Need recs for schooling fish and macro dive sites in October

[Leftcoaster7]

About me: 200+ dives, PADI rescue w/ nitrox. Into UW photography, mostly macro but a bit of wide angle as well

I’m going back to Indonesia for the entire month of October this year. My basic plan is to spend a week at each diving destination which would allow me to visit four separate places.

I’ve been to Nusa Penida, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Derawan and Amed. Except for Nusa Penida, I am not looking to go back to any of these destinations on this trip. That leaves 3 destinations that I need advice on choosing.

I’m specifically looking for two types of destinations in Indonesia (1) those with schooling fish - anything from sardines on up to barracuda and sharks, and (2) world class muck and macro diving, I’m a huge fan of nudibraches so the crazier and more colorful the better.

Ideally, there’d also be fewer tourists/ inexperienced divers, very healthy reefs/ biodiversity and little trash. I have no problem in traveling far out there to more remote places.

I know that Sipadan and Wakatobi are recommended for (1), and Lembeh and Bunaken for (2). Thoughts on these places and suggestions for alternatives? I’m also considering Alor, Timor Leste and Palau, but have no idea about where to go in these regions.

 

[Cali_diver]

Lembeh for Nudis and cephalopods, Ambon for all of the above and more crazy stuff (which lives in all the trash). Halmahera has some great schooling fish. Alor more likely to tick all of your boxes at once so you can spend more time there with phenomenal muck diving and pristine reefs. Make sure you hit Beangabang for great macro. Liveaboard or resort will work in Alor. There are many threads that discuss resorts in Alor. I would skip Wakatobi. You might consider Triton Bay as well.

Expect garbage everywhere since it really depends on the rains, tides and currents. I have seen piles of garbage in some of the most remote areas one week and gone the next. It is sad... but not a lot you can do about it. Just do your part and not use the single use plastics while there.

 

[JonnieB]

Seems like the north tip of Sulawesi should be on your itinerary...Bunaken for wide-angle and Lembeh and Banka for Macro. Also, any macro nudie photographer will say Tulamben, Bali, is a must do

 

[Centrals]

30 days is not a lot to visit three places in Indonesia unless they are around the same area.
Manado in Northern Sulawesi has three different places ie Bangka, Bunaken and Lembeh just fit the bill. No domestic flight to catch ie no flying penalty.
Scoot Air has regular non daily flight from Singapore to Manado.

 

[Cali_diver]

Seems like the north tip of Sulawesi should be on your itinerary...Bunaken for wide-angle and Lembeh and Banka for Macro. Also, any macro nudie photographer will say Tulamben, Bali, is a must do

I didn't mention Tulamben since op already stayed in Amed and didn't want a repeat.

@Leftcoaster7 I would skip Bunaken and just concentrate on Bangka and Lembeh if you decide to stay in this area.

 

[Darnold9999]

Alor pretty much ticks all your boxes. Some excellent macro in the bay and more wide angle opportunities out in the straight. Not sure if your season works for nudis however. Was there late October last year and while the macro was excellent there were fewer nudis than in past trips. Probably the least amount of trash I have seen in Indonesia.

Ambon is pretty trashy. Excellent macro however.

Lembeh is excellent macro highly recommended. Definitely trash in the water however. Have not done the other locations nearby.

Four locations in a month is pushing it. I am there next October for a month - Triton Bay, Tulamben and then Lembeh. Triton Bay is new to me, the others are repeats. Could not imagine adding another location in that time frame. Too much time lost flying and in transit.

 

[JonnieB]

I didn't mention Tulamben since op already stayed in Amed and didn't want a repeat.

@Leftcoaster7 I would skip Bunaken and just concentrate on Bangka and Lembeh if you decide to stay in this area.

The op mentioned [diving] Amed but didn't mention Tulamben. I consider them two separate dive areas, and mentioned Tulamben if they haven't dived there yet.

 

[Leftcoaster7]

Lembeh for Nudis and cephalopods, Ambon for all of the above and more crazy stuff (which lives in all the trash). Halmahera has some great schooling fish. Alor more likely to tick all of your boxes at once so you can spend more time there with phenomenal muck diving and pristine reefs. Make sure you hit Beangabang for great macro. Liveaboard or resort will work in Alor. There are many threads that discuss resorts in Alor. I would skip Wakatobi. You might consider Triton Bay as well.

Expect garbage everywhere since it really depends on the rains, tides and currents. I have seen piles of garbage in some of the most remote areas one week and gone the next. It is sad... but not a lot you can do about it. Just do your part and not use the single use plastics while there.

I think I’ll center my trip around Alor then and save northern Sulawesi for next year. Im thinking Nusa Penida, Permuteran and Alor as that would reduce my travel time. How Any days would you recommend for Alor?

 

[Leftcoaster7]

30 days is not a lot to visit three places in Indonesia unless they are around the same area.
Manado in Northern Sulawesi has three different places ie Bangka, Bunaken and Lembeh just fit the bill. No domestic flight to catch ie no flying penalty.
Scoot Air has regular non daily flight from Singapore to Manado.

I think I’ll only do three different places, two of which will be in Bali.since I’ve been to Nusa Penida before, I’ll only send a few days there which should allow me to dedicate 10-15 full diving days to Alor.

 

[Centrals]

I think I’ll only do three different places, two of which will be in Bali.since I’ve been to Nusa Penida before, I’ll only send a few days there which should allow me to dedicate 10-15 full diving days to Alor.

Enjoy your trip.