Bucket List Trip Recommendation

[pintodog]

I've been on The Arenui in both Raja & Komodo. I've also done a liveaboard & land-based option in the Maldives (Carpe Diem & Kuramathi) and Fiji Tavenui. The best diving was hands down on Arenui. There is not a better liveaboard out there, which is why they book years in advance; however they do get openings. Get on their email list to find out about them. I agree with other posters that the romance part of the trip is going to be better on land for privacy reasons if nothing else. The Maldives & Fiji are better for that aspect as is Atmosphere in the Philippines. I haven't been to Palau but was recently reading out how that area is heating up with military maneuvers in the ongoing Chinese expansion issues. It was enough to make me concerned about impacts on sea & reef.

Just got back a couple of days ago from Palau. Still fantastic. No impact on sea & reef that I could see. They are looking at upgrading the airstrip on Peliliu.

 

[NitroxNemo]

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.

We have sort of narrowed it down to around Thanksgiving due to vacation time and the Zen has some availability (as opposed to many of the other recommended boats). Have you been on the boat before?

 

[NitroxNemo]

That sounds great! So...here are some thoughts:

• Socorro - Fantastic diving. The dolphins and mantas are amazing. The currents can be strong and the water temperature may require a thicker wetsuit. Also...the LOBs are not very "lux" so it doesn't meet your romantic criteria. Basically this trip is for hardcore diving.
• Raja Ampat - Takes a while to get to but the diving is spectacular. If you go on a LOB you can get Misool, Dampier, etc all in one trip, which is nice. Great water conditions (i.e. water is not too cold). The land excursions (jellyfish lake, etc.) are also nice. This is a potential candidate for your trip
• Komodo - I thought this was awesome...especially if you do the Bali - Komodo trip with Mermaid. You can spend some time on land in Bali and you get some fantastic diving in Komodo and on the way to Komodo. I would actually pick this one over Raja for your "romantic trip"
• French Polynesia - I would do a combination of Moorea and Fakarava (and stay at Havaiki Lodge in Fakarava). These islands are absolutely gorgeous and the food in Moorea is also great. Of all the places I'm going to list, this is definitely the most romantic. What you sacrifice, though, is variety in diving. Fakarava has tons of shark action (which is awesome) but that is about it. You can combine it with Rangiroa to see dolphins but basically you are not going to see the variety of Raja, Komodo, or some other places that I'm listing
• Maldives - The diving is great and you can find a great boat that will treat you like a king (and queen). The advantage of the Maldives is that you can combine a LOB (for the diving) with a land based resort (for the romance).
• Caribbean Mexico - The cenotes are beguiling and some of the most spiritual diving that I have done. That part of Mexico also has fantastic resorts (for the romance). Outside of the cenotes, though, I found the diving to be just okay.
• Palau - This...in my opinion...is the winner! Palau is drop dead gorgeous above and below water. I did a LOB, which allows you to anchor close to key dive sites. I also stayed on land on the same trip and did kayaking, etc.. Nothing compares to the Rock Islands. I HIGHLY recommend this for your "dive + romance" requirement.

Mermaid did not have that trip during the time we are looking at. We were still leaning Raja, but based on recommendations considering Palau. For Palau, what LOB did you choose there?

 

[also_anon_dc]

We have sort of narrowed it down to around Thanksgiving due to vacation time and the Zen has some availability (as opposed to many of the other recommended boats). Have you been on the boat before?

I have yes! I was on a 10 day Raja Ampat trip in December 2024. It was the nicest liveaboard I've ever been on I would definitely recommend it if it's in your budget. Diving from a dhoni is a game changer and they're the only liveaboard with one in Indonesia. Happy to answer any other questions.

 

[kimster812]

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

Not sure if you've planned anything yet (I might be late to the suggestion party here, LOL), but I am taking a group to Palau in May 2026 on board the beautiful Solitude Gaia. The upper master suites are beautiful and would be perfect for this trip! We went this year in May and loved it. Here's a link to the trip if you're interested: Designed for Scuba - Palau 2026 and feel free to email me for more info, info@designedforscuba.com