I've never been to Bali, but I would really love to go some day. I imagine the mix of culture, scenery, people, food, and diving would be a heady rush, overwhelming me, and providing me with so much sensory delight that I wouldn't know where to turn next. While I love relaxing, do-nothing vacations, I think the wide variety of activities in Bali would thrill me endlessly and keep me so busy, I'd wind up needing a vacation fom my vacation.

Andrea and Antonella Ferrari -- associate editors of FiNS and co-authors of the brilliant and beautiful A Diver's Guide to Reef Life -- just spent two weeks enjoying a "dive safari" in Bali. For those who don't know, a dive safari is sort of like a land-based live-aboard. As opposed to staying in the same hotel in the same location for 2 weeks, a dedicated guide escorted the Ferraris to select dive sites around the island. While some people might think a dive safari seems like it would offer too much travel and too little diving, the Ferraris managed to squeeze in plenty of "pool time" on their safari. From muck diving, to wreck diving, to encountering magnificent marine creatures that many people only dream of seeing, the couple had an extraordinary-sounding trip. During their cross-island adventure, the couple dived with Mola molas, fingered dragonets, hairy frogfish, and bobbit worms -- not to mention some uncommon marine creatures like sea moths, blackfin lionfish, and volcano triplefin. Moreover, they even saw a pair of spectacular mimic octopus mating in less than thirty feet of water! (Check out the amazing photo gallery to see what that looked like. Imagine playing Twister in camouflage.)

If you're wondering whether a trip to Bali -- or a dive safari -- is worth your time, the Ferrari's trip report should settle things in your mind. Check it out. Then put in your leave request.