1 month in Indonesia (open to other Asia suggestions)

[Dan]

Scubaboard has always been super helpful so I am back again asking for advice from the experts. It turns out I will very likely have an extra month of leave next year (work sabbatical) that will have to be taken consecutively and I will be solo (late-20s female) as my husband will not have the extra days. Definitely sticking to Asia Pacific, and thinking of Indonesia specifically as there are no direct flights and places are harder to get to / takes more time to travel. I did not think Philippines as we are based in HK right now which has many direct cheap flights to Manila/Cebu and I can fit in a 3-4 day diving trip to the Philippine destinations over a long weekend with almost no leave required, so seems like a waste to use it for the sabbatical as I will not get a 1 month consecutive leave again until I quit my job. But I am open to suggestions.

So far in Indonesia I have only dived Bali (Tulemban, Gili T, Nusa Penida), but I have planned 3 liveaboard trips on Carpe Diem next year for 1. Raja Ampat North+Central, 2. Komodo (and will transit through Bali so likely will dive Bali again-but where?), 3. Banda Sea+Raja Ampat South. I am thinking of adding a short long weekend trip to Anilao as well. My husband will join me on these so the sabbatical is extra. Other places I have dived include Malapascua, Similians/Richilieu, and Sipadan in Asia and Utila/Roatan outside of Asia. We have upcoming trips to Rangiroa/Fakarava and Maldives liveaboard as well for Oct/Dec this year.

From talking to random people I have the following on my list, but no idea how to prioritize:
1. Indonesia- Triton Bay or Cenderwaish Bay to see whale sharks, Derawan islands (was looking at Scubajunkie combo with Sipadan), Lembeh, Bunaken, Alor?
2. Philippine - Anilao, Puerto Galera, Moalboal, Bohol, Dumaguete, Coron - but seems all can be done relatively easily over short trips. Thinking of adding Tubbataha liveaboard or South Leyte which seems can't be done over a long weekend.
3. Australia or Fiji - how does GBR compare? was always on my list but seems a lot more expensive. Was looking at Mike Ball liveaboard
4. Palau?
5. PNG?

I can do any month of the year, but thinking Feb-March, or July-Oct (based on other trips already planned). Budget not an issue. Key consideration is I am trying to hit all the highlights in next 2 years before we have kids, so how to cram everything in by 2021? Also if suitable for solo female - for my husband's sake of mind. Diving wise I like both big stuff and macro and I am really starting to get into photography. If you have specific resorts/boats to recommend please do!

Thanks!

You know Indonesia diving well. AFA liveaboard, I recommend Mermaids.

 

[Dan]

So many options!

I did book all 3 liveaboards already but can still change as I booked directly with the owner. I am doing a 8 day trip to Raja Ampat North and South in April, and a second 10 day trip to Banda + Raja Ampat South in Oct (Ambon to Sorong). My husband will be joining me on the liveaboards tho so I don't want to re-book.

I really like the sound of Lembeh, I think that one's on the list! Will check out NAD, 2:1 ratio sounds perfect. Looking at flights I have to fly into Manado, should I add on Bunaken? How many days would I need to get a good flavor of the place? A week for just Lembeh? A week and a half for both?

I like Derawan too, was seriously considering it when I was planning my Sipadan trip this year. So this is a full week I presume. With Scubajunkie most likely.

I will count Coron, GBR, PNG, and Palau out then. I think my husband will want to join me on Tubbataha so that will have to wait until year after.

So that leaves maybe a little less than 2 weeks for 1-2 other destinations. If I do Lembeh+Derawan it seems the July-Sept window would be better than Feb. So think that's rainy season for Philippines, and out of whale shark season for South Leyte?

I want to stick with land-based with good internet. What would be the best complement to Lembeh (and maybe Bunaken) + Derawan? Or think that's enough to fill 4 weeks? Can Alor be done land-based?

Yes. I stayed in Alor Divers.

 

[Dan]

My next Indonesian liveaboard trip is this (after the Ring of Fire in September 2019 with Blue Manta & 8th trip to Raja Ampat in January 2020 with Amira):

 

[chillyinCanada]

If you do Bunaken and Lembeh, include Bangka by doing the Bastianos Golden Triangle Island Escape trip or the Murex Passport to Paradise.

My favorite diving in that area is at Bangka.

 

[Centrals]

So many options!

I want to stick with land-based with good internet. What would be the best complement to Lembeh (and maybe Bunaken) + Derawan? Or think that's enough to fill 4 weeks? Can Alor be done land-based?

Bangka (Bunaken + Lembeh)+ Derawan should keep you busy for 4 wks. If you still have time to spare then throw in Sipadan as well.
If you do pick SJ in Derawan then you should aware that it is "day trip". The boat is small without "head" and travelling can be long and boring(2hrs round trip). You should be able to spot hawksbill turtle swimming around from the balcony of your room.
A trek up Mt Kinabalu is nice if you want to get away from diving for a change.

 

[jjmochi]

If you do Bunaken and Lembeh, include Bangka by doing the Bastianos Golden Triangle Island Escape trip or the Murex Passport to Paradise.

My favorite diving in that area is at Bangka.

This looks great! Very efficient. Has anyone done this themselves? How do Bastianos and Murex compare to each other? Murex ($3625 15 nights 28 dives) looks a bit more expensive than Bastianos ($2288+$340 single supplement 17 nights 30 dives) - ~$1000 more, are facilities/dive guides notably better? Would doing all 3 with one resort be better than diving with a different shop in each (i.e. NAD in Lembeh which was previously recommended 2x)?

Bangka (Bunaken + Lembeh)+ Derawan should keep you busy for 4 wks. If you still have time to spare then throw in Sipadan as well.
If you do pick SJ in Derawan then you should aware that it is "day trip". The boat is small without "head" and travelling can be long and boring(2hrs round trip). You should be able to spot hawksbill turtle swimming around from the balcony of your room.
A trek up Mt Kinabalu is nice if you want to get away from diving for a change.

This looks like a plan! Likely what I'll be doing. Not too much travel time lost in between and seems to be a good mix of variety.

What do mean by the boat is without "head"?

I am debating whether worth adding Sipadan again since you have to dive Mabul/Kapalai 3 days for 1 day at Sipadan. Sipadan was amazing but I really didn't find the other 2 that impressive when I was there this May. Plus I absolutely hated Semporna.

Yes. I stayed in Alor Divers.

I am leaning toward saving Alor for a different trip, it looks like it'll take 2 days minimum/4 flights to move from Manado or BEJ to Alor. Oh well, something to look forward to for 2021.

My next Indonesian liveaboard trip is this (after the Ring of Fire in September 2019 with Blue Manta & 8th trip to Raja Ampat in January 2020 with Amira):

This looks amazing- but liveaboard option looks 3x more expensive than Scubajunkie

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Somewhat related question, looking at domestic flights, it seems like Garuda does not fly all routes and some (like Manado-DPS) is only serviced by budget airlines like Lion Air or Wings. Is Wings, Batik, etc. safe to fly? I absolutely do not want to fly Lion Air.

It seems I can do HK->SIN->Manado, then Manado->CGK->BPN->BEJ, but I was hoping to transfer through DPS (and take a few rest days in Bali/Ubud) instead of Jakarta. But seems Manada->DPS only serviced by Lion Air

 

[chillyinCanada]

I've done the Passport to Paradise with Murex last, the time before that was Murex Bangka with a diving transfer to Bangka and my first time was Lembeh at Black Sands with a road and boat transfer to Murex Bangka.

Bastianos didn't yet have a resort on Bangka and now they do. It's very new. The photos look wonderful.

Murex has been making improvements in the past couple of years at Bangka and I believe that they have some new room units but can't speak to them because they weren't finished when I was there last March.

I'd be tempted to check out the Bastianos safari because their Bunaken resort is at Bunaken, whereas, Murex is at Manado and it's a longish boat ride to the sites. Bastianos Bangka has a pool, whereas Murex Bangka doesn't, though its location is stunning.

North Sulawesi dive guides are almost all extraordinary without exception. I'd be surprised if there's a noticeable difference between the companies in that regard.

 

[Centrals]

There is NO on board toilet on SJ dive boat. But it does moor somewhere between dive so divers can go ashore to have lunch/snack or whatever.
You can fly into either Tarakan or Berau for the connection to Derawan. Check the itinerary and the cost. It is a long long boat ride from Tarakan and can be very uncomfortable if the sea is rough. Avoid rainy season(Dec to Mar) and June - Aug should be better.

I have noticed from other post that you have been to Sipadan so perhaps you can skip it.

 

[Benjamin Lloyd]

Plus side of SJ Sangalaki (on Derawan) is that the surface intervals are amazing. Snorkeling with Mantas at Sangalaki, snorkeling in the jellyfish lake at Kakaban, or just chilling on stunning beaches. My only disappointment was that in 6 days we only did Maratua & Kakaban once each. Twice to Sangalaki (Mantas! and Zebra sharks), and the first and last day at Derawan (macro). I enjoyed both but I think Maratua and Kakaban are the most interesting sites and have the possibility of seeing something out of the ordinary (Hammers & Threshers).

 

[outofofficebrb]

Plus side of SJ Sangalaki (on Derawan) is that the surface intervals are amazing. Snorkeling with Mantas at Sangalaki, snorkeling in the jellyfish lake at Kakaban, or just chilling on stunning beaches. My only disappointment was that in 6 days we only did Maratua & Kakaban once each. Twice to Sangalaki (Mantas! and Zebra sharks), and the first and last day at Derawan (macro). I enjoyed both but I think Maratua and Kakaban are the most interesting sites and have the possibility of seeing something out of the ordinary (Hammers & Threshers).

I’m going to have to consider this part of Indo. When’s the best time to dive this region?