Liveaboard in July – where to go?

[kdacdive]

Hi guys

Thanks for great input!

I will look more into Galapagos, but at the moment, I'm leaning towards Komodo.

Russ, thanks for you offer! However, I think I will look more into the various options before deciding. Have a great trip!

Btw, I was told that the northern atolls in the Maldives was acctually not bad in July. Anybody with experience in that regard?

Cheers


Kdac

 

[diversteve]

One other option:

Rocio Del Mar in the Sea of Cortez. From their website:

Legendary diver Jacques Cousteau described the Sea of Cortez as the "world's aquarium" and the "Galapagos of North America.” Dive on untouched walls and reefs abounding in marine life. Encounter great and small whale species, whale sharks, manta and jumping mobula rays, and sea lion colonies

It's newer - built to be a dive boat about 5? years ago. You fly into Phoenix, AZ and they have a shuttle ($100) from the airport to the boat berthed in Puerto Penasco, Mexico. They also have space available in July currently. Rocio Del Mar Liveaboard - Midriff Islands

British Airways flies here - we're a USAirways hub city so a lot of airlines do. A quick check indicates that Copenhagen to Phoenix is 15 hours with a stop in London, the return is a 12h red-eye. Plan on a 4 hour shuttle ride so since the boat docks at 8am on Sat. you'd easily be back for a Sat. evening flight.



You'd have to overnight Friday night here inbound but there are several decent airport hotels. July in the southwest is mostly just hot so I don't think weather would be a factor. My buddy was on the boat last (mid) July and it wasn't for them. The water will be mid-80's by then also, I dive in a t-shirt off Guaymas nearby during the summer and I've seen 86^o.

I'd rather go to Komodo though...

 

[lulalips]

Hi guys

Thanks for great input!

I will look more into Galapagos, but at the moment, I'm leaning towards Komodo.

Russ, thanks for you offer! However, I think I will look more into the various options before deciding. Have a great trip!

Btw, I was told that the northern atolls in the Maldives was acctually not bad in July. Anybody with experience in that regard?

Cheers


Kdac

Hi,

The Maldives is a year round diving destination with the monsoon seasons referto the prevailing wind direction rather than being "rain" specific.July is during the Southwest Monsoon and you can experience sunshine or cloudbanks coming through and you may have rain on occasion but it is rarely consistentlybad ... the weather tends to be less "predictable" in the low season.H

As an option for this season you could join MV Sea Spirit; www.scubascuba.com in the remote "Far SouthernAtolls" of the Maldives which is closer to the equator and the weather inthis area tends to be more settled than the traditional Central Atolls. Divingin the Far south is awesome as there are hardly any resorts or Liveaboardoperating in this relatively newly opened region. Scuba Tours Worldwide is thepioneers of diving this area having first visited a few years ago. With lots ofshark action, pristine corals and a huge variety of dive experiences in aremote area this is the perfect destination in July for an experienced diver.Max. 12 on board so diving with the marine life ... well worth consideration

 

[Shasta_man]

I'd say $4k for a ten day trip would be pretty cheap. Even more so if the boats are good like I believe the Sirens generally are. Factoring in that you are talking Komodo quality diving, that seems cheap to me.

 

[Heg]

Komodo, Bali, PNG, Solomons. All good at that time of the year

 

[loveIIdive]

July 20-27 live aboard on the Rocio Del Mar in the Sea Of Cortez. I went last year at the same time and had such a great time, going again. google the boat and check out the website on the Midriff Islands. Sea lions, whale sharks, dolphins, whales. Big animals and marco too. And you will not see another boat the entire week. Beautiful secenery. Great food and crew. Great weather, smooth seas. No regrets. check it out. Only 18 guests. Hopefully the humboldt squid will make an appearance. there is a cage on board, keeps the squid and sharks off you! Love to have you!

 

[Heg]

July 20-27 live aboard on the Rocio Del Mar in the Sea Of Cortez. I went last year at the same time and had such a great time, going again. google the boat and check out the website on the Midriff Islands. Sea lions, whale sharks, dolphins, whales. Big animals and marco too. And you will not see another boat the entire week. Beautiful secenery. Great food and crew. Great weather, smooth seas. No regrets. check it out. Only 18 guests. Hopefully the humboldt squid will make an appearance. there is a cage on board, keeps the squid and sharks off you! Love to have you!

Looks awesome. So many dive sites, so little time....
Better than Komodo? That is our other choice at that time of year....

 

[kdacdive]

Sea of Cortez - I never even heard about that before (thanks google...) Looks a bit like Galapagos, but not as prizy. Could be interesting!

Still leaning a bit towards Komodo, though.

How would you rate Komodo v Sea of Cortez?

Cheers guys - your input has been awesome!

 

[Quero]

Having been to both, while I enjoyed my dives at the Sea of Cortez, I'm not looking for ways to repeat the experience, while for Komodo, I've already been there more than once and would not hesitate to go back. Now if you were comparing Komodo and Galapagos.... that would be harder for me. I really would love to return to Galapagos, if I were anywhere near there and could justify the expense when there's so much great diving in my own region.

 

[ElChe]

In July we will go for a week long trip to the Southern Red Sea. I'm sure the price is still unbeatable in Egypt, for example we'll pay 550 euros for a week long trip, about 20 dives, all meals, double cabins en suite, etc. But in the summer, especially at full moon you can expect large schools in the north, at Ras Muhammad area.