Vacation Scramble

[vladimir]

I am doing one of my trademark last minute trips. I have a week, max, more like five or six days.

Borneo Divers Mabul Resort is booked. How does Sipadan Mabul Resort compare? I am looking at perhaps only one day at Sipadan.

The last time I went to Tulamben was March of last year--slightly off-season. It was perfect for me--very few divers. It felt like I had the whole north shore to myself. How will it be the first week of June? Is it crowded now? I am also considering Menjangan, just to change things up. The last time I went there I stayed at the Mimpi, which was fine, but that was in January, some years ago. Will it be busy over there? Any other accommodations I should consider? I could hike over to Tulamben from Menjangan, but I hate to waste a lot of time driving or boating if there are hordes of divers.

I'm also considering Koh Samui. This would be a sacrificial trip for my fiancee's sake. She gets seasick, so we'd stay in Samui and I could day trip to Koh Tao while she spends a fortune on silly spa treatments. Hour-long boat rides don't thrill me either though. I have never dived that side of Thailand. How does it compare to the Andaman side, or to peninsular Malaysia?

I'm not against the Philippines, but I haven't been there much. Logistics of traveling to the good spots seem a little bit imposing and I don't want to risk disappointment--it's been a while since I could manage a week off.

Thanks, I appreciate any input.

 

[Centrals]

I have probably given up all places in South East Asia other than Philippines!!
How about Anilao? Even the California Academy of Science regarded it as " centre of the centre" for sea slug and small fishes!

 

[vladimir]

Anilao looks good. I was just reading an article in Undercurrent talking it up, and of course there have been a lot of testimonials here on Scubaboard. I wonder how much regard I should give to severe tropical storm Songda? It looks like it will probably miss Anilao, but it will definitely miss Bali.