Recommendations for Manado

[yapster18]

Thanks for all the replies guys! Will check in with Murex.

 

[Anish]

I chatted with the Murex folks at the recent ADEX in Singapore. Seems like a good operation. The only downside was they said they send divers out in groups of 4 to 6 (if I remember correctly) which is not ideal if you travel solo.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I chatted with the Murex folks at the recent ADEX in Singapore. Seems like a good operation. The only downside was they said they send divers out in groups of 4 to 6 (if I remember correctly) which is not ideal if you travel solo.

I've never yet had more than 4 and many times have been alone with dive master. Even if there's 6, which will surprise me, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I chatted with the Murex folks at the recent ADEX in Singapore. Seems like a good operation. The only downside was they said they send divers out in groups of 4 to 6 (if I remember correctly) which is not ideal if you travel solo.

I'll also add that I much prefer my time at Bangka.

How many recent dives have you had, where and when did you last go?

 

[chillyinCanada]

I've never yet had more than 4 and many times have been alone with dive master. Even if there's 6, which will surprise me, it shouldn't be a problem.

I should qualify my answer. When I do the Passport to Paradise, I spend the majority of my time on Bangka and only a day or two diving Bunaken from Murex Manado. There are often more divers per dm at Bunaken. I don't recall there being more than 4 dives per dm at Lembeh, where I also only spend a couple of days.

 

[CF L]

I chatted with the Murex folks at the recent ADEX in Singapore. Seems like a good operation. The only downside was they said they send divers out in groups of 4 to 6 (if I remember correctly) which is not ideal if you travel solo.

I had a private guide when I went to Murex Bangka last year but from the boat schedules they posted everyday they never had more than 4 divers per guide and often it was 1 or 2 divers per guide.

I've been to Lembeh Resort twice and never had more than 4 divers to a guide, during our last stay we had 1 guide for the 2 of us the whole time.

 

[justinthedeeps]

Went with Two Fish Divers Bunaken/Lembeh combo package some years (6+?) back and it was great.
Pretty normal experience and affordable
Didn't really need luxuries or higher-end 'camera room' etc back then, which some of the other options provide (YMMV)

They did rates and business in Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) [as technically required by law or am I mistaken (?)]
Nothing like a healthy stack of the red 100,000 IDR notes to feel like you're doing things in Indo style

Many other places insist on somewhat higher USD pricing schedules (with increased luxuries and standards etc)

 

[John Starmer]

planning to dive at both Bunaken and Lembeh sites

Better yet, why dont you try Sangihe Archipelago? Try La Galigo. They have an itinerary that covers Bangka, Lembeh and Sangihe Archipelago.

 

[Anish]

I'll also add that I much prefer my time at Bangka.

How many recent dives have you had, where and when did you last go?

I haven't been to Lembeh but it's next on my list. I just did my first photo trip to Anilao and had a boat an guide all to myself at Crystal Blue. It was great since I was just learning to use my camera. If there were 4 people lining up to take pictures of each critter it would not have been nearly as much fun.