Best value diving in Indonesia

[Mike From FL]

Hey! We’ve been diving nusa penida for the last week or so out of Lembognan. One Mola Mola sighting on may 9, crystal bay, at 40m +/-. Just so happened on the day we were surfing.

The experience has really suffered since 2019. Apparently it’s now normal to have 20+ boats at manta point, and there have been up to 76 there at one time . A lot less manta this trip when compared to 2019.

Dive shops on lembognan will get you diving for sub $35/dive. Albeit the processes are quite rudimentary, and the sites can be repetitive. Home stays for around $20/night.

If you’re looking up to sumbawa and moyo; Roctopus Moyo is allegedly reopening within the month(but they also told me that two months ago). Hopefully the resort will also reopen.

We are going to be out here for about a month and a half, and some time in Thailand after. We are also on a budget due to the length. Bali is a train wreck, and we intend to spend the least amount of time there as possible. I’ve narrowed it down to Nusa Penida via lembognan(done), Komodo for land based diving(LOB is wayyy too expensive when budgeting for over a month), and hopefully Alor if we can find accommodation(the splurge).

If we can fit in Saleh Bay for the sharks, that will be great, but I can’t seem to find any contacts for scuba or private tours(I despise Indonesian group tours that treat tourist like cattle, and the mt batur hike gave me Bali belly)

Good luck, and watch your head!

 

[Dan]

I went to Komodo twice with MV Tarata back in 2008 & 2012. Good value for the money. Owned by Balinese.

8D/7N | Komodo Liveaboard Diving | MV Tarata - Grand Komodo

8 days – 7 nights Komodo Live-aboard Diving aboard MV Tarata.

grandkomodo.com

 

[Centrals]

How would you quantify 'value for money"? We all have different standard......

The most budget friendly place in Indonesia is Pulau Weh.

 

[Dan]

$250/day with good diving in Komodo, good food, cabin with AC liveaboard is what I consider good value for the money.

I have been on 30 different liveaboards in Texas, Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Red Sea, Oman, Socorro, Cocos, Malpelo, Galapagos, Palau, Maldives and GBR. So, I know a little bit about the value of my money in diving adventures on liveaboards.

 

[Centrals]

$250/day with good diving in Komodo, good food, cabin with AC liveaboard is what I consider good value for the money.

I have been on 30 different liveaboards in Texas, Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Red Sea, Oman, Socorro, Cocos, Malpelo, Galapagos, Palau, Maldives and GBR. So, I know a little bit about the value of my money in diving adventures on liveaboards.

LOL.
You set your OWN standard ie the value of your money NOT everyone. Period.
I have been on a few LoB which charged considerably a lot less than $250.00 per day. And on a few which charged a lot more!!!! All were winners as long as I enjoyed the trip which is NOT measurable in any form you can imagine.

 

[Dan]

LOL.
You set your OWN standard ie the value of your money NOT everyone. Period.
I have been on a few LoB which charged considerably a lot less than $250.00 per day. And on a few which charged a lot more!!!! All were winners as long as I enjoyed the trip which is NOT measurable in any form you can imagine.

Talk is cheap. We referring to Komodo. Which boat did you go on in Komodo, so everyone knows what you are referring to and can judge for themselves your value is?

Raja Ampat & Galapagos liveaboard costs are much higher.

There are other location that could offer lower than that, like in the Red Sea, to as low as $70/day, like the Carlton Fleet. But then what did you get?

Red Sea Liveaboard Sinking

https://www.thescubanews.com/2023/04/26/red-sea-liveaboard-sinking-the-scuba-news-speaks-to-a-guest-from-the-carlton-queen/

scubaboard.com

 

[Centrals]

Talk is cheap. We referring to Komodo. Which boat did you go on in Komodo, so everyone knows what you are referring to and can judge for themselves your value is?

Raja Ampat & Galapagos liveaboard costs are much higher.

There are other location that could offer lower than that, like in the Red Sea, to as low as $70/day, like the Carlton Fleet. But then what did you get?

Red Sea Liveaboard Sinking

https://www.thescubanews.com/2023/04/26/red-sea-liveaboard-sinking-the-scuba-news-speaks-to-a-guest-from-the-carlton-queen/

scubaboard.com

LOL.
You have been to all the LoB plying their trades over the yrs!!!!! BS.
"Value for money"!!!!
So all those expensive LoBs are NOT good value for money!!!!! How deep are your and your clients pocket!!! LOL.
Even the same boat would had different reviews from different divers on the same trip!!!!!
You have problem to understand the meaning of 'enjoyment'? It is NOT measured by money!!!!

 

[Dan]

LOL.
You have been to all the LoB plying their trades over the yrs!!!!! BS.
"Value for money"!!!!
So all those expensive LoBs are NOT good value for money!!!!! How deep are your and your clients pocket!!! LOL.
Even the same boat would had different reviews from different divers on the same trip!!!!!
You have problem to understand the meaning of 'enjoyment'? It is NOT measured by money!!!!

You can’t even name one? Who does the BS here?

I don’t work in diving industry. Just ask all of my friends here, including those who work in the diving industry like @aquabluegreg or @Dom@DiveAdvice. I’m their client and they are some of my agents, flagging me when there are good deals. I’m retired, so I have no weekday, all of them are weekends (6 Saturdays & a Sunday, ). To have more fun diving with friends, sometimes I get a group discount by chartering boats, like this one: $742 off on White Manta, Misool-Triton Bay, 15-24 January 2025

 

[Centrals]

You ought to find out the actual meaning of "value for meaning". It is NOT entirely based on cost!!!!! Look it up.

Komodo Liveaboard Diving

Komodo liveaboards are some of the most popular in Indonesia thanks to the current swept, nutrient-rich reefs here. Diving here you can find mantas, sharks, ocean sunfish, pygmy seahorses, dolphins and even the stunning blue-ringed octopus.

www.liveaboard.com

According to them there are 71 boats and you know them all?

 

[Asanoth]

Ok, getting off topic now... Anyway, Dan, quite often you do seem to enjoy mentioning how much money you spent where and when. The rest was good tips though, thank you.

For me, a good value is good UW life for low price. Better food or nicer rooms at extra costs have no value to me, unless any of it is horrendous. ASDC Anilao(or whatever the shortcut was, 6000 php 3 dives a day including acommodation and food) or basically anywhere on the Phillipines were good value. Ko Lanta was almost as good as Phillipines, but more expensive: The value was lower.

For a LoB, a good value would be price per dive comparable to land diving at the same/similar location plus the rest (food, sleep) on par with what I would pay on land. But I have never been to one.