Gorantalo, Sulawesi Diving?

[boletus1973]

Hello Chilly. What's the best time of year to go to Banga and which resort is best for short boat trips?

I’ve been to bangka 8 times but always between the end of July and the end of August… it’s the dry and windy season… many years with wind but without a drop of rain.. for me the best weather(not very humid and hot).. but for what a know usually the best months are April may june and September October… but who knows with the GW? last time in 2022 rain a lot in August
For the shortest boat trips depending where you go diving around bangka or maybe on the mainland or talise island… as Luko say murex is the closest to sahaung dive site(the best on bangka) but the difference in distance between murex coraleye or bastianos isn’t that much.. like 5 minutes boat ride…

 

[Jay_Remi]

Been once in feb in Bangka, it was just the end of an (awfully) rainy and windy season, I was quite worried for the rest of the stay when the owner told me it had been raining everyday for the previous month, I was lucky the rain stopped the day after.
FWIW I also went on a trip to Lembeh in feb on another year, it was depressing raining everyday. Hence my experience with early months of the year in N/Sulawesi was not very conclusive weatherwise.

Amihan (ie. Northeast monsoon) prevails from december to feb, since Bangka strait is oriented exactly that direction looking straight to the Philippines sea with no protection, apart from my own experience I'm not so sure these months would be the most recommended (it's also the wettest months in N/Sulawesi).

I am planning to go there around december 20. You reckon it would be a bad idea weather-wise? Likely to have long episodes of rain from your experience? How would visibility underwater be?

 

[chillyinCanada]

I am planning to go there around december 20. You reckon it would be a bad idea weather-wise? Likely to have long episodes of rain from your experience? How would visibility underwater be?

Of all my trips there, I've only had bad luck once and it may have been the same winter as Luko was there. Viz was disappointing comparatively, but Sahaung is still fabulous and that trip is the only time that I've seen a bumphead there, let alone been within feet of one.

Mother nature delivers what she delivers. If you experience poor viz, instesd of being disappointed, look more closely at things near to you. You'll be surprised.

 

[Jay_Remi]

Of all my trips there, I've only had bad luck once and it may have been the same winter as Luko was there. Viz was disappointing comparatively, but Sahaung is still fabulous and that trip is the only time that I've seen a bumphead there, let alone been within feet of one.

Mother nature delivers what she delivers. If you experience poor viz, instesd of being disappointed, look more closely at things near to you. You'll be surprised.

Thanks. I meant in terms of rain, not UW visibility. Wifey might not be too happy if it rains non-stop whilst on a resort, hence my query.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Thanks. I meant in terms of rain, not UW visibility. Wifey might not be too happy if it rains non-stop whilst on a resort, hence my query.

Ah yes, I'd forgotten about the non-diver in your party. My apologies.

 

[Luko]

You reckon it would be a bad idea weather-wise? Likely to have long episodes of rain from your experience?

Rainfall also depends on whether it's a La Nina (lotsa rain) or El Nino (dry) year. Def a No-No for a La Nina year. Wouldn't bet on it though.