Which is your favourite muck-dive destination?

[Andreni]

Thanks a lot for all your inputs. It seems as I really have to consider Alor and Milne Bay then. Or go back to one of your well known favourites. No new discoveries in terms of muck-dive places..

Had a look at Romblon again but the journey does seem to be a bit long and laborius even to Philippine-standard.

Will let you know about my decision.

 

[parrotman]

For me Lembeh, then Anilao. I have been to both several times. Personally I was not impressed with Milne Bay PNG. As WetPup says, a lot of it is the luck of the draw. On my last trip to Lembeh we saw Frogfish on nearly every dive where as the last trip to Anilao I saw a half dozen or so on the entire trip. Anilao for sure for Octopi.

 

[Andreni]

I was in Anilao in August and we saw 1 bluering octopus and 1 baby cuttlefish. Maybe wrong season for Octopi... Saw many of those in Bali and Lembeh.. I don't think it is only luck but also season. In Dauin they know "exactly" which critter to expect during which months..

 

[parrotman]

I agree, the season has a lot to do with it. When I was in Lembeh recently the dive guide said that we were just coming into Frog Fish season and we were out of season for Mimics. The last time I was in Anilao was in March two years ago and we saw Octopi on almost every dive.

 

[Andreni]

Forgot to ask: why didn't you like Milne Bay?

Does anybody know what to expect in Alor in October? If it is influenced by seasons there must be a "trend"...

 

[parrotman]

It was not so much that I did not like it. More like I was not impressed. It is so hard to get to and so expensive to go there that I would have liked to have thought it was awesome. If given the choice of going to Raja Ampat again or Anilao, Lembeh or Ticao Island Ph. Milne would be on the end of the list for me.

 

[Lorenzoid]

It's not as good as Lembeh (I haven't been to many muck destinations), but Bali is economical and easy to travel to/from. Tulamben and Puri Jati were rewarding.

 

[Cali_diver]

Alor in October is great, but parts of it are cold. The muck is amazing. Alor is one of my favorite Indo destinations but we are always on a liveaboard when we do it.

We just got back from Anilao and I was able to check off a few Nudi's that I have been searching for for years, but not too many Froggies. We had Rhinopias, mimics, blue-rings, wonderpus and tons of flamboyant cuttle fish.

Like stated above every place has it's seasons. My favorites are Alor, Tulumben, Lembeh, Bima/Sangeang, Ambon and now Anilao.

 

[Andreni]

That's very good news Cali_Divergirl, thank you.

So it will probably be Indonesia again with a short trip to Alor in October. Then we can tick the muck-sites of my favourite country off and head to PNG or the Philippines to explore new lands. But i'm not saying i will never go back to Indonesia, it's just too nice to ignore .

Thank you all for your inputs. Much appreciated!

 

[Alice Goot]

My only "muck diving" expereince has been in Indonesia and I was amazed. Tulamben has great muck diving, easy to get to and a range of accomodations and you can do it pretty inexpensivly. Lembeh, also pretty easy to get to, had a huge variety of critters and also a range of accomodations, but you are a more secluded here. Ambon I found was seasonal and not too many choices of accomodations and very dirty around Laha, but it was fantastic. I would say overall Lembeh had more choices and was easier diving with the tenders vs. more shore diving in Tulamben.