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Most of the manta sites in Raja Ampat do not require reef hooks, though some do, depending on currents. I have been on about 10 manta dives in Raja Ampat and have only used reef hooks twice, and they were optional then, for that matter.

Thanks very much! -Erwin

Sorry, but I have never been to the Red Sea. I know that it can be a much less expensive trip. The pictures that I have seen are fantastic, but I know that it can be a crowded destination because of the proximity for European divers. Good luck!

It is certainly true that the main attraction is the wide angle beauty (at least in my view). With that said, there are lots of opportunities to take macro shots (longnose hawkfish, shrimp, pygmy seahorses, etc.). Take your CMC so you have the option; that's my opinion. You may not use it a lot...

Exactly, it is a "wide angle world" at these dive sites, which is my favorite kind of diving.

So, Cozumel is our favorite Caribbean dive destination, but Raja Ampat is in a whole different category. I am sure that you will love it. Incidentally, we were on the Gaia last March and one of the ladies had sworn that she would never do a liveaboard because she did not feel comfortable being...

My wife and I recently returned from a wonderful trip on the Gaia Love liveaboard. It was our second trip on this boat; we had been on it in March 2019 for a previous Raja Ampat sailing, and liked it so much that we decided to do it again. It was just as good the second time around. Unlike most...

Thanks, Chris! Much appreciated. - Erwin

I enjoyed your wife's description of TIR as "summer camp for adults"; that is exactly what my wife calls Little Cayman Beach Resort. I think that it is a pretty good description of both places. We are unable to do the jungle stuff, so that is not a factor for us, but it would be a good idea for...

Hey Stu, they said that we could not dive if we did not have insurance. They had no option for us to buy some insurance from them on the spot. They insisted that we actually buy the DAN supplemental dive insurance or the equivalent (although they did not suggest any alternatives). I say...

So you raise a number of good questions, Richard. Actually, the third time back to a destination is not that high for me. I have been to both Cozumel and Little Cayman much more, and I actually prefer the diving at those two places a bit, relative to Belize. The topography is definitely better...

I agree with your comment about the staff giving the place continuity. To answer your question, I saw Brad, Marcel, and Marco (who was our dive guide last year). Not sure about John, but he probably was. -Erwin

My wife and I went on a return trip to Belize, leaving November 30 and returning December 7. We have been to Turneffe Island Resort twice previously, the most recent trip being last year. The resort is very nice and the diving is very good, although there were a couple of problems this year. We...

Sorry, but I cannot help you with this. I do not use my phone while traveling. I would guess that you could email the liveaboard operation to get more information. -Erwin

If I were to go in October, I would go as late as possible. It is still an excellent trip, but the visibility will be better the later you go. I cannot really comment on April, but I suspect that the earlier in April, the better. I am sure that either time will still be excellent. I would...

I, too, am a warm water wimp, but I think that the summer months usually have pretty warm water (sometimes closer to 77F or 78F, though).

Thanks very much. The waterfalls were beautiful, and they were everywhere. The boat rides on the skiffs were some of the prettiest I have ever been on.

The first two dives typically went pretty deep (80-100 ft) and the third dive was typically a max depth of 60'. All dives were day dives (usually 8am, 10am, and 2 or 3pm). There were no night dives because there had been a tiger shark attack and fatality (last year, I believe, though I am not...

It was the Argo liveaboard.

I just finished a wonderful trip to Cocos Island off the coast of Costa Rica on the Argo liveaboard. It was excellent diving, and an very well-run dive operation. I recommend it highly. The trip was chartered by Ultimate Dive Travel, and I use them frequently to arrange my diving trips. I have...