Book excerpt: Well–travelled divers all acknowledge that the best diving in the world is found in the warm waters of tropical Bali. Bali is located in the famous "coral triangle," the center of the world's tropical marine diversity, and the island is blessed with a stunning variety of dive sites—shipwrecks, quiet black sand bays, crystalline hard coral reefs over bright white sand, lava ridges draped in gorgonians and soft coral, and current–swept pinnacles, swirling with fish. Diving Bali is a comprehensive diving guide covering all of Bali and it's surrounding reefs. It presents in great detail some of the best dive sites in the tropical western Pacific. Our seasoned diver–authors have an aggregate half–century of experience exploring these waters, and each site receives thorough coverage, including detailed maps, color photos, and a full description of access, conditions, and facilities. This Bali diving guide features: Practicalities: Detailed travel information for every budget, including accommodations, transportation, prices, seasons, and dive operators. Information: Local history, diving lore, site conditions, and more than 50 maps. Photography: More than 100 color photographs by top photographers.