jeremyl
Contributor
I did a 6wk trip last summer. 10 days Komodo LOB. Then some time around Bali (Tulamben and around, and then Lembongan). Then a week on Sipadan on the Rig. Have not been to RA yet but its next on the list. (Dove couple areas of Philippines year before, and been to Lembeh as well).
Personally was fairly disappointed with Sipdadan. A week was WAY too long. Not much around except going to Sipadan itself - which I did 3 days I think - maybe 4. Was awesome - huge schools of bumpheads, encircled by Barracuda (although apparently it can be much more), and tons of sharks & turtles. That said it was great to do it once or twice but then got repetitive. Many sites were unavailable due to weather. Dives were all limited by group - so 45min MAX dives. Of course I had some spectacular dives, but a just dont stay there too long. Problem is if you dont you may not get to go to Sipadan... and Mabul/etc are nothing special at all (ok, this is all relative to many weeks of great diving... but really you will see MUCH more elsewhere). Most people spend 3-4 days max visiting Sipadan. Depending on time/budget/travel/etc if you can combine this with some of the Bali destinations you can have a fabulous trip, but I REALLY look forward to a RA trip and expect it to blow all others out of the water.
I see your decision is made - and I think its a super one. If you can sometime combine a few days Sipadan with something else down the road I think it will be great. Komodo was fantastic. Tulamben was great for ~3-4 days. I stayed at Tulamben Wreck Divers. If you walk down towards the water at night there is a little shack - locals hang out most nights and play music. AWESOME time. Sit around and drink and sing. Did that almost every night. Super nice people. If its Mola Mola season do try to find one. I was just at the start of the season and missed out. But Lembongan was a nice chill place to visit for a couple days. Have fun!
Personally was fairly disappointed with Sipdadan. A week was WAY too long. Not much around except going to Sipadan itself - which I did 3 days I think - maybe 4. Was awesome - huge schools of bumpheads, encircled by Barracuda (although apparently it can be much more), and tons of sharks & turtles. That said it was great to do it once or twice but then got repetitive. Many sites were unavailable due to weather. Dives were all limited by group - so 45min MAX dives. Of course I had some spectacular dives, but a just dont stay there too long. Problem is if you dont you may not get to go to Sipadan... and Mabul/etc are nothing special at all (ok, this is all relative to many weeks of great diving... but really you will see MUCH more elsewhere). Most people spend 3-4 days max visiting Sipadan. Depending on time/budget/travel/etc if you can combine this with some of the Bali destinations you can have a fabulous trip, but I REALLY look forward to a RA trip and expect it to blow all others out of the water.
I see your decision is made - and I think its a super one. If you can sometime combine a few days Sipadan with something else down the road I think it will be great. Komodo was fantastic. Tulamben was great for ~3-4 days. I stayed at Tulamben Wreck Divers. If you walk down towards the water at night there is a little shack - locals hang out most nights and play music. AWESOME time. Sit around and drink and sing. Did that almost every night. Super nice people. If its Mola Mola season do try to find one. I was just at the start of the season and missed out. But Lembongan was a nice chill place to visit for a couple days. Have fun!
