Another request for dive vacation recommendation

[ryantanaka]

Hi all -

Everyone has been very helpful, so I thought I would ask for your all's recommendation.

I live in California and am planning a trip in June for 8 or 9 days (depending on location) with really no budget constraint. I have dove Bonaire, Curacao, Hawaii, California (north and south), U.S. Virgin Islands so far. If you had your choice, where would you go with the following constraints:

1. No Caribbean (been there each of the last three years)
2. No Hawaii - Already going in May
3. Like to do a little sightseeing (not just diving, though we will do a LOT of diving)
4. No liveaboards
5. Looking for something very different from the stuff we have seen so far

We have been thinking Fiji, Indonesia, French Polynesia, or Phillipines so far. Any thoughts/suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks!

Ryan

 

[Wisnu]

simply - Bali, not the best divesite in Indonesia but offer almost everything - wreck, wall, macro, big fish manta, mola2 .. and lot of thing to do topside... will suit any budget, suitable for beginer to experienced diver
8 - 9 days is good time to explore Bali underwater only..
If you're photographer and interesting with strangerst critters - Lembeh of North Sulawesi is the muck diving capital of the world.
Check at Indonesia forum for more info of Indonesia

 

[RJP]

BALI

Recently on a Liveaboard and saw a fellow diver's topside pictures and decided right then and there that Bali would be a destination for me.

Allow me to ask why "no liveaboards" though - what's up with that? If that was not a constraint I would recommend a weel on the Truk Odyssey.

 

[Dive Tour S.A]

Hi Ryan

Seems as if you are looking for a bit of a challenge...well can i recommend South Africa. There are plenty of sight seeing venue's both underwater as well as on land. Also the launching is a bit different to most other parts of the world.

Anyway if it sounds like an option visit us at the site below and we can arrange something for you.

Thanx

Hi all -

Everyone has been very helpful, so I thought I would ask for your all's recommendation.

I live in California and am planning a trip in June for 8 or 9 days (depending on location) with really no budget constraint. I have dove Bonaire, Curacao, Hawaii, California (north and south), U.S. Virgin Islands so far. If you had your choice, where would you go with the following constraints:

1. No Caribbean (been there each of the last three years)
2. No Hawaii - Already going in May
3. Like to do a little sightseeing (not just diving, though we will do a LOT of diving)
4. No liveaboards
5. Looking for something very different from the stuff we have seen so far

We have been thinking Fiji, Indonesia, French Polynesia, or Phillipines so far. Any thoughts/suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks!

Ryan

 

[ryantanaka]

Thanks for the help! As far as liveaboards, my girlfriend gets pretty sick on long boat trips. Plus we really enjoy doing some sightseeing and seeing the culture of the location at our leisure - being on a liveaboard would, we thought, constrain that side of our trip.

Sounds like people are leaning towards Indonesia?

 

[mjh]

Fiji or Palau both have excellent diving and some interesting topside. My first suggestion would have been Thailand but given the issues in Bangkok right now not the best choice. With Thailand still very safe for us but they tend to like to block the main international airport.

 

[robint]

Thanks for the help! As far as liveaboards, my girlfriend gets pretty sick on long boat trips. Plus we really enjoy doing some sightseeing and seeing the culture of the location at our leisure - being on a liveaboard would, we thought, constrain that side of our trip.

Sounds like people are leaning towards Indonesia?

My first thought was Bali, Indonesia because I have seen such cool photos of the topside activities. But I have also heard mixed reviews on the diving as from what I understand there is current and sometimes dives are a bit more advanced than the divers expected.

Second thought is Fiji. I have heard nothing but great things topside and underwater. Check out Beqa Resort. Lots of really good deals going on for Fiji right now too.
Fiji Resorts and Diving Packages for Divers.

Also, heard great things about Philippines topside and underwater. It is cheaper than most places, too.
http://www.caradonna.com/Accommodations/Philippines.aspx

just giving you the links to Caradonna so you can see the names of hotels and prices. (We have used Caradonna and thought they do a great job.)

robin