Where in Asia should I go diving in May 2020?

[Skirnir314]

Thanks for the great recs, everyone! These are awesome, lots of places I hadn't heard of (btw, sites in the South Pacific work too).

Sardine run in Moalboal sounds awesome. We're planning on doing a weekend trip to Malapasqua for thresher sharks at the start of the year, I wonder if we can fit it in then (if the run is happening then).

I'm loving these suggestions, lots I hadn't though of...Saipan, Alor, Vanuatu...Seems like folks are very positive on the Maldives; I'm kind of surprised no one suggested Raja Ampat!

How about something like French Polynesia or Fiji? I heard they have good shark diving.

- Mike

 

[Dan]

I'm kind of surprised no one suggested Raja Ampat!

Good season for Raja Ampat is from November to March. Around April some of the liveaboards, that operate in both Raja Ampat & Komodo, would start crossing back to Komodo. By May most of them already start operating in Komodo.

Raja Ampat is still good diving in May. I was there in May 2016, Pulau Pef - Little Raja Ampat Trip Report. It was just will be too dry weather then, where the fresh supply to the resort was getting low and we started to bathe with brackish water and lack of sea breeze to cool off during the night to sleep in non AC bungalow starting to bother me a bit.

 

[Dinorax]

How about taiwan? Off the beaten path but very good diving, and also a lot to see and do out of the water. Also cheap! Paging @Centrals

also there is nice diving in japan, but much more expensive than elsewhere in Asia.

Heard that May is the last month of the hammerhead shark season at Okinawa.. and its not cheap. lol
There are wrecks and cave to dive too.

 

[Luko]

Sardine run in Moalboal sounds awesome. We're planning on doing a weekend trip to Malapasqua for thresher sharks at the start of the year, I wonder if we can fit it in then (if the run is happening then).

I'm loving these suggestions, lots I hadn't though of...Saipan, Alor, Vanuatu...Seems like folks are very positive on the Maldives; I'm kind of surprised no one suggested Raja Ampat!

How about something like French Polynesia or Fiji? I heard they have good shark diving.

- Mike

1- The "run" is very quiet, there is no action at all : just a huge lump fo sardines that's been there for ten years or so (I've seen it regularly from 2012 to 2018, but it was already there though smaller in 2001). It would take some 6-7 hours car ride to rally Moalboal from Malapascua.
2- I suggested Vanuatu for the wreck but it's mainly a nature/culture destination topside. On the other hand I am the one who will not be positive on the Maldives, very touristy oriented mainly honeymoon, zilch attraction topside, except for the numerous sharks and rays low biodiversity. The european divers who were once the prime (only?) customers have clearly abandoned this now mass tourism destination for easternwards areas.
3- French Polynesia is uber expensive, it's the Maldives equivalent of South Pacific but with more landside attractions and more beautiful islands, Fiji is a friendly and nice destination, cheaper with more colors than FP, ther will be sharks on each dive but in less numbers.

 

[jjmochi]

I responded to your thread in the Pacific islands and did recommend French Polynesia, more specifically Fakarava and Rangiroa. It is expensive but it’s all relative, a 2 week vacation for me and my husband ran about the same cost per person as 2 1 week Liveaboards to Raja Ampat (which we’re doing next year on a mid range boat). If you want sharks and big stuff it’s hard for me to imagine anyplace sharkier.

How many sharks do you count? This is a run of the mill dive at Tetamanu / south pass Fakarava
https://flic.kr/p/2hBd2bc
you can also see hammerheads and tiger sharks if lucky but I didn’t see any. Tons of blacktips, white tips, grey, lemon, and nurse sharks tho

I’ll be doing the Maldives classic itinerary liveaboard in 2 weeks but I think I screwed up and should have done it before French Polynesia, because anything less than a hundred sharks is going to be overshadowed lol. Top side I think will be similar and it is ridiculously pretty/romantic. Tetamanu is definitely an adventure / off the beaten path

If you can delay your trip to June there is the annual grouper spawning at the first new moon which I hear is really cool and have the sharks out in even greater numbers. That will be our return trip in a few years

 

[Centrals]

OW with about 50 dives could be a deciding factor for some places eg Truk Lagoon.
Sangalaki in May is my suggestion, not that difficult to get to from Singapore.

 

[Skirnir314]

Thanks for the continued tips everyone!

I'm now extremely sold on French Polynesia/Fakarava/Rangiroa. It sounds incredible. I couldn't find any liveaboards that will work for our time in May 2020, but it's going up to the top of my list for the dive trip after this one.

We're currently thinking about doing 3 days in Palau (snappers will be spawning May 3-6 and I'd love to catch that) and then 5 days in Truk. Thoughts?

Is it crazy to split the trip when we should just focus on one location? Is OW with 50 dives enough for my girlfriend to be comfortable and enjoy Truk?

Nice to have such low stress questions. Any day diving is a good day, I'm lucky to get the opportunity to do any of this.

- Mike

 

[kassj0peja]

A more unusual destination is Myanmar and currents for drift diving are quite common. The season ends early/mid May though. I went to Boulder Island last season and know MacLeod Island from a few years ago. Enjoyed it very much.

 

[Scuba Dooby Do]

I would recommend spending more time in Palau than Truk. Crime is higher in Truk than in other states in the FSM... Trukese are somewhat infamous for this around the Compact States (where they can freely migrate). From worldnomads.com:

“... you should stay off the streets after dark on Weno (the main island). On occasion, travelers are subject to theft and verbal and physical abuse, which can sometimes become violent.”

“Do not attempt to intervene in disputes between local citizens.”

“Alcohol-related attacks, as well as alcohol driving accidents, are not uncommon on weekends and after dark.”

 

[chillyinCanada]

Dives are pretty deep at Truk too, aren't they?