Personal story — the rescue that changed how I teach

Two years ago, at 07:15 on a choppy morning between Toya Pakeh and Crystal Bay, I radioed for help while hauling a pale diver — “Dani” — into the back of our longboat. He’d surfaced vomiting, dizzy and unable to stand after a rapid ascent on an Island Hopping Bali dive. We were 20 minutes from shore. That morning I learned what local preparedness really means: quick triage, a confident call to the right people, and a pre-arranged evacuation plan. Dani recovered fully, but the hours that followed exposed blind spots in Nusa Penida’s medical network — and those gaps are what I’m writing to you about now.

Why this guide matters for Island Hopping Bali travelers

Island Hopping Bali travelers are vulnerable because activities (diving, snorkeling, cliff-hopping) happen away from main roads and far from advanced hospitals. This guide gives you real, location-specific steps, exact small-business names, GPS spots, price expectations, and my on-the-ground actions during that morning rescue.

Main medical facilities and local contacts (insider details)

In an emergency head for these places — I include the nearest harbor or landmark coordinates so your driver/boat captain gets you there fast.

• Puskesmas Toya Pakeh (public clinic) — basic emergency care, stitches, IV fluids. GPS: -8.7239, 115.4586. Opening hours: 08:00–14:00 weekdays; emergency staff often reachable after hours through local police or hotels. Typical cost: basic treatment IDR 50,000–150,000 (USD 3–10) depending on meds.
• Puskesmas Sampalan (Banjar Sampalan) — larger than Toya Pakeh for minor surgeries and wound care. GPS: -8.7062, 115.4923. Arrival by scooter/taxi: 25–40 minutes from Toya Pakeh.
• Private clinic & telemedicine partners — ask for ‘Island Hopping Bali Clinic Link’ — several guesthouses (e.g., Semabu Hills Hotel) use a private telemedicine service for immediate doctor video consults and prescriptions. Cost: telemedicine consult IDR 150,000–250,000 (USD 10–17).

Why boats and hotels are your first responders

Boat captains I work with (Pak Made, Wayan, and captain Gede from Island Hopping Bali trips) are trained in emergency pickup and basic first aid. If you’re on a day trip, the typical sequence I use is:

• Immediate on-boat ABCs (airway-breathing-circulation) and oxygen if available.
• Radio/text the nearest harbor (Toya Pakeh or Sampalan) with GPS coordinates.
• Notify your hotel/host (Semabu Hills Hotel or a local homestay) to organize a local scooter taxi or pickup truck.
• Transfer to Puskesmas and then, if needed, arrange fast boat transfer to Sanur/Bali for advanced care.

Step-by-step emergency actions (what I did during the rescue)

• 0–5 minutes: On-boat triage. I ordered oxygen from our kit, laid Dani on his side, gave sips of water only when conscious, and kept the temperature steady. I called the passenger manifest: who dove with him and last seen times.
• 5–15 minutes: Captain radioed Toya Pakeh harbourmaster (GPS -8.7239, 115.4586) and told them to alert Puskesmas. I asked Pak Made to prepare a motorcycle taxi (ojek mobil) for immediate transfer.
• 15–45 minutes: Land triage at Puskesmas Toya Pakeh. We paid a fill-in fee IDR 50,000 (USD 3) for triage and IDR 300,000–500,000 (USD 20–35) for IV fluids and meds if required. The clinic stabilized Dani and called for medevac to Sanur.
• 45–240 minutes: Fast-boat evacuation to Sanur if needed (see pricing below) or ambulance pickup to Denpasar. Dani went by fast boat that afternoon; the whole medevac route to a hospital in Sanur took about 3.5 hours from incident.

Costs and travel-time comparison

Service	Typical IDR	Typical USD	Time (approx)
On-boat oxygen & first aid (rental/supply)	IDR 150,000	USD 10	Immediate
Puskesmas Toya Pakeh triage + basic meds	IDR 50,000–300,000	USD 3–20	10–40 min from most dive sites
Fast-boat private charter (evac to Sanur)	IDR 1,200,000–3,000,000	USD 80–200	45–90 min to Sanur (sea depends)
Taxi boat + ambulance transfer to Denpasar hospital	IDR 2,000,000–4,000,000	USD 135–270	2–4 hours total

Booking tips and timing

• Always book with Island Hopping Bali operators who carry oxygen and basic first-aid kits — ask before you book. I recommend asking: “Apakah Anda membawa oksigen dan kit P3K?” (ah-pah-kah ahn-DAH mem-bah-rah ok-see-jen dan keet pe-tee-kah?)
• Book morning departures (06:00–08:00) when sea winds are calmer and clinics open. Afternoon trips increase risk of sudden wind changes during the west monsoon (Nov–Mar).
• For multi-day island hopping, request your hotel/guesthouse (Semabu Hills, Karya Guesthouse) keep a printed emergency card with local Puskesmas and the boat operator’s mobile number.

What to pack — medical checklist

• Copy of passport and insurance card (photo + paper)
• Small travel first-aid kit (IDR 75,000 / USD 5) with antihistamine, paracetamol, oral rehydration salts
• Waterproof pouch for meds and phone
• Diver-specific: dive log, nitrox certification (if relevant), emergency contact info for your dive operator

Insider tricks that save time and money

• Pre-pay a “rescue credit” with your boat operator: I keep IDR 1,500,000 (USD 100) on retainer with our island-hopping captain; it covers quick fast-boat transfer and short-term meds so you avoid cash delays.
• Use local warungs for stabilizing food/drinks: Warung Sunrise (Crystal Bay road) has cold coconut water and free Wi‑Fi; Bu Sari will boil rice and tea in 10 minutes for an IDR 10,000 meal (USD 0.70) — useful if someone is dehydrated.
• ATM and wifi: Sampalan area has the most reliable cell signal and two ATM kiosks. Semabu Hills Hotel lobby and Warung Sunrise are the best free Wi‑Fi spots I trust for video calls.

Common incidents I’ve seen (safety warnings)

• Decompression issues: rapid ascents from shore dives are the top cause. Never buddy-up without emergency plans.
• Motorbike accidents: steep cliffs and loose gravel. Wear a helmet and avoid night rides. I once coordinated a complex extraction of a broken femur — medevac required 5 men and a pick-up truck.
• Jellyfish & coral cuts: initial topical antiseptic and tetanus check at Puskesmas; tetanus shots run IDR 200,000–400,000 (USD 14–27) if needed.

Cultural etiquette & helpful Bahasa Indonesia phrases

• Always greet with a smile and a simple “Selamat pagi” (seh-lah-maht pah-gee) for morning — it opens doors fast in emergencies.
• Ask permission before photographing locals or temples: “Boleh foto?” (boh-leh fo-toh?)
• Be respectful to health staff — bring a small token (bottled water or snacks) for staff when they help you in crises; this is common local practice and appreciated.

Photography & Instagram tips during/after an incident

Document everything: the exact dive time, ascent profile, fellow divers’ names, and photos of visible symptoms (rash, swelling). Use GPS-tagged photos from Toya Pakeh harbor and Crystal Bay so medics and hospitals can trace locations quickly. For ethical posting, ask consent: “Boleh saya unggah foto?” (boh-leh sah-yah oon-gah) — many locals decline.

Responsible tourism & sustainability

Dispose medical waste properly — hand syringes and dressings back to Puskesmas staff. Support local warungs (Bu Sari, Warung Sunrise) that helped during my rescue: small purchases there keep emergency networks alive. Avoid plastic in emergency bags: bring a reusable bottle and refill at designated stations.

Final recommendations (my personal checklist)

• Book Island Hopping Bali operators that guarantee oxygen and a first aid-trained crew.
• Carry travel insurance with emergency evacuation (proof saved offline).
• Keep a small emergency fund IDR 1,000,000 (USD 70) for rapid fast-boat charters.
• Make friends with a local contact (Pak Made or Bu Sari) — locals speed up everything when seconds count.
• Remember my rescue: preparation saved Dani’s life. Small choices — an oxygen kit on board, knowing the nearest Puskesmas GPS, and having an evacuation credit — make the difference between a scary story and full recovery.

Emergency numbers & quick contacts to note: Indonesian emergency 112. Ask your operator for their local emergency hotline and keep your hotel/host phone accessible. When in doubt, call 112 and then your boat captain or host.

Travel safely, bring common sense and respect, and don’t hesitate to ask me (Pebri) or any trusted Island Hopping Bali captain for the local route — we’ve run drills for real rescues and we’re ready to help.