1 month in Indonesia (open to other Asia suggestions)

[outofofficebrb]

Hm....Now you guys have me thinking about Bangka. I'm scoping out some options for April and fall next year before/after my other plans. You all know I love Indo

 

[Wingy]

I've never seen the dugong at Bangka. I did meet one near the mangroves at Bunaken and have encountered them in Vanuatu and here at Ningaloo. just goes to show, when you're looking for a Walmart seahorse you get pilot whales, when you're looking for dugongs you get distracted by a tiny nudibranch and miss something on some list somewhere.

 

[Dan]

I’ve seen enough American dugongs (Manatees) in Crystal River, Florida so I’m not crazy about it.

 

[Wingy]

10 Remarkable Differences Between Manatees and Dugongs | Indigo Scuba

 

[chillyinCanada]

And as you can see in the photo and I saw at Bangka, dugongs have colorful pilot fish.

 

[Wingy]

I'd actually love to see a manatee to compare the difference...bit hard to bump into this neck of the woods.

 

[jjmochi]

When would you guys say is the best time to do Bunaken/Bangka/Lembeh combo? I was thinking August but emailed Bastianos and they said July to Sept is rainy and windy. But online says March to Oct is the best season and Nov-Feb is the rainy season so I'm confused

 

[bintang_shrimp]

When would you guys say is the best time to do Bunaken/Bangka/Lembeh combo? I was thinking August but emailed Bastianos and they said July to Sept is rainy and windy. But online says March to Oct is the best season and Nov-Feb is the rainy season so I'm confused

WTF is wrong with them? This is considered high season out there and everyone asks for surcharge. The winds are now from the South-East, so east side of Bangka will be choppy, but the rest should be fine. I did Bangka in August 2 years ago and wind was an issue but it barely rained.

 

[Luko]

Diving august can be limited because of the wind. i've been 4 times in august in Bangka, it's a hit or miss, on two years we had almost no issues, one year was really problematic because of the wind; impossible to go further east and some of the shallow mainland side couldn't be dived, so the diving was restricted around south Bangka and deeper wall kind mainland sites, crossing the strait was a PITA.
In comparison I had very flat seas in April/May also later in september.

Slight rain is a lesser problem than wind and waves when diving.

 

[Indah]

When would you guys say is the best time to do Bunaken/Bangka/Lembeh combo? I was thinking August but emailed Bastianos and they said July to Sept is rainy and windy. But online says March to Oct is the best season and Nov-Feb is the rainy season so I'm confused

Bastianos must have not read you mail correctly, I think. Please see attached document. By the way, August is great for our Magic Bay Rao www.magicbayrao.com There you can experience critters, black sand, drop-offs and amazing fish life and corals,