Late December Diving in Indonesia: anywhere on par with Raja Ampat?

[DivingChipmunk]

Just got back from RA/Komodo so we're looking for something else (second year in a row to dive in RA). I think Palau is a lot of travel from Denpasar so that doesn't work to add on to a Wakatobi trip.

Like the OP, we were starting to plan a trip for Christmas, so late December/ early January 2025. We were just in RA/ Komodo for 3 weeks this last December 2024 and in RA the December before that 2023. So I'm looking at other places besides RA/ Komodo since we've done that two years in a row. I was keen on going to Wakatobi for 10 days and then add another week diving some place else that wasn't a major pain (or expense) to get to from Denpasar (where you pick up the private plane to Wakatobi). At first, I was looking at Sulawesi, but upon further research became aware that it wasn't the best weather/visibility-wise. So I'm just trying to figure out the best 2 locations for diving for a 3+ week trip. Say Wakatobi + ?? OR someplace else like Palau + Philippines? December is not the time for diving in many locations We prefer land based rather than LOB.

We are also planning for Christmas/New Year 2025. Just discovered a LOB (and we prefer LOB) for Triton Bay- Misool in our preferred traval window, but it is a boat I can;t find review on. I started another thread on that.
Triton Bay does not seem to be easy to travel to from Bali though.

Happy Planning!

 

[hiker11]

So Wakatobi is mostly reef diving so are you looking for something different or more of the same? January is the wet season just about everywhere in Indonesia so you always risk rain and swells. I have been to Lembeh(mostly critter diving) in January and have had amazing weather. Anilao in the Philippines has amazing macro/critter diving and doesn't require another domestic flight after the non stop DPS - Manila. Dumaguete/Dauin area requires another domestic flight and gives you a bit of everything including Apo islands. I personally would take everything above over Palau but I have had a couple bad trips there so I am not a fan.

Thanks for the specific suggestions (Anilao & Dumaguete/Dauin). I'll research those. I've heard a mix about Palau. How were your trips there bad? That time of year (Late Dec/ early January) in Indonesia seems to be tricky, weather-wise. Raja Ampat/ Komodo are good then-- but since we've there recently, we're trying to go someplace new..... Maybe we need to scrap Indonesia next Christmas and just go to the Maldives! Then go to Wakatobi, Philippines and Sulawesi another time.

 

[jeremyl]

I enjoyed Dauin - I went June 2023. Easy diving, town is nice - walk to a few restaurants that have good variety, good food, good prices. I am in RA now for 2wks via homestays and I will probably leave after those 2wks to dive somewhere else. I need to check Dauin since I think it is the rainy season there. Also considering Tulumben since it's easiest and its been >10yrs for me. Not sure where else I would consider. I went to Darwin Isands last trip so not there for me. If Analo/PG is right weather-wise that would be a top choice for me too... also been a long time since I went there. I would go to Alor but its rainy season. Nautika has closed until end March. They say its a pretty bad wet season. I might consider Lembeh too, but it has become expensive and I would like to keep my budget in check. <$100/nt + diving.

 

[Centrals]

I enjoyed Dauin - I went June 2023. Easy diving, town is nice - walk to a few restaurants that have good variety, good food, good prices. I am in RA now for 2wks via homestays and I will probably leave after those 2wks to dive somewhere else. I need to check Dauin since I think it is the rainy season there. Also considering Tulumben since it's easiest and its been >10yrs for me. Not sure where else I would consider. I went to Darwin Isands last trip so not there for me. If Analo/PG is right weather-wise that would be a top choice for me too... also been a long time since I went there. I would go to Alor but its rainy season. Nautika has closed until end March. They say its a pretty bad wet season. I might consider Lembeh too, but it has become expensive and I would like to keep my budget in check. <$100/nt + diving.

It is the dry season in Philippines now.
Anilao + PG.
Water will be relatively cold.
Need to check with the resort in Anilao for accessibility to people with restricted mobility(just read your other post), unless you are travelling alone.

 

[Min Lu]

I will go to Tompotika dive lodge in Sulawesi ( Tompotika ) in two weeks .
I never been there but I heard very good things about that place and I have seen very nice underwater pictures .
I have already been in December in Raja Ampat ( x 2 ) and Triton Bay ( x 2 ) so when I came back I can give you a comparative feedback and tell you , hopefully , good things .

Hi, wondered how your Sulawesi trip went? Would you recommend the resort and dive there in December?

 

[Jay_Remi]

If you're looking for incredible diving in December/January, I highly recommend Raja Ampat's Dampier Strait. Based on my own experience, conversations with numerous experienced divers, and Undercurrent reports, it consistently ranks as a top destination during that time.

My preferred way to experience Raja Ampat is from a resort base, and Sorido Bay Resort is my absolute favorite. I've stayed there three times over the Christmas/New Year period, each time for 17 nights, and even that felt too short! The diving has always been consistently fantastic.

In fact, I'm actually on my way there again right now! I'm currently in Denpasar and flying overnight to Sorong tomorrow. After a short 1.5-hour speedboat transfer, I'll be back at Sorido Bay.

I have several videos about this resort and diving in this area on my YouTube channel. Below is a link to my most recent video about diving in the Dampier Strait.

If you're open to liveaboards, Palau is another good option. I visited Palau a year ago and found it very good. There was also a convenient flight from Taipei at the time.

Hope this helps with your planning!

Not disputing your own experience, but mine was quite different. I spent one week land-based diving in this area last December and I was quite disappointed with Dampier Strait diving. Nice diving overall, but nothing special really. Thankfully I had a 2-weeks LOB afterwards, and found the other areas of Raja Ampat way better.

 

[Laval]

Not disputing your own experience, but mine was quite different. I spent one week land-based diving in this area last December and I was quite disappointed with Dampier Strait diving. Nice diving overall, but nothing special really. Thankfully I had a 2-weeks LOB afterwards, and found the other areas of Raja Ampat way better.

Diving Dampier Strait this January was on one hand was disappointing for me because of coral bleaching and pour visibility, but on another hand if was spectacular because of many manta rays, including oceanic manta rays. I would be happy to know at what areas of Raja Ampat you had a better experience compared to the Dampier Strait. Also, what resort have you stayed at Dampier Strait?

 

[Jay_Remi]

Diving Dampier Strait this January was on one hand was disappointing for me because of coral bleaching and pour visibility, but on another hand if was spectacular because of many manta rays, including oceanic manta rays. I would be happy to know at what areas of Raja Ampat you had a better experience compared to the Dampier Strait. Also, what resort have you stayed at Dampier Strait?

In my own personal experience, the best areas in Raja Ampat are Misool (all were 5 stars), PIaynemo, Wayag and Kawe. Before those dives, I had a one-week land-based diving, and I stayed in Gam island. I did not stay in a resort but in a basic homestay. I dived with Tarzan diving. Good and well organized dive centre btw. In Dampier Strait, I very much enjoyed Blue Magic, Manta Ridge and Sawan Dareck that were really nice. All other dives in that area (e.g. Cape Kri, Sardine reef, chilcken reef, Yenbuba, etc.) were so so.

 

[Luko]

In Dampier Strait, I very much enjoyed Blue Magic ....All other dives in that area (e.g. Cape Kri, Sardine reef, chilcken reef, Yenbuba, etc.) were so so.

Weirdly enough, I dived Dampier end of March 25 (ie. less than 2 months ago). FWIW I dived Central Raja Ampat 3 times for the the previous 2 years, in August, April/May and March, hence I was able to do a comparison.

I thought Blue Magic/Lau Lau/Mioskon area was showing the worst conditions, esp the top of Blue Magic pinnacle which is devastated by boatloads of divers hooking on the corals for the slightest current (can't they use their feet & fins for a while !?!). Mantas were there but the coral bottom is completely destroyed.
lots of traces of bleaching on Lau Lau and Mioskon too.

I was reluctant to dive Yenbuba area which is supposed to be the most hardly hit, however on the full dives on Yenbuba corner or Ransiwor I couldn't see or only very sparse traces of bleaching. When I talked to the dive center manager he told me the bleaching although massive at some parts was quite local to the coral fields very next to the villages. An outstanding number of fish on both spots.
I didn't dive Chicken/Sardines/Cape Kri this time though.
Cherry on top of the cake was probably West Mansuar were the viz was shite but the density of fish was incredible.

 

[Jay_Remi]

Weirdly enough, I dived Dampier end of March 25 (ie. less than 2 months ago). FWIW I dived Central Raja Ampat 3 times for the the previous 2 years, in August, April/May and March, hence I was able to do a comparison.

I thought Blue Magic/Lau Lau/Mioskon area was showing the worst conditions, esp the top of Blue Magic pinnacle which is devastated by boatloads of divers hooking on the corals for the slightest current (can't they use their feet & fins for a while !?!). Mantas were there but the coral bottom is completely destroyed.
lots of traces of bleaching on Lau Lau and Mioskon too.

I was reluctant to dive Yenbuba area which is supposed to be the most hardly hit, however on the full dives on Yenbuba corner or Ransiwor I couldn't see or only very sparse traces of bleaching. When I talked to the dive center manager he told me the bleaching although massive at some parts was quite local to the coral fields very next to the villages. An outstanding number of fish on both spots.
I didn't dive Chicken/Sardines/Cape Kri this time though.
Cherry on top of the cake was probably West Mansuar were the viz was shite but the density of fish was incredible.

Where do you usually stay when diving in Dampier strait? What did you think of Misool? For me, it was the highlight of my trip in Raja Ampat.