ScubaSpa: Raja Ampat (including Misool) or Maldives (not Deep South route)

[makingbubbles123]

deciding between these two (probably) once in a lifetime liveaboards in March or April. Will be my last liveaboard for a while.

Which one should I do?

Both are 8 days, 7 nights
Maldives is $7500
Raja Ampat is $9500

3rd option would be Galapagos ($7k) but I live in east coast US so I feel like this could be saved for later…

 

[chillyinCanada]

What kind of diving do you prefer? What do you want to see?

I personally would choose Raja Ampat over Maldives without exception.

I've been 4 times to both on lob.

 

[CWK]

I don’t know how you got your numbers, but if you are intent on a scubaspa boat, I suggest you check the booking conditions carefully for required extras as I have been told that it can be rather high.

 

[Pearlman]

You don’t absolutely need an LOB for Maldives … one can island hop every few days on a lower budget if you will…

 

[diveUAE]

Raja Ampat! Maldives is good, but RA is freaking amazing!

 

[makingbubbles123]

What kind of diving do you prefer? What do you want to see?

I personally would choose Raja Ampat over Maldives without exception.

I've been 4 times to both on lob.

Hi do you have any LOB recs for RA that are on the nicer side?

 

[makingbubbles123]

I don’t know how you got your numbers, but if you are intent on a scubaspa boat, I suggest you check the booking conditions carefully for required extras as I have been told that it can be rather high.

Got direct quotes from the two boat companies (single occupancy). I did notice that the extras are costly/more than other boats... definitely something to consider but the spa+scuba combo really makes me feel some type of way

 

[chillyinCanada]

Hi do you have any LOB recs for RA that are on the nicer side?

Dewi Nusantara for one