Diving Recommendations Indonesia Early August

Hi All,


I'm going to be working in KL next week and after that I'm planing a very well deserved week holiday in the surroundings (Philippines, Indonesia, Singapur,...).

I don't really know much about good diving spots in the area so I'd like to have some recomendations from you the experts, specially here about Indonesia.

My budget is ok but not as big as I'd like it to be, but a nice place with paradaise beaches and dream scuba would be excellent (fun night life would be a plus ), is that too much to ask???? heheheheheh

Thanks a lot in advance for any recomendations you may have,

Cheers,


Wilson

There is heaps of places for great diving in Indonesia, but when you start from KL, I would recommend Pulau Weh - fantastic diving, nice beaches, no party night life though... I just came back from my second trip there and can really recommend it
Bora_Horza recently posted a trip report which gives you a pretty good idea. Apart of the dive shop he mentions (in Iboih), there is also dive shops in Gapang (see the link for the pdf brochure in B_H's report).
From KL, you can take a direct flight to Banda Aceh (Air Asia, they fly daily) and from there the ferry or fast boat to Pulau Weh. Note however that there is no VOA available in Banda Aceh, you'll have to arrange the visa beforehand in the Indonesian embassy in KL (but that's a piece of cake, if you apply for it in the morning you can usually pick it up the same day).
Enjoy your trip!!

Weh is a good place to go, but it's pretty far from where you're coming from. I would suggest Bali, for this time of the year. If not, around the region is fine. Places like Moalboal, Cebu or North Borneo in East Malaysia. Don't bother coming to us in Singapore, there's nothing here to dive.

Salidbandy, so honest about Singapore

Widarecu, being in KL, hub for low-cost carrier AirAsia, you're actually surrounded by great diving destinations, which if you book a head, will cost you a pittance to get to, leaving you with more $$$ to spend on diving.

First I would have to recommend Sipidan and Mabul. Still in Malaysia, just a short 2.5 hour flight from KL - you can fly to Tawau, which will give you easy access to Semporna and then Sipidan and Mabul's amazing dive sites. Nightlife is ok, but the action is on the other coast in Kota Kinabalu, which may be worth a stop on the way back.

If you head north from Kuala Lumpur you can fly straight to Phuket or Krabi. From there you'll have access to the Similans, Richelieu Rock and too many dive sites to list here. Consider a liveaboard, you can choose one with the duration and budget to suit you, for quality diving and then go off on the nightlife before and after.

Bali is also a little over 2 hours away. You can either stay on the island itself, which has some great dive sites, or you can consider the legendary diving of Sulawesi, Raja Ampat, Banda and Komodo. They're a little bit tougher to get to, but oh so worth it. Resort stays or liveaboards are possible.

You're actually dab in the middle of some of the best dive sites in the world, so all you really have to do is just pick your destination(s).

Basically you're spoilt for choice.

Thanks to all for all the valuable recommendations.

I just look to all the options you gave me and maaaaaaan, all of them look son great that simply, I don't know which one to choose

'OnTheSpot', looks like you are in the diving business so maybe you can give me a bit more of guidance:

My last diving trips have been liveaboards including the best of Thailand 3 months ago (Similan, Richelieu, Phi Phi, Hin Deang). I love liveaboards but this time I'm looking something different: advanced certification, amazing diving and some relaxing time on shore

I'd like to find the best place for this, I don't mind traveling to get to the diving places as long as I'm not spending more time and money in transport than diving

Thanks again to all of you for your valuable recommendations, you know how complicated it gets sometimes to choose the best place between so many world-class options

I'd say go to Semporna and do your certification there. There's a really good 5* PADI shop that you can do your courses with. From Semporna, you can dive Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai etc etc. And it's way cheaper staying on Semporna than nearer/on the islands of Mabul/Kapalai.

Hi again Widarecu. Based on you what you want, I would have to second Salibandy's suggestion.

In my experience, however, I would recommend getting a package deal. When you stay in Semporna you save a bit on ok'ish accommodation, but when you want to go diving you still need to add the $$$ for equipment rental, boat transfers, park fees and meals - and then get on the boat and spend some time to get to the dive site.

When you stay at any of the resorts the package already includes all that, so all you have to worry about is the amazing underwater creatures, which you can reach with just a few steps from the beach.

And if it's advance instruction, amazing dives and fun when you're dry that you're after, then this is the page for you.

If you need help with anything, I'm more than happy to assist.

Hummmm well, I think I'm starting to like this option, and it's in Malaysia which is better cause I wouldn't have to worry about visas and that, and for what I've read so far, Sipadan seems to be a diving paradise.

'OnTheSpot', your package recomendation sounds good, how can I have more information about it?

Thanks again to all,

Wilson