Indonesia Dive suggestions for May 5-15th?

[Guam]

Leaving Kota Kintabalu the April 29th for Jakarta. We then trek through Borobudur and Bromo until May 3rd. We plan on visiting Bali May 4-8th. No plans after that.

We have to leave Indonesia May 16th. Didn't know if we should dive the Gilis and Komodo or Gilis and then head up to Manado? Maybe even squeeze a dive or two in Bali?

I know... I know... Trying to squeeze too much in? Really wanted to see Manado but could always leave it for next time if you guys think we should stick to the Bali/Lombok area.

If you do suggest Komodo, would it be via liveaboard? If so, which one?

thanks for any and all suggestions!

---------- Post added April 27th, 2013 at 07:52 PM ----------

We could also leave our gear in Jakarta and do our trip as planned and go from Bali to Manado via Jakarta and just rent gear in the Gilis?

 

[chillyinCanada]

Sorry Guam, the only suggestion I have for you is yes, too much. Take it easy and enjoy the journey.

I gather you are on Mabul now? Where did you choose to stay? How are you enjoying it? Did you/will you get to Sipadan?

 

[Guam]

Chilly,

After I typed that, I agree. Wanted to justify lugging the dive gear around Java. Think we're gonna leave the big ol dive bag at the Jakarta airport, enjoy Java and Bali/Gilis and then spend the last 5 days in manado.

I'm typing this from Layang Layang. AMAZING. Always wanted to dive with the hammerheads.

We spent the first week trekking inside Borneo and decided to skip Sipidan due to fact no resort could guarantee diving there. Figured we knew what we were getting with Layang Layang. I really was bummed about missing Sipidan when we were so close, but after our experience here, I have no regrets. This place has all of the huge pelagics. My wife can only bear 1 or 2 muck dives without doing loop-de-loops in the water out of shear boredom. This place was perfect for the both of us. Pygmy seahorses and every school of tuna. (Hammerheads didn't hurt it either)


Anyone have any suggestions on:

Preferred Gili island for a married couple in their late 30's?

Manado dive operators/resorts?

 

[Wingy]

Manado has two main land ''dive resorts'' as such - the Tasik Riah which is quite upmarket and very popular and the more 'Indo' but still quite nice Murex on the mainland with boat and shore diving. I stayed last time at the Murex op as I was also diving Bangka with them and have no complaints at all, nice pool and A/C chalets in beautiful gardens but if you like more of a spa deal the Tasik Riah would be the obvious choice. Off the mainland on Bunaken theres a heap to chose from and also Siladen and you are of course close to Lembeh. Manado is an easy place for divers but dont expect any real big fish action and Lembeh really is MUCK diving so your wife may get bored with that pretty quick. Great Treck so far btw I think your choice to leave your bags at Jakarta while you check out Java is a good one...those hills are pretty impressive!. Have fun

 

[pughio83]

Gilli trawangan would be fine tbh, gilli air has best diving and nicest beaches imho but v quiet so prefer to have more restaurant choices etc. re manado operators, u mean for lembeh and bunaken? Twofish, lembeh resort, black sand divers, lembeh hills, lembeh lodge, bastiannos, tasik divers etc

 

[pelan-pelan]

There are more dive resorts on "mainland" Manado. Number one on Trip Advisor is lumbalumba - lumbalumbadiving.com - which is where we go again and again. Many guests are repeat visitors. There are others like Minnehasa Lagoon. We don't have experience of that one but it seems popular. Time out in the highlands is interesting and beautiful and ideal to fill in the 24 hours before flying.

 

[Quero]

I would suggest flying into Manado airport, and if your wife doesn't like muck, then I'd suggest NOT diving Manado or Lembeh, but instead going to Bunaken. It's got lots of coral, walls, sweet small critters that you'll like (e.g., orang-utan crabs) and reef fish for wifey. There's also a variety of choices in regard to resort options.

 

[Wingy]

Pelan that is why i put the space between main and land - main as in the more frequently used by diveshops doing tours ex Aus. Yes, you are right there is also Lumba Lumba - im not a travel agent The other dive hotels I personally know of in the North Sulawesi WSA are on Bunaken - to me Manado mainland (no space) is a good spot for an overnighter then onto Bunaken or Bangka or Lembeh. Mount Tangkoko NP is also a great non dive day activity if you want to check out Tarsiers in the wild. Guam as you and your wife seem to like trekking - if you find yourself in Manado try and set aside a day to trek tangkoko and get up close and personal with the Tarsiers and the Yaki - surfing monkeys are really cool.

 

[pelan-pelan]

Agree with Wingy, Tangkoko is fascinating. The highlands behind Manado with the market town of Tomohon are also interesting with treks up volcanoes, house-building villages, potteries, bird's nest farming etc. Staying on the Manado (mainland) side puts you nearer these things. The journey on the boat across to the wall at Bunaken takes a while, but if you want to read, sleep and sun-bathe, then this works well. And there is always the possibility of seeing dolphins (fairly often), different sorts of dolphins too like Rossi's, pilot whales (not unusual) and other sorts of whales. Have lunch on the boat - yes, many of them have toilets - more chiilling, dive and then back across the bay.

If you want to dive quickly then if you are on Bunaken island, then you are much closer to the dive sites.

Manado-side has some surprising dive sites - more muck-oriented but we have seen eagle rays and some surprising larger stuff.

Enjoy Sulawesi. We will be back there in September.

 

[jake11]

I agree that a visit to see the Tarsier monkeys is a must! Awesome to see them snatch the grasshoppers! We stayed at Tasik Ria and had a great time. There was a great balance between muck and wall diving! We saw our first tiger shrimps here at the local muck site! Have fun!