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Wisnu
Contributor
It depend on your specific interest; but all site are diveable and all dive site in Indonesia is remote and uncrowded. Even the site around Jakarta / west java are not bad; but the highlights are:
Pulau Weh
Bali (Tulamben, Amed, Menjangan, Nusa Penida, Padang Bai, Candi Dasa)
North Sulawesi (Bunaken/Menado, Lembeh, Bangka, Gangga)
Wakatobi, Togian
Kalimantan (Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban, Maratua)
Komodo, Alor, Lombok, Sumba
Banda Islands
Raja Ampat
Pulau Weh
Bali (Tulamben, Amed, Menjangan, Nusa Penida, Padang Bai, Candi Dasa)
North Sulawesi (Bunaken/Menado, Lembeh, Bangka, Gangga)
Wakatobi, Togian
Kalimantan (Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban, Maratua)
Komodo, Alor, Lombok, Sumba
Banda Islands
Raja Ampat
My interest is really only good for beginners, and most of all uncrowded. Cattle diving is not enjoyable for me. I have looked into Lembeh, and I think thats on the list. How does it compare it terms as for beginners and crowd size with komodo?
Wisnu
Contributor
Many people love much muck diving in Lembeh; strange critter, excellent for fotographer with complete gear. My experience as beginner diving with other poor buoyancy control beginners in Lembeh was not very exciting - as mud and sand was stirred-up.
I like beautiful corals, fish and clear and warm water. So, Bunaken and Menjangan w/ its wall diving is really fun - my daughters & wife also enjoy snorkeling. So, my opinion is very subjective.
BTW, Lembeh - Bunaken is only 1.5 hours journey.
Tulamben is great combination of beautiful coral, abundant fish, makro and wreck diving although viz as not as good menjangan and Bunaken.
All suitable for beginners. All are not too crowded - except Tulamben where you can expect 10 - 20 divers at 11.00 of August. So better dive early.
I never been to Komodo; indeed the diving is superb but the current can be quite strong. I am not very comfortable with strong current. I still assume not the best for my family as they also need to enjoy the vacation. Again, very subjective opinion. The same reason why I never been to the best remote dive sites in Indonesia; although live there till 2005.
I like beautiful corals, fish and clear and warm water. So, Bunaken and Menjangan w/ its wall diving is really fun - my daughters & wife also enjoy snorkeling. So, my opinion is very subjective.
BTW, Lembeh - Bunaken is only 1.5 hours journey.
Tulamben is great combination of beautiful coral, abundant fish, makro and wreck diving although viz as not as good menjangan and Bunaken.
All suitable for beginners. All are not too crowded - except Tulamben where you can expect 10 - 20 divers at 11.00 of August. So better dive early.
I never been to Komodo; indeed the diving is superb but the current can be quite strong. I am not very comfortable with strong current. I still assume not the best for my family as they also need to enjoy the vacation. Again, very subjective opinion. The same reason why I never been to the best remote dive sites in Indonesia; although live there till 2005.
Thanks. My girlfriend is also not a diver, but may try some dives so I wanna keep it for beginers only. There is a resort in Lembeh I would really like to try. I am going to check out Bunaken and Mejangan. Is it a nice area for non-divers?
Thanks again Wisnu and everyone elese
Thanks again Wisnu and everyone elese
pelan-pelan
Contributor
Muck diving is not really the best for beginners. Too easy to stir up the muck (fine sand) and then the other divers aren't too pleased with you.
Better to go Manado-side. There are beautiful shore dives (little critters, coral and/or sand) and you also go in the boat over to Bunaken to the wall dives. These are drift dives but good operators will ensure that you can cope.
If your girl-friend is a non-diver, what about www.lumbalumbadivers.com for romantic cottages and their boat is big enough to take her as well and she can snorkel, sunbathe on the roof and chill out. Definitely not a cattle-boat operation and they will look after both of you. They also organise trips out to look at the area. And the food is excellent. The operation is run by a Dutch couple with years of experience and they speak immaculate English.
Their jetty is a brilliant place to learn to dive, warm, sheltered water, surrounded by fish and critters - easy to relax.
And yes, we're back there again later this year - fifth visit.
Better to go Manado-side. There are beautiful shore dives (little critters, coral and/or sand) and you also go in the boat over to Bunaken to the wall dives. These are drift dives but good operators will ensure that you can cope.
If your girl-friend is a non-diver, what about www.lumbalumbadivers.com for romantic cottages and their boat is big enough to take her as well and she can snorkel, sunbathe on the roof and chill out. Definitely not a cattle-boat operation and they will look after both of you. They also organise trips out to look at the area. And the food is excellent. The operation is run by a Dutch couple with years of experience and they speak immaculate English.
Their jetty is a brilliant place to learn to dive, warm, sheltered water, surrounded by fish and critters - easy to relax.
And yes, we're back there again later this year - fifth visit.
littlce
Contributor
the URL is actually:pelan-pelan:
http://www.lumbalumbadiving.com/
I am going to Indonesia (bali) in May. I am using Aquamarine. That dive shop is run well from what I can tell. They are responsive and accommodating. The sales manager has handled all of my arrangements for my trip to Bali, and I could not have asked for better service and friendliness. I have decided to do 3 days of diving there (10 dives total) I am going to Tulamben, Menjangan, and Secret Bay. I'll let you know how it went.
If you decide to talk to them, talk to Kristie and tell her Christopher sent you.
Regards,
Christopher
Lumba Lumba diving is on the list. It looks like a perfect place. The guided house reef dives, are they scheduled or do you simply ask for a guide to come out with you. My girlfriend actually likes diving, however, not enough to go out on the boat, put on the equipment, and then haul it back up. Shed rather relax in the sun on the boat. However, a shore dive might be the thing for her. Chistopher, I will PM you my email in hopes you remember to write me how your trip with aquamarine was. I am thinking we will spend a lot of time in bali.
pelan-pelan
Contributor
lumbalumba's web-site is what it is really like (actually it is prettier in reality because the plants have grown up a bit more). Their emphasis is on personal service. Shore dives are not "scheduled" at fixed times on fixed days. You say what you would like to do and they build it into the day. There will be some constraints according to number of guests, weather and tide. That said - I can't remember ever not being able to do the dive we wanted. On the shore dives and other shallow dives like Poh-Poh, one technique they have is to deploy a guide on the surface as well as one down with the divers. The surface acts as a lookout and directs divers to critters.
If your girlfriend isn't into heaving gear around then this should suit her. The staff look after everything and will give as much assistance as needed. If you like to do all your own gear yourself - just say so, and that's OK too. And the water on Manado side tends to be warmer than round at Lembeh, so taking it easy is the order of the day.
And on the boat - depending on time of year and conditions - did I mention the dolphins that come round the boat, and the possibility of pilot whales?
Enjoy!
If your girlfriend isn't into heaving gear around then this should suit her. The staff look after everything and will give as much assistance as needed. If you like to do all your own gear yourself - just say so, and that's OK too. And the water on Manado side tends to be warmer than round at Lembeh, so taking it easy is the order of the day.
And on the boat - depending on time of year and conditions - did I mention the dolphins that come round the boat, and the possibility of pilot whales?
Enjoy!
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