Feb - April....where would you go?

[Bearkeley]

Hi all - considering a Liveaboard but open to other options as well ....don't know much about the area but definitely a lot of info available, so hoping for helps with narrowing it down. We have flexibility on the dates between Feb and April....

What we are looking for...

• Lots of Life and color (more the better of course)...
• Viz....spoiled by Carribean, but frequent the Philippines as well, so 45ft is ok, but pref 60 or more on Abe
• Currents - got a little worried about this after reading about raja. Cozumel currents is not a problem, but anything much worse might not be my thing. Is raja out, or does it simply mean sitting out one or two dives?
• Weather / temps....probably important to avoid monsoons, etc....based on research so far, seem ok for Asia this time of year....assuming 3 mil this time is also ok?
• Budget....we are good with simple / basic and prefer value over luxury....but if worth it, not really an issue

Oh we have done Liveaboards before, both with at least 200 dives. Thanks!

 

[Dan]

I had a great time in Misool in March-April.

 

[AmphiBee]

Whole Indonesia will be fine from theend of March / begining of April - Raja is good all year long (as it is close to the equator), with a bit more rain from December to Mars, and more wind from April to October). Good value for money
Palau, Maldives, Central Philippines, Thaïland, French Polynesia are perfect at that period.
Some drift dives in Raja but it is not as in Komodo where really strong current can occur.

 

[Cali_diver]

LOB in Raja Ampat... and/or Banda Sea

 

[dirtfarmer]

Sorry to be going with the crowd LOB Raja Amat or Missol Eco Resort. MER is pretty pricey but the diving is spectacular. LOBS can be found in all ranges from about $330/night up. Booking this close might limit your choices.

There will be currents but manageable, visi in Raja might not blow you away but that is what feeds all those fish and mantas.

 

[dirtfarmer]

To keep up with all the cool kids above, I recommend LOB in Raja Amat or Missol Eco Resort.
There will be currents but manageble, the vis might not wow you but all that is food for fish and mantas.
MER is pretty pricey but the diving is spectacular. LOBS can be found $330/night and up. You choice might be limited trying to book this close to your time.

 

[Centrals]

Tubattaha(liveaboard only) in Philippines.
www.moonshadow.ch, Mark has been doing this for long long time. Moonshadow was the name of the old boat and the present one is called Dschubba. However in its web site, the min requirement is 257 logged dives!!! I had dived from the Moonshadow(no frill) previously but is not familiar with Dschebba.

 

[Adelaar Cruises]

Greetings from Indonesia Bearkeley,

March and April in Komodo can be wonderful. Most other liveaboards are elsewhere because it's off season, you may get a bit of rain but you can get that in Raja at that time of year too! But it's nice because you practically have the whole park to yourself.

Average precipitation for Komodo

Average precipitation for Raja Ampat​

Yes, Komodo can have strong currents. However, diving with small groups and traveling around neap tides they can easily be manageable and enjoyable. During December – April the Indian Ocean to the south warms up and visibility improves. Winds die down and sites that dive liveaboards, who were here in “season” had trouble reaching or found too cold to dive, are now accessible to divers on liveaboard dive boats. Imagine diving the world-class dive site Cannibal Rock, in Horseshoe Bay in warm blue water!

Wherever you take you end up taking your dive holiday, have a fantastic time!