Looking for Indonesia warm water suggestions for a September/October trip

[Kendall Raine]

Kendall, have you dived the northern Raja area, and if so, how was it?

I dove Raja aboard Dewi Nusantara in January 2018. I loved it and want to go back. Our route went first to southern Raja and then north to Dampier Straight (Fam, Kri). I actually liked the northern part better than the south, though both were incredible diving and RA is the best open water diving I know. I think time was when none of the LOB's operated in RA during August/September because of weather, but reports from crew on Dewi about their August Northern only trips are very positive and they're been running these now since at least 2018. Coralia also operates in the North during this season.

 

[Kendall Raine]

I dove Raja aboard Dewi Nusantara in January 2018.

I wrote a review of Dewi Nusantara on Undercurrent. If it's in your budget you can't go wrong.

Indonesia/Raja Ampat Diving Review of Dewi Nusantara, 2018/01

 

[ojo]

I dove Raja aboard Dewi Nusantara in January 2018. I loved it and want to go back. Our route went first to southern Raja and then north to Dampier Straight (Fam, Kri). I actually liked the northern part better than the south, though both were incredible diving and RA is the best open water diving I know. I think time was when none of the LOB's operated in RA during August/September because of weather, but reports from crew on Dewi about their August Northern only trips are very positive and they're been running these now since at least 2018. Coralia also operates in the North during this season.

Thanks so much. I've been reading that the weather is a lot better in the north during those months.

 

[ojo]

I wrote a review of Dewi Nusantara on Undercurrent. If it's in your budget you can't go wrong.

Indonesia/Raja Ampat Diving Review of Dewi Nusantara, 2018/01

I enjoyed your detailed review, thank you

 

[Dan]

I have been to Raja Ampat 9 times (3 times in dive resorts & 6 times on liveaboard) from November to April in Misool when the weather started to get rough in the south and in May in Central when the fresh water started to get scarce & bathing in brackish water, but have never done it in October. So no data to tell.

I’ve been to Komodo 4 times (all on liveaboards), once in June, twice in August, and once in December. August was my best time to be there and plan to go back again in August this year.

If you want to go there in September - October, I would recommend to take the trip from Bali to Komodo and back to Bali. I have done in twice and the 3rd one is this coming August. The nice thing about this trip is you not only would be diving in Komodo, but also in Bali for Manta & Mola Mola, in Sumbawa for Whaleshark, in Sangeang for volcanic bubbles coming from the sandy bottom.

 

[ojo]

I have been to Raja Ampat 9 times (3 times in dive resorts & 6 times on liveaboard) from November to April in Misool when the weather started to get rough in the south and in May in Central when the fresh water started to get scarce & bathing in brackish water, but have never done it in October. So no data to tell.

I’ve been to Komodo 4 times (all on liveaboards), once in June, twice in August, and once in December. August was my best time to be there and plan to go back again in August this year.

If you want to go there in September - October, I would recommend to take the trip from Bali to Komodo and back to Bali. I have done in twice and the 3rd one is this coming August. The nice thing about this trip is you not only would be diving in Komodo, but also in Bali for Manta & Mola Mola, in Sumbawa for Whaleshark, in Sangeang for volcanic bubbles coming from the sandy bottom.

Thanks, Dan - I am an avid reader of your posts. Good to know about Sumbawa and the whalesharks - that was not even slightly on my radar (or sonar)!

 

[Luko]

So helpful, thank you Luko. That photo is fabulous. Any particular routes of boats to recommend, or did you dive from a resort?

I did both for northern/central sites on Komodo (4 trips yet).
Short budget LiveAboard (5 days) and daytrips from Labuan Bajo, liveaboard is better there since there are many boats from various dive center for a few dive spots, hence it's better to dive some sites early morning.
My favorite operator was Dragon Dive Komodo.

3 Indonesian destinations Kalimaya - Komodo - Bali : Aug18 Trip report

Out of my procrastination, posts in other threads regarding Komodo rang my alarm bell : I had to write up that dive report before anyone gets tired about it or prefers to argue about tipping or not tipping Indonesian guides. Let’s call that cross reporting. Part 2 Komodo LiveAboard - Dragon...

scubaboard.com

 

[ojo]

I did both for northern/central sites on Komodo (4 trips yet).
Short budget LiveAboard (5 days) and daytrips from Labuan Bajo, liveaboard is better there since there are many boats from various dive center for a few dive spots, hence it's better to dive some sites early morning.
My favorite operator was Dragon Dive Komodo.

3 Indonesian destinations Kalimaya - Komodo - Bali : Aug18 Trip report

Out of my procrastination, posts in other threads regarding Komodo rang my alarm bell : I had to write up that dive report before anyone gets tired about it or prefers to argue about tipping or not tipping Indonesian guides. Let’s call that cross reporting. Part 2 Komodo LiveAboard - Dragon...

scubaboard.com

Thank you. Have you ever traveled from Labuan Bajo to Raja? Looks beastly.

 

[Luko]

Thank you. Have you ever traveled from Labuan Bajo to Raja? Looks beastly.

Never, I think I would never try. Routes are flewn in Indonesia with a logics of regional hubs around which smaller regional airports are dispatched.
Jakarta, Bali, Makassar, Manado or Kupang are some of the hubs, you can fly from hub to hub barely from a small regional airport to another regional airport depending from another hub.
LBJ/Komodo is linked more or less to Bali or Jakarta airports, you hardly go else where. Sorong is linked to Makasar/Manado or Jakarta. You'd need to come back to Jakarta) or get to Makassar through Bali. Too much time and money wasted on flights.

 

[matts1w]

Take a direct flight from LBJ to JKT in the morning. Chill in a nearby hotel, have a nice dinner and a few beers, then take a late night direct flight direct to Sorong. I would hardly call that a beast travel schedule.

People like to make the trip to Sorong to be some hardcore adventure... It ain't. Ten years ago Raja Ampat was the edge of the earth. Today the most pampered, pristine Jakarta families vacation in R4.