Before Maumere, Sept 2019

[billt4sf]

We are some of the lucky ones going with Dan on the Banda Sea crossing next September, leaving from Maumere and ending in Ambon.

We will be coming from the States (via Singapore), having not dived in 6 months, and we want to get wet a bit before joining the LOB in Maumere.

I am looking for suggestions on where to dive before joining the boat. An obvious choice is Bali, but we have dived there quite a bit. I'm sure we would enjoy it but maybe there are some better ideas?

We do want something with warm water (say 26 and above), decent access via air to Maumere, and that is not so challenging current-wise.

Thanks in advance if you know of anything.

Bill & Emily

 

[Luko]

Maumere itself is meh.
Alor is not that far from Maumere
... otherwise did you made up another opinion re- Labuan Bajo and Komodo ?

 

[ArizonaSusana]

You are lucky! We just returned from the Ambon to Maumere version of that trip. I posted a report, but briefly, IT WAS AMAZING! It doesn't appear that any place except Bali (even flights to Jakarta go through Bali) is easily accesible to Maumere. That said, we did Papua Paradise Eco Resort in Raja Amapt before our trip. It was great, but took an overnight in Makassar to transition to Ambon, I assume getting to Maumere from Raja would be similar. Alor is certainly closer, don't know about the travel to and from Maumere. We did a couple of dives there and the area is certainly worth exploring more - but these were the coldest dives of our trip (25 celcius); if I were going to do them again, I'd want a 5 mil wetsuit. The other dives in the Banda Sea were 27-28 - 3 mil was comfy.

 

[billt4sf]

Maumere itself is meh.
Alor is not that far from Maumere
... otherwise did you made up another opinion re- Labuan Bajo and Komodo ?

Labuan Bajo makes a lot of sense. My partner is a bit skittish about it, we were looking for a more relaxed pace. How would I do Komodo from there?

I was thinking of going to Alor after the trip - from Ambon. is Oct a good time for that? SOQ is a LOT easier to get to. The wife is going to the Phils, so I will be all alone by my beautiful self.

- Bill

 

[Luko]

Labuan Bajo makes a lot of sense. My partner is a bit skittish about it, we were looking for a more relaxed pace. How would I do Komodo from there?

I was thinking of going to Alor after the trip - from Ambon. is Oct a good time for that? SOQ is a LOT easier to get to. The wife is going to the Phils, so I will be all alone by my beautiful self.

- Bill

Komodo resort would probably tick all your list (food and aircon included), it's located on Sebayur island on the edge of Komodo NP, so just 10 to 60 minutes boatride from the sites you dived with your LA.
Komodo Resort - Diving Club

Alor in october yeah.. perfect time of the year.

 

[billt4sf]

Komodo resort would probably tick all your list (food and aircon included), it's located on Sebayur island on the edge of Komodo NP, so just 10 to 60 minutes boatride from the sites you dived with your LA.
Komodo Resort - Diving Club

Alor in october yeah.. perfect time of the year.

Is Wings Air from Kupang the only way in to Alor by air?

 

[Luko]

Is Wings Air from Kupang the only way in to Alor by air?

There used to be Transnusa as well.

 

[billt4sf]

Komodo resort would probably tick all your list (food and aircon included), it's located on Sebayur island on the edge of Komodo NP, so just 10 to 60 minutes boatride from the sites you dived with your LA.
Komodo Resort - Diving Club

Alor in october yeah.. perfect time of the year.

Is Komodo Resort a FIVE hour boat ride from LBJ?

I sent them an email a few days ago, but no response yet :-(

- Bill

 

[billt4sf]

Komodo resort would probably tick all your list (food and aircon included), it's located on Sebayur island on the edge of Komodo NP, so just 10 to 60 minutes boatride from the sites you dived with your LA.
Komodo Resort - Diving Club

Luko have you actually been there?

Has anyone on this board been to this resort?

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Luko]

Is Komodo Resort a FIVE hour boat ride from LBJ?

Where have you seen that... is that another Facebok post? lol...just look on a map. Komodo resort is maximum 1hr slowboat ride from Labuan Bajo. I've never been there (too expensive or no availabilities)
FWIW Komodo resort is the best rated resort of all hotel/accoms in Labuan Bajo area.