Komodo! December, March/April or July/August?

[diveUAE]

Hi

Hope to get some first hand knowledge here

Our son turns 18 in February 2020, and he would like a dive trip to Komodo. So I started planning already We can't go on his actual birthday, as I'm a teacher, and can't take time off in February. Our alternatives are: December (Christmas), March/April (Spring break) or July/August.

Our son wants to see the Komodo dragons, but also dive - he's into big stuff, and hate cold water;-). So what month should I aim for? Should we go North or South? Husband and I have done lots of strong current dives, son not so many, yet, but he's strong and a good diver.

I've also been looking for LOB operators - 6-8 days. We'll be at least 3 divers (Others may want to join) + our daughter, who will be 9 at the time. So I was thinking about a full charter. Any recommendations for this? Budget would be around 10.000 us$ for the 4 of us.

 

[Luko]

July/August : it's north and central Komodo season and the water is warmer than south Komodo.

 

[All Star Liveaboards]

July-October will be your best season for Komodo. Water temperatures are mostly going to be 80+ with parts of Southern Komodo in the mid-70's. Weather conditions are best this time of year and provide the best chance for manta rays. If you would like additional information you can visit our website, All Star Indonesian Itineraries: Raja Ampat, Komodo, Forgotten Islands (Alor), Banda Sea, Maluka..

https://allstarliveaboards.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/All-Star-Indonesia.pdf

 

[diveUAE]

Thank you. I was told July/August has too many divers? And March/April could be better, as we would have a chance to go south?

Anyway 80!?? Had to google to see what that is in Celsius- 26/27!?? That is cold if you ask me.

What is the temperature in March/April? Maybe we could bring our dry suits;-)

 

[Marie Australian]

I have been in Komodo March 2017 and July 2018. The water temp is warm either time, 28/29 degrees Celsius.
In March the diving tends to be more south Komodo, also more manta rays. Weather permitting you can also go to north and central in March. In July the winds limit diving to north and central Komodo.
The Komodo dragons you can see all year round at Rinca Island.
As your son likes large creatures, I would recommend March, I saw dozens of mantas on one dive, with seven at once at one stage.
Both times I went I stayed at Scuba Junkie Komodo and I would recommend them.
On other holidays I have also dived with Scuba Junkie at Sipadan (staying on Mabul Island), Kota Kinabalu, West Kalimantan (Derawan Island, they call Sangalaki).
Marie

 

[Dogbowl]

Thank you. I was told July/August has too many divers? And March/April could be better, as we would have a chance to go south?

Anyway 80!?? Had to google to see what that is in Celsius- 26/27!?? That is cold if you ask me.

What is the temperature in March/April? Maybe we could bring our dry suits;-)

80F is cold??? What do you normally dive in?

I’m known to be a serious cold water wuss and I don’t consider 80F cold. Lol.

Your budget of USD$10,000 for 4: that is just for the liveaboard, correct? What does “full charter” mean? Do you mean you want to book a whole boat for yourselves? Just to clarify, that’s all.

 

[diveUAE]

Usual dive in a rash - water temp 28-32 C. My husband has a dry suit for the cold months here - water temp may come "down" to 22. I have a 7mm for the "cold" dives. Son only dives July-October here as he does not like the cold water (but I don't have to tell him it'll be colder, than he's used to, and anyway I think he will be ok)

Yes, 10.000 is for the liveabord only (and only our part of it) - I've looked at some boats, who can take 8 divers (we have friends, who would like to join). So yes, was looking a chartering a boat just for us.

 

[diveUAE]

I have been in Komodo March 2017 and July 2018. The water temp is warm either time, 28/29 degrees Celsius.
In March the diving tends to be more south Komodo, also more manta rays. Weather permitting you can also go to north and central in March. In July the winds limit diving to north and central Komodo.
The Komodo dragons you can see all year round at Rinca Island.
As your son likes large creatures, I would recommend March, I saw dozens of mantas on one dive, with seven at once at one stage.
Both times I went I stayed at Scuba Junkie Komodo and I would recommend them.
On other holidays I have also dived with Scuba Junkie at Sipadan (staying on Mabul Island), Kota Kinabalu, West Kalimantan (Derawan Island, they call Sangalaki).
Marie

Thank you! Which one did you prefer? (March or July) - or is both just great, and I should stop worrying? Will check out scuba junkie - we also stayed at Mabul, but was not using SJ, and in RA we did LOB with Wicked divers (great, but very basic boat, fantastic crew)

 

[Marie Australian]

For me, sitting at 7m on a sandy bottom for 70m surrounded by mantas was amazing. March was my preference. March you can go to all areas, July you cannot go south.

Another place I really liked was UnaUna, Central Sulawesi, however it may be (more) difficult to get to now after the destruction in Palu.
I'm off to RA in December 2018. Can't wait!

 

[diveUAE]

For me, sitting at 7m on a sandy bottom for 70m surrounded by mantas was amazing. March was my preference. March you can go to all areas, July you cannot go south.

Another place I really liked was UnaUna, Central Sulawesi, however it may be (more) difficult to get to now after the destruction in Palu.
I'm off to RA in December 2018. Can't wait!

Super! What time in March did you go? Boy would love to just sit there with the mantas!

RA is totally amazing! If it was not for the dragons, I would persuade my son to go there instead - before we went to RA another diver described it this way: it's like the first time you see a color tv, after spending ages with a black and white;-) The only place I've been, that is equally as good is Sipadan.