PNG Milne Bay or Lembeh-Bangka!?

[Scuba_Pro46]

OK Guys this is my first post here, even though I have been using these forums for information of years,

Anyway I cant quite find the specific answers I am looking for,

So I did my first trip to Lembeh in December and loved it having been to Dauin before. I want to do a dive trip in June to Indo but can't decide where, now I want the main focus to be macro & muck....however as I have just got my 7D wet I would love to also use my tokina on the trip as well.

I know Lembeh has great macro and my friends have a dive op on Bangka, I have heard great things about Bangka. Obviously this is a great option, cheaper and both close together(however I REALLY want to see Rhinopias and they haven't seen any in Lembeh for ages). If I did do this trip I might head over to Bali to maybe....

I would LOVE to go to PNG no just for the diving but also for terrestrial based photo opportunities...

My Questions are:
Does Milne Bay have good reef diving with pelagics?
Can I see Rhinopias in Bali, Tulamben maybe?
Is the macro in milne bay worth spending the extra dollar to get to over Lembeh/Bali?

Thanks,

Anyhelp will be greatly appreciated,

Luke

 

[ocdiver1]

For rhinopias, go to Ambon...I've never had a trip where I didn't see them there, and have seen as many as 7 in a short stay. Alor is also a good place to see them. I have also seen 1 both times I've been to Milne Bay, while Loloata just outside of Port Moresby...a great place to spend a day before or after going out to MB...is also known for them (although I've never seen one there). I think you'd have to be spectacularly lucky to catch one in Bali. Bangka is awesome, but you also wouldn't catch one there. Milne Bay has good, varied diving with both muck and reef...I wouldn't term it a good place for pelagics. Lauadi is probably the best single site for uncommon nudis that I've ever dove anywhere in the world. The liveaboard option is the Chertan (although I think the Golden Dawn does it part of the year), which is owned by Tawali, which is the only land based option. The last time I priced Tawali it really seemed to have gotten ridiculously expensive. If you do go, don't plan to connect directly in or out of Alotau...even though it's less than one hour flight from Port Moresby, PNG airlines have got to be the world's most unreliable. Port Moresby is considered a dangerous place...I've always stayed at the aforementioned Loloata just outside of town and gotten in more diving. PNG is an incredible country for both diving and above water...I'd say go for it if you can afford it.

If you decide to go back to Indonesia, and rhinopias and macro are a priority..definitely go to Ambon. You mentioned flying into Bali..there are great air connections going in/out to Ambon. Although you'll hear a few other places talked up on here, I'd say the only true choice there is Maluku Divers..great operation.

 

[Scuba_Pro46]

Thanks for the great reply oc!

I was thinking of combining Ambon-Lembeh-Bangka and Bali, however isn't June a bad month for Ambon...I heard Maluku actually shut down during June-August!?

Does the Chertan leave from Port Moresby? I am very tempted and sent an email off to them.

I heard its good for Manta's in Milne around June/July time to!?

I am not sure what to do, more research is required and making up my mind.

I am very intrigued by the sound of Tulamben though...muck, wrecks, reefs! Sounds pretty good to me.

Decisions Decisions

 

[ocdiver1]

You're right...June-August is the absolute wrong time for Ambon...if that's the timing of your trip I'd save it for another time. It is, however, a good time for Alor, and you should definitely catch rhinos there. It also combines pretty easily with Bali flying via Kupang. The Tulamben area is excellent diving and well worth going to. There are some other less-visited quality muck sites in the north and west of Bali as well (Secret Bay, PJ).

I've never actually taken the Chertan, but I believe it goes straight from Tawali as I've always seen it moored there. Not sure about mantas in Milne Bay June/July.

Good luck with your decisions, but no matter what you chose from these it will be a great trip

 

[Scuba_Pro46]

Hmmm ok I will delve into Alor a bit and see what I can find,

I have narrowed it down to 3 options, but I am not sure how to decide....:

Trip option 1: Hit Lembeh for a good week to ten days, then Bangka for a few days, then head over to Tulamben for maybe another 5-7days or so. (now researching Alor to maybe be another stop/replace one.

Trip Option 2: Hit Milne Bay with the Mv. Chertan or Tawali (leaning more towards the Chertan)

Trip Option 3: Hit Lembeh/Tulamben/Alor for a few days to get my muck fill, then head on over to PNG for a trip aboard the Febrina.

For some reason I have PNG nailed in my mind now....

 

[donsilcock]

I have dived both Indonesia and PNG a lot over the last 4-5 years and have nearly finished updating my site with location guides to most of the key locations - it might help you to decide.... Here is the link to the PNG overview page: Diving Papua New Guinea: Understanding PNG - the New Ireland part is currently under construction, but all the rest us more or less up to date.

Here is the link to the Indonesia overview page: Diving Indonesia: The Indonesian Archipelago - not had time to do a section on Lembeh yet, but there are a couple of articles on it in the Articles section. There is a lot of stuff on Bali...

Don

 

[Scuba_Pro46]

I found that and had a look already.

Great site Don, lots of great info! However it all looks so tempting its hard to decide!

 

[iDreamOfBubbles]

My dream is to dive PNG one day, and the Febrina is at the top of my list.

My advice is to go now if you can afford it. You never know what could happen down the line in life, and PNG is so expensive to get to that most people can't afford to return very often, so I say you should seize that opportunity while you still have it. I know I certainly will.

 

[LiquidDivingAdventure]

The Chertan is affiliated with Tawali Resort as "oc" indicted. October-November is the best liveaboard diving in that area so you need to book way in advance for those months on either boat. They fill fast. As "bubbles" mentioned PNG is amazing. I booked some folks for the FeBrina, Walindi, and a week of tours in the uplands. That trip without international air was about $20,000 but it was a bucket list trip of a lifetime, not just a dive trip.

 

[donsilcock]

I found that and had a look already.

Great site Don, lots of great info! However it all looks so tempting its hard to decide!

Yes, there sure is some great diving to be had!