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!

 

[Tassie_Rohan]

It would be a shame to visit Malaysian Borneo and not spend at least a few days, and preferably a week, at Sipadan/Mabul.

While everyone focuses on Sipadan, which requires permits to dive, the diving around the resorts at Mabul is fine.

 

[rmorgan]

Hello! I'm planning a trip for me, my dad and stepmom.

Unless I missed it, there's been no mention of North Sulewesi. It is a unique destination, because one can dive excellent walls with turtles galore at Bunaken (from a resort on the island, or a mainland-based resort like Murex Manado), and then transfer by boat to Bangka Island (excellent, varied topography with lots of life) or Lembeh (critters, of course, so perhaps not for you). Murex's "Passport to Paradise" includes boat transfers among the resorts, with diving along the way. Especially with so few dive days, you can do two of the three without missing a beat, and I believe there are frequent flights from Manado to Kota Kinabalu without returning to an international hub.

 

[Centrals]

Sipadan + Sangalaki.
Scubajunkie offers two centers diving.

^
Northern Sulawesi.
Visit Toraja is highly recommended.
Flight to Singapore and catch Scoot to Manado (unfortunately non daily).