Early March recommendations

[mtchlllnds]

I'm an airline worker thumbing a free ride, so ultimately whatever flight has open seats will determine my destination but I was hoping for some help ranking my options since I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by choices. Currently it looks like I have a good shot of flying into:
1. Phuket, Thailand
2. Jakarta or Denpasar, Indonesia
3. Cebu, Philippines
4. Sharm El Sheikh/Dahab, Egypt - backup plan if my flight to SEA is full.

I'm a beginner, 7 dives, did my OW this past fall. I've only done 2 dives with noticeable current in El Nido, Philippines, the rest were in Thailand. Looking to dive for 2-3 days. Being able to do an AOW and build some skills would be a plus but it's not mandatory for this trip. I've only got about a week once I land and the budget for this trip is low, so remote locations would be a challenge. I'm leaving this Friday and having trouble narrowing it down so any help would be very appreciated!

 

[chillyinCanada]

Denpassar, Bali. Dive at Padang Bai.

When you say that you only have 5 days, does that include travel time too?

Where are you leaving from?

 

[mtchlllnds]

Denpassar, Bali. Dive at Padang Bai.

When you say that you only have 5 days, does that include travel time too?

Where are you leaving from?

Leaving from East coast USA, I have 9 days for the trip, budgeting roughly 2 days for travel on either end. It's really only 24hrs of travel from home to most of that list if everything goes right. So, the 5 days is conservative estimate and would be excluding international travel time, but additional in-country transit could start to cut into those 5 days.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Sharm will be an easier trip, if you can get a direct to Cairo.

 

[diveUAE]

I think for a newbie diver any of those places will be fine.

For budget stay if you can fly into Cebu, contact Bongo Bongo divers in Dauin (either a cheap flight to Dumaguete or bus/taxi- could stop at Oslob on the way).

Dauin is mostly muck diving from shore though, but also have some corals and a trip to Apo is very nice. Alternative from
Cebu take the bus to Moalboal - ok diving and lots of great non diving stuff as well.

We found Phuket quite expensive compared to Philippines and Indo, but you may be able to grab a deal.