Indonesia Vs. Fiji?

[billt4sf]

Hi Mike,

I applaud you for considering whether your skill level is appropriate for Raja Ampat diving.

I hate it when people assert that DM's will take you only to where you can handle it, and will take care of you if you stay close. If a LOB, they have to respond to many diver's wishes, and a group of divers in the water. On top of that, no one can predict what the ocean will bring. That said, if you listen carefully to the briefings, get a DM that understands your skill level and will help you decide, and if you are willing to challenge yourself a little, and you are willing to sit out a dive occasionally -- Raja Ampat is great!

You WILL have currents in RA. More than likely, you will have some that are not just one-way simple drifts at slow speed.

What I would really suggest is -- how about spending a week in Bali before RA? Bali has some excellent diving, and the Amed area (including Tulamben) is low current. That might help you feel more confident before you go to RA. I know it does so for me, and I have nearly 600 dives. Top side can be nice, too.

Whether Fiji diving is better than Raja Ampat I cannot say.

Wherever you go, work on not being overweighted, and take your safety gear.

Have fun!

Bill

 

[Dogbowl]

Hi Mike,

I applaud you for considering whether your skill level is appropriate for Raja Ampat diving.

I hate it when people assert that DM's will take you only to where you can handle it, and will take care of you if you stay close. If a LOB, they have to respond to many diver's wishes, and a group of divers in the water. On top of that, no one can predict what the ocean will bring. That said, if you listen carefully to the briefings, get a DM that understands your skill level and will help you decide, and if you are willing to challenge yourself a little, and you are willing to sit out a dive occasionally -- Raja Ampat is great!

You WILL have currents in RA. More than likely, you will have some that are not just one-way simple drifts at slow speed.

What I would really suggest is -- how about spending a week in Bali before RA? Bali has some excellent diving, and the Amed area (including Tulamben) is low current. That might help you feel more confident before you go to RA. I know it does so for me, and I have nearly 600 dives. Top side can be nice, too.

Whether Fiji diving is better than Raja Ampat I cannot say.

Wherever you go, work on not being overweighted, and take your safety gear.

Have fun!

Bill

@billt4sf , you’re scaring me. I’ll be in RA shortly and instead of excitement, I’m building anxiety, almost about to pop!

I’m ok with sitting out some dives and have also done Cozumel, although I’m thinking the currents in RA will be more intense. I think I might’ve booked this trip on impulse and prematurely but it is what it is.

Wish me luck!

 

[dirtfarmer]

@billt4sf , you’re scaring me. I’ll be in RA shortly and instead of excitement, I’m building anxiety, almost about to pop!

I’m ok with sitting out some dives and have also done Cozumel, although I’m thinking the currents in RA will be more intense. I think I might’ve booked this trip on impulse and prematurely but it is what it is.

Wish me luck!

Try not to be anxious, inform your guide and cruise director about your concernsand your skill level at the start of your trip, that will give your guide some time to assess your skill. In general they are not going to drop you on a high voltage dive right off. Listen carefully to the briefings, stick close to your guide, and have your safety gear. Whatever you do if a dive goes sideways keep calm, think clearly, assess the situation, and go from there. I've had a few dives go sideways and by slowing down and reminding myself that panic is my enemy and clear thinking is my friend I made it out of those situations safe and sound.

 

[Dogbowl]

Try not to be anxious, inform your guide and cruise director about your concernsand your skill level at the start of your trip, that will give your guide some time to assess your skill. In general they are not going to drop you on a high voltage dive right off. Listen carefully to the briefings, stick close to your guide, and have your safety gear. Whatever you do if a dive goes sideways keep calm, think clearly, assess the situation, and go from there. I've had a few dives go sideways and by slowing down and reminding myself that panic is my enemy and clear thinking is my friend I made it out of those situations safe and sound.

Thanks for your words of wisdom. Much appreciated!

 

[loady]

I dove in washing machine crazy currents , surge in similian islands and andaman sea and didn’t enjoy it.
I’ve read Bali diving has less life and health then Fiji . Is that right?

 

[loady]

What’s wrong with koh Tao?

NOT Koh Tao!!!! DO NOT!!!

 

[Lorenzoid]

I’ve read Bali diving has less life and health then Fiji . Is that right?

Bali is superior to Fiji for macro life, and if it's mola mola season then you might luck out and see one. But for abundance of life, I would say Fiji. There were pinnacles with so many fish it just blew away anything I saw in Bali. Healthier coral, too. Granted, this opinion is based on one "dive safari" trip around Bali and one 10-day Fiji liveaboard, so take my opinion for what it's worth.

 

[dirtfarmer]

What’s wrong with koh Tao?

Nothing is wrong with Ko Tao if mediocre to poor diving on crowded sites is your thing, or if your twenty something looking to get certified for cheap in a cert factory or do your DM with hordes of other hungover twenty somethings, than it might be right up your alley.

 

[Luko]

Bali is superior to Fiji for macro life, and if it's mola mola season then you might luck out and see one. But for abundance of life, I would say Fiji. There were pinnacles with so many fish it just blew away anything I saw in Bali. Healthier coral, too. Granted, this opinion is based on one "dive safari" trip around Bali and one 10-day Fiji liveaboard, so take my opinion for what it's worth.

You can't say healthier corals, it's a matter of coral varieties. Bali has more variety but Fiji has more soft corals which gives the impression of "more" corals since it's much more spectacular, on the other hand on hard coral or sponge numbers, Bali smokes Fiji. this is based on 10 years diving in Bali and only two weeks diving in Fiji (where except for Bligh waters/Vatu I Ra i haven't been impressed with eth fish life density, for instand I found Kadavu very scarce) .
No competition for smaller life, Indonesia is better than anywhere else on earth.

 

[Lorenzoid]

You can't say healthier corals, it's a matter of coral varieties. Bali has more variety but Fiji has more soft corals which gives the impression of "more" corals since it's much more spectacular, on the other hand on hard coral or sponge numbers, Bali smokes Fiji.

I stand corrected. Fiji has been called the "soft coral capital of the world." What I had in mind, though, is the amount of coral bleaching and perhaps cyclone damage I saw in Bali. There was just a lot of dead-looking and broken coral. I saw none of that in Fiji. Nevertheless, some people I know who dived in Fiji just after a cyclone saw plenty of coral in poor shape. I think our liveaboard made every effort to avoid areas where the coral was in poor shape. And that's how I got such a good impression of Fiji and consequently am happy to help perpetuate a myth that it's "better" overall than Bali. Just kidding. I would gladly return to Bali--plenty of good diving.

My Fiji liveaboard transited the Bligh Water and then down the Koro Sea side as far as Ngau Island. I'm not familiar with Kadavu. But you bring up a good point: Fiji, like Indonesia, is made up of islands spread out over a big region, and no doubt the marine life differs from place to place.