Suggestions: Komodo, Alor, Wakatobi (Tomia), Triton Bay or Raja Ampat in May 2025

[diogenesthedog]

Hello! I'm planning a trip for me, my dad and stepmom. We've each got about 50 dives, but it's been over a year for each of us. We're going to do a refresher course before heading out. With our schedules we don't get to do many trips, so I don't want to count on getting back to this part of the world. I think no matter which one of these we end up at, we'll be more than happy, so it feels like we're splitting hairs, but I figured I might as well get some opinions from those more experienced than us. I've emailed a litany of dive resorts and as of now we've got at least one option at any of these places. Note that the Wakatobi spot is Marind, not Wakatobi resort.
Some helpful info:

• 7 days of diving, probably more like 2 dives a day with a couple night dives if possible.
• Interested in seeing whale sharks and dolphins (I know dolphins will more likely be surface views). Willing to forgo if it just doesn't work out that way.
• would love if there were some non-diving activities available but not essential
• we don't have much experience with crazy currents. It seems like Komodo has the most intense currents of these options, but please correct me if that's wrong! Are those currents something that you get used to/learn to deal with quickly?
• Interested in doing a little muck diving, but would like that to be the minority of dives
• We would like to be able to rent gear and not bring our own
• We're trying to go to Borneo after
• My dad wants a step above a homestay. Wants some creature comforts but doesn't need luxury.
• Would like to minimize travel time out to any of these places, but again, if the diving is going to be much better and take longer to reach, we would do it.

My general impression is that Triton Bay Divers might be a good fit, but it's much more expensive than some other options, so I'm wondering if we need to do that when we might have cheaper (like half the price) options that are just as good or maybe just a little less exciting. Marind seems nice, but I just haven't researched Wakatobi as much as other spots, so would like to hear what people think of that area in comparison to the others. I also saw a post that looks like it might be for sale? Sounds like the coral bleaching event in December did a little damage to some spots in Rajah Ampat, but I'm not sure if there is such an abundance of riches there that I shouldn't think much of that. As far as Rajah Ampat, there are a few resorts on a few different islands -- Pam, Merpati to name a couple. Any strong feelings about which islands might help us avoid the worst of the bleaching or which ones to really prioritize? Are they all so close that it won't really matter?
Another more basic concern: Are we going to be totally out of our skill range here? Any of these sites friendlier to the less experienced diver?
Thank you in advance for your expertise. There's a ton of information out there and it's tough to narrow focus!

 

[cozcharlie]

Where are you coming from ? Seattle ? Just flagging because for Raja or especially Triton Bay your travel time could nearly equal your dive days. I love Triton but there is only one flight a day to/from Triton and it doesn’t always run if there isn’t demand . The flight is from Sorong , and there are only a handful of daily flights to Sorong . Other people might add on , but you might try the passport to paradise (a multi resort combo ) and hit Bunaken and Lembeh in North Sulawesi. You could get some reef and some muck (Lembeh is probably in top 2 in the world for muck). Don’t think you would get whalesharks. You can get to Manado directly from Singapore which would probably be easier on time and budget.

Komodo is probably a bit of a stretch given limited number of dives and lack of frequency .

 

[also_anon_dc]

You're inexperienced and looking to minimize travel time. Why are you looking to go to remote bucket list dive destinations? Every place you list will require an additional flight (most likely a domestic flight once you're in Indonesia). A Raja Ampat resort could work because they could tailor the dives to your experience level but that requires a domestic flight to Sorong, then waiting around in a hotel for hours for the 2-5 hour speed boat to the resort.

If you're interested in diving why not get more experience and the flexibility to travel longer before you go to remote Indonesia? It makes no sense to waste your time and money when you can't do the best dives.

Someplace like Bali might be a good fit since many international airlines go there from the US with only 1 stop.

 

[Cali_diver]

What time of year do you want to go...?

I think it is a false assumption that Komodo has more intense/crazy currents than the rest of Indo. I think it is more accurate to say that there are more dive sites in Komodo where the current is strong but divers dive it knowing that there is current and dive it for the current. Unexpected crazy currents can occur anywhere in Indonesia and we have had many crazy currents in places not known for currents. Number 1 rule is follow your guide and pay attention to what they are doing.
Triton bay is not a place for your average traveler due to its remoteness and variable conditions. If you have only a short trip I would consider Komodo(some liveaboard boats are going to Saleh Bay for whalesharks now) which is a short domestic flight from Bali or Bali itself which also has amazing diving. Hopefully you already know that you lose a day in flights with the international dateline so it takes almost 2 calendar days to get to Indo (24hour of actual of travel time). Another possible destination for you might be Fiji. Best destination for diving with whalesharks in Indonesia is Cenderawasih Bay which you would be best served on a liveaboard and requires more domestic flights like Triton Bay.

 

[TostitoBandito]

Yeah, agree with the above. I'm also on the west coast and have done several Indo/Pacific trips to remote destinations away from an international airport, but always for a minimum of like 10 nights. When the travel time on each end can easily be 24-36+ hours, going for a week seems pointless. Just my opinion.

Agree that someplace like Bali might be simpler. Many more/nicer places to stay can get there with 1 stop via Singapore or Taipei from Seattle, which makes a shorter trip more doable. And they'll also be able to easily cater to any ability there as opposed to the more remote places which typically get more advanced divers and won't be offering as much guidance or hand holding.

As for diving experience, in general I would not recommend diving someplace like Raja Ampat or Komodo if you don't have at least a little experience diving in currents (like a trip to Cozumel doing drift dives, for example). Knowing how to handle yourself on a drift dive, how to steer and go with the current without fighting it and burning all your air, negative entries and differing surface/deep currents, etc... I'm not saying it can't be done or that novice divers don't go to these places all the time (they absolutely do), but it's not at all unlikely that you could have a couple miserable/dangerous dives as you get accustomed to the conditions. So just plan for that. I saw this first hand after taking my partner to the rainbow reef in Fiji a few years ago right after she was certified. It was rough for the first few days, partly because they don't teach anything in PADI OW courses nowadays, and partly because of the omnipresent currents. Though on the bright side, by the end of that 10 day trip she was a pro.

 

[Volleyball]

GF and I just got back from Bali (the second time this year) and Labuan Bajo/Komodo (the first time, ever). Komodo’s currents are no joke—not for beginners. You need current experience, assume strong currents every dive, and be fit if diving for multiple dive days. On day one, I thought I managed the dive well but was first to hit the 50 psi on all 3 tanks; they offered and I accepted larger tanks the rest of the trip

Komodo and neighboring Padar island itself is ~45 minutes by speedboat from Labuan Bajo, where the airport and accommodations are. There are closer dive sites near LBJ, they'll probably have less current, but that’s irrelevant if you're on a liveaboard since they tend to stay by Komodo

Like the others, I'd recommend Bali—Penida Island is awesome above the water and has Manta Point

 

[diveUAE]

Sorry to join the “choir” of: with just 7 days don’t try to reach places like RA, Triton Bay or Wakatobi (just had a look and it takes seriously long time to get there).
In July we’re going to RA and traveling from Europe it takes 4 days from leaving till arrival in Waisai (could be done in 3, but I built in an extra day for any problems with luggage etc and to try to mitigate the jet lag a bit). On this trip out of 25 days total, dive days are 16-17.

I like the suggestion of Sulawesi, could be great for your group- fly into Manado.

I notice you’re planning to go to Borneo afterwards? Which part? Indonesia? Also takes some effort … Have you considered the Malaysian part of Borneo? Could combine with diving Sipadan and/or Lankayan (just read up on travel warnings and make sure your travel insurance covers the area). Would minimise your travel days to do this.

 

[diogenesthedog]

Thanks for all the insight here. I should perhaps clarify that we are thinking 7 days of diving, but we’re doing a 3 week trip. We figured it’d be a couple days on either side of the 7 days to get to and from the site. My dad wants to do land based as opposed to a liveaboard. We have been to Cozumel and did a couple drift dives.
Why the dream destinations? Because of my dad’s age and the career I’m in, this will likely be our last big trip together where he’s in good enough health to do something like this. But I do hear you that perhaps we’re trying to push too much. We were going to try to do some wildlife viewing in the Malaysian side of Borneo after. Sipadan sounds great, but from what I’d read it sounds like you can only do sipadan for 1 of 4 days or something like that because of the permitting.

We’re not looking for muckdiving, but if it’s a couple of our dives, that’s fine.

Bali is not an option— my dad’s been there and dove there and is looking to go somewhere else.

For those who have been to multiple, could you speak to the scale of difference between diving Sipadan and Mabul vs. Sulawesi vs Raja Ampat/Alor/Triton?

 

[diveUAE]

Ok. So this makes more sense.

We’ve been to:
RA and Sipadan/Mabul - I’m still not sure which one was the best, but Sipadan was in 2008, so now I think RA should be better. Also Sipadan was land based, while we did a liveaboard for RA. Incredible coral life and an abundance of fish + turtles for Sipadan and mantas in RA.
The dive sites close to Mabul/Kapalai were good as well.

Alor was also great, but the dives we did were mostly muck dives - and a few to “Yellow corner” to try and see the hammer heads, no luck and current was ripping, however our son (20/rescue diver/50 dives at the time) did very well- you need to be able to fight a bit, then hook up.

Komodo excellent too, but for me comes after the others - we did not really do any dives, where we had to fight the current (well maybe a bit), but fwiw currents in Alor and RA were stronger) - we did Komodo after Alor and our son did not have any problems at all.

Sulawesi we only did Lembeh and for critters it’s an amazing place, but not what you’re after. (We did do a liveaboard to Togean Islands, Una Una and Gorontalo, which was ok).

If it was me, I’d focus my 3 weeks in RA or Malaysian Borneo (probably RA).

 

[chillyinCanada]

My recommendation is Sipidan/Mabul because of the Malaysian Borneo connection. You will enjoy it and there's always the chance of being able to get extra permit days for Sipidan.

My other recommendation is Bangka in North Sulawesi. You may see pods of pilot whales but that would be on the surface. You have a good chance of seeing large bumphead parrotfish. Lots of schools of fish but also pygmy seahorses. Sahaung dive site is spectacular.

You are unlikely to see any dolphins and a whakeshark is very unlikely. No mantas. Even so, it was still some of the finest diving I've done the world over. I've returned a number of times and have stayed for over 2 weeks on occasion.

I've also been to Raja Ampat a number of times, always on a liveaboard but 7 days just isn't adequate.

3 weeks is going to slip by quickly and painfully, if you focus on Raja and then back in order to connect for your Borneo portion. I'm tired just thinking of it.