Anyone been to Christmas Island recently?

[Liberty01]

Hi,
has anyone dived around Christmas Island recently. There is a new dive operator there since August. I would like to go around end of March which should be whale shark season. It is promoted as a big fish destination.
I thought about going to Palau or Raja Ampat. But Christmas Islands seems to be far more pristine and less crowded with divers.
Who has been there and can comment on the diving?

Best regards,
Liberty

 

[ickebins]

Hi,

Interesting post! I've read the article at Spiegel Online as recent as yesterday and are researching exactly the same. Any information would be much appreciated.

Happy Holidays

 

[Liberty01]

Hi,
Well all I found is information from travel agents and dive shops (and newspaper articles). The operator is Extra Divers, they have organized a weekly charter flight from Jakarta which is very convenient for European and Asian divers. The travel agent for Germany is Extratour or Reisecenter Federsee.
Happy Holidays,
Liberty

 

[ickebins]

Hi,
There also seems to be a direct connection from AMS to Jakarta which also makes it easier. I also have checked the mentioned websites but didn't find specific information regarding travel booking etc. Will reach out to them once they start to operate after the holidays.

Similar to you I would be interested in recent first hand diving experience.

Best,
ickebins

 

[Wingy]

Christmas Island Diving - Dive Trips Christmas Island - Surf, Snorkel, Dive Christmas Island. Dive Adventures

Christmas Island returns Part 1 | Perth Scuba - report from one of my LDS who recommend Hamas.

Christmas Island isn't somewhere I've dived but I do know someone there. Diving is good, not PNG/RA/Tuomotos good but decent. Lack of crowds come from CI's isolation and it is most definitely less dived for that reason.

The island is also a detention centre hence the fishing exclusion and some logistical differences - costs of hiring cars, accommodation and food can be a shock. Accomodation may surprise you if you have expectations of a swanky resort. CI Has either been a phosphate mine or Detention Centre and is prone to cyclones so buildings are designed to suit.

Up to you if you want a fully escorted outfit bringing you from Jakarta or fly independently. Once you get to Perth it is 5 hours for the weekly flight to CI. I flew Air Berlin and Etihad codeshare ex Tegel home to Perth a month ago after doing Jakarta to Amsterdam on the way to Europe last month - personally I'd skip the Jakarta route unless you are going with the extra divers outfit. Perth to CI flight is 5 hours.

Top link has some video clips of CI diving.

 

[ickebins]

Thanks, Wingy. This is definitely helpful! Still torn if CI or something like Home - Papua Diving Resorts - Raja Ampat - Indonesia or Papua Paradise Eco Resort | Raja Ampat | How to get there Both seem to be off the beaten path and getting there is time consuming.

Perhaps CI in March, from Muc.

 

[Wingy]

so very true..both are a PITA to get to. I live in Perth and it takes me 2.5 days to get to RA and 5 hours to CI. Honestly while id love to lure you to CI for something really off the beaten path (compare amount of homestays and LOBS in RA and you get the picture) RA is far prettier than CI and your accommodation choices offer that dreamy over water experience or a cultural Papuan style bungalow..in CI you will not find that. RA having many islands in a relatively small area is very scenic while CI is in the middle of the ocean. What CI can offer you in March would be whale sharks coming in to eat the hatching larvae of the land crabs plus very very very few divers. Its a remoteness and a uniquely aussie feel. Looking at flights Virgin do a Tuesday and sunday CI and Cocos Keeling Island trip ex perth. Not sure if you have heard of cocos keeling but it is a seriously beautiful island which also offers diving. Depending on how long you can set aside I spoke to someone today who suggested flying up to CI on the Tuesday flight then taking the sunday flight to C.K for either two days on the prettiest island or staying there until the sunday flight. Cocos Keeling has a lot more upmarket accommodation - CI is very er industrial.

Raja Ampat at a homestay will work out cheaper due to AUD but the exchange rate is good for you at the moment. Diving in RA is spectacular, undoubtedly. I guess it depends on what you want - established dive destination or somewhere way way way off the beaten path. Ive done RA and North Sulawesi several times so I do have a bias but I really want to get to Cocos Keeling and Christmas islands at some stage as RA becomes more and more popular with divers and more ''on the map''. Its also showing around $300 cheaper in March for flights. Muc > Sorong $810 on air istanbul and jetstar V $1200 on Turkish Air and Jetstar.

The other option is find a lower end homestay in RA fly to sorong then return to makassar and fly makassar to bali to Perth so you get to do both Assuming that is time and money are not factors. The flight to CI from perth is showing at $1037 return or $539 in march (one way) add on $228 for a flight to Cocos Keeling and return to perth is another $546 - adds up quickly unfortunately as Aus is rather expensive - but......we only get one life. Hope this helps a little

 

[ickebins]

Thanks again. It helps a lot but unfortunately having choice isn't always the easiest for decision making.
As much I love fancy I don't necessarily need this when going diving without family. RA is really tempting but the hassle of travel is what's setting me off a little right now. What sounds great is combing CI and CK while I'm there and this is what I might explore further. Does your friend know a dive operator in CK?

When you write RA is far prettier than CI I assume you refer to the overwater experience more than to underwater? So far I only dove Cayman Islands, Hawaii, Florida, Bali and Maldives but the underwater experience is what matters the most to us divers I would say. The rest is just a nice plus, if....
Hope this makes sense.....

PS @Liberty01 I'm sorry for hijacking your thread!

 

[Wingy]

Yes, the whole Jurassic topside scenery as far as RA is prettier. If youve been to Hawaii and Bali you know the general type of topography. CI is the ugly sister and CK is just beautiful according to everyone I know who has been there. All recommendations go to Dieter and Karen Diving Cocos Keeling Islands with Cocos Dive - Ive sailed past CK and thought what a beautiful part of the world and your post has now bumped it up the list

If you do choose to do CI and CK if im in Australia most welcome to catch up before you jet off to hang with whalesharks and dugongs and all the good stuff

 

[ickebins]

Sounds great! Although I also would need a buddy....In case you fancy warm water diving...