Which area to choose??

[gabyne]

You have to do several trips in Indonesia to cover all those good places... Not possible to choose the best one, in my opinion...

I've been there 5 times and I will go back next year, for sure... I loved Lembeh/Bangka, Wakatobi, Bali, Komodo, Raja Ampat... And there's a lot more I want to see: Halmahera, Alor, Banda Sea, other areas in West Papua (Misool, Fak-Fak, Biak....)

I agree, not necessary to do a liveaboard in Lembeh, the boat rides are really short and it is much cheaper if you do land-based diving.

LOB is good when you go to remote areas like Komodo, Raja Ampat and the like.

Gaby

 

[Davidz]

I read with interest the info & experience you shared with acj.I was looking to dive Bali or N.Sulawesi in JaAn 2008.(land based ..wife non-diver) But guide books l read all agreed that rains, winds & stormy season prevail in Jan (680+inches of rain in Jan in No. Sulawesi) NOT a good time for the best diving conditions. Any opinions? If indeed conditions are less than ideal, any recommndations where to dive that time of year in the Pacific / Asia area? I hav e3 weeks available. Thanks so much

 

[Kevrumbo]

I did a nice Lembeh-Halmahera-Raja Ampat Itinerary on the M/V Odyssea Liveaboard (link is a promotional video & worth the wait!), last year December '06. Embarkation was at the Kasawari Resort in the Lembeh Strait and ended 11 days later in the port at Sorong, West Papua.

 

[Liberty01]

@Davidz
Maluku has reverse weather patterns than the rest of Indonesia. Otherwise for good diving conditions in January, I suggest Thailand or the Philippines.

 

[Live_in_Sin]

I did a nice Lembeh-Halmahera-Raja Ampat Itinerary on the M/V Odyssea Liveaboard

How's the boat & service? am going to RA over X'mas with Odyssea.

 

[Kadek Wirawan]

Hi, I would recommend you to dive Derawan, Sangalaki, kakaban and Maratua Island in eastern of Borneo, they have the most that you want to see in term of marine live, Manta rays at Sangalaki, Barracudas and Jellyfish lake at Kakaban, Big fishes at Maratua Island, and Macro stuff at Derawan Island, you could stay at Derawan Island ( land Based) , at Derawan Island there is a resort but also you could stay at Beach cafe and Dive with a Local dive center where it is cheaper than if you stay at the resort.

What do you think???

 

[Kevrumbo]

How's the boat & service? am going to RA over X'mas with Odyssea.

Very good boat & service; it was a relatively brand new operation at the time (December '06) --only complaint was they had a batch of inferior quality O-rings for their yoke/A-clamp type Tank Valves which would blow-out at times: I had to share air with the dive master when his blew-out at depth, while mine started leaking while setting-up for a previous dive (I then switched to a DIN Tank Valve/1st Stage Regulator immediately). I'm sure they have since corrected this, but it's always prudent to bring an extra set of your own known good quality O-rings.

Also, insist and make sure you get a fresh & clean towel for drying off post-dive. Don't accept one that was used "just to dry off somebody else's Camera" --I developed a bad case of Impetigo from using such a towel. Put your name on yours, and stash it somewhere safe. . .

If you're a Photographer, then this is the boat to be on. However, unless you are comfortable with your own group of friends, it can get somewhat competitive down there at depth amongst strangers, as they jockey & elbow each other for that "perfect nudibranch macro shot". . .

 

[Live_in_Sin]

thanks for the info. will tell Cassandra to make sure they have Quality O rings and clean fresh towels!