Where to dive... in September?

[scuba_diva_mv]

Hi guys/gals

Where's the best place to dive in September? I am based in the Middle East (Dubai) where the diving in the region is not that brilliant... we need to get away on a nice idyllic holiday... around September for two weeks.

Things I am looking for...

- good viz
- warm water (which means above 25degC)
- plenty of fish
- sharks
- coral
- decent beaches

Places I don't want to go to (because either we/I/him-in-doors have been and we want to go somewhere new..)

- Maldives
- Seychelles
- Australia
- Spain
- South Pacific
- Cayman Islands
- East Africa
- Philippines
- North Africa
- Egypt
- Jordan
- South Africa

Things we don't want:

- a place flooded with tourists who seek out the nearest pub or fish and chip shop
- a place where the majority of tourists (men) wear lots of gold necklaces and wear budgie smugglers
- a place where you cant shore dive
- a place where women don't have the freedom to wear what they wish.... (have enough of that here )


Any suggestions? Has anyone dived somewhere during this time of year and had some awesome diving?

Any suggestions would really be appreciated.

Thank you
Sara-Lise :daydreaming:

 

[robint]

Wow, that is a really tough one!
How about Indonesia? You probably won't see lots of sharks, or even any sharks at all, and the vis may not be as good as you want, but there is supposed to be abundant fishlife there.

Since you don't want to go anywhere in South Pacific and all the other places on your list, you want warm water, geez....that leaves only a few places in the Caribbean. Sept though is the heart of hurricane season in the Caribbean so you are hit or miss on the weather. The risk may be worth it to you as prices are low and resorts are rarely full. Sharks are not as common in the Caribbean as over in your pond so you will have to get past that. And since you say no shore diving, that leaves Bonaire out.
Look at maybe Belize or Roatan.

Regardless where you choose, I think you are going to be disappointed after diving the Red Sea.

 

[scuba_diva_mv]

Hi Robint

thanks for that. Actually I live nowhere near the Red Sea, I am sitting here facing the oily green slicks of the Arabian Gulf, where the once sparkling blue waters are now haunted by the shadows and run-off of the three Palm Islands and the unfinished World Islands

I have dived in Hurghada (Egyptian side of Red Sea), which was pretty nice but Egypt in the summer is HORRENDOUSLY HOT and I'd like to avoid that. I have also dived in Dahab, which is the Sinai side of the Red Sea, close to Sharm El Sheikh. Also to be avoided in the summer for many reasons.

I know its hurricane season, what a bummer... however it does say somewhere that although its hurricane season its the best season to dive the Bahamas! I wonder...

good to know about the prices being low, if we go for two weeks we'll likely hit some good days diving and I tell you what, i miss the rain like anything as we only see it about 1 month a year here and its not that beautiful tropical rain, its more like Desert Storm waving a soggy handkerchief.

I'll keep looking... look forward to any ideas! Will look up Belize as you suggested.

Best regards
SL

Wow, that is a really tough one!
How about Indonesia? You probably won't see lots of sharks, or even any sharks at all, and the vis may not be as good as you want, but there is supposed to be abundant fishlife there.

Since you don't want to go anywhere in South Pacific and all the other places on your list, you want warm water, geez....that leaves only a few places in the Caribbean. Sept though is the heart of hurricane season in the Caribbean so you are hit or miss on the weather. The risk may be worth it to you as prices are low and resorts are rarely full. Sharks are not as common in the Caribbean as over in your pond so you will have to get past that. And since you say no shore diving, that leaves Bonaire out.
Look at maybe Belize or Roatan.

Regardless where you choose, I think you are going to be disappointed after diving the Red Sea.

 

[mjh]

Wow very tough knocking out the whole of the South Pacific. Maybe the Bahamas and their shark dives but lots of people. Utila might fit the bill.

 

[scuba_diva_mv]

Admittedly I just went to Tonga, last year. My partner feels that it really is far to go when you just have two weeks... (i am still trying to convince him though )

 

[BDSC]

I'd go for Bonaire during that time of the year. Not really going to see sharks but most of the other things you list are there. Bonaire is so far south in the Caribbean that it is rare they are affected by a hurricane. Warm water, good vis, fairly inexpensive overall, great restaurants, and the shore diving is second to none.

You can also learn wind surfing while there so there is something else to do except dive but probably not much else.

All in all I think you would really enjoy it because there are no schedules to keep. Dive when you want at your own pace. Hard to beat that.

 

[robint]

Hi Robint

thanks for that. Actually I live nowhere near the Red Sea, I am sitting here facing the oily green slicks of the Arabian Gulf, where the once sparkling blue waters are now haunted by the shadows and run-off of the three Palm Islands and the unfinished World Islands

I have dived in Hurghada (Egyptian side of Red Sea), which was pretty nice but Egypt in the summer is HORRENDOUSLY HOT and I'd like to avoid that. I have also dived in Dahab, which is the Sinai side of the Red Sea, close to Sharm El Sheikh. Also to be avoided in the summer for many reasons.

I know its hurricane season, what a bummer... however it does say somewhere that although its hurricane season its the best season to dive the Bahamas! I wonder...

good to know about the prices being low, if we go for two weeks we'll likely hit some good days diving and I tell you what, i miss the rain like anything as we only see it about 1 month a year here and its not that beautiful tropical rain, its more like Desert Storm waving a soggy handkerchief.

I'll keep looking... look forward to any ideas! Will look up Belize as you suggested.

Best regards
SL

Bahamas you will see sharks but not the fishlife you are looking for most likely, partly due to the invassive lionfish which are a problem.

have you considered doing a liveaboard? Nekton Cruises > Home
The Nekton does the southern Bahamas during that timeframe and you would see sharks for sure.
Check out my trip reports and videos:
Nekton - Bahamas liveaboard trips on Vimeo
http://www.rnrscuba.net/NektonRorqual_TripReport.html
http://www.rnrscuba.net/NektonCaySal.html

there is also the liveaboards in Belize, both the Aggressor and Peter Hughes, which you might really enjoy. Less chance of seeing sharks, but much more fishlife in general. There is also the Utila Aggressor.
robin

 

[Wisnu]

Indonesia - plenty of fish + diversity of marine life; with highlights
P. Weh - moray eels, big fish when strong current.
Sangalaki - manta
Bunaken - great wall
Lembeh - muck diving mecca for the weirdest critters
Bali - wrecks, manta, and mola2
Alor - big fish
Raja Ampat - top diversities, manta

 

[scuba_diva_mv]

Indonesia - plenty of fish + diversity of marine life; with highlights
P. Weh - moray eels, big fish when strong current.
Sangalaki - manta
Bunaken - great wall
Lembeh - muck diving mecca for the weirdest critters
Bali - wrecks, manta, and mola2
Alor - big fish
Raja Ampat - top diversities, manta

Wisnu
Now I have heard about this Pulau Weh..... hmmmm i also want to see some of the really colourful critters that you only see in Indonesia..

I like the sound of a liveaboard too. I was watching the Blue Planet last night and the Bahamas just looked so awesome...

Decisions, decisions. When i leave the office i'll look at the vids you posted. (thanks robint)

 

[greylion]

How about the Galapagos Islands or Cocos Islands? Water will be a little cool though.

Scuba Diving Ecuador & Galapagos Travel & Expeditions