Raja Ampat or Komodo?

[Liberty01]

Considering going to Indonesia again in 2017, either March/April or End of August/September. Options would be a Komodo liveaboard and Bali (rather an option for August(September) or Raja Ampat (a budget resort like Bio Diversity or liveaboard in March).
I did some land-based diving around Komodo, but did not even get to see the manta rays. I just heard people raving about Raja Ampat. Now what is better for manta rays, big fish, corals?
How about coral bleaching?
Cheers,
Liberty

 

[MA]

You will varied opinions. Both are fantastic. In my experience Komodo was way better for manta rays, like ridiculous. However no doubt there will be others who had a better experience in raja. That's nature

 

[runsongas]

RA liveaboard that hits misool or misool eco resort would be top choice.

komodo with km manta or mermaid fleet 2nd option.

 

[Freewillow]

Considering going to Indonesia again in 2017, either March/April or End of August/September. Options would be a Komodo liveaboard and Bali (rather an option for August(September) or Raja Ampat (a budget resort like Bio Diversity or liveaboard in March).
I did some land-based diving around Komodo, but did not even get to see the manta rays. I just heard people raving about Raja Ampat. Now what is better for manta rays, big fish, corals?
How about coral bleaching?
Cheers,
Liberty

I do not know Komodo, although I am planning to go there within the year.

If you are interested in manta rays, big fishes, Raja is NOT the place. Raja is very high on my experience list but rather for corals, small critters, huge sea fans but not for pelagic. Either I had no luck or this is not the best place.

For what you want, since I do not know Komodo, I would go to the Maldives or Sipadan

 

[MA]

I had a northern itinerary in raja and definitely had big stuff! Mantas (just not many compared to Komodo), eagle rays, sharks, big schools of big fish.
Really you just have to do both, multiple times

 

[Mike Veitch]

Raja

 

[Dan]

Both places are good. Your timings are spot on.

Take the Mermaid 1 from Bali to Komodo in August or any liveaboard to Misool, South Raja Ampat in March. Don't miss the Magic Mountain dive site in Misool to see the oceanic manta in cleaning station. Here is a budget liveaboard to go to both places if Mermaid 1 is a bit expensive for you: Grand Komodo Liveaboard Diving Schedules, Prices, and Booking

Enjoy it!
Dan

 

[Liberty01]

Thank you for your replies.
I just saw some critter and white tip reef sharks in Komodo, no manta rays.
By the way, how about coral bleaching in these areas. I saw the effects in Tulamben in August.

 

[Dan]

My experience of seeing manta in Komodo depends on the time of the year. In December you'll see some in the central Komodo, site called Taka Makassar, shallow rocky bottom, similar to Manta Sandy, near Arborek, Dampier Strait, Raja Ampat. In June-August, you need to go to the south Komodo, site called Manta Alley.

Good luck!
Dan

 

[Diving Dubai]

I had more Mantas in RA than I did in Komodo. While I loved Komodo, RA was off the chart. We were in the Misool area for Raja. I'm not a fan of Macro, was very happy with both locations

Bali not so much

Sorry @Freewillow , you just had very bad luck