Advice on Komodo please (or other destination for Xmas)

[Land Fish]

Hello awesome divers!

I'm only able to plan my diving trip for Christmas 2019 (not 2020) now and I'm eyeing liveaboard for Komodo. Indo Aggressor is on top of the list, but I welcome recommendations for other boats or destinations in the region

Anyhoo... here are a few questions and I appreciate any advice/suggestion you could share:

1. Would 'deep south' route have more / stronger currents than 'Komodo National Park'? or that's just market gimmick for labels?

2. For mid Dec to year end, what's the water temperature like realistically? Most websites suggest somewhere between 22C to 28C, and I'm not sure if 5mm would be a overkill or I'd freeze my a$$ off in 3mm

3. Anything else I should pay attention to?

Thank you very much!

 

[Dan]

1. No
2. I was there in December 2012. I’ll check the temperature ranges in Southern Komodo / Rinca from my logbook later tonight when I’m home. 3mm was fine for me then.
3. Listen to the dive briefing & stick closely with the guide. If you are a UW photographer, take the pointer with you to keep your hand off the corals. and keep eyes on stinging hydroid. If you don’t know what hydroid looks like, ask the guide to point it for you while underwater.

IMHO, if you want to dive in Indonesia in December, go to Raja Ampat. Komodo is better in June-August.

Have fun In Komodo!

 

[Land Fish]

1. No
2. I was there in December 2012. I’ll check the temperature ranges in Southern Komodo / Rinca from my logbook later tonight when I’m home. 3mm was fine for me then.
3. Listen to the dive briefing & stick closely with the guide. If you are a UW photographer, take the pointer with you to keep your hand off the corals. and keep eyes on stinging hydroid. If you don’t know what hydroid looks like, ask the guide to point it for you while underwater.

IMHO, if you want to dive in Indonesia in December, go to Raja Ampat. Komodo is better in June-August.

Have fun In Komodo!

Thanks a lot Dan! Please do keep me posted on the temperature

I have every intention of avoiding anything that might sting. Got stung by jelly fish and fire coral (I didn't think I was anywhere close to a coral). Not a pleasant experience

Raja Ampat is amazing and I absolutely loved it when I was there during last Christmas, which was my second trip to RA. So I figured I'd go somewhere else thisyyear

 

[drk5036]

How about Sipadan? As was mentioned it’s not really the best season for Komodo.

 

[Dan]

How about Sipadan? As was mentioned it’s not really the best season for Komodo.

But you won’t see such beach parade in Sipadan.

 

[Dan]

Here were the water temperatures
Dive 01 12/30/12 - Sabalon Kecil, 83-88F
Dive 02 12/30/12 - Sabayor Kecil, 84-85F
Dive 03 12/31/12 - Castle Rock, 82-84F
Dive 04 12/31/12 - Crystal Rock, 82-87F
Dive 05 12/31/12 - Shotgun, 80-86F
Dive 06 12/31/12 - Gila Bay, 82-83F
Dive 07 01/01/13 - Three Sisters, 83-84F
Dive 08 01/01/13 - Secret Garden, 82-87F
Dive 09 01/01/13 - Selat Pandar, 82-85F
Dive 10 01/01/13 - Selat Pandar, 84-85F
Dive 11 01/02/13 - Cannibal Rock, 82-84F
Dive 12 01/02/13 - Yellow Wall, 82-87F
Dive 13 01/02/13 - Cannibal Rock, 82-85F
Dive 14 01/02/13 - Torpedo Rock, 81-84F
Dive 15 01/03/13 - Crynoid Wall, 81-82F
Dive 16 01/03/13 - Tanjung Lehoksera, 81-85F
Dive 17 01/03/13 - Damar Reef, 80-84F
Dive 18 01/03/13 - Pink Beach, 81-82F
Dive 19 01/04/13 - Batu Bolong, 80-84F
Dive 20 01/04/13 - Taka Makassar, 81-85F
Dive 21 01/04/13 - Tatawa Reef, 82-87F
Dive 22 01/04/13 - Wanilu, 80-84F
Dive 23 01/94/13 - Pulau Penga, 80-81F

 

[Land Fish]

How about Sipadan? As was mentioned it’s not really the best season for Komodo.

Thought it was all year round? When is it considered the best season?

Also, there's security concern. Used to look after contingency plans for corporates, and I got too many alters that put red around Abu Sayyaf

Have you been recently? Is it land based?

 

[dirtfarmer]

Go with deep south route and 5mm, it can be cold there. Dec isn't high season but it is good season for south.

 

[Thrawn7]

December is south for sure. North is basically 3 meter visibility. Central 10m visibility, lots of mantas. Still divable, but not ideal.

In that respect Komodo is an all year round destination. But not the same parts all year.

 

[drk5036]

Thought it was all year round? When is it considered the best season?

Also, there's security concern. Used to look after contingency plans for corporates, and I got too many alters that put red around Abu Sayyaf

Have you been recently? Is it land based?

Was just there this past August. For me, the diving was the best I’ve done; better than Komodo even. Didn’t have any security concerns. Stayed at seaventures dive rig. There’s a Malaysian battleship parked outside every night, and a few military personnel hang out on the deck every night. It’s been many years since there’s been any problem around Mabul or Sipadan.