Looking for recs on locations to pair with Komodo in May!

[FilmDork]

Hey scuba team,

My friend and I are doing a week in Komodo this May and are trying to decide on a second location to pair with it for another week. Currently looking hard at Sipadan, Exmouth/Ningaloo, Maldives, and Layang Layang and would LOVE to hear the thoughts on those spots from those of you who have been -- fish life, viz, water temp, dive shoppes, coral health, logistical challenges, etc, etc. I've done research but trust community recs more than write-ups when it comes to getting the truth about a location, so any thoughts would be welcome.

Still open to other ideas as well, so if there's another spot you think we should consider, I'd love to hear about it!

FYI, we're more into big stuff than macro, and we've already dived Bali, Nusa Penida, and Alor, so not looking to head back to those spots just yet. Raja's also out unfortunately. We'd love to go, but unfortunately we'd lose too much time in transit for this trip.

Thanks!

 

[Centrals]

Sangalaki + Sipadan
Scuba Junkie can offer two centres diving.
You would have to fly back to DPS for the connection to Tarakan(TRK) and then by MASwing to Tawu.
Ferry is another option to enter Tawu from Tarakan.

 

[Tippytoes12]

If you just have two weeks don’t leave Indonesia would be my advice. We have dived and loved the areas you mentioned and also Sulawesi. There is a direct evening flight to Manado from Bali so you could get there in a day. Ningaloo would take at least two days , the Maldives two full days , you will loose too much diving time and spend too much time in airports