Where in Indonesia in March 2013?

[jake11]

I agree that a week for RA would not work! 10 days for Komodo would work for a 7 day LOB trip! I know several people that did Komodo last March and loved it. They had great diving and the vegetation was very green and lush during that time frame! Also, we just got back from Komodo and had a great land tour on Rinca with lots of dragon sightings including a fight between 2 females over a nest of dragon eggs! Check out some of the web sights for deals on LOB's in Komodo for the March time frame. That used to be the week for the discounted trip on the Komodo Dancer. We have been on that boat and loved it! Have fun!

 

[Tippytoes12]

We did a Bali to Bali Komodo trip with Mermaid 2 last year and it was fabulous. This was a 7 night trip , with two relatively long journeys there and back. Theses journeys were great , we really enjoyed them both . We had about 130 dives done at that point and we were fine , but we did treat ourselves to a private guide as it was a special trip.

Ten days is no where near enough to get to Bali , get over jet lag , go diving etc. Then of course you will been to observe the no fly time ...if you only have 10 days , consider Nusa Lembongan which is fabulous for Manta Rays and sharks and amazing reefs.Sue and Sarah at World Diving are two wonderful English ladies who will look after you very well.

Have a great trip.

 

[pughio83]

Can anyone recommend halmahera at all? If so in March-April? Looking also for destination march-April time.

Ps can second nusa lembongan.....just returned......quality healthy reefs, mantas ever present, people on off seeing whale shark, dolphins, molas (but right time of year), cheap to stay/dive and easy to get to. Dived with twofish which were excellent again (trip report to follow...).

 

[jake11]

We were in Halmahera in March of 2011. The weather was not that great at all!!! You really need to research the boat before you book. We had a lot of terrrible dives and very few good ones.I blame this on using a boat that didn't know the dive sites so we had a lot of duds. We did do one un-named dive site that was pretty spectacular! 3 sea mounts that were loaded with all kinds of fish! The biggest school of sweet lips I have ever seen! I know people that have had fantastic trips there???? Don't make the same mistake we did and try to go budget. It didn't work out for us! Have fun!

Can anyone recommend halmahera at all? If so in March-April? Looking also for destination march-April time.

Ps can second nusa lembongan.....just returned......quality healthy reefs, mantas ever present, people on off seeing whale shark, dolphins, molas (but right time of year), cheap to stay/dive and easy to get to. Dived with twofish which were excellent again (trip report to follow...).

 

[pughio83]

Ok thanks maybe not the right time of year then! There is a dive resort called weda that looks alright there but seems to be the only one.Nothing fancy but looks cozy! And it's about the diving right. Ambon is another option but looks quite pricey. And if course liveaboard all pricey around the region there!!

 

[iDreamOfBubbles]

We were in Halmahera in March of 2011. The weather was not that great at all!!! You really need to research the boat before you book. We had a lot of terrrible dives and very few good ones.I blame this on using a boat that didn't know the dive sites so we had a lot of duds. We did do one un-named dive site that was pretty spectacular! 3 sea mounts that were loaded with all kinds of fish! The biggest school of sweet lips I have ever seen! I know people that have had fantastic trips there???? Don't make the same mistake we did and try to go budget. It didn't work out for us! Have fun!

Jake, would you mind disclosing what the name of the boat you were on was? You can PM me if you prefer, but it's just always good to hear about which boats to avoid when considering future trips. Thanks!

 

[thankfulforlife]

hello there...i did a liveaboard in komodo national park in september...the name of the boat/vessel was "mona lisa"...it was a great boat/food/crew....the dive-gear they supplied was crap,but luckily i brought my own....also,the manager ripped me off $120 and lied doing this....his name is ronald,belgium guy....
this vessel is constantly cruising around the park,coming in to dock at labuan bago only every so often,and has a boat with outboard on to take you to the monalisa....so you can do as many days as you like....
there are reports,as i have made one,and several others have too about this company/vessel,...i found the boat great,but the manager a lier...
komodo is a fantastic dive location....
also,like others have said,bali is great,including nusa lembongan/amed area.....lovely first class diving but not a lot of big stuff...komodo has big schools and numbers of larger fishes/dolphins...it has been my best manta diving of my life....
good luck....

 

[Luko]

Jake, Halmahera is also in my line of fire, though more landbased dives, I'd be interested to have a feedback on which parts you dived around? the good and the ugly : Tobelo, Morotai, Weda bay, Gura Ici, Jailolo, Ternate?

Ambon is another option but looks quite pricey.

There is an alternative which is not. PM me for more details if you need.

 

[pughio83]

Thanks for the info. I have been looking at cape paperu which looks really nice but not cheap. Has anyone been here and if so how was the diving? Can anyone compare to Ambon and does it justify the price tag?? Northern mollucas looks pretty sparse re dive resorts. I am open to a quality dive trip anytime during next yr so assessing really where to go currently. I love indonesia and would like to dive some more places there. i will probably have between 2-3 weeks and cant really afford a liveaboard to R4 or komodo plus another week elsewhere so i thought i'd do land based perhaps to two quality places with excellent diversity and critters. Have been to lembeh which was fab but didnt rate bunaken that much. of course i love philippines so that may also be an option.

 

[thankfulforlife]

philippines can be great,many dive spots and pretty cheap to fly around in 2-3 weeks to 2 locations or more.......southern leyte is supposed to be good around november,i have heard,but never been to...
mindanao,places like davao,and cumiguin island....siquior island is okay,negros has some great diving,and cebu-moalboal/mallapascua...theres so much...puerto galera and palawan....so much...
otherwise,many many places there.....
i did some diving at a land based place around ambon,maybe 1-2hours drive from there,for a week or so(my memory is pretty bad),but i do remember it being very good and not too expensive,cheap accommodation and reasonable dive prices....
indonesia is probably the better place out of those 2 country's though....more fish....