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What were the temps? Was there much variation between areas of RA?
This was our first land-based trip there after two liveaboards, so I can only reply about Dampier Strait / Pulau Gam side, which was probably 27-28 -ish, more on the low end. I tend not to watch the temps closely unless it's cold. We had come from Ambon, where were froze our backsides off. There were a few thermoclines, which were more than I remember from other trips. There's currently a plankton bloom / rain runoff layer of warm water at the surface, then clear below the thermocline.
I was wearing a 5 mil with a BioPly skin under it and a 3 mil hood, and I was freezing. I sat out our last dive to lay on the boat roof and warm up. I wasn't alone. Everyone was cold. But I hear it's warming some now, like Lembeh, which I hear was very cold. I never look at the temp on my computer, but others were saying it was 22-23-ish. I think some of the thermoclines were colder. As to the critters, I personally prefer Lembeh over Ambon (our first time there), but Ambon has the rhinopias in numbers. Maybe if I went back to Ambon in warmer water I'd see more ... couldn't say.
thanks much for the info. The reason that I asked is that I dive in board shorts & a rash guard when it's 27 and I really don't want to take a rash guard if I don't need it. 5mm is what I use when it hits 23-24 so knowing the temp is a huge advantage.
I don't want to pack the heavier wetsuit unless necessary, otherwise I'll be boiling inside it in RA.
