Best diving in November ??

[JONATHAN A]

Hi,

I'm taking my better half diving in November for 1/2 weeks and trying to work out which areas have good/great diving conditions at that time of year...so far thinking possibly about Mozambique but there seems to be very little useful info to go on...Cocos, which suspect may not be at it's best then or.....??

Would really appreciate your ideas....we are both very experienced, I have at least 400dives she has several thousand, and we've experienced diving in quite a few areas - UK/Ireland, Galapagos, Maldives, Red Sea and Malaysia to name a few

Liveaboard would be a big plus

Thanks
Jonathan

 

[robint]

Hi,

I'm taking my better half diving in November for 1/2 weeks and trying to work out which areas have good/great diving conditions at that time of year...so far thinking possibly about Mozambique but there seems to be very little useful info to go on...Cocos, which suspect may not be at it's best then or.....??

Would really appreciate your ideas....we are both very experienced, I have at least 400dives she has several thousand, and we've experienced diving in quite a few areas - UK/Ireland, Galapagos, Maldives, Red Sea and Malaysia to name a few

Liveaboard would be a big plus

Thanks
Jonathan

I am guessing you mean 1-2 weeks, not 1/2 weeks.
November would be the end of rainy season in Palau. Since you haven't been there, i would definitely check it out. There are several liveaboards: Big Blue Explorer, Aggressor, and Ocean Hunters (2 boats). Palau has lots of high intensity diving which is great for more experienced divers, plus sharks on almost every dive. Mantas possible as well as about any of the big Pacific palagics.
Check out my Palau videos:
[vimeo]3506378[/vimeo]
more: Palau, Micronesia on Vimeo
We spent a week on the Eco Explorer - sister ship of the Big Blue which was out of service for upgrades. It was great diving, great DMs, and a week of pure adrenaline! http://www.visit-palau.com/ I think the thing I liked the most about the trip there was the variety: big animals, small animals, WWII wrecks, sheer walls, blue holes, deep dives, shallow dives, jellyfish lake, mandarinfish lake.

robin

 

[JONATHAN A]

Hi Robin,

Thanks for the prompt response ! Palau is definitely on the list of places to go but I'm a touch concerned that with only 2 weeks holidays we'll end up spending nearly half of it on planes/airports...need to give it some thought

Cheers
Jonathan

 

[robint]

Hi Robin,

Thanks for the prompt response ! Palau is definitely on the list of places to go but I'm a touch concerned that with only 2 weeks holidays we'll end up spending nearly half of it on planes/airports...need to give it some thought

Cheers
Jonathan

I am not sure the airline routes from London. We flew from LAX to Honolulu to Guam to Yap to Palau.... then same route on way back. It was very long and exhausting. I would recommend you fly part of the way, then spend a night, then finish up the trip.
From the people there, we found many had spent a night in either Honolulu or Guam, so they didn't arrive so exhausted. Continental is the only US carrier that flies into Micronesia (I think there is also an Asian airline but don't know which). Regardless, it is worth the long flights getting there!
Not too many places you can wake up and have coffee to a view like this!

robin

 

[BigBothersom]

I have to agree.
Palau is at the top of list of favorite world dive sites and well worth the travel time.
If you choose not to do the live aboard, stay at Palau Pacific Resort and dive with Sams Tours, or my favorite Neco Marine.
Either way, November in Palau sounds good to me.
Oh, and beautiful video Robin. Its making me consider returning this year for a 2nd trip...maybe in November.
I also suggest breaking the trip up with a layover.
Coming from Seattle we decided to spend the night in Honolulu. It was a nice break. Previously I'd flown to Truk Lagoon (Chuuk) and we didn't stop. That was a long damn flight.