Suggestions for one-week dive vacation in June, 2009?

[huskychemist]

First some background:

I currently live in SriRacha, Thailand and dive the gulf of Thailand pretty regularly. I am interested in critter watching while diving, and I enjoy photography. (Especially macro, e.g. nudibranchs, etc.)

I have a possible one-week dive vacation for the second week of June. I'd like some suggestions from all of you.

My "requirements":

I have to be able to get there from Bangkok (preferably using AirAsia. I know, I know. But they are darn cheap.)

The price needs to be reasonable. (I can't afford the Maldives, for example.)

I'm fine with a liveaboard or a dive resort with shore and/or boat diving.

I'd like the diving to have enough variety to keep me entertained for a week.

Night diving is a must.



If you can offer some suggestions, I'd like to know location, dive op, approximate price of diving and accomodations, your opinions, etc.

Many thanks!!

Lowell

 

[Quero]

Lowell, consider Malaysia. If you can swing it, try to get to Sipadan; if not go for Terengganu--I like Redang, myself--which is way cheaper. Sipadan is a bit of a hassle to get to, and on Air Asia would involve getting to KUL and then onwards to Tawau. From there you'd go overland to Semporna, and finally by boat to your resort.

For Terengganu, you fly to KUL and then to Kota Bahru. From there you get a quick boat transfer over to the islands.

I think you'd like Sipadan for critters... well, not actually Sipadan, which is better known for its turtles and schooling barracudas, but there is so much life around Mabul and Kapalai islands that (knowing you) I think you could easily spend a week and not get bored.

Redang and the Perhentians are not as spectacular but are very pleasant and filled with life, especially nudis! My own favorite dive area in Terengganu is Tenggol Island, but it's too small to spend a whole week at.

 

[huskychemist]

I appreciate the info. My original thought was to come visit you in Phuket and head out for a liveaboard in the Similans, but as I found out, the park is closed in June.

Oh well...

So now I'm considering other places.

One friend has suggested Lembeh Straight.

Any dive ops you'd recommend for the areas you mentioned?


Thanks again Quero for your response.

Lowell

 

[Harley1962]

I'd agree with your friend about Lembeh, especially if you are a serious macro photographer..I have lived/worked in Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and now Indonesia and I can say that nowhere that I have dived in those aforementioned countries rivals Lembeh in terms of unusual critters and amazing macro marine life. Furthermore, you access the dive sites from comfortable land-based operations that are literally 5-25 minutes away from the Resorts.

You will get a good taste of Lembeh with a week's diving (3-4 per day) and night dives here are the best I have ever done in my life (+ or -15,000 dives); and the diving is "easy" in that there's almost no current here and no surface waves...

And BTW--Air Asia started flying to Manado (MDC) from KUL--so you stay on Air Asia the entire trip originating from BKK--just watch your baggage weight, they are very strict at check-in and LOVE to charge those overweight baggage fees!

If you want specifics, please PM me and I'll be happy to make further suggestions.

Have a great trip!
HB

 

[philip2711]

I can echo the recommendations for Lembeh as well; I did two full weeks diving in Sulawesi in March this year including 1 week in Lembeh and Bunaken and as a combination it beat the Sipadan / Layang Layang combo of the previous year - and those places were fantastic. Lembeh is the king however but you need to be prepared for muck diving and not be overly concerned about the surface of the water which the nearer you are to the town on Bitung, the more polluted it gets. Once beneath the waves however you are in a wonderful world with great variety of sites; walls, slopes, wrecks (Japanese WWII); life is on the macro side - don't expect the big stuff but don't blink either as you'll miss the huge multitude of small stuff which is a photographers paradise.

As for where to stay, you have a wide choice; I stayed in NAD which a good value proposition. It's on the island so 'night life' is non-existent other than recovery, chatting, comparing photos etc. It's run by a very nice young couple from Spain..... staying on the mainland of Sulawesi gives you little more night life but it's not much to write home about and you'd be better off going on the sunset mandarin dives - absolutely out of this world.

 

[Wayan]

Want critter macro and the like definitely lembeh, alternatively secret bay in Bali (serviced by air asia) has great macro and critters and stuff