Gili islands first, then Komodo?

[Luko]

I think taking a new diver to Komodo which is well known for currents is a stupid idea. But people do it. I also think getting certified while on vacation is a stupid idea. But people do that too.

On my side, I think that thinking what people do is stupid is stupid.

People are not equal at reacting aptly or dealing with currents, it takes some experience too, sometimes a couple of dives will build the confidence, that won't happen anywhere diving a lake home with zilch current. Remember what all cert agencies say : qualification is variable, you are only qualified to dive the conditions you've already been through,
So not all certifications are equal : you need to face currents if you want to know how to deal with currents. What's better than Indo to dive Indo?.

I sometimes experienced more tricky currents on some sites in Bali than most of Komodo.
I would state that getting certified in Bali should be a good start, try Nusa Penida dives or Gili Tepekong/Mimpang nearby Padang Bai then depending on how you or your GF are dealing with local currents you may consider going to Komodo, (not necessarily on a liveaboard, there are also some correct operations in LBJ that are using fast boats to go to the sites). If that is not the case and you feel stressed with currents, stay on Bali, there is a lot to dive there.

 

[CWK]

Just have her do the drift dive speciality whilst in Bali to get experience of 2 drift dives whilst under instruction. I did mine over 2 days. 1st day - manta point, crystal bay, SD. 2nd day - manta point, crystal bay, mangrove. The drift dives were the last dive on each day. Quite fun and got to see mola mola and manta too.

 

[Tippytoes12]

Bali , the Gilis and Lembongan havé plenty to occupy you for that period. You would be very unlucky not to see mantas in lembongan , sharks in the Gilis and you will definitely see masses of turtles. Just dive and dive and get lots of experience. Keep Komodo for the next trip.

 

[FindingMenno]

I think taking a new diver to Komodo which is well known for currents is a stupid idea. But people do it. I also think getting certified while on vacation is a stupid idea. But people do that too.

I would say to fully enjoy all that Komodo has to offer, having some experience and being comfortable with currents would be beneficial. Saying that, I have taken inexperienced divers out, taught OWD, conducted DSD's in Komodo. There are a number of sites suitable for that, but you are more limited. But even known high current sites can be dived safely for a novice diver. For instance Batu Bolong, as long as you stay on the leeward protected side is a pretty easy dive. I have done OW dives for OWC there.
The main risk for a novice diver is to find a dive operator that recognizes and respects your experience level. And not bring you to sites that require a bit more experience because that is where most of the boat wants to dive.

 

[Centrals]

I would never take inexperience diver to Komodo. You never know how they would react in unfamiliar condition/situation.

 

[CWK]

Diving has gotten soft. When I was certified 30 years ago, I was certified for buddy diving. Guided diving with a ratio of 4 divers to a guide was unknown to me then. As a result one learns, and quickly. A compass was a must, as was the abiity to navigate your way back to the boat whether by compass bearing or natural navigation! There was no dive guide to show you the way home. My first 4 open water dives was in the relatively sheltered waters of Pulau Tenggol, Malaysia. My fifth open water dive was on a LOB in the coral sea. Yes, it was buddy diving without a guide fussing over newbies. Yes, there were currents, Dynamite Pass comes to mind.

Training standards may have been diluted over time, so by all means dive ops should make allowances for new divers to get their buoyancy, etc under control. But, by equal measure, new divers should realistically assess their own abilities, be as self reliant as possible, and understand worst case scenarios should a storm blow in half way through a dive, or if the currents pick up, or if there is just some weird planetary alignment that causes things to go south. Perhaps the OP should read: Woman lost - Gili Lawa, Indonesia It is not just new divers that can get caught out. Even old hands can find themselves in a situation. For example: Canadian diver and buddy rescued near Apo Island, Philippines

It can only be beneficial if new divers rein in their diving ambitions a little until they have sufficient training and experience. There is a lot of good diving to be had in conditions suitable for new divers.

After being certified 30 years ago, I dived from Thailand in the west to Bora Bora in the east, then stopped for 20 years as life got in the way of diving. I resumed diving last year and wanted to do Komodo, and other places with currents so I started a cycle of training to get up to speed with the sport. My journey since April 2017 has been:
Apr 2017 - Tioman, Malaysia
May 2017 - Sipadan, Malaysia - where I met a visiting Padi instructor who had experienced boat separation in Bali because of a washing machine. He introduced me to the Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS which he carries together with a strobe, air horn and pony.
June 2017 - Tioman, Malaysia - Rescue and deep specialty.
June 2017 - Phuket, Thailand - Researching Self Reliant training.
July 2017 - Sanur Bali, Indonesia - Drift and wreck specialty.
July 2017 - Phuket, Thailand - Self Reliant Diver specialty.
August 2017 - Perhentian, Malaysia
August 2017 - Maldives - met a Swiss recreational diver who had experienced boat separation in Australia when she was left behind by the dive boat. She was angry with the boat but I did not see her carrying any emergency signalling equipment of note.
September 2017 - Sipadan, Malaysia.
October 2017 - Maldives
November 2017 - Pulau Weh, Indonesia
December 2017 - Maldives
January 2018 - Kuta Bali, Indonesia - SSI Extended Range Nitrox tech training. My instructor said he had once experienced boat separation in Bali when his dive boat left him behind. He carries a giant 10' SMB.
January 2018 - Lembeh, Indonesia
February 2018 - Kalimantan, Indonesia
February/March 2018 - Maldives. A BSAC diver on board the LOB said she had experienced boat separation in the UK when the captain of the boat did not follow their bubbles, which showed their drift. She carries a strobe and the Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS.
April 2018 - Tubbataha, Philippines
May 2018 - Maldives
June 2018 - Amed Bali, Indonesia - TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures tech training.
June 2018 - Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia
***Next***
July 2018 - Amed Bali, Indonesia - SSI Extended Range tech training.
July 2018 - Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia
July 2018 - Komodo! At last.

I fully appreciate that most recreational divers will not have the time to dive as much as I do to gain experience, nor time to do as many courses as I do. The point that I'm trying to make is to take time to gain experience and training on your way towards more advanced diving. New divers can do Komodo with less than 50 dives under their belt in ideal conditions. But do they have the experience and skill to get out of a washing machine? Think of how challenging a dive site can potentially be. That may tell you whether you are ready to do the dive.

 

[Dan]

Diving has gotten soft. When I was certified 30 years ago, I was certified for buddy diving. Guided diving with a ratio of 4 divers to a guide was unknown to me then. As a result one learns, and quickly. A compass was a must, as was the abiity to navigate your way back to the boat whether by compass bearing or natural navigation! There was no dive guide to show you the way home. My first 4 open water dives was in the relatively sheltered waters of Pulau Tenggol, Malaysia. My fifth open water dive was on a LOB in the coral sea. Yes, it was buddy diving without a guide fussing over newbies. Yes, there were currents, Dynamite Pass comes to mind.

Training standards may have been diluted over time, so by all means dive ops should make allowances for new divers to get their buoyancy, etc under control. But, by equal measure, new divers should realistically assess their own abilities, be as self reliant as possible, and understand worst case scenarios should a storm blow in half way through a dive, or if the currents pick up, or if there is just some weird planetary alignment that causes things to go south. Perhaps the OP should read: Woman lost - Gili Lawa, Indonesia It is not just new divers that can get caught out. Even old hands can find themselves in a situation. For example: Canadian diver and buddy rescued near Apo Island, Philippines

It can only be beneficial if new divers rein in their diving ambitions a little until they have sufficient training and experience. There is a lot of good diving to be had in conditions suitable for new divers.

After being certified 30 years ago, I dived from Thailand in the west to Bora Bora in the east, then stopped for 20 years as life got in the way of diving. I resumed diving last year and wanted to do Komodo, and other places with currents so I started a cycle of training to get up to speed with the sport. My journey since April 2017 has been:
Apr 2017 - Tioman, Malaysia
May 2017 - Sipadan, Malaysia - where I met a visiting Padi instructor who had experienced boat separation in Bali because of a washing machine. He introduced me to the Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS which he carries together with a strobe, air horn and pony.
June 2017 - Tioman, Malaysia - Rescue and deep specialty.
June 2017 - Phuket, Thailand - Researching Self Reliant training.
July 2017 - Sanur Bali, Indonesia - Drift and wreck specialty.
July 2017 - Phuket, Thailand - Self Reliant Diver specialty.
August 2017 - Perhentian, Malaysia
August 2017 - Maldives - met a Swiss recreational diver who had experienced boat separation in Australia when she was left behind by the dive boat. She was angry with the boat but I did not see her carrying any emergency signalling equipment of note.
September 2017 - Sipadan, Malaysia.
October 2017 - Maldives
November 2017 - Pulau Weh, Indonesia
December 2017 - Maldives
January 2018 - Kuta Bali, Indonesia - SSI Extended Range Nitrox tech training. My instructor said he had once experienced boat separation in Bali when his dive boat left him behind. He carries a giant 10' SMB.
January 2018 - Lembeh, Indonesia
February 2018 - Kalimantan, Indonesia
February/March 2018 - Maldives. A BSAC diver on board the LOB said she had experienced boat separation in the UK when the captain of the boat did not follow their bubbles, which showed their drift. She carries a strobe and the Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS.
April 2018 - Tubbataha, Philippines
May 2018 - Maldives
June 2018 - Amed Bali, Indonesia - TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures tech training.
June 2018 - Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia
***Next***
July 2018 - Amed Bali, Indonesia - SSI Extended Range tech training.
July 2018 - Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia
July 2018 - Komodo! At last.

I fully appreciate that most recreational divers will not have the time to dive as much as I do to gain experience, nor time to do as many courses as I do. The point that I'm trying to make is to take time to gain experience and training on your way towards more advanced diving. New divers can do Komodo with less than 50 dives under their belt in ideal conditions. But do they have the experience and skill to get out of a washing machine? Think of how challenging a dive site can potentially be. That may tell you whether you are ready to do the dive.

You crack a pecan nut with sledge hammer

Enjoyed reading your diving history BTW. I’d do diving as much as you do when I retire.

You bring a good point for being prepared during ocean diving. You just never know what nature would throw at you & some questionable dive operators would do while you were underwater. That’s why I post this thread: Best signaling devices from the searcher’s point of view - update

Here is what happened to 7 Japanese divers in Mangrove, Nusa Penida, Bali in 2014: 7 divers missing off Indonesian island

Another one in the same place in 2012: Divers Missing in Bali

Be careful & be prepared! Stay away from Mangrove, Blue Corner & Crystal Bay unless you are experienced & prepared for diving in such conditions.

 

[CWK]

You crack a pecan nut with sledge hammer

I was aiming for a nuclear bomb. I guess back to the drawing board for some more remedial training.

 

[charlier]

On my side, I think that thinking what people do is stupid is stupid.

People are not equal at reacting aptly or dealing with currents, it takes some experience too, sometimes a couple of dives will build the confidence, that won't happen anywhere diving a lake home with zilch current. Remember what all cert agencies say : qualification is variable, you are only qualified to dive the conditions you've already been through,
So not all certifications are equal : you need to face currents if you want to know how to deal with currents. What's better than Indo to dive Indo?.

I sometimes experienced more tricky currents on some sites in Bali than most of Komodo.
I would state that getting certified in Bali should be a good start, try Nusa Penida dives or Gili Tepekong/Mimpang nearby Padang Bai then depending on how you or your GF are dealing with local currents you may consider going to Komodo, (not necessarily on a liveaboard, there are also some correct operations in LBJ that are using fast boats to go to the sites). If that is not the case and you feel stressed with currents, stay on Bali, there is a lot to dive there.

Luko and I are on the same page here. I have accompanied inexperienced divers that enjoyed current-rich Komodo dive sites. Mostly, this is due to an experienced DM that understands the relations between the lunar cycle, tides, and currents. Relatively inexperienced divers with good spatial awareness and buoyancy control will have a good experience, but only with experienced DMs that know the dive sites. Dan_T's post really shows that an experienced dive guide is important.

My personal advice is - get certified in Bali, perhaps @Padang Bai. With a good guide, visit north shore Nusa Penida dive site, with good conditions, dive at Gili Tepekong or Mimpang.

 

[CWK]

Perhaps the OP should read an account of an encounter with the Indonesian throughflow:
How I almost drowned -- twice