Kevster
Contributor
Sipadan Komodo Bali Trip report 08th - 23rd Aug 08.
Flights Baku-Dubai-Bangkok-KL-KK-TW-KK-Bali-LB-Bali-Jakarta-Dubai-Baku
Sipadan (3 Dive Days) - Borneo Divers
I have posted a more detailed trip report on the Malaysia board.
Very good diving but expensive & lots of divers wanting to dive few Sipadan sites.
Stayed at Borneo divers. Was nice resort, food was very average considering price (approx $350/d). Was a big problem with permits to dive Sipadan. We had permits one day but were not allowed to dive (too many divers).
In 3 days we had 2 dives at Sipadan. Barracuda pt was the highlight ,big ball of barra, lots of Bumperhead PF, excellent dive but up to 30 divers on the same site. The other dive at Sipadan was average. Viss less than 10 m , lots of turtles.
Diving Mabul was good. Nudis, frogfish, blue ring octopus!!1st time I have seen.
Overall good diving but too expensive & too many divers at Sipadan. Dive times were short, guides were insisting on 45 mins. Only dive more than 60 mins was sunset unguided dive!
Air Asia flight from KK to Bali was 18 hrs late! I will not fly with them again. Customer service was non-existent. No probs with excess baggage on any of the flights.
Komodo (4 Dive Days) - Reefseekers
Accom- Eco Lodge was good. Nice big clean room with A/c & fan. Very quiet peaceful location. Unfortunately its 15 min outside LB which was a bit inconvenient. I would stay somewhere else next time in LB. Staying outside LB limited the eating options. Generally if you are land based diving all you need is somewhere close to harbour, clean & cheap; as land based diving involves long days.
Weather Sunny/windy. Sea conditions were not great .Choppy. Travel to Northern sites was 17 miles, 2hr 20 mins. 1 day was uncomfortable going out. Aug brings wind but also excellent viss.
The diving was AMAZING. The kind of diving I like. Good viss. Sandy slopes, interesting macro and worthwhile looking out into the blue.
Day 1 Middle of Park(Snapper Pt,Orange Grove)
Day 2 North of Park (Crystal rock,Coral Garden, the Cauldron)
Day 3 Around Rincha (Dragon tour).(Penga,Snapper Pt) The least exciting day of the 4. Saw 8-10 dragons on a morning walk on Rincha.
Day 4 North (Full moon, Stingray Pt)
Generally left hotel at 7 am, boat leaves harbour 07.30 got back to hotel at 18.00.
Water was a bit cold 26-28. I had 3 mm + shortie.
Viss was fantastic 20-30+m. Very fishy. With lots of large fish. GTs,Tuna, Napoleon,Sharks, lots of Mantas & even a dolphin with calf. The 1st day we had to rendezvous with a boat travelling from Lombok after our dives. This was really bad as we had to wait around for 2 hrs and then transfer onto Lombok boat to go back to LB. This boat was on a 3 day trip from Lombok to Komodo. The boat was shocking. Cannot believe anybody would consider a trip on high seas on it.
Reefseekers are a good dive op. They really ensure you are happy and split the groups up so the more exp divers are together. (Was surprised to see kids diving Komodo)They also give a very good talk/lecture about marine life on the way out to the sites. The diving was probably the best I have ever experienced. Crystal rock was really nice. The cauldron was big current but with lots of Mantas making many passes. Full moon was my best ever dive. Lots of big fish hunting, large grey reef sharks, white tips, Dolphins. I will definitely return to Komodo. Although the land based was very good I would consider a Live-aboard next time. Would choose local liveaboard.
Bali(2 Dive days)
Day 1 Tauch Terminal Tulamben .
Morning dive at Liberty wreck was very good. The viss was excellent 20+m. Bumperhead parrot fish, schooling jacks & great viss. Really nice dive but was too short. 35 mins (10 mins at start waiting for diver with ear problems) Other dives at drop off & afternoon boat dive were very forgettable. Not too impressed with guides. Not very enthusiastic to say the least. Resort is nice.
Day 2 BIDP Nusa Penida, Crystal Bay for Mola Mola. Was really impressed with BIDP. Excellent value & really friendly service. Water was really cold 20-24 C. Coldest conditions I have experienced. Again viss was excellent. When we got to Crystal bay there were already 7 boats there. No Mola Mola . But enjoyable day anyway. I thought that CB would be a drift dive but it was just waiting at a nearby cleaning station looking out to blue water.
Would definitely dive with BIDP again.
Overall Komodo was really really good & was actually the cheapest of the 3 locations. Will definitely return to Komodo.
Flights Baku-Dubai-Bangkok-KL-KK-TW-KK-Bali-LB-Bali-Jakarta-Dubai-Baku
Sipadan (3 Dive Days) - Borneo Divers
I have posted a more detailed trip report on the Malaysia board.
Very good diving but expensive & lots of divers wanting to dive few Sipadan sites.
Stayed at Borneo divers. Was nice resort, food was very average considering price (approx $350/d). Was a big problem with permits to dive Sipadan. We had permits one day but were not allowed to dive (too many divers).
In 3 days we had 2 dives at Sipadan. Barracuda pt was the highlight ,big ball of barra, lots of Bumperhead PF, excellent dive but up to 30 divers on the same site. The other dive at Sipadan was average. Viss less than 10 m , lots of turtles.
Diving Mabul was good. Nudis, frogfish, blue ring octopus!!1st time I have seen.
Overall good diving but too expensive & too many divers at Sipadan. Dive times were short, guides were insisting on 45 mins. Only dive more than 60 mins was sunset unguided dive!
Air Asia flight from KK to Bali was 18 hrs late! I will not fly with them again. Customer service was non-existent. No probs with excess baggage on any of the flights.
Komodo (4 Dive Days) - Reefseekers
Accom- Eco Lodge was good. Nice big clean room with A/c & fan. Very quiet peaceful location. Unfortunately its 15 min outside LB which was a bit inconvenient. I would stay somewhere else next time in LB. Staying outside LB limited the eating options. Generally if you are land based diving all you need is somewhere close to harbour, clean & cheap; as land based diving involves long days.
Weather Sunny/windy. Sea conditions were not great .Choppy. Travel to Northern sites was 17 miles, 2hr 20 mins. 1 day was uncomfortable going out. Aug brings wind but also excellent viss.
The diving was AMAZING. The kind of diving I like. Good viss. Sandy slopes, interesting macro and worthwhile looking out into the blue.
Day 1 Middle of Park(Snapper Pt,Orange Grove)
Day 2 North of Park (Crystal rock,Coral Garden, the Cauldron)
Day 3 Around Rincha (Dragon tour).(Penga,Snapper Pt) The least exciting day of the 4. Saw 8-10 dragons on a morning walk on Rincha.
Day 4 North (Full moon, Stingray Pt)
Generally left hotel at 7 am, boat leaves harbour 07.30 got back to hotel at 18.00.
Water was a bit cold 26-28. I had 3 mm + shortie.
Viss was fantastic 20-30+m. Very fishy. With lots of large fish. GTs,Tuna, Napoleon,Sharks, lots of Mantas & even a dolphin with calf. The 1st day we had to rendezvous with a boat travelling from Lombok after our dives. This was really bad as we had to wait around for 2 hrs and then transfer onto Lombok boat to go back to LB. This boat was on a 3 day trip from Lombok to Komodo. The boat was shocking. Cannot believe anybody would consider a trip on high seas on it.
Reefseekers are a good dive op. They really ensure you are happy and split the groups up so the more exp divers are together. (Was surprised to see kids diving Komodo)They also give a very good talk/lecture about marine life on the way out to the sites. The diving was probably the best I have ever experienced. Crystal rock was really nice. The cauldron was big current but with lots of Mantas making many passes. Full moon was my best ever dive. Lots of big fish hunting, large grey reef sharks, white tips, Dolphins. I will definitely return to Komodo. Although the land based was very good I would consider a Live-aboard next time. Would choose local liveaboard.
Bali(2 Dive days)
Day 1 Tauch Terminal Tulamben .
Morning dive at Liberty wreck was very good. The viss was excellent 20+m. Bumperhead parrot fish, schooling jacks & great viss. Really nice dive but was too short. 35 mins (10 mins at start waiting for diver with ear problems) Other dives at drop off & afternoon boat dive were very forgettable. Not too impressed with guides. Not very enthusiastic to say the least. Resort is nice.
Day 2 BIDP Nusa Penida, Crystal Bay for Mola Mola. Was really impressed with BIDP. Excellent value & really friendly service. Water was really cold 20-24 C. Coldest conditions I have experienced. Again viss was excellent. When we got to Crystal bay there were already 7 boats there. No Mola Mola . But enjoyable day anyway. I thought that CB would be a drift dive but it was just waiting at a nearby cleaning station looking out to blue water.
Would definitely dive with BIDP again.
Overall Komodo was really really good & was actually the cheapest of the 3 locations. Will definitely return to Komodo.