Self-dubbed pirate captain Paul M Turley left the cold waters of his homeland to set up a dive shop in the northern village of Pemuteran in 1997, and he hasn’t looked back since. We find out what made the veteran instructor choose Bali as his new home.

What’s your favorite dive spot in Bali?
That’s difficult as they’re often very different and I enjoy them for different reasons. But Close Encounters and Mucky Pirates Bay in Pemuteran – one’s great for eye candy/aquarium reef type diving, and the other for muck and critters. Outside of Pemuteran, of course Menjangan Island is great, but that’s almost a local dive for us – our boats are fast! Tulamben is also nice – the wreck is not much of a wreck, I’ve seen better in the UK. But the marine life is cool.

Where’s your favorite place to dine locally?
There’s a little local seafood place on the bypass in Sanur, just a couple of doors down from McDonald’s. A good friend of mine, Sonny, introduced us to it years ago. I head to Arena’s if I need some good Western pub grub, which, after weeks of rice and vegetables, I often do!

And drink?
Drink? Yes please. I’ll have rum! Garr! Since one of my best friends owns Storm Brewery and produces real beers right here in Singaraja, I go to his house.

What’s your favorite thing to do if you’re not diving?
Sleep! Seriously though, I love going to Banjar hotsprings and soaking in the sulfur water – the small pool is 36˚C. There’s also the botanical garden in Bedugul – my son loves the Treetop Adventure Park, swinging through the trees like the cheeky little monkey he is. Also, it’s cool up in the mountains and it’s a change from the heat and the beach.

Any tips on how to get the best local experience?
Don’t base yourself out of the south. And watch for the cowboys, there are some dodgy outfits around. Check the gear and make sure they’re licensed – in our area alone, out of seven new dive centers checked recently, only one was fully licensed. That was us. Ask questions and get a feel for a place. Don’t let price be the first concern – safety is more important.

What is the most overrated part of Bali?
Kuta – it s the Aussie Benidorm. If you want sun, fun, bars, clubs and restaurants, then go there. Lovina is the poor man’s Kuta. Most of the southern part of Bali is one big tourist trap. It’s easy to get out and explore the other areas where Bali really is. Be adventurous, get a little off the beaten track and you can find Bali as you’d expect it, rather than what the tour operators sell. It’s the reason many end up at our end.