Welcome to ScubaBoard, an online scuba diving forum community where you can join over 100,000 divers from around the world discussing all things related to Scuba Diving. To gain full access to ScubaBoard you must register for a free account.
As a registered member you will be able to:
Participate in over 500 dive topic forums and browse from over 3,000,000 posts.
Communicate privately with other divers from around the world.
Post your own photos or view from 80,000 user submitted images.
Gain access to our free classifieds marketplace to buy, sell and trade gear, travel and services.
Use the calendar to organize your events and enroll in other members' events.
All this and much more is available to you absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact the ScubaBoard Support Team.
IndonesiaAdventure looms large in this vast and steamy archipelago, where the best of southeast Asia's spicy melange simmers tantalisingly. Heady scents, vivid colours, dramatic vistas and diverse cultures spin and multiply, their potent brew leaving your senses reeling.
Frogfish and Mike thanks for the info....Blue Bay has not responded to to my emails or my Travel agents but I did run across a report that they do not have A/C or Hot Water, and their bathrooms are the Indonesian mandi style. Their rooms seem nicer than Murex. Danny (Lembeh Divers) replied to my email yesterday and he said the Murex resort has A/C, Hot Water and ensuite bathrooms....looks like Murex.
I think you are getting confused with the main Murex resort near Manado and the Murex Bangka cottages. We stayed in Bangka in 2003 and I can assure you, there is no possible way that they have AC, although they did have hot water and western style bathrooms attached to each cottage (the bathrooms are open air, in fact, a rat actually fell into our toilet at 4AM - but that's another story). At least when we were there, they didn't even have ceiling fans, just portable floor fans that you could put in the window. To describe the operation politely, I'd say it is "rustic". Electricity is supplied by a generator that is on from 5PM until 8AM.
On the other hand, Bangka is gorgeous with beautiful sandy beaches and great diving (definitely superior to Bunaken), but unless you want to pay the high price at Gangga, you do have to be prepared to rough it a bit. Don't know anything about Blue Bay, but at least from their website, their operation looks to be more comfortable than what we experienced at Murex Bangka.
My only problem with Bangka is I need a Sunday AM flight from Manado to Sorong. Express Air was to start up that flight at the beginning of this this month and it has not started and no word from Express Air. Being I do not want to spend a day in Sorong as I would have to take a Sat AM flight I may go to Bali.
Scott -
Have you been aboard Express Air? Seriously, unless you have an extra joint in your leg,it is virtually impossible for an American-sized male to get in their seats. There was no physical way I could fly that leg from Sorong to Makassar except to move to the aisle seat and literally sit sideways with my knees in the aisle. I have never seen tighter seats on an airplane of any size, anywhere. They fly B737's, but they jam in as many seats as possible. In the future, I would probably pass on a trip before I flew them again.
Just my .02, YMMV ....
__________________
" ... when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you've been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent. "
-Dave Barry
I am not Mike but can comment on Murex Bangka , at least as it was a couple of years ago: nice beach, excellent diving, bungalows are simple but comfortable. Food was tasty Indonesian home cooking type.
We had the place mostly to ourselves, my wife and I (no other guests for a couple of days).
Quote:
Originally Posted by JenM
I think you are getting confused with the main Murex resort near Manado and the Murex Bangka cottages. We stayed in Bangka in 2003 and I can assure you, there is no possible way that they have AC, although they did have hot water and western style bathrooms attached to each cottage (the bathrooms are open air, in fact, a rat actually fell into our toilet at 4AM - but that's another story). At least when we were there, they didn't even have ceiling fans, just portable floor fans that you could put in the window. To describe the operation politely, I'd say it is "rustic". Electricity is supplied by a generator that is on from 5PM until 8AM.
On the other hand, Bangka is gorgeous with beautiful sandy beaches and great diving (definitely superior to Bunaken), but unless you want to pay the high price at Gangga, you do have to be prepared to rough it a bit. Don't know anything about Blue Bay, but at least from their website, their operation looks to be more comfortable than what we experienced at Murex Bangka.
I spent 4-5 days on Bangka at the Murex center in May last year. I agree with the above : a bit rustic (but no rats for me, thank you...) For 2.5 days I had the resort for myself... My diving guide was Ken, excellent for spotting everything, and very attentive to what dives you'd like to do. I'd go back there with little hesitation, since the diving was fantastic, if I was sure there would be other divers at the same time than me.... People at the resort (DM, cook, ....) spoke about as much English than me Indonesian ! So no way of having a conversation.
Have you been aboard Express Air? Seriously, unless you have an extra joint in your leg,it is virtually impossible for an American-sized male to get in their seats. There was no physical way I could fly that leg from Sorong to Makassar except to move to the aisle seat and literally sit sideways with my knees in the aisle. I have never seen tighter seats on an airplane of any size, anywhere. They fly B737's, but they jam in as many seats as possible. In the future, I would probably pass on a trip before I flew them again.
Just my .02, YMMV ....
Well they still have not put in that Sunday flight so either I will have to fly on Saturday to Sorong or to Makassar and then on Sunday to Sorong. I heard if I get row 1 or 2 it is survivable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Malene
I spent 4-5 days on Bangka at the Murex center in May last year. I agree with the above : a bit rustic (but no rats for me, thank you...) For 2.5 days I had the resort for myself... My diving guide was Ken, excellent for spotting everything, and very attentive to what dives you'd like to do. I'd go back there with little hesitation, since the diving was fantastic, if I was sure there would be other divers at the same time than me.... People at the resort (DM, cook, ....) spoke about as much English than me Indonesian ! So no way of having a conversation.
Josi says they now have AC, ceiling fans and Hot water but it is conditional (in working order) if their new larger generator is installed and working by the time I get there in November.
__________________
I Endeavor to Pursue....2010...April Fiji...Fall back to Lembeh-Buyat Bay-Raja Ampat...2011...March Palau:
We plan to go to Bangka end of May this year. Gangga seems rather expensive. We are looking at Blue Bay, Murex or Mimpi Indah. We will be going with our two children 5 and 7 and enjoy snorkeling, especially at night. So we need a resort with a nice, easily accessible, shallow reef. Does anyone have any advice?
, at least as it was a couple of years ago: nice beach, excellent diving, bungalows are simple but comfortable. Food was tasty Indonesian home cooking type.
Linear Mode
