Best LOB destination for inexperienced diver, looking for colorful reefs and lots of fish

[thejadeape]

I have done Similan on few occasions and some of the sites are NOT that suitable to beginner diver. Season is from mid Oct to mid May.
Koh Tao is very good for beginner diver and the season is from May to Oct. Other islands to consider are Koh Chang(not very good), Koh Lanta(sites are far but good), Koh Lipe(most sites are nearby, tiny island and can be very crowded).
Top side attraction in Thailand is the best in SE Asia. Food is beyond description.

LoB for a 13yrso old? A wee bit too young.

Another non LoB suggestion is Philippines.
Tubbataha is the best but only from LoB.

Unexpected down/up current can easily leave a dark shadow on diving for many experienced divers let alone for beginner.
I am not pouring freezing cold water to your plan, merely my own suggestion.

I haven’t been to the Similans for 20 years, so I was wondering about the quality of diving still. Looking around here it seems that it’s still good and the chief complaint is the crowds. Crowds are not my favorite, but it’s okay. Some of the Red Sea dives were quite crowded.

No worries about suggesting it’s too early for a liveaboard. I am asking for advice from people with more LOB experience than I have and will definitely consider holding off. My wife and I have certainly discussed it.

 

[scubadada]

Hi @thejadeape

I would recommend also considering a good land-based trip. Your profile says you're from the US.

Just as an example, Little Cayman Beach Resort. The wall dives start at a relatively shallow depth, often 20-30 feet. It would be quite easy for you maintain your depth limit but still enjoy the dives. I don't believe that SCTLD has been identified off Little Cayman. I have not been there for some years, but the reefs and sea life were good, perhaps best in the Caribbean. Reef Divers do just 3 dives per day. The resort is nice, the food is good.

Just a thought, I wish you a great trip. I took my son to LCBR when he was a Junior OW diver, we had a great time.

 

[thejadeape]

Hi @thejadeape

I would recommend also considering a good land-based trip. Your profile says you're from the US.

Just as an example, Little Cayman Beach Resort. The wall dives start at a relatively shallow depth, often 20-30 feet. It would be quite easy for you maintain your depth limit but still enjoy the dives. I don't believe that SCTLD has been identified off Little Cayman. I have not been there for some years, but the reefs and sea life were good, perhaps best in the Caribbean. Reef Divers do just 3 dives per day. The resort is nice, the food is good.

Just a thought, I wish you a great trip. I took my son to LCBR when he was a Junior OW diver, we had a great time.

The Caribbean certainly has the viz and calm that makes diving much easier, but it’s tough to go back from SE Asia’s diversity. We actually lived on Utilla, Honduras for a time when she was young and we have many fond memories. She was too young to dive, but we certainly did a lot of snorkeling.

 

[Centrals]

None of the following is LoB.
Gili Air in Bali.
Getting to Indonesia does take effort and time from US.

Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida also in Bali, some of the sites are challenging and can be very cold in certain time of the year if you are looking for Mola Mola.

Ishigaki in Okinawa(Japan).

 

[chillyinCanada]

Why not tell your daughter that an lob at her age and stage is not appropriate. Tell her she'll get an lob as a reward/gift for her 16th birthday providing that she gets her rescue diver and does well at school.

In the meantime, you guys will help her reach her personal goals with land based trips and more classes on a regular basis.

Even though it's not the Red Sea or SE Asia, I believe that you'll all enjoy diving out at the Belize Atolls.

 

[Damselfish]

Finding a LOB both exciting for you and suitable for your junior diver is a big ask, you may need to make choices you don’t like. If you’re in the US and this trip is about the junior diver, most LOB in the Carribean might be fine. Most don’t deal with much current. It won’t be anywhere near as good as indo pacific diving, but she’ll get some more practice and experience a LOB.

The Bahamas is not great reef diving but has lots of shallow. The Aquacat is a great boat and fun trip with lots of variety and activities. I’m not familiar with the itneraries of the Bahamas Aggressors, but the II is a much nicer boat than the I. The Roatan Aggressor could work. The Cayman Aggressor is partly deep but there might be enough variety of sites to make it work. Turks ans Caicos tends to run deep. Belize maybe, obviously not the blue hole for junior.

If you’re concerned about her diving in RA, Maldives may be like jumping from frying pan into fire.

A private guide might be the key. Even in places that are pretty currenty, it may be possible to avoid a lot of it. A high end LOB with a very low guest-guide ratio might make some places more workable than you’d expect. If the desire is shallower or less current they may be able to deliver that much of the time. We did a repositioning trip on the Arenui from RA to I think Ambon. 4 people to a group. There were 3 photographers including my husband who just considered current a PITA. Our guide seemed just to have no trouble delivering great dives without much for current, in the same general locations where other groups had more. Also where in the full moon cycle might make a difference. Things you’d want to discuss with the boat.

 

[diveUAE]

Our 2 oldest kids got certified at 11 and 10 year old.
Especially the 10 year old did remarkably well - he also did “Seal Team” from 8-10 and just loves the water. He is a great swimmer and very confident under water, does not use a lot of air.
However his dad and I (experienced divers with 4-500 dives at the time) monitored him closely at a young age, as he would forget to check his dive computer and air.
He got certified in Koh Tao and I would say that’s a good place for jOWD to dive.
Yes, it can get crowded, so look into getting a private guide.
Similans might also be ok - some dives she can’t do, but if you pick a good boat and get a private guide I think she’ll enjoy.

We lived in the UAE, so did a lot of diving in nice warm water “at home” and in Oman- he continued to work on his skills and enjoy the diving.

When he was 12 we did Bali (Amed and Nusa Lembongan) -he did enjoy that, but not as much as Thailand as the water was a lot cooler.
When he was 15 we did a LOB in Egypt. He did his advanced before the trip and enjoyed the diving very much.
I seem to remember before the Pandemic there was a LOB in Egypt that did family dive trips. Haven’t looked lately, but maybe google can help - otherwise a 3-4 day LOB in Egypt would be a good place to start with a young diver - again a private guide would help.

Another place our son loved was Philippines - he was 16, when we did Malapascua and Bohol - maybe one of the LØB in Visayaa would be ok? You’d have to contact them and ask.

If it was me and my daughter really wanted to do a LOB I’d contact Wunderpus Liveaboards in Komodo and book a private trip with Mimic. Fantastic diving and they made sure everyone had a great trip - our son was 20 and our youngest was 12 when we went. The youngest can’t dive, so they sent a snorkel guide for her. They will pick dive sites your daughter will enjoy and where the current is not too bad.

Would not go to Maldives with a 13/14 yo - the corals are not that great and dept + current would pose a problem on a regular LOB.

RA could be ok, but I would wait until she’s got more dives under her belt.

 

[thejadeape]

Finding a LOB both exciting for you and suitable for your junior diver is a big ask, you may need to make choices you don’t like. If you’re in the US and this trip is about the junior diver, most LOB in the Carribean might be fine. Most don’t deal with much current. It won’t be anywhere near as good as indo pacific diving, but she’ll get some more practice and experience a LOB.

The Bahamas is not great reef diving but has lots of shallow. The Aquacat is a great boat and fun trip with lots of variety and activities. I’m not familiar with the itneraries of the Bahamas Aggressors, but the II is a much nicer boat than the I. The Roatan Aggressor could work. The Cayman Aggressor is partly deep but there might be enough variety of sites to make it work. Turks ans Caicos tends to run deep. Belize maybe, obviously not the blue hole for junior.

If you’re concerned about her diving in RA, Maldives may be like jumping from frying pan into fire.

A private guide might be the key. Even in places that are pretty currenty, it may be possible to avoid a lot of it. A high end LOB with a very low guest-guide ratio might make some places more workable than you’d expect. If the desire is shallower or less current they may be able to deliver that much of the time. We did a repositioning trip on the Arenui from RA to I think Ambon. 4 people to a group. There were 3 photographers including my husband who just considered current a PITA. Our guide seemed just to have no trouble delivering great dives without much for current, in the same general locations where other groups had more. Also where in the full moon cycle might make a difference. Things you’d want to discuss with the boat.

This is very helpful. Yes, it is a big ask to find a LOB that is suitable for her and interesting enough for us. It does look like we’ll have to make compromises if we do decide to try a liveaboard. I suspected as much but decided to ask here just in case there was that perfect place.

I’ve never been to the Maldives, but was reading here that perhaps the central part has less current.

I do think if we decide to go with a liveaboard that we will ensure to have a private guide.

 

[Centrals]

Scuba Diving in the Maldives | Complete Guide

Diving in Maldives is one of the truly unforgettable impressions that you can enjoy on these Paradise Islands. All you need to know.

islandii.com

Current is everywhere in Maldives.

 

[thejadeape]

Our 2 oldest kids got certified at 11 and 10 year old.
Especially the 10 year old did remarkably well - he also did “Seal Team” from 8-10 and just loves the water. He is a great swimmer and very confident under water, does not use a lot of air.
However his dad and I (experienced divers with 4-500 dives at the time) monitored him closely at a young age, as he would forget to check his dive computer and air.
He got certified in Koh Tao and I would say that’s a good place for jOWD to dive.
Yes, it can get crowded, so look into getting a private guide.
Similans might also be ok - some dives she can’t do, but if you pick a good boat and get a private guide I think she’ll enjoy.

We lived in the UAE, so did a lot of diving in nice warm water “at home” and in Oman- he continued to work on his skills and enjoy the diving.

When he was 12 we did Bali (Amed and Nusa Lembongan) -he did enjoy that, but not as much as Thailand as the water was a lot cooler.
When he was 15 we did a LOB in Egypt. He did his advanced before the trip and enjoyed the diving very much.
I seem to remember before the Pandemic there was a LOB in Egypt that did family dive trips. Haven’t looked lately, but maybe google can help - otherwise a 3-4 day LOB in Egypt would be a good place to start with a young diver - again a private guide would help.

Another place our son loved was Philippines - he was 16, when we did Malapascua and Bohol - maybe one of the LØB in Visayaa would be ok? You’d have to contact them and ask.

If it was me and my daughter really wanted to do a LOB I’d contact Wunderpus Liveaboards in Komodo and book a private trip with Mimic. Fantastic diving and they made sure everyone had a great trip - our son was 20 and our youngest was 12 when we went. The youngest can’t dive, so they sent a snorkel guide for her. They will pick dive sites your daughter will enjoy and where the current is not too bad.

Would not go to Maldives with a 13/14 yo - the corals are not that great and dept + current would pose a problem on a regular LOB.

RA could be ok, but I would wait until she’s got more dives under her belt.

Thank you for the thoughtful reply.. This is really helpful. The Mimic looks like a great option if we decide to do the LOB option.