Alor vs Lembeh/Bangka in August

[GirlonFire]

I have 6-9 nights to play with and am trying to decide between the two. I haven’t been to either.
I know July and August in N. Sulawesi are the coldest of the year but both are amazing destinations.
Dive ops I have been looking at are Alor Divers, Bastianos in both Lembeh and Bangka, NAD and Black Sands.
I am not looking for anything in particular as far as sea life but would like an overall nice(great) dive experience with comfortable lodging and good food.

Thanks

 

[matts1w]

So good news is you really cannot go wrong with either- both are world class... But they are also VERY, VERY different destinations. Lembeh is obviously amazing muck/macro diving, some of the best in the world. I have stayed with Bastianos and NAD- both are awesome. NAD is a bit smaller and feels more personal as the hosts go out of their way to make the place special. Whenever I consider Lembeh, NAD is the top of my list. Do understand that Bastioanos is very solid choice too. The view from the awesome pool cannot be beat. Lembeh is super easy to get to: one easy flight from Jakarta or Singapore on a big plane and a short hour or so in car. It is very much discovered and not remote even in the slightest.

Alor has great macro diving too, plus walls, coral, and such that are world class. Odds are good you will see big pelagics and use your wide angle gear far more than macro. Alor is pretty much the end of the earth as although it is on people's radar, few actually pull the trigger and make the trip. Last time I looked, you will have to get yourself to Kupang in far east Indonesia, then take a prop plane via Wings Air (or maybe Trans Nusa?) to Alor. I an't flying with Lion Air companies anymore so a return trip to Alor is on hold for a while, although I REALLY want to give it another go.

Again, either is a great decision, but they are two very different animals. If I only has six days I would go to Sulawesi as you will lose a bunch of time getting to Alor. Nine days? I might take the plunge to Alor for the adventure. Hope that helps.

 

[Luko]

Ditto Matt.

Lodging and food wise, Alor Divers is way above IMO, in terms of "general dive experience" as well
I heard Sriwijaya has opened a new route from Bali to Alor, but anyway Bali-Kupang-Alor can be flewn in one morning, same goes for the return.

Yes I know, I should not be promoting Alor and keep it to ourselves, divers-in-the-know.

 

[GirlonFire]

I neglected to add that I will be in Bima just before, coming off a Komodo LOB.

In order to get to Alor, it seems I will need to overnight in Kupang regardless.

Last time I looked, you will have to get yourself to Kupang in far east Indonesia, then take a prop plane via Wings Air (or maybe Trans Nusa?) to Alor. I an't flying with Lion Air companies anymore so a return trip to Alor is on hold for a while, although I REALLY want to give it another go.

Again, either is a great decision, but they are two very different animals. If I only has six days I would go to Sulawesi as you will lose a bunch of time getting to Alor. Nine days? I might take the plunge to Alor for the adventure. Hope that helps.

Matts1w, Can I ask what pushed you over the edge to avoid Lion Air? Isn't Wings a subsidiary of Lion?

At this point, Alor is in the lead. It seems it is worth visiting before it is easy to get there. Would a 5mm wetsuit be recommended or a 3mm/vest and hood?

 

[jcclink]

Some areas in Alor/Pantar can get pretty cold. Last Nov we had a double thermocline at one dive site in Pantar. A 5mm suit with 3mm vest wasn't enough protection. (I get cold easily.) This year I'm taking a 7mm.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I visit North Sulawesi in the winter months, January, February and March. On certain dives, I've been very cold in my 3mm, though certainly not on all.

If I were ever to return in August, during which, upthread someone said the water is the coldest, a 5mm and my bibbed hood would definitely be in my luggage.

 

[matts1w]

I haven't seen the Kupang > Alor option on Sriwijaya anywhere yet. I hope it does happen.

We have sworn off Lion Air for now. Obviously the tragedy broke the camel's back (and maybe now unfairly so), but their customer service is absolutely terrible, their reliability pitiful, and we just don't want to give our money to them anymore... So Lion, Batik, and Wings are off the menu.

Alor is cold. I wont head back there without every piece of neoprene I own. The older I get, the colder I see to get. I just treated myself to a new sharkskin setup. Im thinking my next trip to Alor necessitates sharkskin, 3mil hooded vest, 5 mil full suit, and 2 mil shorty on top....and another hood.

 

[billt4sf]

I am also struggling on whether or not to go to Alor (in Sept), and I appreciate the comments herein.

- Bill

 

[GirlonFire]

I have found a routing from Bima>Denpasar>Kupang (overnight) that avoids Wings/Lion Air.

Best case scenario, would I be able to catch a 14:10 flight if I was to land at 11:35 in Denpasar on a Garuda flight?
The last leg from Kupang to Alor, the options are Wings and Trans Nusa. The Wings flight is at 8:40 and the Trans Nusa, at 11:15. I'd prefer to get to Alor earlier but is Trans Nusa the better choice? The prices are the same.

I am looking at $257 on there separate flights to get to Alor plus a hotel room. To get to Manado, $165 but I'll have to take Lion Air but I also won't waste a day.

What are the water conditions at Lembeh these days? Do I need to worry about taking antibiotics or is the garbage situation not a big issue?

 

[Luko]

There's a Bali -Alor direct flight operated by Sriwijaya, on Tue, Thu, Sat