Mimpi Resort Tulamben

Set along the pebble beach in the tiny village of Tulamben, Mimpi Tulamben Resort is ideally situated for a relaxing holiday and exploring some of some of Bali's most accessible coral reefs. At the foot of Mount Agung the resort retains traditional ambience of a Balinese fishing village. Accommodation, sea-front restaurant and pool, spa and dive center are linked through limestone pathways sheltered by coconuts and tropical trees.

The swimming pool is set right at the edge of the ocean sheltered by swaying trees and surrounded by decks and comfortable loungers.

The open-air Tunkung Restaurant is close to the pool also facing Tulamben bay. The ambience is casually relaxing and menu presents a variety of selections from around the globe to suit every taste.

To finish off a day of exploring the reefs, the spa offers four different treatments ranging from 60 to 120 minutes. Staffed by well-trained therapists, each treatment is traditionally practiced using natural ingredients to rejuvenate the body and soul and release stress.

Sheltered under big trees, 12 Patio Rooms are landscaped with lush tropical gardens with a verandah. The bedroom is spacious with simple natural details, cool marble floor and high wooden ceiling. The bathroom has an open-air shower with small garden inside.

The 11 thatched-roof Balinese-style Cottages each have their own private garden and detached bale bengong verandah surrounded by a lava-rock moat full of carp. Bathrooms feature an open-air shower accessible through a door from the garden, built specifically so divers do not have to drip salt water and algae through their bedroom. Shower corner is uniquely walled with black lava-rock and bamboo fence.

With a direct view of Tulamben Bay, the 4 Ocean View Cottages offer a view of ocean waves while enjoying relaxing hours from the private verandah. The bedroom is cool with marble floor and wooden furniture. Entrance to each cottage is through a uniquely designed wooden door gate.

The resort has a fully-maintained PADI Dive Center offering safe and easy diving for both beginner and experienced divers. Safety through well-trained staff, well-maintained equipment and standards are practiced. Diving is easy here as some of the best sites are located just a shore-walk away from the resort. All levels of PADI Scuba courses are also offered at several different languages to ensure quality of comprehension.

Just 400m left of the Mimpi Resort Tulamben lies the wreck of USS Liberty, built 1915, an impressive 100 m long remnant of WW II. On 11 January 1942, about 15 km southwest of Lombok, a Japanese submarine torpedoed this armed vessel. The most obvious attraction of the wreck is the sheer number and variety of fish; friendly fishes that approach up close and personal.

Leaders in the field of fish ichthyology estimate 500 species of reef fishes just around the wreck environ. Though only a few table-sized hard corals are found on the outer edge, the superstructure is heavily colonized with soft corals, gorgonian fans, and tall black and green coral trees, stinging hydrozoan and colorful sponges. The gun is still intact on the stern at 28m, completely encrusted with sessile animals and sea fans. Even snorkelers can enjoy themselves on the wreck; just a mere 30m swim from shore is the bow.

On the eastern end of Tulamben Bay, and just a few steps away from the resort is a coral wall that plummets to beyond 60m. The wall is completely occupied with huge barrel sponges, coral trees, oversized gorgonian fans adorned with long-nosed hawkfish and canary yellow damselfish.

Just in front of the resort's pool, another exciting dive site waits to be explored in the Coral Garden. Here the keen eye might see a large variety of nudibranchs, the rare ghost pipe fish, as well as a multitude of other critters and fishes.