Derawan/Sangalaki or North Sulawesi on a budget?

[Jensm]

Hi,

My girlfriend and I have 3 weeks to a month to spend on a stopover in Singapore going from Australia back to Europe in July. We're torn between spending them at North Sulawesi and Derawan. Any experience that could help us?

Our wishes are as follows:

Budget accommodation - we can't afford full board/diving luxury resorts at $150+ a day - we'd rather be able to stay longer at places with more Indo-like prices and then not dive everyday. We're fine with Indo style beach huts.

Nice diving - including big fish

Must be not too difficult to get to from Singapore

Must be not too expensive to get to from Singapore (US$1000 return/person absolute max)

Terimah Kasih,

Jens Maigaard

 

[ssra30]

Hmm, as far as I know, there is no easy way to do Sangalaki on a budget. Basically you only 3 choices, Sangalaki,Derawan and Nabucco and they are all $100++ a day operations. There are 10 of us going there in Apirl and we all will be paying about $150 a day each. I think Sipadan is a bit cheaper but probably still close to $100 a day. An absolutely cheap place to dive would be the Philippines but July would be the monsoon season there. I am not sure about North Sulawesi but am thinking of going to Lembeh Strait later on this year and certainly would like to hear what kind of deal you can get.

 

[scubashooter]

You can forget about Kalimantan at that budget. Your best bet is to go to Bunaken Eco resorts or the eco resort around Bangka Islands. You pay as you go for dives and the accomodation is relatively cheap but don't expect too much. Problem with Bunaken/Sangihe/Talaud is the big fish like Nappy Wrasse are not often seen. There aren't too many big schools of pelagics around but you do get the occasional rare sightings of orca and sperm whales. Indo is pretty much fished out of the big stuff. You still get hammers and mantas in the southern sundas and around Komodo the pelagic populations are decent.
I would say your best alternative is to go to Bali and try for the Mola Mola.

 

[S C]

Hi,

Budget accommodation - we can't afford full board/diving luxury resorts at $150+ a day - we'd rather be able to stay longer at places with more Indo-like prices and then not dive everyday. We're fine with Indo style beach huts.

Nice diving - including big fish

Must be not too difficult to get to from Singapore

Must be not too expensive to get to from Singapore (US$1000 return/person absolute max)

Jens Maigaard

If you are settle for non-aircon room, for your budget you can stay on Bunaken, Manado for 7-10 day with diving

Also check out the live-on-board to Derawen