Water temps in Indonesia

[billt4sf]

So we're planning to do this year-long visit to Bali and dive lots of places in Indo.

What water temps should we expect? I have read a bunch of posts where people state water temps, but I have not been able to discern a pattern (if there is one). I noted that the coldest temps that people mention are those for Crystal Bay near Nusa Penida off of Bali (down to 19C (66F)! Brrrr!!!). Most others seems to be 25 - 28C (82 - 84F).

We do want to dive for the mola-molas but aside from that we have 3mms, plus a vest and hoods when needed.

Should we get 5mm? We have drysuits but we don't really want to take them!

Thanks,

Bill & Emily

 

[WetPup]

5mm.

Bali isn't the only place that gets chilly. You get below the thermoclines elsewhere and you can rapidly go from 28C to 21C in a few seconds - my trip to Komodo immediately springs to mind. El Nino has exacerbated the problem too, by all accounts water temps are colder than expected for this time of year.

If you only want to take one wetsuit (understandable), I'd take a 5mm. It's better to take something thicker for the colder dives and be comfortable, and then just regularly flush water down the top of the wetsuit on the warmer water dives to cool down a bit.

I have to do this on my trip next week. Temps in Raja Ampat are about 28-29C, and temps below the thermocline in Ambon are around 24C. As much as I'm not especially looking forward to diving in 28C in a 5mm, it'll be better than freezing my butt off diving in Ambon in a 3mm.

 

[jcclink]

Keep in mind that high stretch neoprene suffers from permanent compression after 1-2 wks of continuous diving. If you really want a 3mm suit buy a 5mm. Just back from Indonesia. Dove Lembeh (comfortable in new 5mm), Ambon (still cold in now my used 5mm + 3mm shorty + 3mm vest), RA (fine in used 5mm) & Bali (comfortable in used 5mm except Padang Bai COLD in spots).

 

[billt4sf]

Keep in mind that high stretch neoprene suffers from permanent compression after 1-2 wks of continuous diving. If you really want a 3mm suit buy a 5mm. Just back from Indonesia. Dove Lembeh (comfortable in new 5mm), Ambon (still cold in now my used 5mm + 3mm shorty + 3mm vest), RA (fine in used 5mm) & Bali (comfortable in used 5mm except Padang Bai COLD in spots).

Good point about the compression!

Interesting. I am just back from Indo as well: dove RA and Bali (Amed) in 3mm and was never even the least bit cold. Never put the hood or vest on. Dove every day for nearly four weeks.

- Bill

 

[Hintermann]

There is no set pattern. I visited Bali, a relatively small area geographically, this September-October and dived for 6 days. Water temperatures varied from a comfortable 28*C to a freezing 14*C.
Likewise, in my 11-day long liveaboard cruise in Raja Ampat last year, the water temperature varied between 18*C and 29*C. It is advisable to be prepared for such variations at any time of the year. But you should be OK with a combination of a 5mm full suit and a 3mm shorty. I have not seen anyone use a drysuit in Indonesia.