Liveaboard or land based SE Asia March/April 2025

[CaliDiver14]

Tubbataha is in the Philippines.

@CaliDiver14
If you haven't already booked for Tubbahata then you're too late, all slots are most likely taken as the season is from March to June.

Why not try Komodo for Mantas as well as sharks and turtles

Thank you, that’s what I’ve read but then there are a few solo spots open here and there I’m just wondering if Tubbataha is really worth it vs some of the more accessible locations. I know I’d be lucky to get on one.

As for Komodo, I’ve read different things about the dive sites being crowded? I’d guess that would best as a liveaboard? Let me know

 

[CaliDiver14]

I have a complex itinerary with diving in 4 countries consecutively over two months; three weeks in Indo (two land-based resorts-Cove Eco Resort and Raja Ampat Dive Lodge; and a liveaboard-White Manta), 10 days in Philippines (El Galleon), 12 days in Western Australia (Perth and Ningaloo), and 12 days in Fiji. I used Bluewater Travel for the core planning and to get the best pricing, but BWT doesn't have a lot of experience in WA, so I booked that independently. I've used BWT for independent trips and I've joined one of their group trips, too. It's been a year of planning and it's finally going to happen in three weeks!

Thank you so much for all your help and intel!!! I’ve reached out to BWT to try to help organize and narrow things down. I think I’m getting closer! And your trip sounds INCREDIBLE! When I studied abroad in AUS I wanted to go to Perth but never made it. I hope your trip is fantastic (sounds like it). Would love to hear have you find WA. When I dove the GBR 20 years ago I heard the reef by Perth was like the GBR but healthier. Let us know how you find it!

 

[Centrals]

Thank you so much for all your help and intel!!! I’ve reached out to BWT to try to help organize and narrow things down. I think I’m getting closer! And your trip sounds INCREDIBLE! When I studied abroad in AUS I wanted to go to Perth but never made it. I hope your trip is fantastic (sounds like it). Would love to hear have you find WA. When I dove the GBR 20 years ago I heard the reef by Perth was like the GBR but healthier. Let us know how you find it!

It is absolutely unnecessary to use any agent to book a diving trip in SE Asia. I never ever did.
1. Philippines:
Tubattaha is much better from mid April onward because of potential weather intervention!!
Flight to Cebu City in Philippines and onward to Malapascua fro the thresher shark. Both Cebu Pacific and Scoot has direct flight From SIN to CEB.
Easter is on 18th Apr so flight to Philippines around that time is in big demand.

2. Malaysia:
The East coast of Malaysia Peninsular will save you money and time on travelling.
Tioman Island is few hrs away by bus/ferry from Singapore while Tenggol Island is not that far away from Tioman.
Malaysia is pretty safe for any traveller.

3. Thailand:
Similan in Thailand is another LoB option.
If you have more time then Koh Lipe + Koh Lanta is great. Ferry from Langkawi to Koh Lipe.

4. Indonesia:
Bunaken in Manado and you can add Lembeh to sample "macro diving".
Scoot has direct flight from SIN to MDC but not daily.

Singapore is the No.1 place to plan/start any diving trip in SE Asia.

 

[chillyinCanada]

It is absolutely unnecessary to use any agent to book a diving trip in SE Asia. I never ever did.
1. Philippines:
Tubattaha is much better from mid April onward because of potential weather intervention!!
Flight to Cebu City in Philippines and onward to Malapascua fro the thresher shark. Both Cebu Pacific and Scoot has direct flight From SIN to CEB.
Easter is on 18th Apr so flight to Philippines around that time is in big demand.

2. Malaysia:
The East coast of Malaysia Peninsular will save you money and time on travelling.
Tioman Island is few hrs away by bus/ferry from Singapore while Tenggol Island is not that far away from Tioman.
Malaysia is pretty safe for any traveller.

3. Thailand:
Similan in Thailand is another LoB option.
If you have more time then Koh Lipe + Koh Lanta is great. Ferry from Langkawi to Koh Lipe.

4. Indonesia:
Bunaken in Manado and you can add Lembeh to sample "macro diving".
Scoot has direct flight from SIN to MDC but not daily.

Singapore is the No.1 place to plan/start any diving trip in SE Asia.

That Singapore is a great hub for SE Asia diving trips, it doesn't make much sense for someone from California to fly to Singapore and then back to Cebu to dive.

 

[Centrals]

That Singapore is a great hub for SE Asia diving trips, it doesn't make much sense for someone from California to fly to Singapore and then back to Cebu to dive.

Read #1.
She is going to be there on business trip.

 

[Searcaigh]

As for Komodo, I’ve read different things about the dive sites being crowded? I’d guess that would best as a liveaboard? Let me know

Despite the number of boats I saw on the surface last year it was not crowded UW.

I dived with Blue Marlin (land based) and on our boat we were three groups. I was always with the first group in the water first as the most experienced group, and we just went with the flow, great drift diving.

 

[Ramila]

Hello I’m a female solo traveler, advanced diver (200+ dives) who has been on several liveaboards in the Caribbean and the Red Sea. Despite my experience, I’m not a photographer and macro critters haven’t grabbed me as much as healthy reefs, swim throughs and pelagics (I’m a sucker for turtles and mantas).

I’ll be in Singapore for a business trip at the end of March and want to maximize being in the region. I’m looking to tack on a week/10 days to the beginning or end of my trip, explore another part of SE Asia and dive. I was considering Tubbataha liveaboard (worried it wouldn’t live up to the hype), Raja Ampat but am worried about being only on the boat and no land time to explore and is a liveaboard necessary?

Should I consider a land based diving trip in Raja Ampat? Worried about the trash and being stuck with new divers that suck their air in 30min on a 60 min dive.

I love liveaboards when they get you to remote sites that not many other boats can get to as well as guaranteeing mostly advanced divers. I’m just not sure if a liveaboard with few resort days on the front or back either mid March before my Singapore trip or right after late March/early April is worth it or is it better to be land based?

Would love recommendations, other threads on this site have been very helpful but the information can be overwhelming.

Thank you all!!

Hi! If you are in the region, why don't you check out Sri Lanka. They have liveaboards now. When the liveaboards are not operating, they do day excursions. March/April they will be operating from Colombo.
Serendib Scuba are the operators.

 

[kimster812]

Thank you, that’s what I’ve read but then there are a few solo spots open here and there I’m just wondering if Tubbataha is really worth it vs some of the more accessible locations. I know I’d be lucky to get on one.

As for Komodo, I’ve read different things about the dive sites being crowded? I’d guess that would best as a liveaboard? Let me know

Tubbataha is fantastic! Took a group of 24 last March/early April. We loved it. No mantas (one on the last dive for about 1 minute) or whale sharks tho.... I think we're headed to that region just too much past your dates...end of April doing Puerto Galera and Palau first week of May. There is still time to join both of those but I suspect that's stretching your business trip a bit too long? LOL