Sipadan & Derawan OR Bali & Komodo

[Lovebeard]

Hi all,

I've got a dilemma and I need your help. I'll be moving from Singapore to Canada in October and have time for one last whirlwind tour of SE Asia before I go. It looks like I will start by finally making it to Angkor Wat followed by bit of time in Cambodia/Laos/Thailand with a friend. She heads back to Singapore for the F1 around the 20th of September so I'm planning to come back at the same time, grab my dive gear, and go get wet before I go. I'll have about 10-14 days for this and think I have narrowed it down to two choices:

• Head to Sipadan & Derawan

OR

• Head to Bali for some Mola2 & Komodo for a LOB

I've been diving for 15 months now, with ~75 dives logged, eanx and rescue. I'm comfortable in current(some of my best dives have been drift dives) and while I have a camera I probably won't bring it along on most dives(I find my dives more fulfilling when I am just focused on diving and soaking up all of the beauty around me). I've previously been diving at Tulamben in Bali, Gili T/Lombok, Koh Tao, Layang2, Pulau Perhentian, and lots of local diving(Dayang/Aur, Tioman, Anambas, 7 skies, etc)

So what do you think? This is probably my last chance to dive in this part of the world for several years so I want to make the most of it(without spending ridiculous money) but even more importantly I want to be able to relax and enjoy the dives. I'll be travelling alone for this leg, so it's really all about the diving and the other divers.

Please share with me your thoughts, opinions, rants, and advice.

Thanks
-Jesse

 

[ocdiver1]

Of the two options you've given, do Bali+Komodo, but give some thought to Bali+Lembeh/Bunaken/Bangka, or Bali+Raja Ampat if you can stretch your budget further for a RA LOB. Sipadan is fantastic but Derawan is pretty mediocre as far as Indonesia is concerned.

 

[OnTheSpot]

I would go for your second option option as well. A lot of the Komodo LVB,s don't leave from Bali so you will have to account for a little bit more traveling. One that does is Mermaid which would tie your plans up nicely. It's an established boat with a great reputation and at the lower end of the budget scale. Lembeh + Bunaken would be a great option for a land based holiday. Air Asia flies between Bali & Kota Kinabalu, so you could get your Mola Mola action and then head straight down to Sipadan, It would be a shame to leave SE Asia without diving Sipadan but the same can be said for many of the dive spots. My final suggestion would be Raja Ampat, if the budget allows then this would be my choice. There are some boats that won't break the bank and the diving there is sensational.

 

[jake11]

What did you decide? We have been to both locations and loved them both!!