Nov Trip: Philippines/Indo or Philippines/Thailand?

[fuggler]

My partner and I are planning a southeast asia trip from November 10-27 and my head's about to explode from all the research I've been doing. Please help! Last year, we went to the Philippines on the same dates/duration and had fun diving Puerto Galera and Bohol. This year, I want to go somewhere new, but I also want to maximize our time. Really would love to go to Bali.

1. We'll have 16 full days after arriving at our destination. Is it worth it to split that time between the Philippines and somewhere else?

2. If so, which place is easiest to get to from Manila? Which will have better weather?

3. If you think I should stick with 1 country, which one will offer the best diving in November?

If you have other itinerary suggestions, please share. I haven't looked into other areas aside from the three I mentioned. We're AOW divers with 100 dives each and we both dive with cameras. (not a big fan of drift diving) We're into walls, reefscapes, weird critters, and we'd also like to do some topside outdoorsy activities. (hiking, caving, food tripping, etc) Thanks for any advice.

 

[OnTheSpot]

There are one-stop flights from Manila to Phuket with many different airlines - prices are pretty good.

Great diving on offer during November on four night liveaboard trips. All budgets catered for and excellent diving for photographers.

You can visit Phi Phi Island, Khoa Sok or Kho Lanta for great above water activities and diving.

I guess it depends what critters you are hoping to see on your dives and if you enjoy going from place to place or sitting still.

 

[fuggler]

There are one-stop flights from Manila to Phuket with many different airlines - prices are pretty good.

Great diving on offer during November on four night liveaboard trips. All budgets catered for and excellent diving for photographers.

You can visit Phi Phi Island, Khoa Sok or Kho Lanta for great above water activities and diving.

I guess it depends what critters you are hoping to see on your dives and if you enjoy going from place to place or sitting still.

Ok, I think my partner and I are now leaning towards just doing Thailand. However, 2 out of 3 liveaboards we're interested in are completely booked for our dates in November. (black manta, white manta, pawara doesn't say anything on their site)

 

[Luko]

If you have other itinerary suggestions, please share. I haven't looked into other areas aside from the three I mentioned. We're AOW divers with 100 dives each and we both dive with cameras. (not a big fan of drift diving) We're into walls, reefscapes, weird critters, and we'd also like to do some topside outdoorsy activities. (hiking, caving, food tripping, etc) Thanks for any advice.

If you're landing either in Manila or in the Visayas (Cebu city) you may start diving a few days in either PG (From Manila) or Moalboal (From Cebu) then take a flight to Kota Kinabalu / Malaysian Borneo and head for some of the best diving in the world in Sipadan/Mabul. Probably one of the few places where you can got anything big or very small in two areas located only 20 minutes boat ride. I like Borneo Divers as a resort (been there three times and as I put my money where my mouth is : returning in august ...), not cheap though but totally dive dedicated, if you're on budget, there are now plenty of backpackers solution like Billabong, Uncle Chang or Scuba Junky.

If you like outdoor activities like trekking or mountain climbing, Sabah state in Borneo might be the place for you, though you need to move and two weeks just not be enough for everything. Forgot to say : seafood and various noodles are great there but I also love their muslim spicy curries, would stay a few nights in KK only for the food.

 

[fuggler]

If you're landing either in Manila or in the Visayas (Cebu city) you may start diving a few days in either PG (From Manila) or Moalboal (From Cebu) then take a flight to Kota Kinabalu / Malaysian Borneo and head for some of the best diving in the world in Sipadan/Mabul. Probably one of the few places where you can got anything big or very small in two areas located only 20 minutes boat ride. I like Borneo Divers as a resort (been there three times and as I put my money where my mouth is : returning in august ...), not cheap though but totally dive dedicated, if you're on budget, there are now plenty of backpackers solution like Billabong, Uncle Chang or Scuba Junky.

If you like outdoor activities like trekking or mountain climbing, Sabah state in Borneo might be the place for you, though you need to move and two weeks just not be enough for everything. Forgot to say : seafood and various noodles are great there but I also love their muslim spicy curries, would stay a few nights in KK only for the food.

Thanks for the idea, Luko. Airfare from Manila to KK cost the same as Manila to Phuket. How far is the airport from the main diving area though? Are the resorts set up to include unlimited diving since the sites are pretty close? I don't like how the sites near Phuket are 1-2 hours away, that's why we're also looking at liveaboards to do as many dives as possible.

 

[diggerled]

Diving at Mabul/Sipidan is a 45min plane ride from KK. Then a one and a half hour drive, then a hour or so boat ride. But very well worth it.

Luko is correct when he says you get two kinds of diving 20 minutes apart. Critters at Mabul, Big stuff at Sipidan. Borneo Divers have better permits for Sipidan than some of the other operations there.

You would not regret going here.

Caveat: IMHO the food was not top notch. Fish, chicken and mystery meat. Lots of rice and noodles.

Yes, you can shore dive from the resort
Repeat, you would not regret going here.

 

[widarecu]

Hi there,

I've dived both sites a few times already - Thailand around 3 times (Similan islands, phi phi, and the rest around that area) as well as Sipadan/Mabu around 4 times.

Based on my experience on these places I'd spend most of my time diving Thailand and then if time and budget allows it I'd finish my diving trip in Sipadan.

Thailand:
• There are 2 common live aboard option (at least that’s what I found)
• Option 1: Going to Similan islands for around 4 days, highly recommended, great water, plenty of small and big stuff to see (this is dependant of the season, not sure if Similan will be open around your dates, you’ll need to research)
• Option 2: Good as well (not as good as Similan) around Phi Phi, Hin Daeng and all those places (around 3 to 4 days)
• I went to Similan with MV Pawara, not a 5 start boat but pretty descent, good value I would say (MV Pawara, Similan, Surin, Hin Muang Hin Deang, Phuket, Thailand ScubaDiving and cruising in style of Living Thai . Live Aboard)
• I did Phi Phi with Pawara once and a second time with Scuba Cat (Phuket Scuba Diving Liveaboards, PADI Courses, IDC Thailand) I’d say both are pretty much the same, maybe the Scuba Cat guys are more friendly
• After you finish your diving you can always have good fun around Phuket, plenty of stuff to do

Sipadan/Mabu:
• Sipadan is good for the big stuff (sharks, turtles, Barracudas, …)
• There are around 7 different places in the island but predominantly good for the big stuff
• The boat trip to Sipadan from Semporna is a bit rough (nothing to worry if you don’t have issues with speed boats)
• Mabu good as well for small stuff, nice nubibranchs, Mandarin fish, …
• Apart of these 2 places not really many options and something I hate, water quality apart of Sipadan is crap, pretty often you’d be diving around bottles, cups, plastic bags and general trash
• After you finish your dives you go back to Semporna (unless you are staying in a fancy resort) and well, not really much to do as well as not many dining options
• 3 to 4 days more than enough (with 2 days in Sipadan)
• I’ve done all my trips with Sipadan Scuba - PADI 5 Star IDC - Diving Trips Semporna Borneo Sabah Malaysia nice people and well they know me already so easier to demand quality as well as bargain prices

…. just my personal opinion based on my own experience there,

Cheers,


Wilson

 

[Luko]

Thanks for the idea, Luko. Airfare from Manila to KK cost the same as Manila to Phuket. How far is the airport from the main diving area though? Are the resorts set up to include unlimited diving since the sites are pretty close?

You don't dive in KK (or so marginally) which is the main town or the hub for getting to Sipadan/Mabul area. Then as diggerled explains it takes a 45mn morning flight to Tawau (something like 75USD per way) and 2h car/boat transfer (included in your package) to get on Mabul island where the accom is. I would state it is like a land based liveaboard, you get 3 boat dives a day and unlimited shore/pier diving in your package.

Maybe I wasn't clear about expressing the general the idea, sorry for the confusion : I meant that if you're on other activities than diving, it can be nice spending a few days in KK to trek Mount Kinabalu, or even other places in Borneo like Kinabatang for nature/jungle hikes.

Caveat: IMHO the food was not top notch. Fish, chicken and mystery meat. Lots of rice and noodles.

I agree with you for BD mundane food, however I was speaking about KK, clearly not Mabul!
Next time try KK's open air seafood restaurants around Sedco kompleks for dining or lunching on murtabak and hot curries in the small muslim restaurants.

As for widarecu description of both places that I know quite well (Andaman coast of Thailand -been diving there 6 times- and Sipadan -3 times, last one in feb10-), I beg to differ on my own experience :
- I am not sure you'd find big things diving in the Similan in november, usually the manta rays are located south in december then coming up north to Koh Bon around feb/march. You never know though... ask the operators.
- Personally, I wouldn't base a whole dive trip on Phiphi diving : Hin Daeng/Hin Muang are very good spots, especially when the mantas are there but you have to know it's only two spots distant from 2mn (TWO minutes) boat ride, don't expect completely different dives (but they are indeed nice dives)...as for Phiphi, well... I wouldn't spend 4 days. Again : my opinion .
- I love Thailand but Phuket is not the utmost location in Thailand for other activities than diving (unless considering trekking Bangla Rd is an activity ), I usually spend one out of two weeks stay in the northern parts for sightseeing, trekking.
- As for Sipadan/Mabul : I don't know what is meant with "crap water quality" on Mabul. Is Lembeh muck diving "crap"? Hmmh... probably in terms of visibility :blinking:, on the other hand you have to know that Paradise II which is the spot just in front of Borneo divers' pier was elected best shoredive in Asia by Asiandiver magazine last year. Tells you about the kind of crap... . Probably muck diving is not Wideracu's cup of tea.
- Why the hell would you go back to Semporna after the dives???? There are at least four budget option on Mabul island (ScubaJunky next to Borneo divers being the most recent one) and three "expensive" resorts, plus the Seaventures oil rig and Kapalai resort!
- It's one of the first time I read that 4 days diving on Sipadan is enough. check some of my photos to get a taste. You may also bear in mind that permits to diving Sipadan are limited, in 4 days and unless you are lucky, you wouldn't go diving more than once around Sipadan.

 

[fuggler]

- I love Thailand but Phuket is not the utmost location in Thailand for other activities than diving (unless considering trekking Bangla Rd is an activity ), I usually spend one out of two weeks stay in the northern parts for sightseeing, trekking.

That's what I was worried about. When I googled for topside activities in Phuket, I didn't really find much. So if we had two and a half weeks, of course we'd go on a 4d/4n liveaboard to Similan Islands, maybe do a 2-day trip to dive Phi Phi, and then what? The partner doesn't want to spend an entire day to travel to another country, unfortunately. Sipadan sounds awesome but a pain in the butt to get to.

Thank you all for your opinions and for sharing your experience.

 

[tangfish]

Go dive Sipadan!!