Work trip Jakarta then where to dive a few days?

[Luko]

My one trip was a very long time ago. At the time, i couldn't fly direct into Tawau and had to fky to KK stay over a night and then fly out very early a.m. to Tawau. We were picked up in a van at Tawau airport, long drive but I was still excited about thst sort of thing back in the day. We were dropped at a pier/port kinda thingie, where we rgen waited quite awhile longer again for our boat. In those days, one could still stay on Sipidan, though it was in the last days of that period. So, my outbound was to Sipidan. Half way through the trip, I moved over to Mabul so my boat back to Semporna was from Mabul and for some reason, I remember that much better than the boat from Semporna to Sipidan.

I also dived Sipadan in those days before 2004, but afterwards too : I agree before you had to go through KK but then the new Tawau airport was built so it could be flewn directly from KL or SIN, that became a faster way to get to Mabul.
Usually passengers from early morning flight arrivals get picked up at 9:15AM along with the ones who chose to stay downtown the night before, it's a 2 hrs ride to Semporna and you're in Mabul for lunch around 1PM, afternoon dive at 3PM.
At least that's how Borneo Divers managed the pickups if I remember well.

 

[CWK]

July is good for Maratua/Kakaban/Sangalaki, which is not too far from Sipadan but is on the Indonesian side of Borneo island. You would be flying Jakarta to Berau. Jakarta to Tarakan may also be possible.

 

[Prop Joe]

Looks like Bali it is from Jakarta... Seems to make the most sense for a few days diving. Is Bali safe as far as walking around with dive gear and camera stuff? I'm 6'3" and gonna stick out like a sore thumb...
Airline of choice from Jakarta?
Resort/Place to stay?
Thanks again, I really appreciate the incite!
Edit: Sorry Luko... Geko Dive looks fun! The nitrox reference on their site is comical!
Is there any macro/muck with mini current for an evening or night dive you've done? I don't mind the hair raising morning dives, but I like a nice slow evening/night dive to relax...

 

[matts1w]

Is Bali safe as far as walking around with dive gear and camera stuff? I'm 6'3" and gonna stick out like a sore thumb...

Airline of choice from Jakarta?

Resort/Place to stay?

There are Russian, German, and Dutch tourists/divers all over Bali. Your 6'3 ain't uncommon at all. Bali is very safe, especially outside of the clubbing areas in Legian and Kuta. Pickpocketing and purse snatching do happen, but you are you are FAR safer in Bali than you are in Wicker Park. The biggest danger for tourists are motorbikes.

Use Garuda Indonesia. They give you a ton of weight for free with dive gear.

Get an AC room next door to Geko at Padang Bai Beach Homestay. They are good people.

 

[Luko]

Looks like Bali it is from Jakarta... Seems to make the most sense for a few days diving. Is Bali safe as far as walking around with dive gear and camera stuff? I'm 6'3" and gonna stick out like a sore thumb...
Airline of choice from Jakarta?
Resort/Place to stay?
Thanks again, I really appreciate the incite!
Edit: Sorry Luko... Geko Dive looks fun! The nitrox reference on their site is comical!
Is there any macro/muck with mini current for an evening or night dive you've done? I don't mind the hair raising morning dives, but I like a nice slow evening/night dive to relax...

NO safety problem in Bali outside Kuta.
Padang Bai is a small place who's living on tourism, where one would be disowned by his community if anything happened to a gringo.
Take Garuda, you'll enjoy 43 kg checkin luggage (20k + 23 k sports equipment, do tell them its dive equipment in your bag if they say at check in you have to pay overweight, sometimes ground clerks are not that informed)
Personally I prefer Puri Rai with its extensive grounds and 3 pools on the back of the resort (ask for ground level Family rooms around the pools, more convenient for drying the diving stuff before packing).
Most of local macro dives are fine with little current, depends on the tide but usually Blue Lagoon, Jepun or White sand beach should be ok, though can be coldish (less than 24C, bring a 5mm suit).

 

[Dan]

July is good for Maratua/Kakaban/Sangalaki, which is not too far from Sipadan but is on the Indonesian side of Borneo island. You would be flying Jakarta to Berau. Jakarta to Tarakan may also be possible.

+1 for Maratua/Kakaban/Sangalaki. I recommend to stay in Home - Nabuccoislandresort

Checkout these videos

If you have time to go on liveaboard, then go with Raja Manta:

 

[Luko]

+1 for Maratua/Kakaban/Sangalaki. I recommend to stay in Home - Nabuccoislandresort

Not really what I'd recommend when someone tries to sneak a few days diving while on a business trip in Jakarta.
He'd spend more days traveling than diving.

 

[Dan]

Not really what I'd recommend when someone tries to sneak a few days diving while on a business trip in Jakarta.
He'd spend more days traveling than diving.

True. The best option for that would be Bali & Komodo. However, at the end of the business trip, when time is no longer an issue and you are on your way home, you could take a little detour to dive in more remote places while you are in the neighborhood of the best diving sites in the world.

I was in similar situation last year when I had few weeks assignment in Saudi Arabia. On the weekend I flew to Dubai to dive in Musandam & Fujairah. On another weekend I flew to Jeddah to dive in Saudi Arabia part of Red Sea. At the end of my assignment, I went to Sharm El Sheikh, spent a week of diving there before flying home.

 

[Luko]

True. The best option for that would be Bali & Komodo. However, at the end of the business trip, when time is no longer an issue and you are on your way home, you could take a little detour to dive in more remote places while you are in the neighborhood of the best diving sites in the world.
.

In this case, Alor or Raja Ampat would come before, rather than spending too much time traveling to Maratua.

 

[Dan]

In this case, Alor or Raja Ampat would come before, rather than spending too much time traveling to Maratua.

Actually the flight from Jakarta to Berau via Balikpapan is pretty good. When I look at Sriwijayaair.co.id, for example, on July 5, there are 9 flights departure from as low as IDR 2,500,000 (~$175). You might give it a try.

Recently new airport is opened in Maratua island, which makes the travel to there even shorter.
Maratua Airport - Wikipedia