Bali Hai – PADI Advance Open Water Course in Menjangan

Menjangan is a fine place to build your confidence after earning an Open Water certificate. This two-day course combines required skills, such as underwater navigation and a descent to 30 meters, with three specialty choices that let you shape the course around your interests. I like the small maximum ratio of four students per instructor, and I like that equipment, boat transfers, lunch, water, insurance, and certification are included.

The main catch is location. The booking information lists Ubud, but the actual meeting point is Menjangan Dynasty Resort in Pejarakan, at the far western end of Bali. You need to arrange your own air-conditioned vehicle, and national park fees are extra. The $502.57 price is easier to justify if you value the all-in course setup and are already staying near Menjangan.

Key points at a glance

• Five underwater sessions in two days: Deep-water training and Underwater Navigation are required, followed by three specialty sessions you choose.
• A 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio: This gives you more personal attention than a large class, especially during navigation work.
• Certification to 30 meters: Once complete, the Advanced Open Water qualification allows you to go to a maximum depth of 30 meters, or 100 feet, within your certification limits.
• Menjangan meeting point: You start and finish at Menjangan Dynasty Resort at 9:00 am, not in central Ubud.
• Useful inclusions: Equipment rental, boats, lunch, water, tea and coffee, insurance, study materials, logbook, and certification card are included.
• Plan around flights and health: You should not fly within 48 hours after your underwater sessions, and a health questionnaire is required before starting.

Why this course suits a newly certified diver

The PADI Advanced Open Water course is not reserved for experts. You can take it directly after PADI Open Water, or after an equivalent qualification from another agency. That makes it a sensible next step if you have basic certification but still feel you are thinking more about your equipment than the world around you.

The course is built around practice rather than a long classroom program. You complete five underwater sessions over two days. Two are fixed: a deep-water session and Underwater Navigation. The other three are selected from a menu of specialties, so you can spend time on photography, buoyancy, fish identification, current movement, search techniques, or other skills.

I like that structure. You get a clear skills base, but you are not forced into five identical lessons. If your buoyancy needs work, Peak Performance Buoyancy may be the smartest choice. If you enjoy gadgets, Multi-level and Computer training may appeal more. If you want a wider look at the local environment, Underwater Naturalist Fish ID could be the better fit.

The course is also designed to make you more comfortable in the water, not simply to hand you another card. That distinction matters. An advanced qualification has value when it helps you make calmer decisions, control your movement, manage your depth, and navigate without depending entirely on an instructor.

What happens during the two days

You meet at Menjangan Dynasty Resort at 9:00 am. The activity ends back at the same meeting point, which makes the day easier to organize if you are staying nearby. Boat transfers are included, but your transport to the resort is not. The location is close to public transportation, though the information does not specify a particular bus, shuttle, or pickup service.

Your course materials include the PADI Adventures in Diving Manual and a Bali Hai Diving Adventures logbook. These give you a reference for the training and a place to record your sessions. You also receive a PADI Advanced certification card after completing the course.

The two required sessions are the backbone of the program. The deep-water lesson takes you toward the new 30-meter limit and helps you work within the demands of greater depth. The point is not simply going lower. You need to become familiar with how depth affects your planning and comfort, always under the direction of your instructor.

Underwater Navigation is the other compulsory subject. It is one of the most useful skills in the course because it helps you understand where you are, where you have been, and how to return to a planned point. It is less glamorous than photography, but it can make future outings more relaxed and organized.

You then choose three specialties from the available list:

• Digital Underwater Photography: A good choice if you want to learn how to handle a camera while keeping control of your position and equipment.
• Multi-level and Computer: Useful if you want more practice using a computer and planning sessions at different depths.
• Peak Performance Buoyancy: A practical option for anyone who wants better control, less wasted effort, and smoother movement.
• Underwater Naturalist Fish ID: This turns your attention toward identifying fish and observing the environment.
• Boat session: A natural choice if you want more experience with boat-based procedures.
• Drift session: This introduces the skills needed when water movement carries you along.
• Night session: An option for people interested in the different conditions and procedures of a night outing.
• Search and Recovery: A more task-focused specialty involving the methods used to locate and recover an object.

The supplied details do not assign particular specialties to each day, and they do not name individual instructors. Your exact order will depend on conditions, scheduling, and the choices made with the course team. The operator may provide a multilingual guide, which can help if you are not most comfortable learning in English.

Menjangan makes the setting part of the lesson

The meeting point is at Menjangan Dynasty Resort in Pejarakan, Gerokgak, Buleleng Regency, Bali 81155. This is in western Bali, not in the Ubud area shown in the short tour summary. That difference is important when you plan your accommodation and road time.

You should treat the resort as the practical base for the course. You meet there, use the arranged boat transfers, and return there at the end. National park fees are not included, so budget for that separate charge. Food and drinks beyond the included lunch, drinking water, tea, and coffee are also your responsibility.

Menjangan is especially suitable for a skills-focused course because the setting gives you a reason to pay attention to navigation, depth, buoyancy, and natural observation. The supplied information does not promise a particular fish species, coral formation, visibility level, or exact site, so I would not book this expecting a guaranteed underwater spectacle on a named reef.

What you can count on is a structured course in a recognized area, with the natural environment used as the setting for training. That is a better reason to choose it than a vague promise of perfect conditions.

The small-class promise matters

The maximum student-to-instructor ratio is 4:1. This is one of the strongest features of the course. Navigation practice, buoyancy work, and equipment handling are easier to follow when the instructor is not managing a large group.

The overall activity may have a maximum of 15 participants, but the teaching ratio is the more useful figure for judging the course. It suggests that instruction is organized in small groups, even if other course participants are present at the resort or in the broader activity.

A former participant described finishing the Open Water course at Menjangan feeling comfortable and prepared, and praised the professional support from the PADI office at the resort. That matches what you should hope for from a course like this: clear instruction, steady supervision, and enough attention to ask questions before a small concern becomes a real problem.

The company is a PADI 5 Star Dive Centre and offers a full range of PADI courses. That designation does not guarantee that every session will suit every student, but it does indicate a formal training setup rather than an informal equipment rental operation.

What the $502.57 price really covers

At $502.57 per person, this is not a cheap add-on to a Bali holiday. The value comes from the number of services bundled into the course.

The price includes:

• PADI study manual
• Bali Hai logbook
• PADI Advanced certification card
• Full equipment rental
• Lunch
• Drinking water
• Tea and coffee
• Full divers insurance
• All boat transfers
• Instructor training

You are not paying only for five underwater sessions. You are also paying for instruction, equipment logistics, boat transport, insurance, course materials, food during the day, and the certification process. If you would otherwise need to rent equipment and arrange boat travel separately, the package becomes easier to defend.

Still, you need to add national park fees and your own food and drinks beyond the stated inclusions. An air-conditioned vehicle is also not included. A single supplement may apply in some arrangements, so check the final price before you commit.

For someone already based near Menjangan, the package offers a fairly clean way to complete the qualification. For someone staying in Ubud, the value is less obvious because the meeting point is far away and private transport may add a sizeable cost. I would compare the total price, including road transport and accommodation, rather than looking only at the course fee.

Health, timing, and physical demands

You need a certified PADI Open Water qualification or an equivalent certificate from another diving agency. The course is not presented as suitable for someone without prior training.

You also complete a health questionnaire before taking part. Conditions such as asthma or heart problems may prevent participation, and the operator advises consulting a doctor if you have a relevant medical concern. This is not a form to rush through. Answer honestly and ask for medical advice before arriving if you are uncertain.

The activity requires a moderate level of physical fitness. You should be comfortable with the general demands of getting ready, moving around the boat, and taking part in repeated underwater sessions across two days. The supplied details do not give a specific age limit, mobility policy, or swimming requirement, so ask the operator directly if any of those points affect you.

Plan your flights carefully. Flying within 48 hours after underwater activity is not recommended. A two-day course can fit neatly into a Bali itinerary, but it should not be placed immediately before your flight home.

Weather can also affect the schedule. If severe weather closes the harbor, the operator may reschedule the departure time without a refund under its force majeure terms. That is a real planning point in Bali, where weather can disrupt boats even when conditions look fine at your hotel.

Who should choose which specialty

I would choose Peak Performance Buoyancy if you are newly certified and still use too much air, struggle to stay level, or find yourself adjusting your equipment constantly. Better control helps with nearly every other part of the course.

Multi-level and Computer makes sense if you want more confidence with planning and monitoring your sessions. Underwater Navigation is already required, so this pairing gives you a particularly practical course.

Digital Underwater Photography is more specialized. Choose it if you already have access to a camera or have a clear interest in making images. It is less useful if your main goal is simply to feel safer and more controlled in the water.

Underwater Naturalist Fish ID suits anyone who wants to pay closer attention to what is around them. It adds an observation element to the course, rather than focusing only on equipment and procedures.

Boat and Drift sessions help you sample different operating conditions. Search and Recovery is more task-oriented, while Night work depends on the schedule and local conditions. Since only three specialties are available beyond the two required sessions, ask the instructor early which combination best fits your experience and goals.

Booking details worth knowing

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The advertised start time is 9:00 am, and you return to the meeting point at the end of the activity.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded or accepted. Since weather can affect the harbor, read the force majeure terms carefully before making nonrefundable travel arrangements around the course.

The activity accepts mobile tickets, which is handy when you are moving between hotels and the resort. Keep your certification details and health information available when you arrive.

Should you book Bali Hai’s Menjangan course?

I would book this if you already hold an Open Water certificate, want a structured step up, and can reach Menjangan without turning the course into a costly transport project. The 4:1 teaching ratio, full equipment package, boat transfers, lunch, insurance, and certification give the $502.57 price real substance.

I would hesitate if you are staying in Ubud and have only a short Bali schedule. The western Bali meeting point, extra national park fees, and vehicle costs can change the final value. I would also think twice if you need a particular medical accommodation or cannot leave 48 hours before flying.

For a newly certified diver who wants more confidence rather than just another credential, this is a well-structured choice. Pick your three specialties carefully, confirm the transport plan, and leave enough time after the course before your flight.

FAQ

Where does the course start?

The course starts at Menjangan Dynasty Resort, Pejarakan, Gerokgak, Buleleng Regency, Bali 81155, Indonesia.

What time does the course begin?

The stated start time is 9:00 am.

How many underwater sessions are included?

You complete five sessions over the two-day course. Deep-water training and Underwater Navigation are compulsory, and you choose three additional specialties.

Do I need prior certification?

Yes. You must hold a PADI Open Water Diver certificate or an equivalent certification from another diving agency.

What is included in the price?

The package includes the PADI Adventures in Diving Manual, Bali Hai logbook, PADI Advanced certification card, full equipment rental, lunch, drinking water, tea and coffee, full divers insurance, and all boat transfers.

Are national park fees included?

No. National park fees are not included. Food and drinks beyond the listed refreshments are also not included, and an air-conditioned vehicle is not part of the package.

Can I fly immediately after the course?

Flying within 48 hours after the underwater activity is not recommended. Plan your course and return flight with that interval in mind.