Resort Suggestions?

[Dan]

Welcome back to SB, Bill!

Have you been to Mimpi Menjangan in Bali?

I was there in January this year. The diving sites are within half hour of boat ride. The resort is incredible. I stayed in one of the bungalows that has hot spring jacuzzi.

 

[billt4sf]

Welcome back to SB, Bill!

Have you been to Mimpi Menjangan in Bali?

I was there in January this year. The diving sites are within half hour of boat ride. The resort is incredible. I stayed in one of the bungalows that has hot spring jacuzzi.

I see. The west end. How was the diving?

 

[Dan]

I see. The west end. How was the diving?

Nice reef, some schooling fishes, lots of garden eels, etc. I’m still editing my pictures & videos from Menjangan.

You can check out @nippurmagnum trip report, here: Trip Report - Bali 2-Week Dive Safari, Oct. 2024

 

[Darnold9999]

Have a look at Moko Alor. Alami is nicer but if you want to dive reefs rather than muck you will be on a boat ride every day. Moko is much closer. Both would work however. For you I would skip Alor Divers. The daily loading and unloading process would not work. You get into a small canoe type boat and paddle out to a larger boat and shift across from one to the other - reversing the process at the end of the day.

 

[Luko]

Have a look at Moko Alor. Alami is nicer but if you want to dive reefs rather than muck you will be on a boat ride every day. Moko is much closer. Both would work however. For you I would skip Alor Divers. The daily loading and unloading process would not work. You get into a small canoe type boat and paddle out to a larger boat and shift across from one to the other - reversing the process at the end of the day.

Yep that's right re- Alor Divers' boat dive process. I didn't have that in mind.
Other than Moko, Savu can be an option for the more southern part of Alor (Cathedral, Anemone, etc.)

 

[billt4sf]

What about Bankga?

 

[rmorgan]

Bunaken Oasis is a beautiful North Sulewesi resort, with nearby dive sites, exceptional digs and fantastic food. It's easy to combine Bunaken's turtle-laden walls with Bangka's interesting topography and widely varied marine life. I think you're right to steer away from Tulamben due to getting on and off the boats with the rocky shores. But on balance, Wakatobi is really without peer, and the diving is all from large dhonis with full bathrooms ("head" doesn't do them justice), private guides are readily available (in fact, included in the cost of certain categories of bungalow), and the house reef alone is worthy of many dives.

 

[Living4Experiences]

We could also consider returning to Sorido Bay. We have had great times there and terrible times there. The dives sites are close, and generally good as I recall. Last time we were there, Jan 2024, there was new management and it was a cluster-****. Anyone been there recently?

I was at Sorido Bay in November 2023, and Chris, the property manager, was getting ready to hand over the resort to the new management after working there for 10 years. I enjoyed my stay then.

I've just returned from Raja Ampat, having done 3 weeks of diving. In November and December 2024, the
central Dampier Strait suffered a serious bleaching event. Sorido Bay is on Kri Island, and Cape Kri and all the surrounding dive sites look really bad. The liveaboards are not going there anymore. In just 15 months, the area has changed drastically for the worse. And the trash in the ocean is worse than ever.

 

[Bookworm11]

If you can manage a 2 hour boat ride from Sorong by hydrofoil, Dive Into Raja Ampat fits the bill for what you want otherwise. The ferry ride was completely calm both ways when I went in January. They won't even charge you for a private guide most likely (they didn't charge me!) You can even snorkel for bamboo sharks right in front of the resort. There is a house reef you can dive or snorkel. Lots of sites within 30 minutes-a good many within 10-15 minutes! You get a big villa with a lovely porch, air conditioning, a lovely beach, and good food. The wifi is only at the main area. But the dive boats are great, and there are two, so if one group wants to go far, and one local, there is no issue. There are 15 divemasters on staff! I was there for 10 days, and could have easily stayed more. If I go back to Raja, I will go back there. My diving here was so far superior to the diving I had on the LOB! You should at least check out the website, and their prices are very, very reasonable!!!

 

[Dan]

If you can manage a 2 hour boat ride from Sorong by hydrofoil, Dive Into Raja Ampat fits the bill for what you want otherwise. The ferry ride was completely calm both ways when I went in January. They won't even charge you for a private guide most likely (they didn't charge me!) You can even snorkel for bamboo sharks right in front of the resort. There is a house reef you can dive or snorkel. Lots of sites within 30 minutes-a good many within 10-15 minutes! You get a big villa with a lovely porch, air conditioning, a lovely beach, and good food. The wifi is only at the main area. But the dive boats are great, and there are two, so if one group wants to go far, and one local, there is no issue. There are 15 divemasters on staff! I was there for 10 days, and could have easily stayed more. If I go back to Raja, I will go back there. My diving here was so far superior to the diving I had on the LOB! You should at least check out the website, and their prices are very, very reasonable!!!

Which resort are you referring to?

I haven’t seen any hydrofoil boat operating in Sorong to nearby resort. Any link you can share?