Bucket List Trip Recommendation

[NitroxNemo]

Next year (2026) is my wife’s “big” birthday and our 10 year anniversary and we want to do an amazing dive trip to celebrate. I don’t want to say money is no object, but we would be willing to pay a premium for the experience. We are both experienced divers and diving will be the focus of the trip. We have been to the Galapagos and still want to do Socorro, but I was thinking something more romantic and less challenging diving (although we are totally up for that if necessary). We are flexible on location and timing. (it could even spill into to early 2027 if the diving is better in a particular season).

Some places that have popped up as options are:

-Misool (Raja Ampat) - although I am a couple years too late to book that unless some of you have some secrets to share

-ScubaSpa (Maldives) - reviews are good, although we would definitely be doing the dive package. We aren’t willing to trade half the dives for spa days

-Arenui (Raja Ampat or Komodo) - This also looks pretty booked up, but I haven’t investigated it much.

I am not at all married to these and am really looking forward to your suggestions. If you have any feedback on the above, that would be welcome as well. Thanks in advance

 

[also_anon_dc]

ScubaSpa also has a boat in Indonesia called Zen. They have a large owner's suite that would be great if money is no object.

 

[LeggoDiveyDivey]

Love that you want to do something romantic for your wife but those locations (Maldives and Raja Ampat) are known for challenging currents that are on par with, if not stronger, than Galapagos.

Maldives has strong oceanic currents funneled through islands. Almost all dives in the central atolls are negative entries with reef hooks deployed.

Raja is more protected so theres loads of nice reef dives but there are also strong currents at select dive sites. Between Raja and Komodo, Ill pick Raja for wildlife but Komodo for an easier dive trip.

 

[Blackcrusader]

@NitroxNemo Why not look at Palau?

 

[tursiops]

Wakatobi, split between the resort and their liveaboard, the Pelagian.

 

[CWK]

French Polynesia

 

[NitroxNemo]

Love that you want to do something romantic for your wife but those locations (Maldives and Raja Ampat) are known for challenging currents that are on par with, if not stronger, than Galapagos.

Maldives has strong oceanic currents funneled through islands. Almost all dives in the central atolls are negative entries with reef hooks deployed.

Raja is more protected so theres loads of nice reef dives but there are also strong currents at select dive sites. Between Raja and Komodo, Ill pick Raja for wildlife but Komodo for an easier dive trip.

Thanks for that feedback @LeggoDiveyDivey . As I mentioned, we aren’t opposed to some current diving. We do a fair amount of diving in rougher areas, but all things being equal, it would be better if every dive wasn’t reef hook level. Since I am just starting this research, I didn’t realize the Maldives fell into this category.

Would you have recommendations for other areas/resorts other than what I listed above?

 

[NitroxNemo]

@NitroxNemo Why not look at Palau?

Thanks @Blackcrusader. I will check it out. Do you have a recommendation for a LOB or a resort?

 

[NitroxNemo]

French Polynesia

Added to the research list. @CWK Do you have a favorite dive company there?

 

[Blackcrusader]

Thanks @Blackcrusader. I will check it out. Do you have a recommendation for a LOB or a resort?

Plenty of threads on this forum for LOB and land based options for Palau. Just use the search function