Raja Empat / Alor / Layang2 (which one?)

[chewie999]

Hey guys,

Wanted to get some input from you regarding the best place to go among the 3 choices. I am planning a trip in April and haven't decided yet. I've been to Alor a few years ago and it was absolutely fantastic (lots of big fish and pristine corals).

I haven't been to the other 2 places so there is no way for me to compare. As a reference, I like pelagic, corals and diverse marine life. Not in any way interested in critters and macro stuff.

Price wise I think Raja Empat is the most expensive (Sorido) but I heard there are quite a few nice wreck dives that the other 2 don't have. Is this true? Is the price justified?

Thanks for any input.

 

[OnTheSpot]

Hi Chewie

Yeah Alor/Banda is a great spot, but your other two suggestions are, in their own ways, also top quality.

Raja Ampat is now right up there among the world's best places. You can expect plenty of pelagics and decent schools as well as lots of cool small stuff. It is the diversity of both the marine life and the diving that sets RA apart.

Liveaboards to Raja Ampat guarantee a great experience and the topside scenery and atmoshpere are worth every penny.

Layang Layang is a different proposition. A little island with one resort on it and not much in the way of small stuff. However if you find yourself surrounded by hundreds of hammerheads after 5 minutes of your first dive (as I did) then you will be loving life. There may also be some mantas and other big stuff (false orcas and other whales have been seen there) but really it is all about the hammerheads.

Here are some good links to diving info in both places:

Raja Ampat Dive Sites
Layang Layang Dive Sites

There are plenty of choice for liveaboards in Raja Ampat and only one resort in Layang Layang. Either way I suspect you will have a great time and if you choose one then the other should still be on your hitlist.

Cheers

 

[chewie999]

Thanks One the Spot.

I heard from a friend that April might be the hammerhead season in Layang-layang. Do you know whether this is still applicable.

Thanks again.

 

[Travelnsj]

Thanks One the Spot.

I heard from a friend that April might be the hammerhead season in Layang-layang. Do you know whether this is still applicable.

Thanks again.

I was at Sorido last month.....my trip report is posted in this forum about January 12th or so.....I have dove around the world....Nothing finer than Papua!....so I am headed back in October....regarding not liking small stuff....I was a Palau diver until I went to East Timor....now I love Bali and was blown away by Lembeh.

OnTheSpot.....I am going Layang Layang in April. I have been told the Hammers are there....but 120' to 140'....I hope they are wrong?

 

[chewie999]

Travelnsj,

Thanks for your report. I also read it on another forum and it was incredibly useful because if I do decide to go RA then it probably will be with Sorido due to my limited vacation time.

Still undecided though in terms of Layang-layang or RA. I don't want to miss the Hammerhead season (will see it for first time) but also wanna see RA for its diversity. Based on your report, it seems like Bunaken but with greater numbers. I know that I won't ever be disappointed with Bunaken diving. Hard decisions !

Just excited and can't wait to dive again after 1 year.

 

[Travelnsj]

chewie999...let see what OnTheSpot says about LL....I am going in April to see the Hammerheads.....but someone on another forum said i will see them at 40m to 60m.....a bit deeper than I like since they have only 80 tanks!

 

[frogfish]

chewie999...let see what OnTheSpot says about LL....I am going in April to see the Hammerheads.....but someone on another forum said i will see them at 40m to 60m.....a bit deeper than I like since they have only 80 tanks!

I visited LL a couple of years ago in late April, and we saw plenty of hammerheads. In general around 35m, but I also saw one in 10m of water...

Good luck !

 

[Travelnsj]

I visited LL a couple of years ago in late April, and we saw plenty of hammerheads. In general around 35m, but I also saw one in 10m of water...

Good luck !

frogfish what were the water temps at about 35m?

 

[MatD4D]

If you want to go to Layang Layang you need to book it asap, I heard that April and May are virtually fully booked because it's hammerhead season. They are limited to how many guests they can transfer in their small plane.

 

[scorpenesub]

If you want to go to Layang Layang you need to book it asap, I heard that April and May are virtually fully booked because it's hammerhead season. They are limited to how many guests they can transfer in their small plane.

Yes, Matd4d is right about peak season in Layang2. Now, tourists and divers can only get there only from Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Borneo. The 75 minutes flights there are operated by a Russian Antonov 26 aircraft with capacity for 40 passengers.

Layang2 is a Malaysian military base is tourists are restricted to the resort and diving.