Live_in_Sin
Contributor
where can I find the more specific info about re-opening of Sangalaki & LOB?OnTheSpot:
did Sangihe islands with Sea Dancer..... unless they refurbish the boat......I wouldn't recommend it either.......
Which area to choose??
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did Sangihe islands with Sea Dancer..... unless they refurbish the boat......I wouldn't recommend it either.......
bodiver13
Contributor
the world in my eyes,The World In My Eyes:Where to go first hard one,just pick one and go from there as they are all great areas,lets face it if we could only choose one country to only dive in its got to be Indonesia
On liveaboard 4 dives a day is what you want,go up Tulamben to warm up and enjoy 5 or 6 just get a tank and go when you want,lots of great shallow dive
I hope next time i head up Tulamben Bodiver13 will meet me up there,maybe sooner than you think.
Hi, just dove Tulamben 4 days ago, viz was great.
Hopefully to see you soon, but i got a feeling that you know me already?
Cheers,
bodiver13
Contributor
Live_in_Sin,Live_in_Sin:
When did you go with SeaDancer?
I saw them 1.5 years ago in Manado area, and it was somewhat different than 3 years ago, maybe they refurbished already?
Anyway, i honestly don't think its gonna be any better even if they refurbished the boat. What it lacks were the structural of the boat, space, manpower and the attitude of the owner. It was leaking everywhere and they might as well scrap the boat and buy a new one.
This is only my 2 cents.
Cheers,
Live_in_Sin
Contributor
it was 3-4 years ago...... price and quality didn't match at all....
am really looking forward that a decent LOB will operate around Sangalaki area!!! really should persuade the captain of NS Aggressor to move the boat there instead of moving to R Ampat......
am really looking forward that a decent LOB will operate around Sangalaki area!!! really should persuade the captain of NS Aggressor to move the boat there instead of moving to R Ampat......
You could come in to Manado from Singapore and do Bunaken and Lembeh. Then move on from Manado to Sorong and do Raja Ampat.
Bunaken is maybe the best wall diving in the world. You can see white and black tip reef sharks, huge and smaller turtles, napoleon wrasse, eagle rays, pygme seahorse, an amazing amount of fish species and more on a regular basis. From time to time other stuff like pilot whales, trasher sharks and lot of other big stuff can also turn up.
Lembeh is the macro capital of the world with all kinds of octopus (blue ringed, wonderpus, mimic), scorpionfishes (including the lacy one), frogfishes (including the hairy one) and so much more.
Raya Ampat has the current record of fish species found in one dive I belive, and you can also see manta rays and other stuff in one of the last frontiers of the diving world.
If you should choose to visit Bunaken and Lembeh, please check out Bastianos Dive Resorts. We have a newly built resort in Lembeh (www.bastianoslembeh.com) and a newly upgraded resort in Bunaken (www.bastianos.com). Our prices are good compared to other resorts in the area with the same standard.
We have facilities like massage (only Bunaken for now), laundry, minimart, bar, pool table and more. A public high speed Internet connection has also been installed recently for our guests (I belive we are the only Internet connection in Bunaken of this sort). Hot Spots for guests with laptops will also most probably be installed.
I wish you a great diving holiday no matter where you choose to go
.
Cheers,
Sean - manager at Bastianos, Bunaken.
Bunaken is maybe the best wall diving in the world. You can see white and black tip reef sharks, huge and smaller turtles, napoleon wrasse, eagle rays, pygme seahorse, an amazing amount of fish species and more on a regular basis. From time to time other stuff like pilot whales, trasher sharks and lot of other big stuff can also turn up.
Lembeh is the macro capital of the world with all kinds of octopus (blue ringed, wonderpus, mimic), scorpionfishes (including the lacy one), frogfishes (including the hairy one) and so much more.
Raya Ampat has the current record of fish species found in one dive I belive, and you can also see manta rays and other stuff in one of the last frontiers of the diving world.
If you should choose to visit Bunaken and Lembeh, please check out Bastianos Dive Resorts. We have a newly built resort in Lembeh (www.bastianoslembeh.com) and a newly upgraded resort in Bunaken (www.bastianos.com). Our prices are good compared to other resorts in the area with the same standard.
We have facilities like massage (only Bunaken for now), laundry, minimart, bar, pool table and more. A public high speed Internet connection has also been installed recently for our guests (I belive we are the only Internet connection in Bunaken of this sort). Hot Spots for guests with laptops will also most probably be installed.
I wish you a great diving holiday no matter where you choose to go
.Cheers,
Sean - manager at Bastianos, Bunaken.
Allison Finch
Contributor
Been to Raja Ampat and Lembeh. While I like varied diving, I have to admit I prefer good muck diving. As such, I fell in love with Lembeh. Don't think there is not good reef diving there. I saw beautiful reefs in the Strait too. The lure is that you will see critters that you will spend a lifetime seeing elsewhere. I have seen up to five different frogfish on one dive, including five different hairy frogfish. Best of all, they stay put and pose beautifully for you.
I was a bit disappointed in Raja Ampat. The reefs were beautiful, but the vis was consistently poor. Let's face it-the biodiversity is great there because of all the nutrients in the water. Nutrients=poorer vis. Oh, well....
Don't do a liveaboard in Lembeh. The landbased are all within quick access of all dives there. You will have MUCH smaller groups diving on local dive boats. I, personally, love the Kasawari Lodge. Beautifully designed, built and run. Effortless diving compared to the usual land based operation. Almost as convenient as the best Liveaboard. Especially friendly design for photographers.
In Raja Ampat, ONLY go with a liveaboard. Weather and dive conditions vary constantly, and a LOB will be able to move to the best diving areas. Land based are restricted by weather and conditions, IMHO. The diving there covers a HUGE area, each with its local specialties.
I was a bit disappointed in Raja Ampat. The reefs were beautiful, but the vis was consistently poor. Let's face it-the biodiversity is great there because of all the nutrients in the water. Nutrients=poorer vis. Oh, well....
Don't do a liveaboard in Lembeh. The landbased are all within quick access of all dives there. You will have MUCH smaller groups diving on local dive boats. I, personally, love the Kasawari Lodge. Beautifully designed, built and run. Effortless diving compared to the usual land based operation. Almost as convenient as the best Liveaboard. Especially friendly design for photographers.
In Raja Ampat, ONLY go with a liveaboard. Weather and dive conditions vary constantly, and a LOB will be able to move to the best diving areas. Land based are restricted by weather and conditions, IMHO. The diving there covers a HUGE area, each with its local specialties.
JenM
Contributor
I've been to N. Sulawesi and Komodo/Bali. I agree with the others who've said that if you decide on N. Sulawesi, stick with the land based ops. You can do as much time as you want in Manado and Lembeh, either splitting your time between the two, or if you aren't as wild about muck diving as some of us, basing yourself in Manado and doing a few daytrips over to Lembeh. Most of the resorts in Manado do Lembeh daytrips since it is only a two hour drive between the two.
Another thing to keep in mind is that unless you are an airhog, in N. Sulawesi dive times are quite long so 3 or 4 dives a day is plenty for most people, although you could probably fit in a fifth if you were really motivated. Our dive times were typically 75 to 90 minutes and would have been longer except that I tend to get very cold if I stay down much longer. The good operators/resorts do not limit your bottom time. Although dives often start off deeper to look for pygmy sea horses or whatever, there's tons of cool stuff to see in 10-40 feet.
As far as comparisons go, Komodo was probably the best all-around dive trip we've ever taken, but since we have fallen in love with muck diving, Lembeh is the place we are planning to go back to. The density of weird and unusual creatures is greater there than anywhere else in the world. Every dive is a treasure hunt and you never know what you'll find. We haven't been to Raja Ampat yet, so I can't compare it, but really, it's all good and you won't be disappointed at any of the locations you are considering.
Another thing to keep in mind is that unless you are an airhog, in N. Sulawesi dive times are quite long so 3 or 4 dives a day is plenty for most people, although you could probably fit in a fifth if you were really motivated. Our dive times were typically 75 to 90 minutes and would have been longer except that I tend to get very cold if I stay down much longer. The good operators/resorts do not limit your bottom time. Although dives often start off deeper to look for pygmy sea horses or whatever, there's tons of cool stuff to see in 10-40 feet.
As far as comparisons go, Komodo was probably the best all-around dive trip we've ever taken, but since we have fallen in love with muck diving, Lembeh is the place we are planning to go back to. The density of weird and unusual creatures is greater there than anywhere else in the world. Every dive is a treasure hunt and you never know what you'll find. We haven't been to Raja Ampat yet, so I can't compare it, but really, it's all good and you won't be disappointed at any of the locations you are considering.
I would tend to agree with JenM, I have 3 or so trips to the Bunaken area since '94, and most recently in '05. On my most recent trip we did the Komodo area, from a land based operation in Labuanbajo (Reefseekers to be exact), they claim to go where the liveaboards venture, and we did see several livaboards diving exactly where we were (will save that story for later). Komodo, was good, every dive something different, I like the big stuff too, whether it be Mantas, sharks, Giant trevally, Dog Tuna, and Dolphins 'in action' never a dull moment, and the afternoon dives were equally exciting in the own way! Have yet to go to RA, but here many great things. Ambon might be next for me!
OP
acj
Registered
Thanks for all the great information!! Just got back late last night from the Belize Aggressor for a week, did 26 dives!! ...more on that later...
After reading all folks input I think I will go with Komodo. I like that there is large and small stuff and that almost every dive you see different stuff....
After reading all folks input I think I will go with Komodo. I like that there is large and small stuff and that almost every dive you see different stuff....
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