Bali Beyond the Bintangs: Discovering the Real Island of the Gods
Bali - is it really just for bogans?
Let’s be real. Yes. Parts of Bali are full of beer buses, Kuta crowds, and bargain hunters in Bintang singlets. If that’s your vibe, Bali delivers.
But that’s not the Bali I fell in love with.
I want to show you another side of this island, the one locals call the Island of the Gods. It’s a place where time slows down, the ocean feels untouched, and you leave with your heart full, already planning your return.
To help me paint the picture, I asked my friends at Easy Divers Pemuteran to share their perspective. They are one of my all-time favourite dive centres and one of the few Gold Certified Green Fins operators in Indonesia.
Easy Divers is one of very few gold certified Green Fins dive centres in Indonesia. They operate in the north west corner of the island, in a region called Pemuteran. I love working with these guys because they are always upfront, and they share their passion for the ocean in a way that really resonates.
What Most People Get Wrong About Bali
I asked them a few key questions, to see if they could help me explain the beauty of this place, and here is what they had to say…
Q) What do you think is the most misunderstood thing about Bali?
“That it’s all Kuta and Bintang, Ubud and spiritual healing, or Canggu and Instagram influencers. People often land with a mental image shaped by social media posts, but the real Bali is far more layered. There are fishing villages where time moves slowly, parts of Bali that are almost completely untouched by tourism, and locals who still believe their daily offerings and ceremonies hold the island together. The chaos is real, but so is the calm.”
Curious about ocean adventures beyond the south? Explore our Dive Page or book a free planning call
Q) What is the one thing you wish visitors would do differently?
“Slow down.
Many traveler’s arrive with packed itineraries, trying to tick off everything in five days. But Bali doesn’t open up to you when you're rushing. Leave space for unscheduled moments and random people you encounter along the way - those tend to be the ones you’ll remember.”
“Bali is bigger than the south.
Many who visit Bali, stay only in the busiest part of the island, check the Instagram-famous spots, and go home thinking that’s all there is, that the whole island has been overrun by tourism. But Bali is big. There are places far from the airport, sometimes hard to get to, where you’ll find a completely different pace and feel. Those who make the effort to explore are the ones who tend to come back. Again and again.”
Hidden Gem: Menjangan Island
Q) Can you share a hidden gem in your area of Bali that people may not know about?
Menjangan Island is a part of Bali’s only national park, and it shows - the coral reef here is in excellent condition, with dramatic walls and millions of tiny reef fish that make it feel like you’re swimming in a natural aquarium. The national park fee sometimes gives people pause, but it’s well worth it. Menjangan is a well-known destination for diving and snorkeling, and many people come just to see it - but they often end up falling in love with our tiny fishing village of Pemuteran.
Why Pemuteran Steals Hearts
Q) What is your favourite part of showing people your unique part of Bali?
First-time visitors are genuinely surprised by how uncrowded and relaxed this part of the island is compared to the usual Bali hotspots. They come to Pemuteran for two or three nights, then keep extending their stay until they run out of excuses or time. It happens more often than you'd think :)
Ready to See the Real Bali?
If you are ready to see the REAL Bali, let’s have a chat about what some time in Pemuteran might do for you