinary Policy:
Padma Organization reserves the right to expel any trip participant from the trip at Padma trip leaders' discretion. This trip is not a party. Padma trips are intended as an opportunity for students to serve others while representing themselves, their school, Padma, and the United States as cultural ambassadors. Any behavior that disrupts this purpose, brings danger to themselves, or other trip members, along with any illegal activity are not allowed. The family of any student expelled from the trip is responsible for all costs to bring their student home. A first warning and removal of privileges will be given for minor offences, while larger incidents may result in immediate trip expulsion.
All accommodations in Bali are clean yet modest. Upon arrival in Bali we will stay in Ubud at a resort in eight person bunk rooms. In Tianyar students stay in bungalows on the beach designed for western visitors. For the sailing trip we spend our nights on our sailboat with accommodations for 14 passengers where we'll also eat all of our meals prepared by the liveaboard chef. Our trips takeover a forested resort while on Nusa Lembongan where students can enjoy the pool and views of the Indian Ocean. Roommates will be arranged based on your preferences and in consultation with chaperones and Padma staff.
Electronics:
There is little time for playing on screens during a Padma trip. That being said, be sure to have a camera or phone to take pictures throughout the trip. Feel free to bring GoPros and camera drones if you want. With a simple power converter (ask the omniscient Google for options) all US chargers can be used on your trip. Trip leaders will have local cellphones for your use if needed and to communicate with families back home. Smartphone apps such as WhatsApp, and WeChat offer free international voice messaging, and calling from anywhere with internet access. Trip leaders' and chaperones' primary international means of communication is through WhatsApp.
Meals & Water
Most meals are eaten together at reputable restaurants, or prepared by chefs at our accommodations. A special focus on hygienic, nutrient rich, and clean food is our goal to help avoid any gastrointestinal issue during the trip. We are careful to provide, and remind trip members to only drink, clean water. With abundant activity and the often humid and warm locations of our trips, it is important to drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration. Although we strive to provide ample food, many trip members also bring snacks from home. There are also opportunities for trip members to explore local restaurants on their own.
Alcohol & Drugs
Padma maintains a zero tolerance policy on illicit drug use, and it will not be tolerated. Depending on the severity of the incident, trip members may be immediately expelled from the trip at their family's expense. In many countries and areas we travel, trip members are legally allowed to drink alcohol. On such trips, trip members are allowed to drink alcohol responsibly unless parents/guardians inform us otherwise. No drunkenness, inappropriate, or disrespectful behavior is allowed and if it occurs, trip members may lose privileges or be sent home if Padma trip leaders conclude the situation warrants expulsion.
Disciplinary Policy:
Padma Organization reserves the right to expel any trip participant from the trip at Padma trip leaders' discretion. This trip is not a party. Padma trips are intended as an opportunity for students to serve others while representing themselves, their school, Padma, and the United States as cultural ambassadors. Any behavior that disrupts this purpose, brings danger to themselves, or other trip members, along with any illegal activity are not allowed. The family of any student expelled from the trip is responsible for all costs to bring their student home. A first warning and removal of privileges will be given for minor offences, while larger incidents may result in immediate trip expulsion.
Day 1: Board your flight to Indonesia
Day 2: Arrive in Denpasar Bali and head to Ubud where you’ll de-jetlag, settle in, and begin your Indonesian adventuring.
Day 3: The day begins with a trip to Tirta Empul Water Temple for sunrise. We’ll participate in a traditional ritual to bless our trip, and spend time in this ancient temple and verdant jungle. After breakfast we head across the mountains to the rural fishing village of Tianyar.
Day 3-6: Camping in thatch roofed bungalows under palm trees by the beach. While in Tianyar, trip members will get to work on a reef restoration project, have a refresher scuba dive or two, and learn about the science behind this project. Afternoons will be filled with hanging out with locals and spending time in a sustainable living practices tutoring program for children. Opportunities to go out into the sea to hang with dolphins and catch a sunrise or two with local fisherman are also available. The morning of day 6, we head to the airport to fly to Komodo where our sailing scuba adventure begins.
Day 6-10: After leaving Bali we head to the Komodo National Park where we board a large sailboat which will be our home for the next four days. Each day we head to a new island and diving spots, and will scuba dive up to four times per day to hone our underwater skills, while learning about the habitats and supporting ongoing conservation efforts. There will also be instruction on modern marine conservation efforts and challenges.
Day 10: Boat life comes to an end and we head to visit the dragons on Komodo Island. After spending a day on this exotic island, we fly back to Bali to wrap up our trip.
Day 11-13: Trip members explore the islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. These islands have many reef shelves to explore, giant manta ray populations that visit the islands every day, and mountains that overlook the ocean amidst vast forests and lush fields. A perfect environment for our final days of taking in the beauty of Indonesia. For those interested, trip members can also have a few surf lessons with local professional instructors. On day thirteen, we head back across the Bali straight to the beach town of Canggu.
Day 13: After our last afternoon in Canggu, we head to the airport with SD cards filled with pics and vids, and lots of memories of your new friends.
Day 14: Arrive home a bit tired, with a suntan and lots of stories.
Day 2: Arrive in Denpasar Bali and head to Ubud where you’ll de-jetlag, settle in, and begin your Indonesian adventuring.
Day 3: The day begins with a trip to Tirta Empul Water Temple for sunrise. We’ll participate in a traditional ritual to bless our trip, and spend time in this ancient temple and verdant jungle. After breakfast we head across the mountains to the rural fishing village of Tianyar.
Day 3-6: Camping in thatch roofed bungalows under palm trees by the beach. While in Tianyar, trip members will get to work on a reef restoration project, have a refresher scuba dive or two, and learn about the science behind this project. Afternoons will be filled with hanging out with locals and spending time in a sustainable living practices tutoring program for children. Opportunities to go out into the sea to hang with dolphins and catch a sunrise or two with local fisherman are also available. The morning of day 6, we head to the airport to fly to Komodo where our sailing scuba adventure begins.
Day 6-10: After leaving Bali we head to the Komodo National Park where we board a large sailboat which will be our home for the next four days. Each day we head to a new island and diving spots, and will scuba dive up to four times per day to hone our underwater skills, while learning about the habitats and supporting ongoing conservation efforts. There will also be instruction on modern marine conservation efforts and challenges.
Day 10: Boat life comes to an end and we head to visit the dragons on Komodo Island. After spending a day on this exotic island, we fly back to Bali to wrap up our trip.
Day 11-13: Trip members explore the islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. These islands have many reef shelves to explore, giant manta ray populations that visit the islands every day, and mountains that overlook the ocean amidst vast forests and lush fields. A perfect environment for our final days of taking in the beauty of Indonesia. For those interested, trip members can also have a few surf lessons with local professional instructors. On day thirteen, we head back across the Bali straight to the beach town of Canggu.
Day 13: After our last afternoon in Canggu, we head to the airport with SD cards filled with pics and vids, and lots of memories of your new friends.
Day 14: Arrive home a bit tired, with a suntan and lots of stories.
Medical Considerations
Medical staff are part of every trip. Based on the medical forms submitted as part of each trip member's application, a Padma medical staff member will contact every participant who may require an individualized medical plan. Each student is provided travelers medical, emergency, and evacuation insurance. Any medical, psychological or physical conditions that might impact a student's trip participation must be communicated to your Padma trip leadership before your trip. Prescription medications must be brought with you as availability is not guaranteed during trips. If you wish to purchase international medical insurance to cover any additional costs in the event of an emergency, contact your Padma trip leader for recommendations. Here are a few:
Vaccinations:
There are currently no required vaccines to travel to Bali and it is up to parents and students to decide what vaccines to get. We recommend consulting the CDC website for suggestions on vaccines and details on additional travel information on Bali. Here is a link to the CDC's Indonesia travel information: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/indonesia
Recommended for all trip members:
To be up-to-date on COVID vaccinations and routine vaccines such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.
Medical staff are part of every trip. Based on the medical forms submitted as part of each trip member's application, a Padma medical staff member will contact every participant who may require an individualized medical plan. Each student is provided travelers medical, emergency, and evacuation insurance. Any medical, psychological or physical conditions that might impact a student's trip participation must be communicated to your Padma trip leadership before your trip. Prescription medications must be brought with you as availability is not guaranteed during trips. If you wish to purchase international medical insurance to cover any additional costs in the event of an emergency, contact your Padma trip leader for recommendations. Here are a few:
- World Nomads
- Allianz
- AIG Travel Guard
Vaccinations:
There are currently no required vaccines to travel to Bali and it is up to parents and students to decide what vaccines to get. We recommend consulting the CDC website for suggestions on vaccines and details on additional travel information on Bali. Here is a link to the CDC's Indonesia travel information: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/indonesia
Recommended for all trip members:
To be up-to-date on COVID vaccinations and routine vaccines such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.
Water Safety:
During your trip, there may be opportunities to swim, snorkel, scuba dive, and surf in the ocean, or swim in rivers and lakes. Currents, sudden depth changes, riptides, large waves, sharp reefs, stings and bites are some of the inherent risks we will face. Trip participants are never to swim alone and careful consideration of individual swimming ability and experience must always be considered.
Minimum Eligibility Criteria:
Padma’s Bali Reef Restoration Expedition includes outdoor and/or physically strenuous activities in various environments such as snorkeling, surfing, hiking, and carrying/building large or heavy structures. Following instruction, trip members must also be able to work independently for up to four hours a day and be capable of completing or participating in the specific activities of this trip.
During your trip, there may be opportunities to swim, snorkel, scuba dive, and surf in the ocean, or swim in rivers and lakes. Currents, sudden depth changes, riptides, large waves, sharp reefs, stings and bites are some of the inherent risks we will face. Trip participants are never to swim alone and careful consideration of individual swimming ability and experience must always be considered.
Minimum Eligibility Criteria:
Padma’s Bali Reef Restoration Expedition includes outdoor and/or physically strenuous activities in various environments such as snorkeling, surfing, hiking, and carrying/building large or heavy structures. Following instruction, trip members must also be able to work independently for up to four hours a day and be capable of completing or participating in the specific activities of this trip.
Trip members can cancel for any reason up to sixty (60) days before their trip, and receive a 50% refund of all paid tuition, less the $200 non-refundable deposit. Cancellations made less than 60 days prior to the trip cannot be guaranteed a refund. In case trip members are unable to join a trip due to medical or emergency related reasons, a full refund may be considered at the discretion of Padma staff. If trips must be canceled due to unexpected travel restrictions, or for any reason such as a natural disaster, social unrest, etc., full refunds will be offered, pending refunds from trip partner companies and organizations, contractors, and third party vendors.
