Advice Indonesia februari 24

[scubajet]

Dear divers,

Any advice on Indonesia in februari, March? I have never been there and would love to dive. I am fine with challenging currents, difficult ways to get there, no luxury. I am a GUE tech,PADI inst. 1300 dives. Experienced solo Traveller. Can do liveaboard or/and shore.

Would love to dive in a place with some big schools, sharks, and obviously macro and mud. I have around 3-4 weeks, from mid feb. Mantas and whalesharks not necessary. I like it rough, if its worth it!

(I worked in Bonaire and as you ll know there is not so much big schools of anything nor sharks hence my preference for now!)

Thank you all so much for your advice!

 

[stepfen]

Welcome to Scubaboard. People will need a bit more info to give you more informed suggestions.

First of all you budget (approx.). Then you mention "would love to dive in A place" and then "I have around 2-3 weeks". Do you mean that you want/plan to stay and dive in only one place for 2-3 weeks or are you willing to move around and see/dive a few places? Do you plan to spend the whole 2-3 weeks diving or also want to see topside things? Do you want/like to visit only popular and hence easy to access places (like Bali) or you want to visit more remote (eg Raja Ampat) areas ? Where do you plan to travel from?

All these are quite important to help you make the best out of it.

 

[scubajet]

Welcome to Scubaboard. People will need a bit more info to give you more informed suggestions.

First of all you budget (approx.). Then you mention "would love to dive in A place" and then "I have around 2-3 weeks". Do you mean that you want/plan to stay and dive in only one place for 2-3 weeks or are you willing to move around and see/dive a few places? Do you plan to spend the whole 2-3 weeks diving or also want to see topside things? Do you want/like to visit only popular and hence easy to access places (like Bali) or you want to visit more remote (eg Raja Ampat) areas ? Where do you plan to travel from?

All these are quite important to help you make the best out of it.

Welcome to Scubaboard. People will need a bit more info to give you more informed suggestions.

First of all you budget (approx.). Then you mention "would love to dive in A place" and then "I have around 2-3 weeks". Do you mean that you want/plan to stay and dive in only one place for 2-3 weeks or are you willing to move around and see/dive a few places? Do you plan to spend the whole 2-3 weeks diving or also want to see topside things? Do you want/like to visit only popular and hence easy to access places (like Bali) or you want to visit more remote (eg Raja Ampat) areas ? Where do you plan to travel from?

All these are quite important to help you make the best out of it.

Hello Stepfen,

I am sorry my request is so unclear to you. Thank you for asking me all those questions. I have no specific budget.
I have 3 to 4 weeks, since i can take off time as long as i please. I would like to know information and tips about diving only. Regarding to the tips and advice i will decide how much time i want to spent on what location. I plan to come from Mumbai, but that should not be relevant. As i wrote: i am willing and able to travel. So i am curious about your advice regarding cool divespots in Indonesia!

 

[Dan]

Raja Ampat is good place to visit in February. If you like it rough, stay in some of those home stays. Ask @carono6333 specific questions in his thread, below.

Trip Report Thread 'Raja Ampat [10 weeks diving with 9 different operators]'

Feb 3, 2024

My wife and I had the good fortune to have 10 weeks of diving in Raja Ampat, starting end of October 2023 with our last dive on the 3rd January 2024. We did approx 100 dives with nine diving operators, consisting two liveaboards, two dive centers, and five diving homestays:

• Liveaboards: You know the score - lots of diving and live onboard
• Dive Centres: Dive Centre offering diving and diving courses. The more established ones will generally have better boats and take out more divers than the homestays.
• Diving Homestays: Homestay accommodation that offers diving facilities...

• carono6333
• Replies: 65
• Forum: Indonesia

• 
• 
• 

 

[Centrals]

Raja Ampat is good place to visit in February. If you it rough, stay in some if those home stay.

Have you stayed there before because I did not find it was "rough" at all. The Homestay I was staying was fully occupied by Indonesian and foreign tourists all the time.

 

[matts1w]

Raja Ampat in February is your best bet with absolutely huge schools of fish, amazing macro, and mind-blowing opportunities above and below water. That being said, there are sharks around, but Indonesia isn't really a shark diving destination.

From Mumbai, if sharks are a priority, you might look at Maldives.

 

[Dan]

Yes Maldives, especially far south. Actually I’ll be in February.

Thread 'Last 2 spots with 15% off available on Blue Voyager Maldives Far South 20 Feb - 2 Mar 2025'

Oct 3, 2024

Some of my dive buddies got together and chartered Blue Voyager liveaboard to go diving in Maldives Far South for 10 night / 11 day trip (from 20 February to 2 March). By chartering the boat we are able to get 15% ($571 off) group discount for everyone, from $3810 to $3239 / diver.

Currently, we have last 2 remaining spots in a cabin available for a couple or 2 dive buddies that would like to share a cabin.

For more information about the trip, you can browse:

Blue Voyager Liveaboard - Master Liveaboards

Here is Master Liveaboards’ description of the offering…

Even by...

• Dan
• blue voyager deep south far south hammerheads maldives manta rays master liveaboards silvertip sharks thresher sharks tiger shark
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Maldives

But if you really want to go to RA, go to the north RA to see more sharks in the area.

 

[Centrals]

LOL.
Business must be awful with no taker after "advertising" for over 2 months!!

Maldives is NO way nearly as good as Raja Ampat.

 

[scubajet]

Raja Ampat is good place to visit in February. If you like it rough, stay in some of those home stays. Ask @carono6333 specific questions in his thread, below.

Trip Report Thread 'Raja Ampat [10 weeks diving with 9 different operators]'

Feb 3, 2024

My wife and I had the good fortune to have 10 weeks of diving in Raja Ampat, starting end of October 2023 with our last dive on the 3rd January 2024. We did approx 100 dives with nine diving operators, consisting two liveaboards, two dive centers, and five diving homestays:

• Liveaboards: You know the score - lots of diving and live onboard
• Dive Centres: Dive Centre offering diving and diving courses. The more established ones will generally have better boats and take out more divers than the homestays.
• Diving Homestays: Homestay accommodation that offers diving facilities...

• carono6333
• Replies: 65
• Forum: Indonesia

• 
• 
• 

Thank you! By "rough: i meant currents and challenging conditions. I like homestays and local food. Thats not rough to me at all!

 

[scubajet]

Raja Ampat in February is your best bet with absolutely huge schools of fish, amazing macro, and mind-blowing opportunities above and below water. That being said, there are sharks around, but Indonesia isn't really a shark diving destination.

From Mumbai, if sharks are a priority, you might look at Maldives.

Thank you Matt, ill have a look at R.A for sure! did 3 weeks Maldives last year and it was fab. Way better than Socorro, which was twice the money and half the life.