Volcanic eruption and sea life impact

[crabapple58]

I am heading to a LOB embarking at Labuan Bajo , Flores in late July 2025. Any thoughts on how yesterday’s volcanic eruptions will impact underwater seaworld in and around Komodo? Should I postpone?

 

[TostitoBandito]

Probably not much at all. Most of the pumice/ash that falls on the ocean will float and form rafts. Some could get into the water column and perhaps slightly impact vis, but I doubt the marine life will care or notice.

 

[crabapple58]

Probably not much at all. Most of the pumice/ash that falls on the ocean will float and form rafts. Some could get into the water column and perhaps slightly impact vis, but I doubt the marine life will care or notice.

Thank you.

 

[Centrals]

Mt Lewotobi has already erupted three times this yr(21st Mar, 18th May and 17th June) and several times in Nov 24. The eruption on 9th Nov forced the cancellation of the jazz festival in Labuan Bajo.

 

[rmorgan]

We were pinned down in Singapore in April 2024 while Mount Ruang went about its business, and then on Bunaken when it erupted the second time. It was eerie, and there was a lot of ash. Like @TostitoBandito said—Some of it sank through the water column and settled on the bottom, but a couple of tide shifts and current cleared it up in a couple of days. We were on a partially-closed boat (masked, of course) transferring from Bunaken to Bangka during the worst of the ash, and this is what our guide’s rig looked like after we arrived.

 

[crabapple58]

We were pinned down in Singapore in April 2024 while Mount Ruang went about its business, and then on Bunaken when it erupted the second time. It was eerie, and there was a lot of ash. Like @TostitoBandito said—Some of it sank through the water column and settled on the bottom, but a couple of tide shifts and current cleared it up in a couple of days. We were on a partially-closed boat (masked, of course) transferring from Bunaken to Bangka during the worst of the ash, and this is what our guide’s rig looked like after we arrived. View attachment 904581

Whoa, thank you. I have about 5 weeks until embarking, if things settle down, then I’ll proceed. Combining potential Middle East conflict (flying thru UAE) and now volcano, I’m keeping options open, and I have insurance. Thank you for your input.

 

[TostitoBandito]

We were pinned down in Singapore in April 2024 while Mount Ruang went about its business, and then on Bunaken when it erupted the second time. It was eerie, and there was a lot of ash. Like @TostitoBandito said—Some of it sank through the water column and settled on the bottom, but a couple of tide shifts and current cleared it up in a couple of days. We were on a partially-closed boat (masked, of course) transferring from Bunaken to Bangka during the worst of the ash, and this is what our guide’s rig looked like after we arrived. View attachment 904581

That's gonna need a bit of a rinse.

 

[rmorgan]

That's gonna need a bit of a rinse.

Happily, there was water nearby. The boat crewman had to ride on the bow, outside the cabin the whole way, as there were a lot of logs, etc. floating—he took it in the teeth. We felt worst for the folks at Bunaken Oasis—their spectacular pool was heavily ashed and took a good bit of effort to rehab. The ash was basically blowing due south from Ruang, 100k NNW off the point of North Sulawesi, so Bunaken got hit hard. Once we turned east toward Bangka, it abated considerably, and Lembeh was ash-free. A previous (not recent) Ruang eruption blew out the side of the mountain and generated a substantial tsunami, but not this one.

@crabapple58, may we dive in interesting times, eh? Have a great trip!

 

[hedonist222]

Mt Lewotobi has already erupted three times this yr(21st Mar, 18th May and 17th June) and several times in Nov 24. The eruption on 9th Nov forced the cancellation of the jazz festival in Labuan Bajo.

And my dive trip!
I landed in Bali the morning it eupted. Which naturally halted all flights to/from Labuan Bajo.
I was supposed to land in Bali, meet friends in the airport who'd gone off before me and did Tulamben for 5 days. Plan was for all of us to fly to LBJ. So we had to reverse my trip, Tulamben first, then Komodo. But flights remained halted for another 4 days before opening up again, then an eruption again halted flights. But this time only for a day. Decided to just remain in Tulamben and come back for Komodo. Come back I did a few months ago.

 

[Centrals]

@hedonist222
Others might not have the flexibility and time to wait or even changing the itinerary of the trip.
Typhoon in Philippines and volcanic eruption in Indonesia are natural phenomena and there is nothing we can do about it. While typhoon is seasonal and can be avoided with careful planning but volcanic eruption isn't.
Travel insurance might help to a certain extent but being stranded on a holiday in a foreign country is something else.