Where can I dive in Indonesia in January?

[ocdiver1]

Well, again I'm just being realistic here. This person has presumably paid a lot of money, flew a long way, has a limited amount of time off etc. to visit Indonesia and her one concern is this perception of the rainy season. So much so that it sounds like she regrets making a booking and is considering completely changing her trip just for this perception. In fact I saw the original poster just started a thread now about Palau so maybe she's ditched the idea of coming to Indo altogether. If I make a recommendation on here, I do it the same way I would as to a friend, and from the perspective of most of us on here...as a diver interested in the best experience keeping in mind staying on a budget, time considerations, etc. I think it's absolutely appropriate to explain what "rainy season" means and what parts of a huge country one might want to avoid..but not to feed into the idea of leaving the country for it over a largely misguided notion. I just spent last February and March diving all around Indonesia and have been there in December several times before and not felt I missed out anything for this. Whether there's a cheap flight to Phuket or not, there are likely change fees on a ticket, maybe prepaid lodging that's being forfeited, and who knows this might be the one time this person might be able to get to Indonesia. I'd just say again..stay in Indonesia and enjoy the superior diving...Ambon, Pulau Weh, Raja Ampat, Lembeh/Bunaken, etc. etc., just stay out of NT if so concerned about the weather. I don't many would say take Phuket over any of these places.

 

[Quero]

I saw the original poster just started a thread now about Palau so maybe she's ditched the idea of coming to Indo altogether.

Actually, I'm beginning to think that she's a travel agent in Taiwan who is mining the board for information so she can sell trips to her customers. She has written to me by PM asking for specifics for various destinations. I've seen something similar happen before with a Chinese tour agent based in New York.

 

[auddy]

Ambon is absolutely awesome. I was there end Dec a couple of years back and might be going back again next year. I actually prefer Ambon's waters for muck diving compared to Lembeh, although Lembeh seems to have a higher concentration of critters within a smaller area.

 

[weeksd]

Mermaid 2 bali - komodo trip jan 14-21. Bali is very wet in january but komodo is one of the driest places on earth. Bali it rains late afternoon and most nights in rainy season. No flights required in indonesia. Very nice boat. I have been on mermaid 2 twice before. Liveaboard Diving | Thailand | Burma | Indonesia | Mermaid Liveaboards | Asia's Premier Liveaboard Fleet

 

[Quero]

weeksd, Mermaid II is a nice boat, but the OP asked for low-budget. Any boat that is saving money on fuel to keep rates low will depart from Labuan Bajo or Bima.

 

[imamwbs]

however, January is the rainy season in Indonesia. just know it that the best time for diving in Komodo is a march to october and to bali best time is June to November. but if you want to dive January, you can ask directly to some sources there:
Bali area - BLUEfin Bali Diving - Bali Dive Center - Scuba Divers Paradise Diving Bali
Komodo or Raja Ampat - Komodo Liveaboard | Komodo Diving | Komodo Islands Diving Liveaboards

 

[Captain-Hook]

eugeni -​ I've dived in Komodo during January and can say a few things about it.

You're right about South Komodo, best conditions all year are during that time, from mid Dec through to Feb there is usually very good viz and warm temps down there. Absolutely unheard of conditions for the South of Komodo, because no one ever really dives there then! Peter Scoones (BBC underwater video macro specialist) used to charter a small LOB during that time of year and live down in Nusa Kode diving Cannibal Rock, Yellow Wall, Torpedo Alley and all those famous dive sites everyday for a month or more. Though I don't think he ever got the cannibalizing Nudis he was after. It is the best, and for me one of the only times I could really enjoy diving in the South.

The North can be a much different story at that time, especially compared to June - Sept, depending on how strong the NW monsoon is by then. The viz (i've seen it 5m in Jan) and temps (24 degrees) tend to drop up in the north and the currents can be stronger than usual, even for Komodo standards, as you get closer to the spring tides, so it can make for some pretty fun stuff. But I will say that I've never seen so much big fish before like I did then, again even for Komodo standards, and the Mantas are really everywhere, loads of them. Special stuff despite the conditions, I guess the fish don't mind it at all.

For weather: Komodo is a micro climate and tends to receive a lot less rain than anywhere else in Indonesia (it's not tropical there). It does rain during that time but lighter and more sporadic, and even in Bali you will get some dry days between the rains, which get more intense into Feb. I've seen it just rain buckets in R4 during trips there in the "dry" season that were much worse than any rain I ever saw in Komodo during the "wet" season. But then with the weather you can't ever be too sure anymore these days.

I'd say enjoy a great off season trip to Komodo and Bali, when you really might not see any other dive boats, or divers, around. If you're still looking for a reputable budget LOB in the Komodo area for your trip you can PM me and maybe I can help you out.

Hope this helps the confusion, feel free to ask me for any other info.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[buiszie]

I totally agree with Luko, January is not the best month for diving Komodo, Lombok or Bali.The northen wind is there and this bring rain and big waves. The more eastern is better, starts from ambon to RA.

 

[Indah]

East coast of Central Halmahera, the Bay of Weda. Best time from half September until half June.

 

[highdesert]

East coast of Central Halmahera, the Bay of Weda. Best time from half September until half June.

Hmmm .... interesting choice ...

I wonder, how is it that you thought of that?