I know everyone recommends LOB for these two locations but because we are travelling with kids (and grandparents) this is not possible. But from what I can tell it's still possible to get to many (just not all) of the best sites even doing land based diving, just with long days on the boat. So the diving will still be amazing, just less of it if land based? If so, I'm ok with that. If I'm mistaken please let me know. I've done a fair amount of research so if someone who knows the area well could go over my post to let me know what I got right, what I got wrong, what I overlooked it would be greatly appreciated! It's a long post so I will post the conclusion first, and those that are interested can read the details below the dotted line
The big question: It seems like Komodo makes the most sense from a land based perspective as far as costs are concerned, least expensive Komodo option for my wife and I and grand parents: 1500 for all of us for one week, accommodations and diving, meals not included. Least expensive option for Raja Ampat: 5000 for the 4 of us at Kri Eco for one week, which apparently is the cheapest resort/land based option. That's a pretty significant difference, especially considering there might be more to do for the grandparents/kids in Lubuan Bajo with a pool and town to explore in addition to the beach. It is also the cheaper option by a very wide margin, so ultimately how does the diving compare between Komodo and Raja Ampat? Are they both equally amazing? Does it make sense to pay three times more for a week in Raja Ampat?
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From what I can tell for Raja Ampat you have to stay in a resort, there is no town with budget accommodations like Lubuan Bajo. And that the least expensive resort is Kri Eco which is 1519-1911 for a week of diving per person. Is this the least expensive option? How far are the best dive sites from this resort (in terms of hours)? Prime season would be October to April? What land based activities would there be?
Second option is Komodo. We can stay in Lubuan Bajo at somewhere like Luwansa Beach Hotel which has a beach and pool and big rooms, is 5 minutes from town, restaurants, etc.. all of which would be good for kids and grandparents while we are out diving all day. 35/night per room. And local dive ops work out to be about 55/euro per day if you book at least 5 days of diving. So a week of accommodation/diving would 507 per person plus dinners which I'm assuming are probably pretty cheap in Lubuan Bajo. From what I can tell all the dive ops go to the best sites in the north: Castle Rock, Manta Point, Tatawa Besar, Batu Bolong. It's just a matter of long days, leaving at 7:30AM and getting back around 5-7pm. Plus we can check out the komodo dragons on Rinca.
There's also the Komodo Resort and Dive Center on Sebayur which would cut daily transit times to dive sites by an hour each way, looks like a beautiful setting, secluded island paradise, but not sure this would be as practical for kids and grandparents? Cost is also significantly more at 1200 for a week of diving per person. As far as grandparents are concerned staying in Lubuan Bajo is also by far the cheapest option because the grandparents would be paying 35/night for accommodation for a double room plus cost of meals instead of 130+ per person at one of the resorts. 245/week + meals for the two of them vs 1820/week.
Would it also make sense to spend some time in Bali? The diving off Nusa Penida/Nusa Lembongan seems to be highly regarded as well, chance to see Mola Mola's.. there's Manta Point, Blue Corner, etc.. and the USS Liberty wreck. Or should we skip Bali in favour of spending more time diving Komodo or Raja Ampat? It seems like the Mola Mola season lines up well with the ideal season for diving Komodo North (which is where all the land based dive ops go right?) So something like September or October would be a good time if going to both places?
The big question: It seems like Komodo makes the most sense from a land based perspective as far as costs are concerned, least expensive Komodo option for my wife and I and grand parents: 1500 for all of us for one week, accommodations and diving, meals not included. Least expensive option for Raja Ampat: 5000 for the 4 of us at Kri Eco for one week, which apparently is the cheapest resort/land based option. That's a pretty significant difference, especially considering there might be more to do for the grandparents/kids in Lubuan Bajo with a pool and town to explore in addition to the beach. It is also the cheaper option by a very wide margin, so ultimately how does the diving compare between Komodo and Raja Ampat? Are they both equally amazing? Does it make sense to pay three times more for a week in Raja Ampat?
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From what I can tell for Raja Ampat you have to stay in a resort, there is no town with budget accommodations like Lubuan Bajo. And that the least expensive resort is Kri Eco which is 1519-1911 for a week of diving per person. Is this the least expensive option? How far are the best dive sites from this resort (in terms of hours)? Prime season would be October to April? What land based activities would there be?
Second option is Komodo. We can stay in Lubuan Bajo at somewhere like Luwansa Beach Hotel which has a beach and pool and big rooms, is 5 minutes from town, restaurants, etc.. all of which would be good for kids and grandparents while we are out diving all day. 35/night per room. And local dive ops work out to be about 55/euro per day if you book at least 5 days of diving. So a week of accommodation/diving would 507 per person plus dinners which I'm assuming are probably pretty cheap in Lubuan Bajo. From what I can tell all the dive ops go to the best sites in the north: Castle Rock, Manta Point, Tatawa Besar, Batu Bolong. It's just a matter of long days, leaving at 7:30AM and getting back around 5-7pm. Plus we can check out the komodo dragons on Rinca.
There's also the Komodo Resort and Dive Center on Sebayur which would cut daily transit times to dive sites by an hour each way, looks like a beautiful setting, secluded island paradise, but not sure this would be as practical for kids and grandparents? Cost is also significantly more at 1200 for a week of diving per person. As far as grandparents are concerned staying in Lubuan Bajo is also by far the cheapest option because the grandparents would be paying 35/night for accommodation for a double room plus cost of meals instead of 130+ per person at one of the resorts. 245/week + meals for the two of them vs 1820/week.
Would it also make sense to spend some time in Bali? The diving off Nusa Penida/Nusa Lembongan seems to be highly regarded as well, chance to see Mola Mola's.. there's Manta Point, Blue Corner, etc.. and the USS Liberty wreck. Or should we skip Bali in favour of spending more time diving Komodo or Raja Ampat? It seems like the Mola Mola season lines up well with the ideal season for diving Komodo North (which is where all the land based dive ops go right?) So something like September or October would be a good time if going to both places?