Trip Report Lembeh Straits-Bangka-Raja Ampat 11-09

[robint]

Yep overall Indo has a lot more variety....but comparing Palau to Raja is a little bit like comparing apples to oranges....Palau has great vis, lots of Sharks but not the abundance of corals and critters you will see in Indo....Last year was some of the finest diving I have ever done in Palau and will be back there in about a month

we are trying to decide about our next Pacific trip - can't decide between Indonesia or Philippines or Fiji. Since Palau and Hawaii are the only places we have been in Pacific, we are pretty open. Big thing is that we are limited on $$ and on time, can't do more than 10 days including the travel. We keep saying next trip is Lembeh, but then we start figuring out travel and costs and then scratch it off the list. Ron says the next trip has to be Pacific, so i guess I better come to a decision soon.

 

[Travelnsj]

we are trying to decide about our next Pacific trip - can't decide between Indonesia or Philippines or Fiji. Since Palau and Hawaii are the only places we have been in Pacific, we are pretty open. Big thing is that we are limited on $$ and on time, can't do more than 10 days including the travel. We keep saying next trip is Lembeh, but then we start figuring out travel and costs and then scratch it off the list. Ron says the next trip has to be Pacific, so i guess I better come to a decision soon.

Robin....I know you love LOB's have you looked at the Nai'a in Fiji that goes into the Bligh waters?....Have not been there but heard good things and will be in Fiji in April...Also in Raja the Seven seas LOB is supposed to be great....I believe Divemonkeys was on that a couple of years ago when I ran into him at Sardines reef...LOL...Been to Puerto Galera in the philippines...it was good but not overly impressed with the diving!...my 2psi

 

[Shasta_man]

Robin, my opinion is Indonesia is the best choice of your list, but while it could pass the cost test, it won't pass the time test. Most LOBs in the area do 10-11 days, but oh boy, they are good trips. And it takes a couple days to get there though only one day (on the calendar) to get back.

If you can get the time, Indonesia is fantastic underwater as well as topside for getting your critter/nature fix and people are generally wonderful. Any time left over to spend in Bali would be rewarded as well. While cheaper local boats exist, I'd know Komodo Dancer is a good value. You can fly into Bali and take the boat from there. Right now, I think Komodo Dancer is $3100 and airfare is about $1000. Take out your Pacific critter ID book and what you see in it will be what you see on the trip. All of it.

If time can't be extended, I believe Fiji will be the way to go. The Na'ia is going to be one of the top picks and will visit the best area. People are really fantastic in Fiji too, with my favorite story being villagers waving and yelling hello to us while drove by, while people I see everyday at work won't return a face to face greeting. Na'ia is actually more expensive per day than Indo, and airfare is the same, so your only advantage will be shorter available trips.

Raja Ampat will be out of the question because the trips are all long, it takes another day to get there and probably back because of the times you have to fly out to meet your international flights, and it's another $600-$700 each to fly that additional leg. Having been to both recently, Komodo easily holds its own in that comparison. Go to Komodo during August and September and it's mola mola season.

Last comment is consider PNG. Star Dancer was offering pretty killer rates. However, airfare is typically "killer", literally, as well, but check it out. They also have some specials like buddy weeks, where your buddy is 50% off (?).

Oops, just got this special from Ultimate Dive Travel: Beqa Lagoon (Fiji) 2/13/-2/20 only $1799pp INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL AIR, hotel and diving for a week. Now that is a amazing deal. You could be diving with the big girl resident tiger shark.

 

[I-Torch]

Great looking dive!

 

[highdesert]

Round trip on Cathay Pacific LA-Bali-LA is $1048 right now (for October travel). Standard class liveaboard for Komodo, 7D/6N, $1500 pp, twin share, 4 dives/day. Shuttle flight Bali-Komodo-Bali, $200 pp. That's about $2750 pp, add in tips, extra lodging, etc., about $3300-$3500 pp. If the $$ are the prime factor, Philippine diving will be cheaper. But we're talking Komodo. Want to go cheaper? Dive Tulamben & Padang Bai in Bali for a week. World class ... can't go wrong.

 

[robint]

Robin....I know you love LOB's have you looked at the Nai'a in Fiji that goes into the Bligh waters?....Have not been there but heard good things and will be in Fiji in April...Also in Raja the Seven seas LOB is supposed to be great....I believe Divemonkeys was on that a couple of years ago when I ran into him at Sardines reef...LOL...Been to Puerto Galera in the philippines...it was good but not overly impressed with the diving!...my 2psi

thanks, I do appreciate your opinion! unfortunately, we are limited in funds right now so I don't know when we will be able to do another liveaboard. That is why we are looking for a land-based trip that gives us the most bang for our buck.

Robin, my opinion is Indonesia is the best choice of your list, but while it could pass the cost test, it won't pass the time test. Most LOBs in the area do 10-11 days, but oh boy, they are good trips. And it takes a couple days to get there though only one day (on the calendar) to get back.

If you can get the time, Indonesia is fantastic underwater as well as topside for getting your critter/nature fix and people are generally wonderful. Any time left over to spend in Bali would be rewarded as well. While cheaper local boats exist, I'd know Komodo Dancer is a good value. You can fly into Bali and take the boat from there. Right now, I think Komodo Dancer is $3100 and airfare is about $1000. Take out your Pacific critter ID book and what you see in it will be what you see on the trip. All of it.

If time can't be extended, I believe Fiji will be the way to go. The Na'ia is going to be one of the top picks and will visit the best area. People are really fantastic in Fiji too, with my favorite story being villagers waving and yelling hello to us while drove by, while people I see everyday at work won't return a face to face greeting. Na'ia is actually more expensive per day than Indo, and airfare is the same, so your only advantage will be shorter available trips.

Raja Ampat will be out of the question because the trips are all long, it takes another day to get there and probably back because of the times you have to fly out to meet your international flights, and it's another $600-$700 each to fly that additional leg. Having been to both recently, Komodo easily holds its own in that comparison. Go to Komodo during August and September and it's mola mola season.

Last comment is consider PNG. Star Dancer was offering pretty killer rates. However, airfare is typically "killer", literally, as well, but check it out. They also have some specials like buddy weeks, where your buddy is 50% off (?).

Oops, just got this special from Ultimate Dive Travel: Beqa Lagoon (Fiji) 2/13/-2/20 only $1799pp INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL AIR, hotel and diving for a week. Now that is a amazing deal. You could be diving with the big girl resident tiger shark.

Like I just noted above, we can't afford a liveaboard trip anywhere right now. We are leaning heavily towards Philippines or Beqa as they both seem to be good values and lots of diving. My first choice would be Indonesia for 10 days, but after doing a price comparison (the airfare $$$ is outrageous!) it is probably not going to happen this year. Oh well....

robin