REVIEW · NUSA LEMBONGAN
Open Water + Advanced Course – Premium Certifications Package in Nusa Lembongan
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New to scuba. Get your badges in four days.
This package is interesting because it runs Open Water and Advanced Open Water back-to-back, so you don’t spend weeks waiting between stages. I like that the essentials are covered in a single, structured learning stretch, and I also like the value built into what’s included: equipment plus wetsuit and a weight belt, delivered with certified instruction and real center comforts like showers and lockers. The main drawback to consider is simple: it requires good weather and a reasonable fitness level, so if you’re expecting a laid-back day every day, this will feel like work.
A big plus is the human side. In the instructor feedback, names like Sara, Raymond, Laurene, Yasmin, Imi, Jhoe, Kaka, Silvere, Bagia, and Yudi keep showing up—often for clear teaching and calm guidance. If you want a tight schedule with lots of coaching time, you’ll likely enjoy the pace.
If you’re shopping for one booking that covers both certifications, this is a strong contender. Just go in with the mindset that you’re doing training, not just sightseeing.
In This Review
- Key highlights worth your attention
- Nusa Lembongan: a calmer setting for your first badges
- Two certifications in one 4-day run: Open Water to Advanced
- Open Water course skills: breathing, buoyancy, control
- Advanced Open Water essentials: Deep and underwater navigation
- Adventure segments you pick: photography, buoyancy control, fish ID
- Your classroom between sessions: gear, facilities, and comfort
- Instructors with real personality: Sara, Imi, Jhoe, Kaka, and more
- Price and value of the $811 package
- Who this suits, and when to choose a different pace
- Should you book this Premium Certifications Package in Lembongan?
- FAQ
- What courses are included in this package?
- How long is the experience?
- Where does the experience start?
- What is the minimum age requirement?
- Is accommodation included?
- What equipment is included?
- What facilities are available at the center?
- Is this a private tour?
- When will I receive confirmation after booking?
- What if weather is bad or I need to cancel?
Key highlights worth your attention

- Two certifications in one run: Open Water first, then Advanced right after.
- Deep + underwater navigation are built in: the required skill work for Advanced.
- You choose extra focus areas: from photography and buoyancy control to fish identification.
- Gear and key basics are included: mask, snorkel, fins, buoyancy control jacket, regulator, and more.
- Center facilities matter: WiFi, toilet, shower, locker, and change rooms on site.
Nusa Lembongan: a calmer setting for your first badges

Nusa Lembongan is a practical base for learning because it’s set up for water activities and nearby sites, not a huge, frantic city scene. You’ll meet at Dive Concepts Lembongan in Jungutbatu, and your days are organized around learning sessions that build from confidence to competence.
What I like about this kind of location is that it supports a learning curve. When you’re starting, the details (breathing rhythm, buoyancy control, moving calmly underwater) matter more than the view-stopping moments. A place built around day-after-day training helps you keep practicing, instead of constantly traveling and resetting.
It’s also easy to pair the training block with some extra time on the island later. The course itself is focused and structured, but the wider Nusa Lembongan experience can still fit around it if your schedule allows.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Nusa Lembongan.
Two certifications in one 4-day run: Open Water to Advanced

The core promise is straightforward: you take your Open Water Course and your Advanced Open Water in sequence, starting your Advanced course just after finishing your Open Water. That matters for two reasons.
First, it reduces the “gap time” problem. New skills fade if you wait too long to practice them again. A back-to-back schedule keeps the learning fresh, and it makes the Advanced stage feel like a natural next step instead of a reboot.
Second, it’s efficient for planning. You’re essentially buying a single education package instead of coordinating separate course dates, separate pickups, separate equipment bookings, and separate training admin.
Price-wise, it’s listed at $811 per person for about 4 days. That number feels high if you compare it only to a single short session. But it’s meant to cover two certification tracks plus instructor time and the equipment basics. For many people, the real “value” is time saved and stress avoided, not just the total dollars.
And yes, the package is private—only your group participates—which usually means less waiting around and more direct attention.
Open Water course skills: breathing, buoyancy, control
Your Open Water course is the foundation. The training builds the core scuba skills that let you handle normal underwater situations without panic. The package description is clear that you’ll learn the basics and obtain your first certification through one of the world’s most popular entry-level scuba training programs.
In practical terms, Open Water is where you get your body to work with the gear, not against it. You’ll be using standard equipment like a regulator and a buoyancy control jacket (both included), and you’ll be learning how to control your breathing and your position in the water.
The best part of this structure is continuity. By the time you move into your Advanced course, you’re not starting from zero. Your instructor can focus on skill refinement and adding new competencies, instead of spending days just teaching the absolute first steps.
Advanced Open Water essentials: Deep and underwater navigation

The Advanced Open Water portion is designed to make you more confident and bring more professional techniques into your underwater routine. You’ll choose from adventure options to build your personal learning path, but one part is non-negotiable for this certification: Deep & Underwater Navigation.
That requirement is important because it targets two big confidence drivers. Deep work pushes you to stay calm and controlled when you go farther below the surface. Underwater navigation teaches you not to rely on luck. Instead, you learn how to plan and maintain direction underwater, which makes your whole experience feel more intentional.
From an outcomes perspective, the Advanced course is also where you stop thinking of scuba as a single moment and start thinking of it as a system: procedures, planning, and controlled movement. That’s why it’s a great follow-up right after Open Water.
The package is also set up so you start your Advanced course right after finishing Open Water. That sequencing gives you the best chance to carry the skills forward while your fundamentals are still strong.
Adventure segments you pick: photography, buoyancy control, fish ID

Besides the required Deep and Underwater Navigation, you’ll complete three other adventure-skill segments chosen based on your preferences. The listed examples include photography, buoyancy control, and fish identification.
That choice piece is more valuable than it sounds. It’s easy to take a course where you learn skills you don’t really care about. Here, you can steer toward what you’ll enjoy using later. If you’re the type who wants to get consistent shots, photography-focused training helps you manage stability and motion. If you want to move like a smooth underwater traveler (not a frantic human balloon), buoyancy control segments help you fine-tune.
Fish identification is another smart option because it turns a cool sight into meaningful recognition. You start connecting what you see with what you learned, which makes subsequent trips more rewarding.
In real life, this is where your “why” shows up. If you care about calm control, photography outcomes, or learning wildlife, your course can match your interests.
Your classroom between sessions: gear, facilities, and comfort
One of the most practical parts of this package: it includes a lot of the stuff that otherwise eats your time and money.
Included equipment:
- mask
- snorkel
- fins
- buoyancy control jacket
- regulator and other instruments
Also included:
- wetsuit
- weight belt
You’ll be learning in the center facilities, which are listed as having WiFi, toilet, shower, locker, and a change room. That might sound like “not exciting,” but it matters. After water training, being able to rinse, change, and store gear properly keeps the day moving and helps you feel human again.
Also, since it’s a private tour/activity, your group size stays contained. That often makes it easier to keep your pace and get immediate help when you need it, especially when you’re working on skills that require attention.
Accommodation is not included, but dormitory and bungalows are available at the dive center if you want to stay close. That can simplify mornings—less time commuting, more time resting and preparing.
Instructors with real personality: Sara, Imi, Jhoe, Kaka, and more

The instructor feedback is one of the strongest reasons to take this package seriously. Across the course experiences, common praise points include patience, clear technical explanations, and a relaxed teaching vibe that helps you feel safe underwater.
Names that come up often:
- Sara (praised for teaching Open Water; also described as extremely nice and fun)
- Raymond (noted as super chill with good laughs)
- Laurene/Laurena (praised for technical details while keeping it entertaining)
- Yasmin and Imi (Open Water and Advanced instruction, with strong notes on professionalism and fun)
- Jhoe (called patient and competent, helping students feel comfortable)
- Kaka (praised for leading fun Advanced sessions and careful student attention)
- Silvere (credited as great and patient)
- Bagia, Yudi, and Imi (praised for making learning enjoyable and safe)
A good sign here: multiple instructors are recognized for both safety and enjoyment, not just one or the other. That combo matters because learning scuba is as much mental as it is mechanical. You need calm guidance while your brain runs through unfamiliar tasks.
When you book, ask the center which instructor will guide your Open Water and which will guide your Advanced. Even if you don’t get your first pick, this group of instructors has a track record of making new students comfortable.
Price and value of the $811 package

Let’s talk money in plain terms. At $811 per person for about 4 days, you’re paying for:
- certified instructor time for two certification stages
- included equipment basics (mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, buoyancy control jacket, and more)
- wetsuit and weight belt
- center facilities (WiFi, toilet, shower, locker, change room)
- a private group format
What you don’t pay for (extra):
- digital souvenir photos/videos
- accommodation (dormitory and bungalows available at the center, but not included)
The value isn’t just that “gear is included.” It’s that training quality relies on having the right setup consistently, and this package reduces the risk of mismatches or last-minute rentals. It also keeps you from stretching the process across multiple trips.
If you were to try piecing this together on your own—separate course bookings, separate equipment logistics, and separate instructor schedules—you’d likely spend more time coordinating and potentially more money in the process. This package is built to remove that friction.
Who this suits, and when to choose a different pace
This is a good fit if:
- you’re at least 12 years old
- you have moderate physical fitness
- you want Open Water and Advanced Open Water handled together
- you like a structured path with required skills plus choice-based adventure segments
It may be less ideal if:
- you prefer slower pacing with more time between stages
- you’re worried about being “training-scheduled” for several consecutive days
- weather is a major uncertainty for your trip window, since good conditions are required and poor weather can lead to rescheduling or refund options
The sweet spot is people who want to go from beginner to more confident underwater participant without dragging it out.
Should you book this Premium Certifications Package in Lembongan?
I’d book it if you want maximum value from a single certification block: Open Water first, then straight into Advanced Open Water, with Deep + Underwater Navigation built in and additional adventure segments you can steer toward. The included gear and wetsuit remove a lot of hassle, and the center facilities make the training days more comfortable than you’d expect.
Before you commit, check two things: your calendar comfort with a tight 4-day training run, and your ability to handle the fitness and weather needs. If those align, this package is a smart way to earn two credentials without letting momentum drop.
FAQ
What courses are included in this package?
It includes an Open Water Course and then an Advanced Open Water course, completed back-to-back, with the Advanced course starting right after Open Water is earned.
How long is the experience?
The duration is listed as 4 days (approx.).
Where does the experience start?
The meeting point is Dive Concepts Lembongan in Nusa Lembongan (Jungutbatu), Nusa Penida, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali 80771, Indonesia.
What is the minimum age requirement?
A minimum age of 12 years is required.
Is accommodation included?
No. Accommodation is not included, though dormitory and bungalows are available at the dive center.
What equipment is included?
Included equipment includes a mask, snorkel, fins, buoyancy control jacket, regulator, and other instruments. A wetsuit and a weight belt are also included.
What facilities are available at the center?
Dive center facilities are listed as having WiFi, toilet, shower, locker, and a change room.
Is this a private tour?
Yes. It is a private tour/activity, and only your group will participate.
When will I receive confirmation after booking?
Confirmation is received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.
What if weather is bad or I need to cancel?
This activity requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. Cancellation is free, and you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.






