Christopher Kosseff
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Diving Wakatobi and Raja Ampat in October and would welcome advice on water temps/wetsuit recommendations. Thanks!
Chris
Chris
October in Wakatobi and Raja Ampat
- Thread starter Christopher Kosseff
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I took two skins, a Lavacore front-zip full suit and a Henderson vest to Wakatobi in October. I never put on the Lavacore, and used the vest only a few times. But there were plenty of folks in five-mil wetsuits. I think the temps were mostly 82-84F.
OP
Christopher Kosseff
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Thanks! Very helpful
This may not be timely, and rmorgan's suggestions already enough, but sensitivity or tolerance to cold varies a lot among divers. There are sites in Raja Ampat with currents that can rapidly change water temperature. I don't know Wakatobi, but if you are concerned, I would take a 3mm full wetsuit (more than what you might need but you probably won't get too hot), a neoprene vest or even a jacket if you are thin, and a rashguard you can wear under your wetsuit for more core insulation. Then you have flexibility for different conditions. I really wouldn't take a 5mm unless you know you get cold, and I wouldn't take a full skin unless you plan to snorkel. Shorties won't protect against stingythingies and I think there are more of them all the time. The skinny Indonesian dive guides wear only rashguards and swimsuits; they do get cold but they tough it out!
Szymo1
Registered
I'm not big and travel light. Long 2mm pants. Rash guard, and sharkskin vest I'd kill for a zip! Take a hood as a backup but never used it. Never had a problem in RA central or Misool..or Bali, Komodo. I'm in RA in October, but Land based, and I'll be taking the same gear. Wakatobi looks interesting..but travel a pain.. I'd be interested to hear how it goes.
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Christopher Kosseff
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llatwood
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We're planning Raja Ampat this November and are wondering if La Niña will lower the water temps (great for corals but would we get chilly?)--also wondering if it will change currents etc.
Luko
Contributor
El Nino is one of the main causes of coral bleaching in GBR or Indian Ocean due to the rise of the temperature of these Indo Pacific waters.
La Nina has the reverse effect, waters may be cooler for instance in 2020 La Nina effect on sea temperatures was measured [-0,6C; -0,9C] in Indonesia from normal temps, the downside is that it also brings a lot of rainfall in the area.
cetacean
Contributor
@Szymo1
Traveling to Wakatobi Dive Resort is *much* easier than traveling to anywhere in R4.
Get to Bali, they take care of everything after this (they charter a fairly large plane 2-3 times a week) to fly from Bali to their private airstrip on the island next to the resort (because it's their charter you never need to worry about overweight baggage on this flight).
If you're not staying at the resort (instead staying at a homestay or somewhere else then the ferry is going to be your only option, and yes, that's a pain).
We've been back to Wakatobi 3-4 times just because it's so easy (and the food and the diving is so good...)
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