Dive site recommendations - Bali and surrounds

[phlegm]

So I'm off to Komodo for a liveaboard in a bit over a week. What I haven't planned is what other diving I'll be doing!

I have ~2 days in bali before my flights to Labuan Bajo (the port town closest to Komodo), and my buddy is making a return to diving so he needs easing in. To that end, the plan is to go up north to Tulamben to dive the Liberty and maybe the drop off wall.

After my liveaboard I'll be in Labuan Bajo, Flores, with maybe a week of travel (flexible, I could extend if it's worth it).

Options:
- travel and dive around Flores
- take a ferry to Lombok and return to Bali overland (added bonus of maybe doing a side trip to the Gili islands)
- just fly back to Bali and go to Nusa Lembognan or Nusa Penida

Any opinions? or any left field suggestions? nothing is set in stone

Cheers

 

[tendi]

This is the exact same discussion we're having right now. We were even considering adding on Sipadan but that seems difficult. Looking forward to the replies!

 

[Luko]

Crossing Flores makes a very nice trip on land but to be honest, I found the diving a bit tame in Maumere, east of Flores.
Gilis/Lombok are really not worth the trip for serious diving.
Bali provides great opportunities, other than Nusa Penida : Padang Bai, Tulamben, Amed, ..

 

[phlegm]

yeah we're thinking of hiring motorbikes for a few days so we can explore Flores a bit

 

[gilbubblefish]

yeah we're thinking of hiring motorbikes for a few days so we can explore Flores a bit

if you want to ride around Labuhanbajo motorbike could be fine, but i would not recommend crossing Flores with motorbike ....Enjoy

 

[phlegm]

Why not? I gather it's pretty undeveloped but that's okay by me. unless we run out of petrol...

 

[Luko]

Why not? I gather it's pretty undeveloped but that's okay by me. unless we run out of petrol...

Do you have any idea how long Flores is?
It itakes 3 days to cross by car driving continuously 5 to 8 hours per day. First stop after Labuan Bajo would be Ruteng, 5 hours drive with steep roads that unless you can rent a real motorbike or you're built like an indonesian (less than 60kgs) you would have to step down and push your scooter uphill.

 

[phlegm]

wasn't talking about circumnavigating the island!
but yeah cheers for the info, that's the sort of stuff I need to know. hmmm

 

[Luko]

wasn't talking about circumnavigating the island!
but yeah cheers for the info, that's the sort of stuff I need to know. hmmm

The best parts of Flores are far away from Labuan Bajo : Bajawa (volcanoes and tribes, 2 days drive from LBJ) to Moni (Kelimutu colored lakes, 3 day drive from LBJ).

 

[nomadasdiver]

All depend how tired you finish. If you have no flight ticket from Labuan bajo to Bali yet. You can consider to book your ticket from Maumere and arrange a driver that take you from Labuan bajo visiting the most characteristic places, for after drop you in Maumere and take your flight back to Bali. Really worthly but long way. I know an agency that organize it pretty good : www.come2indonesia. com .
In the other hand Nusa Lembongan and Penida are great for finish a long dive trip. Due you can enjoy and relax I an small hotel while combining with activities : diving, yoga, surf or excursions around nusa penida. Also here I can recommend you the resort where I work for, which can arrange all sort of tours and activities during your stay. Planet Nomadas|Dive lembongan,buceo lembongan,surf lembongan|Lembongan