OK, new to this board other than as a reader. Much appreciate all the great help here. Question 1: Wakatobi vs Bangka? Please discuss. RA just too hard for me to get to given where I need to be afterward. Question 2: If Bangka, then what's your choice: Bastianos or Murex? This will be next February. Not interested in muck diving. Reasonably experienced diver but not recently. Completed reAvtivate in Dec, and am working on AOW at the moment. Thank you.
Wakatobi vs Bangka? Murex vs Bastianos?
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If you can use a late reply, here goes....
I've been to the Wakatobi resort (10 odd years ago, I don't suspect that much has changed) and to Bastiano's Bangka last year. Wakatobi was good, but I think it is overpriced. You can get much better diving in Raja Ampat for the same price. (I know RA is not for you this trip, but I mention it jut as a comparison). But they do take very good care of you at the Wakatobi resort. The food is excellent.
I enjoyed the diving much more at Bastiano's Bangka. (I had also been to Bangka 12+ years ago, which I had not enjoyed much). But then I really really enjoy good muck diving. Bangka did have some good dive sites for great soft coral as well.
If muck diving is out for you, why not look at Manado or south Bali? Or even Maratua. Maratua is a bit difficult to get to (ie time consuming) so may not work out for you.
I've been to the Wakatobi resort (10 odd years ago, I don't suspect that much has changed) and to Bastiano's Bangka last year. Wakatobi was good, but I think it is overpriced. You can get much better diving in Raja Ampat for the same price. (I know RA is not for you this trip, but I mention it jut as a comparison). But they do take very good care of you at the Wakatobi resort. The food is excellent.
I enjoyed the diving much more at Bastiano's Bangka. (I had also been to Bangka 12+ years ago, which I had not enjoyed much). But then I really really enjoy good muck diving. Bangka did have some good dive sites for great soft coral as well.
If muck diving is out for you, why not look at Manado or south Bali? Or even Maratua. Maratua is a bit difficult to get to (ie time consuming) so may not work out for you.
OctopusSneakers
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I was at Murex Bangka back in November and really enjoyed it. The diving had a mix of options, some were muck/coral gardens, but my favorites were pinnacles and current dives around some really cool underwater geography. When I was there they had newer rooms up on the hill that were wonderful. I know they were also planning to close down for a bit right around now to re-do their dining room, which was fine, but definitely rustic.
Madacub and OctopusSneakers, Thank you for these thoughts/comments. Pretty set on Bangka and Bunaken. In Bunaken, probably Siladen Resort and Spa (possibly Oasis). In Bangka, two choices: Bastianos or Murex. Good feedback that Murex is rustic. Not really looking for rustic. But they are building new ocean front cottages, so maybe with those and a new dining room it would make it overall nicer? Is Bastianos Bangka less rustic? Thinking of only the Accommodations and Dive Service, which would you pick? Thanks!
OctopusSneakers
Registered
If the dining room and ocean front cottages are the same quality as the cottages up on the hill that they build in the last few years they are really nice and I would not describe them as rustic other than not having wifi (available in the dining room), and during the daytime not having AC (fan keeps them plenty cool through the day and you have AC at night). I found their dive team incredibly knowledgeable, helpful, and responsive. Dive lockers were open and airy, they'll carry your gear on and off the boats (no dock so they wade out with it in bins). Looking at Bastianos website- looks like accomodations are similar (older rooms) or a little nicer at murex (newer rooms), but murex does not have a dock (you wade to the boats from the beach, up to your knees in water- but they're loading your gear so you have a camera and a water bottle) and murex does not have a pool.
I don't know anything about Murex. I would not call Bastianos Bangka 'rustic'. I thought the diving was really good, boat crew was good, I had an excellent guide, Elbart. The food was okay, nothing special. I don't remember much about the actual room, so it must have been fine 
. There is a bit of climbing to be done in the resort, my room was in the top row. Hope that helps.
. There is a bit of climbing to be done in the resort, my room was in the top row. Hope that helps.
I've been to Murex Bangka pre and post Covid.
Some major improvements post Covid and I really like the place and staff, however I can't comment about Bastianos.
Murex has a really good house reef both for diving and snorkelling.
Some major improvements post Covid and I really like the place and staff, however I can't comment about Bastianos.
Murex has a really good house reef both for diving and snorkelling.
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I have stayed at Murex Bungka in the last year. They did an excellent job all around.
I have stayed at Bastianos Lembeh. They too did an excellent job all around.
Considering rooms, diving, staff, and food, I don't think you can go wrong with either.
I believe the one big difference is Bastianos Bangka has a beautiful swimming pool over the water. In turn, the price is a bit more...not a ton...but worth noting. Murex has a sold beach by Bangka standards with many sun chairs.
I would not hesitate booking either place, so I guess besides the pool thing, Im really no help.
I have stayed at Bastianos Lembeh. They too did an excellent job all around.
Considering rooms, diving, staff, and food, I don't think you can go wrong with either.
I believe the one big difference is Bastianos Bangka has a beautiful swimming pool over the water. In turn, the price is a bit more...not a ton...but worth noting. Murex has a sold beach by Bangka standards with many sun chairs.
I would not hesitate booking either place, so I guess besides the pool thing, Im really no help.
CF L
Contributor
I'm heading to Murex Bangka soon and have booked one of their newly completed Premium Oceanfront Cottages.
When I was planning I compared the Murex Premium Hillside Cottages with the Bastianos Superior Hillside rooms, the former looked more modern and airy whereas the latter looked more traditional. The only downside at Murex is they do not have a pool but personally I value a nice room more.
When I was ready to book at the end of last year Murex told me the Hillside Cottages were not available for the dates I wanted but they sent me the artist impression of the new Oceanfront Cottages and assured me they would be of the same standard as the Hillside Cottages. I think the photos of the completed Oceanfront Cottages show they live up to the drawing so I can't wait to get there.
When I was planning I compared the Murex Premium Hillside Cottages with the Bastianos Superior Hillside rooms, the former looked more modern and airy whereas the latter looked more traditional. The only downside at Murex is they do not have a pool but personally I value a nice room more.
When I was ready to book at the end of last year Murex told me the Hillside Cottages were not available for the dates I wanted but they sent me the artist impression of the new Oceanfront Cottages and assured me they would be of the same standard as the Hillside Cottages. I think the photos of the completed Oceanfront Cottages show they live up to the drawing so I can't wait to get there.
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