Where to go for a dream Scuba vacation

[proteasome]

I have several weeks to a month free this summer and enough savings to take a trip anywhere in the world.

I've previously mostly dove in Bonaire, and have also been to Thailand and New Zealand (although neither extensively).

So, if you had the time and the money, where would you most like to go diving? What is the most incredible destination you've been to or dreamed about?

I've been thinking somewhere in SE Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, etc) but don't know much about the region.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[CajunDiva]

You don't mention if you have any particular interests or preferences. For example, are you most interested in seeing soft corals, lots of pelagic life, strange and wonderful critters?

Fiji is the soft coral capital of the world and would be MY hands down favorite if I had a big budget and time to burn. The region of the Somosomo Strait off the island of Taveuni is PHENOMENAL. You could always combine that with a visit to Beqa Lagoon for some shark diving to round out the trip.

If you want to see some of the weirdest, most wonderful critters on the planet...a trip to Indonesia and Lembeh Strait is definitely in order. We recently spent three weeks between Lembeh Strait, Bangka Island and Bunaken Island with Two Fish Divers. It was one of the most unique diving experiences I can imagine. We saw things like hairy frogfish, pygmy seahorses, ambon scorpionfish, etc. etc. etc. Do a little research and you will be pleasantly surprised.

Just my two cents worth...

 

[proteasome]

Thanks for the input!

I'd ideally like to do a trip that combines great reefs & corals with some unique pelagic opportunities. Shallow wreck diving might be nice too...

 

[diversteve]

dreamed about?

Wakatobi - including a week on the Pelagian. Wakatobi Dive Resort - Southeast Sulawesi Indonesia - Home Page

 

[Doc]

diversteve above shares this dream with many. I fully understand why that is.

Look at Palau and Yap as well. All three hit your requirements but for the shallow wreck thing.

Shallow wrecks rarely survive do to ground swell wave action. 30 years ago I dove WW2 fighters in protected 25fsw areas, but they are now so overgrown you can't recognize them.

 

[Quero]

I love welcoming divers to Thailand, and I don't get tired of diving here, but when I want a thrill, I go to Indonesia. In Indonesia in summer, the best bet is Komodo, IMO. For Malaysia, Sipadan.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

In 2008 I and my friends did a 23-day trip through Indonesia that included Bali, Komodo, Bunaken and Lembeh Straits. It was, bar none, the finest dive trip I've ever taken.

If I had it to do over again, knowing what I know now, I'd have cut out the Bunaken part and spent that time at Lembeh Straits ... not because there was anything wrong with Bunaken, but everything we saw there we'd already seen in Komodo, and the stuff in Lembeh Straits is truly bizarre and unique.

In Bali, Tulamben is a must. Mengagen Island is fantastic. There are pelagic tours out of Nusa Penida.

In Komodo, go liveaboard ... you'll see more.

In Lembeh Straits, we loved Kunkugan Bay Resort.

I'd recommend a week in each place. If you want some help putting an itinerary together, I can personally recommend Aquamarine Divers, based in Bali. I've used them twice now, and they are awesome.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[ed.hamilton1]

Anywhere you haven't been nothing more exciting that discovering new dive sites.

Loving the Philippines though nudibranch every dive always amazing.

 

[mathauck0814]

Paupa & Eritrea are pretty high on my list for warm water destinations when I have the time to do it right (more than 7-10 days at a time). Also Argentina/Antarctica (but I'm weird in that I like the cold water just as much).

 

[iDreamOfBubbles]

From what I've heard, there is just no beating Raja Ampat. There are many luxury liveaboard options for this area if money is of no concern.