Indonesia or Philippines in Jan/Feb

[Kevster]

Indonesia or Philippines

Will be taking a 4-6 week break in mid Jan/Feb & not sure where I should go.
I will be looking for dive locations I have not been to. I am currently in Thailand & will be travelling out in the next 2 weeks.
Option 1
Indonesia
North Bali, Gorontalo, Bangka (& Maybe Togians depending on weather)
(Pros – Easy to get to & travel around. Lot of options in North Sulw . I have always enjoyed my trips in Indo.
Cons – Bad time of year i.e off/rainy season)

Option 2
Philippines
Malapasca, Anilao, Bohol, Donsol
(Pros – I think the weather will be better. Better beaches. Chance to see W. Sharks & Mayon volcano fireworks
Cons – Prob more difficult to get around/more travelling. I have had a couple of slightly disappointing trips in the past. Don’t really know my way around the Philippines compared to Indo)

Would appreciate any recommendations or tips regarding the dive seasons/conditions in Jan/Feb.

( As a reference I have previously dived Bali,Lombok,Lembeh,Bunaken,Papua,Alor,Ambon,Komodo,P.Weh in Indo & PG,Sogod,Dumaguete in Phil)

 

[Bronson]

Well, you sure have been to alot of the better places already. Hard to top these places. Though i did love Dumaguete. How about Puerto Galeria Philippines (spelling ??_

As for the weather, it is not raining under water so for diving no issues and frankly this is a pretty mild monsoon season this year. As for Donsol, the whale sharks seem to show up after Mid-March so no reason to go there in Jan/feb and tough to get to anyway. Plus when the whale sharks arrrive in Donsol you can only snorkel...no diving allowed (or at least i know of none).

Would you consider Christmas Island (AUS) which you get to thru KL directly on a short hope. The best time is in January and will be a treat when the corals spawn and the red crabs show up then the Whale Sharks....a real feeding frenzie.

Good luck.

 

[Mike Veitch]

Pinay chicks are quite hot...

Try just hanging around the Visayas region, tons of great places there. Start a thread in the PI section about wanting to spend a bunch of time around Cebu, you will get some good answers...

You don't have a new job yet? bum!

 

[drdaddy]

I may be in Thailand in July. Do you have any recommendations?

 

[Kevrumbo]

Go with the no-rainy season option (i.e. Philippines). And hook-up with the guys on the Philippine Paradise Divers Sub-forum to take you around, so you'll get the cheaper local rate (i.g. accommodation, food, etc) rather than the tourist rate. Everybody speaks & understands English, so it's not that difficult to find your way around the country. . .

 

[adamtodd]

Go for The Philippines because of the weather. You won't be disappointed by the diving at either place, but this is a great time to be in the Phils. If you want to cut down on the travel time I would do something like this:
Anilao-PG and Bohol-Moabol You would only have to do one flight, and the rest of the travel is very easy. All of this diving is gonna be excellent!
As for Donsol - I think Bronson hit the nail on the head... You'd basically make a long trip for a snorkeling trip- if it is even going at this time...
Good luck on your planning. The PPD group on here is really friendly and quick to reply- so if you have more planning q's about the Phils, you'll have sound advice

 

[Bubble Junky]

Check out Thresher Shark Divers on Malapascua.......

 

[Kevster]

Thanks for replies.
I am now in Bali.
Been diving Secret bay, Men Isl & PJ last few days.
Weather has not been great and the viss is very bad. Will now be heading to the Philippines rather than spend more time in Indo.