Where to dive in October? Pick from 4 destinations or suggest one

[Blackcrusader]

I've already been multiple times, really good but Bali recently had a few issues with the volcano. I might be visiting it next year too.

Well maybe try Australia with the LOB in Cairns and dive the barrier reef.

 

[BoltSnap]

Really struggling with going back after having done BDE and Deep South. Do you have recommendations for a boat? I often end up with the German speaking crowd (im the only english speaker). I was thinking Blue Force this time if im back in Egypt.

Alex Mustard gave high scores for this boat:

MY Ghazala Explorer

Completed in 2021 to be one of the best diving liveaboard yachts in the Red Sea

www.oceantribefleet.com

So it sounds like a toss up between Red Sea and SA for you?

I know the Red Sea, but I have never been to SA before. I am planning to go there during our winter, their summer soon, I hope.

I'd consider the Philippines or Indonesia myself if distance and $$$ are no issues. (Never been there).

I am a fan of Bonaire and Curacao, and I'd love to go there again. You can do all boat diving there if that's what you want, but shore diving is great, Curacao being a little easier getting in and out of the water. I'd also consider Little Cayman. Bonaire, Curacao, and Little Cayman are probably the only Caribbean dive destinations I'd go through the trouble of visiting again from where I live now in Libya.


P.S. These are the people I'll dive with when I visit SA: Home

But I am no expert in diving SA. These people cater to UW photographers and one of the owners is a noted UW photography instructor.

 

[rongoodman]

Which boat, season and what kind of costs are involved for Coco's please? Do single divers join liveaboards there?

Okeanos II and Cocos Aggressor, Jan, May, and August/Sept. Nearing $7K these days unless you hit a sale. I only travel as a single and it works out well for me.

 

[Bookworm11]

I have been to Cozumel 4 times and don't consider it too touristy at all! You could easily combine staying in Playa del Carmel, Tulum or Akumal for a few nights and doing cenote diving which you can't do anywhere else. Cozumel has 80-100 feet of visibility. You can see three varieties of turtles, 2 varieties of stingrays, eagle rays at the right time of year, nurse sharks, big green moray eels, and even the occasional reef shark, or on very rare occasions, a hammerhead. Beautiful coral swim thrus, too. There are over 500 cenotes. So you can see haloclines, stalatites, stalamites, fossils, light/ water interplay, sulfide gas and sometimes fish. If you love caves, you will love cenotes. If you need coral and fish, you may not like them. Personally, I love them!! Aldora Divers has steel tanks, fast boats and averages 70 minute dives. Rigo Amador is who you want for your cenote diving. He goes to cenotes the others don't go to, and is very moderate in price.
I've also been to Belize, Indonesia (Raja and Bali) and Egypt. I wouldn't go on a LOB because of the safety issues. I would go dive in Dahab, which I found wonderful.
Raja was great, but its a logistical nightmare. However, a great land resort there is Dive into Raja Ampat, a 2 hour boat ride from Sorong. Moderately priced, right on the water, with a superb dive shop. I got my own DM for free. Most dive sites are within 30 minutes of the resort. My manta experience with them was 6 times better than what I had on my LOB, which was 4 times the cost!

 

[LeggoDiveyDivey]

I have been to Cozumel 4 times and don't consider it too touristy at all! You could easily combine staying in Playa del Carmel, Tulum or Akumal for a few nights and doing cenote diving which you can't do anywhere else. Cozumel has 80-100 feet of visibility. You can see three varieties of turtles, 2 varieties of stingrays, eagle rays at the right time of year, nurse sharks, big green moray eels, and even the occasional reef shark, or on very rare occasions, a hammerhead. Beautiful coral swim thrus, too. There are over 500 cenotes. So you can see haloclines, stalatites, stalamites, fossils, light/ water interplay, sulfide gas and sometimes fish. If you love caves, you will love cenotes. If you need coral and fish, you may not like them. Personally, I love them!! Aldora Divers has steel tanks, fast boats and averages 70 minute dives. Rigo Amador is who you want for your cenote diving. He goes to cenotes the others don't go to, and is very moderate in price.
I've also been to Belize, Indonesia (Raja and Bali) and Egypt. I wouldn't go on a LOB because of the safety issues. I would go dive in Dahab, which I found wonderful.
Raja was great, but its a logistical nightmare. However, a great land resort there is Dive into Raja Ampat, a 2 hour boat ride from Sorong. Moderately priced, right on the water, with a superb dive shop. I got my own DM for free. Most dive sites are within 30 minutes of the resort. My manta experience with them was 6 times better than what I had on my LOB, which was 4 times the cost!

Awesome reply! What do you think of combinations? For example, combining Cozumel and Cenotes together, or Belize, and the Cenotes and Xcalak. I noticed that Xcalak wasnt in your replies so i was wondering if its a place you have been or want to go in the future.

I agree with the resort vs LOB comparisons, you almost never know with the oceans! Also a reason why i consider land based diving from Maldives.