Bali vs Puerto Galera

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justwannadivenow3

Contributor
Messages
74
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Location
New Jersey
# of dives
50 - 99
Just got back from a trip to Bali. I dove approx 22 times split equally between Tulemben (LDR) and PB (Geko).

The diving was really good in Bali (especially the night dives), but as I'm comparing SEA trips I'm, thinking PG diving is better. I think the variety is significantly better in PG. It's also much much cheaper.

Macro is better in Bali, and you have a chance to see some big stuff and schooling fish in PB, but coral and diversity is better in PG.

Anyone have different views?

p.s - i will follow up with a trip report in a bit
 
Just got back from a trip to Bali. I dove approx 22 times split equally between Tulemben (LDR) and PB (Geko).

The diving was really good in Bali (especially the night dives), but as I'm comparing SEA trips I'm, thinking PG diving is better. I think the variety is significantly better in PG. It's also much much cheaper.

Macro is better in Bali, and you have a chance to see some big stuff and schooling fish in PB, but coral and diversity is better in PG.

Anyone have different views?

p.s - i will follow up with a trip report in a bit

Me !!!!

Tell me about manta rays, mola mola, schools of jacks (yes they are still there, though not on the wreck anymore) or bumphead parrotfish in PG ?
Corals : Have you dived Toyapakeh or crystal bay ? what about the Liberty wreck or the corals on the sites off Batu kelebit, Emerald, etc.? Some other sites in Amed like Japanese wreck or Bunutan?

As I don't care much about opinions, I have photos to prove my points :

Tulamben :

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Amed :

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Nusa Penida :

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Padang Bai / Gili Tepekong

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Menjangan

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Luko - those are spectacular photos!

I guess I was a bit disappointed with the local PB sites. The special trips to Nusa, Gilli's and Jetty were excellent sites.

night dive and early morning on the Liberty was amazing as well as the night diving on the muck sites like Melasti (3x as I loved this site). Coral garden and drop off were very so-so. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to do any of the boat dives in Tulemben to Emerald Etc. Was that a mistake to miss out on those sites?
 
I tried to do the exercise after 20 years diving SEA, so this would be my overall rating for the major spots I dived : as you see I don't take PG very high on my list.
Take B as Bottom variety, F for Fishlife, C for Corals, M for macro all rated from 1 to 5

Raja Ampat : B4 F5 C5 M4 = 18/20 expensive
Komodo : B5 F4 C5 M3 = 17/20 midrange
Alor : B3 F4 C5 M5 = 17/20 expensive
Bali : B5 F3 C3 M5 = 16/20 cheap to midrange
North Sulawesi : B3 F3 C5 M5 = 16/20 midrange to expensive
Kalimaya/Sumbawa : B4 F3 C4 M4 = 15/20 expensive
Ambon & Lease : B4 F3 C4 M5 = 16/20 expensive
Pulau Weh B2 F3 C3 M2 = 10/20 (very) cheap
Gili Lombok B2 F2 C2 M3 = 8/20 cheap

Anilao : B4 F3 C3 M5 = 15/20 midrange to expensive
Puerto Galera B2 F3 C3 M4 = 12/20 cheap to midrange
Malapascua B2 F3 C2 M3 = 10/20 cheap to midrange
Moalboal B4 F2 C3 M3 = 12/20 (very)cheap to midrange
Cabilao B3 F3 C4 M3 = 13/20 midrange
Panglao/Balicasag B4 F4 C3 M3 = 14/20 cheap to midrange
Anda B2 F2 C2 M2 = 8/20 midrange
Dauin/Apo B2 F2 C3 M5 = 12/20 midrange to expensive
Sipalay B3 F3 C3 M2 = 11/20 midrange

Sipadan/Mabul B4 F5 C3 M3 = 15/20 expensive

Similan : B3 F3 C4 M2 = 12/20 midrange to expensive
Phuket, Phiphi & Hins B3 F2 C4 M3 = 12/20 midrange
Koh Tao B2 F2 C2 M1 = 7/20 cheap to midrange

Andamans/India B3 F5 C3 M2 = 13/20 midrange

Sihanoukville/Cambodia B1 F1 C1 M1 = 4/20 cheap

Nha Trang & whale isl. /Vietnam : B2 F1 C2 M2 = 7/20
 
Luko - those are spectacular photos!

I guess I was a bit disappointed with the local PB sites. The special trips to Nusa, Gilli's and Jetty were excellent sites.

night dive and early morning on the Liberty was amazing as well as the night diving on the muck sites like Melasti (3x as I loved this site). Coral garden and drop off were very so-so. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to do any of the boat dives in Tulemben to Emerald Etc. Was that a mistake to miss out on those sites?
PB local sites are "afternoon" or night dives, Deep Jepun can be very good if you're looking for special stuff.

I don't like much Drop off neither Coral gardens which are nothing special. Emerald, Batu Kelebit, Palaung palaung are fine if you like corals and gorgonians, Kubu reef can be spectacular with loads of fish too.
Personally I do only black sand dives in Tulamben from Melasti to Bulakan, I don't care much for corals here.
In Nusa Penida I will favor Toyapakeh, Crystal bay, SD, Mangroves for corals.
But nowhere in Bali (nor in PG) comes close to Komodo, Alor or Raja Ampat when it comes to coral reef life !!!
 
This is an awesome list! Much appreciated insight

I'll have to make it tow R4/Komodo/Alor - those seem to be true "Bucket list" locations
 
This is an awesome list! Much appreciated insight

I'll have to make it tow R4/Komodo/Alor - those seem to be true "Bucket list" locations
Absolutely.
Those are the three, only after that you may end up diving (or go back again and again).
 
@Luko , thanks for that overview. Of course personal, but a nice comparison!
 
Of course personal, but a nice comparison!
Totally personal.
Anyone can disagree with it for good reasons, but it would still be my opinion :p (needless to say I wrote that in less than 20 minutes hence, I wouldn't be surprised if it were a tad inconsistent at some point)-
 
Bali is a big island which covers a lot of individual diving areas while PG is just a place on the Island of Mindoro. A fair comparison would be eg. Tulamben vs PG.
We all have different opinion eg. Lembeh is absolutely boring for my buddies and I.
 
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