flip.flops:
any suggestions for newbies on places to dive in southeast asia in sept/october?
i'm eyeing layang layang, or sangalaki area or manado...but not sure if i can handle it...
any tipsy tips much appreciated!
Just got my padi owd in Bali, i'm definitely hooked now...but also broke, heheh.
Wow! You have named some of the best diving the region has! Keep in mind, though, that famous areas like these often include some challenges that are absent from many of the popular "newbie" areas (things like low viz, silty bottoms that easily get stirred up, currents, endless depths, etc.).
I have seen relatively inexperienced divers at Layang2, but unless you're very comfortable not being able to see the bottom, you might want to leave Layang2 for a future trip once you've honed your skills a bit more. The dives at Layang2 are generally deeper than recommended OW limits as they are principally wall dives. The dives at Bunaken near Manado also include many deep walls, but they are mixed with sloping reefs, so there are also some "easy" dives in the area.
For Malaysia, you might want to consider the islands of the Terengganu Marine Park--Perhentians, Redang, Lang Tengah, etc. Alternatively, think about the Gulf of Thailand, in particular the Mu Koh Chang Marine Park, where the maximum depth of the dive sites is nearly always within OW limits. Both of these areas are quite affordable.
