I'm starting to plan my next big adventure and am looking for great macro/muck diving, but I don't want to deal with 40 other divers at the same site (hence the rainbow unicorn)
By way of explanation, in October/November '22 I took a 4 week 'bucket list' trip to Komodo/Papau Indonesia. The Komodo section was on a LOB, but I really am not a fan of big currents, and while pelagics are cool, nudi's are what that gets me excited. I then lucked out with a segment to Triton Bay. Fantastic diving, the only people diving were from the small resort. I was told if a LOB showed up, Leza would find out where they wanted to dive and would go somewhere else. I followed this with a session in Raja Ampat. Large operation (Papau Explorers), way too many people loving Raja Ampat to death. It was like Cozumel on steroids. At one site (Blue Magic, IIRC) there were more divers than fish and the surface interval was on an island with >100 people on it. That and the muck diving with Papau Explorers was over hyped and frankly not all that good (picture dirty gray sand with dirty gray critters)
What I'd like is a "Triton Bay" type experience for muck. (Wakatobi is out of my price range) I don't mind (too much) if it is difficult to get to, the days of easy access and no crowds are long gone. My understanding is that the Philippines suffer the Raja Ampat syndrome of being loved to death. I've been muck diving in Tulamben, that is the quality of macro/muck I'd like to find
I appreciate this is a true First World problem, suggestions are most appreciated
By way of explanation, in October/November '22 I took a 4 week 'bucket list' trip to Komodo/Papau Indonesia. The Komodo section was on a LOB, but I really am not a fan of big currents, and while pelagics are cool, nudi's are what that gets me excited. I then lucked out with a segment to Triton Bay. Fantastic diving, the only people diving were from the small resort. I was told if a LOB showed up, Leza would find out where they wanted to dive and would go somewhere else. I followed this with a session in Raja Ampat. Large operation (Papau Explorers), way too many people loving Raja Ampat to death. It was like Cozumel on steroids. At one site (Blue Magic, IIRC) there were more divers than fish and the surface interval was on an island with >100 people on it. That and the muck diving with Papau Explorers was over hyped and frankly not all that good (picture dirty gray sand with dirty gray critters)
What I'd like is a "Triton Bay" type experience for muck. (Wakatobi is out of my price range) I don't mind (too much) if it is difficult to get to, the days of easy access and no crowds are long gone. My understanding is that the Philippines suffer the Raja Ampat syndrome of being loved to death. I've been muck diving in Tulamben, that is the quality of macro/muck I'd like to find
I appreciate this is a true First World problem, suggestions are most appreciated