Bali Disaster Pending?

One of the most popular destinations for tourists in Indonesia is deservedly Bali. One of the most popular areas to scuba dive is around Tulamben on the northeast coast, not least because of the picturesque wreckage of the SS Liberty. The ship had been beached during hostile enemy action during WW2 but one of the effects of the volcano Mount Agung erupting in 1963 was that the lava flow pushed it into the ocean where it lies today. At that time, 1,500 people tragically perished.

Mount Agung is rumbling yet again 54 years later, and the Indonesian government is taking no chances this time, evacuating everyone who might be in the danger zone. This means that all the dive centers and other businesses in Tulamben have been closed including Scuba Seraya and Villa Markisa. Ubud is 32km (20 miles) away from Agung while the tourist hotspot of Kuta is 45 miles distant.

Bali is a big island and there's diving elsewhere but if you are heading for Bali be aware that should the volcano finally erupt as expected, volcanic ash in the atmosphere might affect air flights in and out on Denpasar airport. Nine alternative airports outside Bali have been prepared for diverted flights. For updates visit https://goo.gl/DhbcTB