After R4 LOB this November ... Where next ??

[JRM-TX]

Hello everyone! I'm all set for a trip with RA Aggressor in November, thanks again for your help with selecting the destination and flights.

So ... Where next? Timeframe likely November 2019, but am flexible, could go any time in 2019 if there was a special trip. Resort is possible but prefer a LOB for the dive quality, variety and lots of dives. I've got 10 to 20 days available for the trip, each year my wife goes somewhere with her mom and I go diving. I like Aggressor Fleet, but it doesn't have to be them.

Pretty sure it will be a LOB in Indonesia. Would like to try something different than N.Sulawesi or R4. Maybe Komodo. Some of the long transit trips look great and they often book up early. The Indo Aggressor has a "forgotten islands" trip in Nov.2019, Maumere to Saumlaki, looks very good and the front runner for now. Local liveaboards would also be ok, or maybe mixing short LOB trip with land based diving.

My interests are good vis, great healthy reefs, and lots of fish. Quality of diving is the key criteria, would also like to do lots of dives. Pure joy of blue water, the people on this board get it. Big stuff would be a bonus. I like muck / critters, but that's not the focus ;-). Am ok with currents and moderate seas.

If there's someplace better than Indonesia, please let me know.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions on where to go in 2019.

 

[outofofficebrb]

Edited to add some info!

You will love the Aggressor crew out there! I've stayed in contact with many of the crew (and passengers).

Komodo for a 7 day or (am surprised @Dan_T hasnt popped in to say it yet) but a Biodiversity trip that covers muck, corals, walls, pelagics, and schooling Hammerheads in the Banda Sea (Ambon-Banda-Alor-Maumere or in the reverse, 11-12 nights) or a Super Biodiversity trip which is that plus south Raja Ampat (Misool) that is 14-15 nights. Oct and Nov gives you highest chances to see the scalloped hammerhead sharks schooling. They also do the Biodiversity (but not the Super) in April/May but you won't be able to see the schooling hammerheads then. Demand is quite high on these itineraries so booking early is better.

I recently booked a trip on Mermaid 1 (this past weekend) for their Biodiversity trip Oct 4-15. They also have the same trip in reverse the sailing right before it. Blue Manta is another great option that @Dan_T first told me about but that one is in early September. I did a lot of research on both itineraries and vessels and here is the summary of my research:

Blue Manta has a capacity of 22 guests whereas Mermaid has a capacity of 15. That’s almost 50% more so I guess 50% longer in length makes sense on a feet per guest ratio. I guess same goes for HP. Double the length/weight, double the HP. Both are steel hull boats.

The Blue Manta charges the same price for all the rooms whereas Mermaid has different price points.

At retail cost, Blue Manta is more expensive by almost $800 and is only 10 nights whereas Mermaid is for 11 nights on the regular Biodiversity trips. However, Mermaid does not do group discounts whereas Blue Manta does. Net group discount, Blue Manta is slightly cheaper by a couple hundred dollars but is still 1 night shorter so it's actually kind of a wash. If you join Dan's group, he has a really great group deal!

Blue Manta offers 30 dives for an 10 night/11 day itinerary whereas Mermaid offers 36-38 for r11 nights/12 days.

The diver to guide ratio on Blue Manta is published at 4:1 vs 3:1 on Mermaid 1.

Blue Manta specifically states in their room share policy that while they try to room the same gender together, it may not end up being that way whereas Mermaid does same gender only. I’m a little more comfortable with Mermaid on that because I’m not sure who I might end up with.

Mermaid asks for 30% deposit whereas Blue Manta wants 50%. Balance due approximately the same time, about 60 days before.

Lastly, while I don’t anticipate canceling and I will have excellent cancellation coverage through travel and credit card insurance, the cancellation policy was much better on Mermaid vs Blue Manta. You get your 30% deposit back if cancelled more than 90 days minus a 100 Euro “processing fee” vs losing 50% of your deposit with Blue Manta. Not applicable to me since I would only cancel if I had a personal issue and that would be covered under my insurance coverage.

So, given all this, plus Mermaid being deeper into October which I think would be more beneficial for Hammerhead sightings, I decided to book with Mermaid 1.

As for Komodo, I would recommend a 7 day in Komodo proper. The itineraries from Bali don’t maximize as much time in Komodo proper. Komodo really is amazing.....You should join me. I'm going back to Komodo after my Biodiversity trip in Oct 2019.

I’m so excited for you!

Here are some videos to get you excited...One is of the Banda Biodiversity itinerary and the other is of Komodo (Batu Bolong dive site which is my favorite in the whole wide world....)

 

[Dan]

Thanks for the heads up @outofofficebrb

@JRM-TX How about Ring of Fire trip?
I’m gathering my gang to go to Ring of Fire, including Alor, Gunung Api, Manuk, & Banda, sailing from Maumere to Ambon with the best liveaboard operator for the area, White Manta Diving - Home. You can see the following promotional video of the trip here:


This “Ring of Fire” region is also known as the Cocos of Indonesia with schooling of hammerheads, but with additional incredible natural phenomenon to see other than the fish, like active volcano island, schooling of sea snakes in Manuk island as shown by Jonathan Bird of Blue World here:


The detail of trip itinerary can be found here: White Manta Diving - Banda Sea & Ring of fire

The trip date will be from 9 to 19 of September, 2019 (trip code: BMROF1) with KM Blue Manta, White Manta Diving - KM Blue Manta

I have a group of 5 so far. Need one more nutty diver who loves to dive in Indonesia like you & me. If you are interested, PM me for more detail group rate that I can get you.

Time is of the essence. 3 cabin’s are already booked. I’m reserving another 3 cabins. The sooner you decide, the better chance you get it.

Cheers,
Dan

 

[Dan]

Here is another cool video of Ring of Fire hammerheads:

 

[Dan]

Here is their 2017 trip video:

 

[outofofficebrb]

Here is their 2017 trip video:

LOL we shared the same amazing video.

 

[Dan]

LOL we shared the same amazing video.

I didn’t see that in predicted post of yours. It shows that is a great video & the hammerheads are still there last year.

 

[outofofficebrb]

I didn’t see that in predicted post of yours. It shows that is a great video & the hammerheads are still there last year.

I lazily typed out a half-effort response on my phone because it's a pain to do any long posts there and then realized I needed to do the post and your efforts justice so I went back and edited the post on a computer. I also felt like the OP needed a more accurate and thorough explanation to fully enable them.

 

[Dan]

I lazily typed out a half-effort response on my phone because it's a pain to do any long posts there and then realized I needed to do the post and your efforts justice so I went back and edited the post on a computer. I also felt like the OP needed a more accurate and thorough explanation to fully enable them.

Good job on the research. The more info laid out, the less surprises you are going to get, the better choice you are going to make.

I like the Blue Manta for being newer boat (it was launched in December 2015), huge cabin (200 cf) and, as an engineer, to know it is equipped with huge twin engines (2x826 HP) to get out of dodge when storm is coming.

 

[outofofficebrb]

Good job on the research. The more info laid out, the less surprises you are going to get, the better choice you are going to make.

I like the Blue Manta for being newer boat (it was launched in December 2015), huge cabin (200 cf) and, as an engineer, to know it is equipped with huge twin engines (2x826 HP) to get out of dodge when storm is coming.

A friend of mine that booked Mermaid 1 with me pulled up a doc from Undercurrent with some good reviews on Blue Manta and Mermaid. You can see general boat reviews as well as itinerary reviews. If you're interested, I can forward you the e-mail (it's a PDF attachment).