If the choice was between the Wakatobi Resort and another liveaboard, which would you choose? Is the resort that high end and the diving that good, that a liveaboard would not compare?
As far as the time of year, being in Canada we like to escape the winter, but, it appears we should avoid March at the least. It seems that October is similar to April being a transition month and I can't imagine being in the warmth and then returning to have the whole winter to get through.
Thanks again.
Well, I never quite approach it that way. I choose the destination, e.g. Wakatobi, Raja, Komodo, Lembeh etc. Then time of year. Then dive op. Sometimes time of year is the first step, then location.
If all things are equal, then we prefer a land based operator. But all things are rarely equal. This is why we end up on liveaboards more often than not.
First, you need to prioritize. Let's say time of year is #1. Let's say it is March. This would be good for Raja Ampat. Raja Ampat is best done by boat. Pick a liveaboard. Another option is Komodo, although it is hard to find liveaboards doing Komodo in March simply because they are all in Raja. Other options in Indonesia suffer from the typical rainy season downside, although I know many people who take adavantage of discounts during this time of year.
Let's say April is your month. Less rainy, but the rainy season can't read a calendar, so you never know. This opens up many other possibilities. It's also the time that boats relocate from Raja to Komodo or North Sulawesi, so there are lots of transitional itineraries.
About the ease and quantity of diving. It's always easier from a liveaboard. Typically I gear up in the tender and never touch my gear during a trip, although dive resorts aren't that much more effort. Wakatobi schedules 3 boat dives per day and 1 night dive per 7 day trip (2 for a 10 day IIRC). If you shore dive, it doesn't matter and you can shore night dive any night. The liveaboards I have been on sometimes only schedule 3 dives a day, too. Much depends on the itinerary. If you move around a lot (the whole point of a liveaboard), 3 day dives is about all you can get. If you are parked, it is possible to schedule 4 plus night dive, but I've seen both scenarios. So, it is quite possible not to get in any more dives on a liveaboard than at a land based resort. It doesn't hurt to ask.
Lembeh has great land based resorts. No liveaboard has had long term success operating there. Raja Ampat, even if you love Sorido Bay or Misool Eco Resort, is best done by liveaboard. I wouldn't do it any other way.
Set your priorities. Pick your spot. They will all satisfy and keep you coming back to Indonesia. Sadly, we are only going once this year.