Holy Grail of Diving?

[vladimir]

The problem with the BEST places, is that they too remote for most divers. They either have no infrastructure, take days of local travel to get to, or are extremely dangerous (from pirates, guerillas, bandits, etc).

And when they become less remote, they become more developed and, eventually, spoiled. Direct flights from the New York metropolitan area are probably the final nail in a Caribbean reef's coffin. When I visited Sipadan in 1995 it took me over 24 hours to get there--from Singapore. The regulars were already complaining then about the deterioration they'd seen. Papua New Guinea has probably been somewhat preserved by a combination of remoteness and crime. From Undercurrent:

Papua New Guinea: The biggest concern is the high crime rate, and many visitors have suffered severe injuries from carjackings and armed robberies, especially in Port Moresby. People traveling alone are at greater risk for robbery or rape. State recommends organized tours booked through travel agencies as the safest way to visit PNG. I’d be on guard in Port Moresby, but would be pleased to dive anywhere in PNG. However, our PNG reviewer in the February issue witnessed a shooting and stayed at a resort where armed robbers had just appeared.

The same article also has this to say:

Jim, I can’t think of a single major dive destination I’d avoid because of the perceived risk. But you can check out how the U.S. State Department views travel risk at its Web site (Welcome to Travel.State.Gov). Its reports are much calmer and more reliable than those from any blog or cable-news network. Frankly, I think too many Americans are irrationally fearful about travel risks and not always knowledgeable about geography. A few years ago, after a nightclub bombing in Bali, divers stayed away from Sulawesi, a separate island hundreds of miles away and reached primarily from Singapore. Adventurous divers reading Undercurrent are getting plenty of good diving all over the world.

l

 

[joesgonediving]

Bali, Indonesia have a look at the different divesites :
Bali Dive Sites Descriptions - Joe's Gone Diving
And there good priced options for dive safaries around the island:
Dive Safaris Bali - Joe's Gone Diving
Bali has a mix of all kind of different dive types, from wall (menjangan island), to muck (puri jati), to beautifull reefs (Padang Bay area), too advanced diving (Nusa Penida) and Manta's at Manta Point.

We can help you with all your travel arrangements

You will fall in Love

Jan

 

[dive brat]

Wow... Thank you all for your great advice and keep it coming

I have thought very seriously about Palau or PNG being next on the list, though Raja Ampat sounds great too...

Yes, Vladamir, life does get in the way so although this certainly won't be my last I want it to be my "Holy Grail" for right now!

Lots of reading to do!

d.b.

 

[caymaniac]

I've been to (PNG), Loloata as well as New Britain diving from StarDancer and Walindi. I would rate it tops.
The Red Sea is very good but with the political situation it is not really do-able right now.
I've dove off South Africa and seen some incredible sights but PNG is alot better. We've also been to the GBR (liveaboard), it's very good the farther north you go but not as good as PNG.

If you want the best in the Caribbean then choose Little Cayman or Turks & Caicos, Bonaire is great but nothing big is there yet it still remains the easiest shore diving anywhere.

 

[Malene]

The Red Sea is very good but with the political situation it is not really do-able right now.

Go check the Red Sea threads, and you'll see it is very OK to go there now... You can even avoid the crowds which can be a pain on a number of sites...
That being said, the biodiversity is much less rich than in Indonesia or the Philippines, but it is still very good, much better than the Caribbean. And as it has been said before, we all have our own Holy Grail, mine does not necessarily have shark as a "must", but unusual critters are!

 

[Rhone Man]

I don't know about biodiversity, but count another vote for Truk Lagoon as the Holy Grail. I have been around, but I have never seen anything else like it.

I was chatting with another diver at Truk, and he was saying "How often is it that you want to do something, and you build it up, and build it up, and build it up in your mind - and then when you finally get there, it really is actually that good?" Not too often, but it happens in Truk.

Edit: I didn't do it, but when I was in Truk, virtually everyone else on the boat did a 'double' trip taking in both Truk and Palau (hey, if you are travelling that far...). If I ever get to do it again, I will do that as well.

 

[phillybob]

Any place I can get wet....Damm it's cold in NJ

THAT'S THE GRAIL !!! New Jersey wrecks !!!! Mingle with the natives.

 

[vladimir]

Edit: I didn't do it, but when I was in Truk, virtually everyone else on the boat did a 'double' trip taking in both Truk and Palau (hey, if you are travelling that far...). If I ever get to do it again, I will do that as well.

I did Palau and Truk separately, but the Truk/Palau combo is certainly the way to go if you can carve out the vacation time. I also agree that the combination has to be considered as grail destination, even if you're not a hardcore wreck enthusiast. The wrecks in Truk are so amazing and so full of life they will thrill even a lukewarm wreck diver. And the wrecks won't last forever either; they are deteriorating at least as fast as coral reefs are.

 

[Rhone Man]

And the wrecks won't last forever either; they are deteriorating at least as fast as coral reefs are.

When I was there, there was a diver who had previously been to Truk in the early 80s and he brough his photos, and one could see how vividly the wrecks have deteriorated over 30 years. Made me think that I really want to take my sons to see them whilst they are still so impressive.

 

[=C=]

SHHHH!!!!!

We don't want everyone else knowing about this. There won't be room for us.

Whats the first rule of Dive club!!!!