coming from singapore for 3-5 days in late may - where in indonesia to dive?

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satyan

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I've gone through lots of threads and seen lots of feedback, but frankly, I'm a bit overwhelmed by the amount of information!


My wife and I are in Singapore on Thursday for work, and want to go nearby from Friday-Tuesday to do some diving. Expense isn't an issue, but excessive travel for a short stay is what we'd like to avoid. We don't want to dive in Singapore where visibility is low. The ideal for us is the best "bang-to-buck" in terms of travel time vs quality of diving experience, probably somewhere in Malaysia or Indonesia.


We aren't too bothered about whether its wreck diving, reef diving, shore diving, boat diving, etc... really, we want to go for the most 'memorable experience'.


We are coming next week (late May 2012), so we don't know where it is monsoons or not in the different locations (as I've understood, each island, and each SIDE of each island, is different!). If there's any possibility of seeing whale sharks (which I understand is easier via snorkeling), that's a nice plus too.


Any and all advice would be MUCH appreciated!
​
 
I'd also say Bali, and maybe North Sulawesi. There are direct flights to both areas from Singapore.
 
Sipadan or Lankayan might be an idea.
Fly to Kota Kinabalu then Tawau then taxi to Semporna.
A quick google search will find numerous companies that will organise a trip.
 
Hi Satyan! I've just come from Dehli a few weeks ago... hot, hot, hot! How nice that you get to add on to your business trip with some diving. It's a pity you don't have a little longer since you could conceivably get on a very nice liveaboard right from Singapore if your dates matched up.... there are a couple of other boats departing from Singapore as well beginning in late May, but for weekend trips only.

I agree that for a quick and easy transfer, Tulamben on Bali and Bunaken or Lembeh at Manado are your best options. Malaysia is nearby and easy to get to as well (you can even go to Tioman with no flights and thus increase your time underwater), but IMO the diving in Indonesia is more interesting.
 
Thanks everyone for the awesome advice! Based on suggestions I think we are going to go ahead with Bali for 3-4 nights. Just a few questions:
- does it make sense to stay near Tulamben or on Nusa Lembongan island? should i move between the two?
- in either place, what is the best accommodation around? would prefer a luxury hotel, if available?
- any recommendations for dive centers there?

Thanks again for all the help!
 
Given your dive experience based on your profile, I'd suggest sticking to Tulamben (diving in Nusa Penida can involve strong current). For luxury places in Tulamben, check out Scuba Seraya and Villa Markisa, others might give you other suggestions. They should have in-house dive centers.
 
My advice is also to stick to Tulamben.
For your question on what resort to choose in Tulamben, there's a thread going on right now, discussing exactly that. I suggest a quick search.
 
+1 on sticking with Tulamben. To dive at Lembongan/Penida you would need a speedboat charter out and back, so you'd get fewer dives anyway at greater per-dive cost. There's plenty to see at Tulamben, and as mentioned, the conditions are easier (no big down currents, especially) for a less experienced diver to cope with.

Scuba Seraya and Villa Markisa are literally next to each other on the one stretch of sandy beach in the area making shore entries and exits fairly easy. Neither is walking distance to town though, so getting in and out for a wander requires a bit of logistical work. Another upscale resort on the water would be Mimpi. It's near the town but on a stoney beach.
 
Only one problem for me... My wife really doesn't like shore diving! If I want to do boat diving, should I still pick Tulamben?
 
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