mjarens
Contributor
Planning for a multi-week trip to Indonesia for later 2008 or sometime in 2009, and am wondering if anyone with "been there/done that" experience would like to weigh in here with suggestions. Here are my parameters:
1. Must be liveaboards, not land based resorts (except for changeover week).
2. Want to include two weeks minimum, preferably back-to-back cruises, or one week in between (for travel time) the two weeks onboard.
3. What time of year would offer the best weather for diving in Indonesia?
4. Safety is very important to me re: boat safety, safety in diving practices, etc. No fly-by-night companies with lax safety reputations.
5. By the way, I am a mid-50's female diver, traveling alone (husband doesn't dive or travel much). My last two week trip was for two weeks on the Palau Aggressor last fall, then a week in Fiji and a week in Kauai this winter. I've logged 151 dives on seven trips in the past 24 months.
I am pretty flexible as far as what time of year, days of travel to and from, etc. I prefer to arrive at the embarkation destination a day or two early, to assure that my gear gets there too and that I've got a day to rest up after the long travel day(s). I pack pretty light: bag with dive gear = 37lbs, bag with clothes = 26lbs, carryon = 18lbs. Could be lightened up if necessary for airline restrictions.
Have enjoyed liveaboard diving so much and would like to try it in Indonesia. I've been tempted to book one week in North Sulawesi on the Aggressor boat, then the second week in North Sulawesi on the Peter Hughes boat, figuring that they probably don't dive the same exact locations. Would this be possible without the need for a week in between the two dive weeks?
Again, anyone with experience in a two+ week trip like this that would like to suggest an itinerary for me, please speak up. I am really open as to the exact location, could be Rajah Ampat area, or Komodo. Let me hear about your experience.
Thanks,
mjarens
1. Must be liveaboards, not land based resorts (except for changeover week).
2. Want to include two weeks minimum, preferably back-to-back cruises, or one week in between (for travel time) the two weeks onboard.
3. What time of year would offer the best weather for diving in Indonesia?
4. Safety is very important to me re: boat safety, safety in diving practices, etc. No fly-by-night companies with lax safety reputations.
5. By the way, I am a mid-50's female diver, traveling alone (husband doesn't dive or travel much). My last two week trip was for two weeks on the Palau Aggressor last fall, then a week in Fiji and a week in Kauai this winter. I've logged 151 dives on seven trips in the past 24 months.
I am pretty flexible as far as what time of year, days of travel to and from, etc. I prefer to arrive at the embarkation destination a day or two early, to assure that my gear gets there too and that I've got a day to rest up after the long travel day(s). I pack pretty light: bag with dive gear = 37lbs, bag with clothes = 26lbs, carryon = 18lbs. Could be lightened up if necessary for airline restrictions.
Have enjoyed liveaboard diving so much and would like to try it in Indonesia. I've been tempted to book one week in North Sulawesi on the Aggressor boat, then the second week in North Sulawesi on the Peter Hughes boat, figuring that they probably don't dive the same exact locations. Would this be possible without the need for a week in between the two dive weeks?
Again, anyone with experience in a two+ week trip like this that would like to suggest an itinerary for me, please speak up. I am really open as to the exact location, could be Rajah Ampat area, or Komodo. Let me hear about your experience.
Thanks,
mjarens