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Just got back from Sanglaki. Diving is still great. Turtles still come ashore evernight, and the young ones scamper into the oceans. Mandarin fish still there and mate on schedule, but patients is required. Mantas still there. The resident pygmy sea horse has moved on, but left behind...

Phi Phi is indeed a nice place. Great view, UW is not bad. Nice and calm seas. BUT June is the wet monsoon. The main shopping, eating and partying strip is not very clean. It is clean within the Hotel compounds like Cabana.

Indonesia diving can be cheap, you will have to live in a losmen for super low costs, but no A/C and definately less than US$500 per month. Bali has lots of accomodations and inexpensive diving. Manado cost a bit more due to lower competition. Unfortunately Pulau Weh is out of bounds...

How was the Mataking house reef? Mainly for macro/muck? Is there a pier? Has anything grown on the pier? How about visibility around Mataking? Since it is a new resort, how was the service in terms of resort and diving? Never been there, so asking all these questions.

I think you mean Sipadan. The worse case are the trailing end of typhoons from Phillipines may sweep through that area during those months (april may june july). Very rare occurence. Most of the time sunny and nice. Seas were choppy with sunny skies and vis was around 60 feet when I was...

There are flights from KK to Tarakan, it might be MAS, cannot remember since I have never done that route. KK to Tarakan are not daily flights. In terms of Pak Kadek, he might not be there anymore. He may have opened up a dive shop or running a dive shop from Danakan in Derawan. This is...

I think where ever to Balikpapan and maybe even Berau is not too difficult. Berau to Sangalaki is the more difficult one to arrange. Hence the contact I posted typically makes it smooth sailing for me. Typically I just get myself to Balikpapan as early in the morning as possible, then with...

To say Bangka has no big fish, is not true. The big stuff typically are at the powerful tidal flow sites, it is mask ripping and regulator free flowing kind of place. So the operator very seldom visits those sites, as most guest do not enjoy that kind of power. The surface also looks...

The last time I checked in Feb 2004, Kalstar did not operate the Balikpapan - Berau flight on Sunday. The alternative is Balikpapan to Samarinda by bus or car (not that far away), then catch the flight to Samarinda - Berau flight. There are 2 flights per day I think. If you are wondering if...

When I was staying at Nabucco and diving at Sangalaki, I think I may have been the only one that spotted the Manta that zoomed by. If I had not noticed the huge shadow... I too would have seen nothing. There also were Mantas at Maratua, but not frequent. Saw two at the southern end of...

Sangalaki has other big fish, but I did not notice Tunas. The big stuff typically will appear and literally just hang around the cleaning stations. Big bat fish, surgeons, turtles, snappers are quite common. The odd shark now and again. Layang Layang has better visibility and a lot of big...

Big Fish would be Bunaken. Colors, Soft and Hard Coral Bangka. If Bangka there is only one operator, Gangga Island Resort. Very well run. Here is an article on Bangka, I believe that trip was in Sept 2003. http://www.finsonline.com/articles.php?issue=20&article=68 They also do day...

I think if you are serious about the Mantas, the best bet is to dive with Sangalaki Dive Lodge. You can hit the sites at the perfect moment, greatly increases your chance of seeing them. Photographing them is another issue all together. I was so distracted from all the macro, by the time I...

By the way Andy at Derawan Dive Resort (DDR) is also great with the small stuff. Grew up with the resort and tends to the coral reef like his personal garden. If you dive with him, you will know what I mean.

Pak Medi left, wondering where he went? Sangalaki? Back to Derawan? Was there in late Jan 2004 right in the middle of the major monsoon. Bumped into Pak Medi at Sangalaki as the Nabucco dive boat anchored in front of Sangalaki Dive Lodge. Is Noel still at Nabucco?

For Nabucco, I believe it is Pak Medi and Rudi. Rudi has more seniority since he has been longer in Nabucco. BUT Pak Medi has been in Derawan for a much longer time, and used to work for Derawan Dive Resort. Rudi is quite an entertainer and has some interesting stunts around the channel...

Pak Bahrun is an old timer there, quite a joker with great stories to tell. He also knows where some of the exotic stuff is. Putu does have a keen eye for macro, and more socialble. Ontong on the other hand is more reserved, but has an equally keen eye. If you can get both of them on one...

Mantas at Sangalaki are there but only on the rising tide. Was there for quite a few days and began to recognise some of them from the markings on the fins. Only managed to catch a photo of one of them since they zoomed by rather quickly. Another dive 3 swooped in and circled me as I was...

Helmut Debelius writer of several marine guide books will be in Singapore, Ngee Ann City, Kinokunya Bookstore. Wednesday 7th April 2004. 6pm - 7pm. If interested take out your relevant marine guides for book signing.

Divers Night at Singapore Hard Rock Cafe is coming up this week. Friday 2nd April 7 - 9:30 pm. Bring Certification Card for discount on food items. There is also some diving trips, fins... etc to be won. Not sure what they will put you through to earn it!