Divemaster Destination: Nusa Lembongan VS Komodo/Labuan Bajo

[hakunamatata]

Hi divers!

I'm doing some research as I'm planning to do my dive master in Indonesia the coming october/november. Deciding where to go is obviously hard and therefore I'm reaching out to you!

My choice is at the moment between Nusa Lembongan and Komodo/Labuan Bajo. I visited Gili Islands last year and despite them being tremendous fun it seems like the diving is superior at both Nusa and Komodo. Correct me if you think I'm wrong. I done most research on Nusa Lembongan despite I originally thought I would go to Komodo. The reasons are:
1) The social life is quite important for me as I'm sticking around for a long while. It seems to be more "touristy" in a positive way for a DMT at Nusa Lembongan. Is there a lot of social life at Labuan Bajo as well?
2) It's cheaper. The training is cheaper and the island is easier accessible coming from Bali.
3) The surfing seems nicer, but I might be wrong again. I'd like to surf more.

Where I need advice is regarding the diving and social life at Labuan Bajo/Komodo vs Nusa. Is there a BIG difference in the quality of dive sites and marine life present? How is the social life? It seems like it would take quite a while to sail to the actual Komodo dive sites from Labuan Bajo - are the dive sites nearby equally beautiful?

All in all - I need any advice and help I can get that can help me pick my island to go on my diving adventure. Thank you in advance!

Btw: I'm 23 years outgoing young guy. In case you find it relevant when giving advice.

Cheers // Jacob

 

[runsongas]

go with nusa lembongan. maybe look into the philippines too.

LBJ has little nightlife and the atmosphere is markedly different than touristy areas near bali. diving is better though.

 

[Centrals]

Social life vs diving. Which is more important to an up and coming DMT? For me the answer is obvious but that is me.
Scuba Junkie has an land operation slightly closer to the dive sites than LBJ but the place is very isolated. However, they do attract large number of divers therefore the work load for DMT is quite high. After 3 good dives and several hrs of travelling everyday, couple of Bintang could well be all you need.

 

[Adelaar Cruises]

There are many more factors you might want to take into consideration. If social life is very important to you, Nusa Lembongan is absolutely better than Labuan Bajo. However, if you're doing your DMT because you want to have a career in diving, you should think about what direction you would like to take.

Do you like teaching and being settled on an island? Then you would need to assist and witness as many courses as possible to facilitate your future transition into instructor, and learn small island life on Nusa Lembongan. Labuan Bajo would work as well but we've established the social life is not as fun, although it does exist. The dive sites on NL are also closer which means shorter commutes when the closest sites in Komodo can take 1-1,5h depending on the speed on the day trip boat.

Do you want to eventually become a cruise director and explore different areas of Indonesia and the world? Although you can reach many places by doing seasons in different dive centers on different islands, the easiest way to see more in a shorter time is to work on a liveaboard. Having liveaboard experience opens more doors because your future employers know you can work long hours and know what is needed onboard. Therefore, doing your DMT with a dive center in Labuan Bajo that also runs a liveaboard would bring you experience both in teaching and in life at sea.

Best of luck to you with your training! Your life is about to change

 

[matts1w]

Divemaster training should be all about working with students and customers. The quality of diving should be the least of your worries. If I were 23 and know what I know now, I would absolutely "go pro" in Indonesia in the Gili Islands. If I wanted a dive adventure in Indonesia, I would absolutely head to Labuan Bajo. The point is going pro and having adventure isnt the same experience.

 

[dirtfarmer]

For diving quality Komodo wins.

For nightlife the Gillis win over nusa.

As @Centrals says Komodo your going to be out on a boat all day, and tired when you get back, but the diving is spectacular.
There are also more sites in Komodo better suited for doing skills which you will be doing every day. Both Nusa and Komodo are known for currents, but due to the orientation of Nusa Komodo has more sheltered sites.

Personally I would favor the diving over nightlife and pick Komodo.
And I second the Scuba junky recomendation. I've seen their training up close diving with them twice over about 20 days, and they are very proffesional. They turn out a lot of DM that go on to work in the dive industry. (And at SJ the young customers, fellow DMT, and staff will provide you with good company and plenty of fun for those few Bintang in the evening.)

 

[Mike Veitch]

no surfing in Komodo..

 

[COMPASS DIVERS]

Gili Trawangan is a great place to complete your Dive Master. Of course, the island is very sociable, with many other dive shops with other fellow DMT you can get all the support and help you need.
As Compass Divers is a small dive shop, we take 2-3 DMT at a time. This gives you all the attention you'll need and find you'll be able to go on as many dives as you'd like, whether it be fun dives or helping course and completing your DMT.
Also, the diving itself here is pretty awesome, there is so much for you to learn diving in the Gilis.
Please get in touch if you are interested, or have any other questions about the Dive Master!

 

[hakunamatata]

Social life vs diving. Which is more important to an up and coming DMT? For me the answer is obvious but that is me.
Scuba Junkie has an land operation slightly closer to the dive sites than LBJ but the place is very isolated. However, they do attract large number of divers therefore the work load for DMT is quite high. After 3 good dives and several hrs of travelling everyday, couple of Bintang could well be all you need.

Well. For me the obvious part is that the most important thing is to find a place where I enjoy my time there the most. And i'm sure I will have fun both places. I'd like to be able to work an hour or two every other day on my computer as that is how I make a living which makes it even more reasonable to go to a place where the commute is shorter. For instance. Thank you for the reply. It was helpful

There are many more factors you might want to take into consideration. If social life is very important to you, Nusa Lembongan is absolutely better than Labuan Bajo. However, if you're doing your DMT because you want to have a career in diving, you should think about what direction you would like to take.

Do you like teaching and being settled on an island? Then you would need to assist and witness as many courses as possible to facilitate your future transition into instructor, and learn small island life on Nusa Lembongan. Labuan Bajo would work as well but we've established the social life is not as fun, although it does exist. The dive sites on NL are also closer which means shorter commutes when the closest sites in Komodo can take 1-1,5h depending on the speed on the day trip boat.

Do you want to eventually become a cruise director and explore different areas of Indonesia and the world? Although you can reach many places by doing seasons in different dive centers on different islands, the easiest way to see more in a shorter time is to work on a liveaboard. Having liveaboard experience opens more doors because your future employers know you can work long hours and know what is needed onboard. Therefore, doing your DMT with a dive center in Labuan Bajo that also runs a liveaboard would bring you experience both in teaching and in life at sea.

Best of luck to you with your training! Your life is about to change

Such an helpful answer, thank you! Obviously it depends on factors in my life I don't know about yet - what will be possible and what won't. At the time being, I could best see myself living the island life, diving, helping out, surfing etc. I never thought much about the idea of cruising around the world - I guess just because I did'nt think of it as an option, which is obviously is. I didn't do a liveaboard yet but for sure I will eventually. I assume doing the Nusa Lembongan DMT doesn't rule out the option of working on a liveaboard, it would just make it harder to land the job.

Again, thank you so much! VERY HELPFUL

Divemaster training should be all about working with students and customers. The quality of diving should be the least of your worries. If I were 23 and know what I know now, I would absolutely "go pro" in Indonesia in the Gili Islands. If I wanted a dive adventure in Indonesia, I would absolutely head to Labuan Bajo. The point is going pro and having adventure isnt the same experience.

Thank you. This encourages me to go for Nusa Lembongan. The quality of diving do matter for me - it excites me and motivates me - also to do a better job for the students and customers as I myself would be even more interested in showing them safely the amazing underwater world. I thought of something similar to this - to go for Nusa Lembongan DMT and then later head out on these adventures to Komodo etc. as a fun diver - or maybe a DM.

For me it seems like Nusa is balancing between social life and quality of diving?

For diving quality Komodo wins.

For nightlife the Gillis win over nusa.

As @Centrals says Komodo your going to be out on a boat all day, and tired when you get back, but the diving is spectacular.
There are also more sites in Komodo better suited for doing skills which you will be doing every day. Both Nusa and Komodo are known for currents, but due to the orientation of Nusa Komodo has more sheltered sites.

Personally I would favor the diving over nightlife and pick Komodo.
And I second the Scuba junky recomendation. I've seen their training up close diving with them twice over about 20 days, and they are very proffesional. They turn out a lot of DM that go on to work in the dive industry. (And at SJ the young customers, fellow DMT, and staff will provide you with good company and plenty of fun for those few Bintang in the evening.)

Thanks for sharing your considerations. As mentioned i've been to Gili. It's not really party/nightlife I am searching for. I have no interest in drinking and even less turning up at the diveshop not perfectly fit for caring for the customers. It's rather the island chill vibe. I appreciate the island vibe, but the diving quality is also of importance to me for reasons mentioned above. For me it seems like Nusa balances between quality of diving and social life as well as difficulty of diving which could turn me into a more proficient DM that handles current better for instance.
I'll like into Scuba Junkie and consider everything all your nice people shared in here.

no surfing in Komodo..

Short but informative. Thanks.

 

[Mike Veitch]

Short but informative. Thanks.

Keep that in mind for dive briefings in the future