Day 3: Coral, Connections & Last Bites
The final morning in Penida, I got a message from the EDIS team — checking I was locked in for today’s activities.
First stop: Ocean Gardner, a Not For Profit coral restoration project. I was picked up by scooter and taken to the farm. After squirming into my wetsuit, I had a one-on-one experience harvesting coral stems from their nursery, knotting them into ropes, and carefully attaching the pieces. My dive instructor, Festi, an amazing 20+ year-old graduate in fisheries management & studying for her masters degree, chatted with me about how the project provides jobs for Balinese, her work in the Ped community, how the reef was damaged by pontoon boats in the 1990-2000's, and now it supports sustainable tourism for the island. Protecting the environment, sustainable fishing for local people, creating jobs, and offering education — it felt meaningful.
It cost me $80, and it was so worth it. I planned to eat cheap that day to afford this experience, and I’m so glad I did. With our coral harvest ready, Festi and I snorkeled out to the restoration site, diving to attach the ropes to the farm beds. Hands-on, purposeful, and exactly the kind of experience I would not have arranged on my own.
Lunch was at the Ocean Gardners café, a social enterprise where profits go straight back into reef restoration. Nasi goreng and a young coconut for $11 AUD — simple, fresh, and it felt good to support something so impactful while refueling.
After a quick shower, my driver scooted me to the port for the fast ferry back to the mainland. Staying true to my “cheap eats” mission for the day, I messaged Putu to source a fresh tuna from one of the fishing charters he knows. He arranged for a local warung in Sanur to cook it that evening. We shared it with a few new local buddies — two-legged and four-legged. So tasty, authentic, and full of laughs and Bintangs.
I’ll never forget this moment — natural, effortless, and such a wonderful end to my trip. It was a perfect reminder of how much more rewarding travel can be with the help of a local guide and a team like EDIS.
