Indonesia Vs. Fiji?

[wandererlaowai]

Well both RA and Fiji indeed imply a budget but this is something I'm willing to spend money on, we only have 1 life and I want to enjoy it

Is RA suitable - this is my only "concern" if I may say. I read different reviews / opinions and can't figure it out.

I don't have an incredible amount of experience (like I said, only about 30 dives) but I did get my PADI AOW.

The more I look at pictures of RA the more I wanna go!

 

[wandererlaowai]

RA seems really nice indeed, I'm just wondering if my level (30 dives, AOW) allows me to enjoy it fully and without too much worrying.

 

[Dan]

RA seems really nice indeed, I'm just wondering if my level (30 dives, AOW) allows me to enjoy it fully and without too much worrying.

You just tell the guide about your diving experience. He’ll make sure to take you to dive sites that you would be comfortable diving in it. Many of the guides that I dove with would first jump in with mask & fins to check for the current. If it’s OK (< 1 knot), then he’ll come back to the dingy & don the rest of his diving gears & let us backroll to the water together with him. If the current is too fast (>1.5 knits) then he’ll fin back to the dingy & we head up to another site. He also knows when & where is the right time & place to dive.

 

[dirtfarmer]

Fiji has lots of current diving also.
In both places if you want to lessen your exposure avoid the new and full moon phases.
I've been on sites in Komodo with blazing fast current and on the same site with no current. Tides change and that makes sites change.

A reputable dive operation in both places will inform you of what to do and most importantly stick with your guide. They will also judge your ability before dropping you on a site with a negative entry where you have to kick like hell to 20 meters and then hook into a reef to watch the show.

 

[dirtfarmer]

Fiji has lots of current diving also.
In both places if you want to lessen your exposure avoid the new and full moon phases.
I've been on sites in Komodo with blazing fast current and on the same site with no current. Tides change and that makes sites change.

A reputable dive operation in both places will inform you of what to do and most importantly stick with your guide. They will also judge your ability before dropping you on a site with a negative entry where you have to kick like hell to 20 meters and then hook into a reef to watch the show.

 

[wandererlaowai]

how many days before / after full and new moon should I avoid diving to lessen this exposure? I'm sorry for all the questions, but it's great to find a place with so many helpful and knowledgeable people

 

[dirtfarmer]

As close to the quarter moons as possible.

 

[outofofficebrb]

I have yet to make it as far as the fabled Raja Ampat

Wanna change that? I have something up my sleeve.....

For the OP, I dived Raja Ampat and also dived Komodo. We had some newer divers on our liveaboard. There were a couple of dives where the current was quite strong but that was run as a drift dive. There were some other dives that had strong current in the beginning and we did negative entries to ensure we hit the split point of a dive together. Once we got to that spot, it was a relaxing dive. Pick your operator carefully and communicate your concerns to the cruise director as well as your DM. Pick their brain before booking as well to see what they say.

 

[Dogbowl]

Wanna change that? I have something up my sleeve.....

2019?

 

[outofofficebrb]

2019?

Yes!