Singpore in March

[scubakat]

Hi all, I am headed to Singapore for a week in March. I don't know the exact dates yet, but I will be with a bunch of divers. I am wondering what the weather & water temp at that time of year? I am hoping that it is not the rainy or typhooon season or any other natural phoenomena. Where are good places to dive & inexpensive but comfortable places to stay? We really have no set plan yet, I want to SCUBA dive & one of my friends likes to free dive. We are all advanced (or higher) divers, I am the least experienced of the bunch. Are there any really great dive operations or any that we should avoid?

After that I will be headed to Okinawa for a week to dive the Keramas or the ruins (I forget the name).

Thanks to you in advance!!!

-kate

 

[Thresher]

Scubakat

There’s nothing to see here…or should I say, you can’t see anything. ”Limited visibility diving” is what we can offer the world. A viz of 1.5m (or 5ft) is considered very good in these waters. This is all due to heavy shipping movements and land reclamation projects (we’re running out of space so we have to create our own land). You can imagine the effects not only with viz, but also on the reefs. Most dive schools here conduct their training at one of the nearby islands, and there are a few dive sites at the outer islands, but I really wouldn’t recommend them for leisure diving.

If you’re planning to spend at least a week here in Singapore, then I suggest you take a weekend trip up to Malaysia instead. Pulau Aur or Pulau Tioman on the east coast of the peninsula are two of the nearest islands which offer pretty good diving, and which Singapore weekend divers flock to. There’s a direct ferry from Singapore to Tioman that takes about 4 hours. However, Aur is not as commercialised, so there’s a 3 hour bus ride and then onto a boat for another 4 hours. There are other excellent dive sites located on the east coast like Tenggol, Redang and Perhentian, but they’re farther up north where you need to spend at least 5 days. If you want some place much closer, there’s Riau Islands in Indonesia that is only a 45-minute boat ride away.

I’m actually heading up to Pulau Aur next weekend to hang out with the big guys (it’s now the season for whale sharks and manta rays). February is usually the tail-end of the NE Monsoon but it sometimes flows into early March. End March would be a better bet for clear skies and good viz.

Let me know your plans and I can give you some contacts. I’d also be happy to show you the sites of Aur or Tioman if you like.

 

[Asiandivergal]

Hi Kate,

Just a few things you need to be aware of before deciding to dive Singapore - it is not a favoured spot as a diving destination, as it suffers from v.v. poor visibility. Standard viz is around 1 - 1.5m. However, there is some interesting marine life if only you could spot them, e.g. the seahorse.

March is the end of the monsoon season for the region, and there will be less rain. However, the dive sites off Singapore can be dived all year round, as they are strategically sheltered from the monsoons. Water temperature ranges from around 28-30 degree Celsius - just a 0.5mm wet suit or shorty will be sufficient.

Honestly speaking, I would suggest you travel up and spend some time diving in Malaysian waters. You can just spend a short weekend diving Dayang/Aur or Tioman. These are very good dive sites with better visibility, marine life and great place to chill out. Many of us would rather spend a weekend diving in Aur/Dayang than local waters. The Malaysian diving season starts in mid-February.

Most of the dive operators here are quite professional, but their prices may vary a little. I can provide you with some recommended dive operators in a separate email.

I usually dive with my freelance instructor who can provide good diving rates (no overheads to cover) and who doesnt mark up the price. Usually I will make a monthly dive trip to Malaysia, if you have the time, do join us on a weekend divetrip.

Anyway, feel free to contact me, and I can help provide more info, and maybe help you with dive trip arrangements.

 

[Thresher]

Hi Asiandivergal

I guess we were both typing our posts at the same time, and both equally long. You from Singapore too?

Thresher

 

[joewr]

Kate,

Whenever I am planning a trip. There are other sites, as well, but this probably serves your needs.


http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/asia/singapor/wsingapo.htm

I have been to Singapore numerous times, but never dived there. There were a couple of "tourist musts" that I did there the first few times on the peninsula. The "Singapore Sling" was invented at "Raffles" and most folks consider that a pilgrimage that is mandatory; Raffles has been remodeled, though, and is not exactly the same old place.

It has been quite a while since I have been there, but the Satay Club used to be a good place to get an interesting meal. There are a bunch of venders who sell all sorts of skewered meats, vegetables, rices, etc. there. One walks around and selects from this "ala carte" fare and has a very nice outdoor meal. It has been 8 years since I was there, though, and things might have changed. Maybe Thresher can update us on it...


Joewr...

 

[Thresher]

I don’t know how much you saw of Singapore since you were here last joewr, but things around here change rather quickly. Every couple of years or so, there’s always a new building, mall or some site that’s been given a facelift.

Scubakat, if you’re looking at a long SI while here, then there are many distractions for your picking. One of course, as joewr recommends, is to try out the Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel. Then there’s the food – Singaporeans are known for their passion for eating, almost every hour of the day. Apart from going to the movies, that’s about all we can do here…hehe…just kidding.

Despite the size of the country (approx 620 sq km/239 sq miles), there are actually lots to see and do here. If shopping is on your list, check out Orchard Road – one long stretch of road…shopping centres, entertainment spots, restaurants, etc. If you’re thinking about just chilling out, then it’s Boat Quay at night, Singapore’s watering hole along a stretch of the Singapore River. Big herds of expats and local yuppies gather there in the evenings after work, busiest on Friday nights.

And then there are your normal tourist attractions like Singapore Zoo’s Night Safari, Jurong Bird Park (with the world’s highest man-made waterfall) and something closer to home, the Underwater World. Nothing compared to Australia’s or other oceanariums around the world, but visitors can get to dive with the sharks and feed Eagle Rays for a fee.

You can try checking out this website for more info: http://www.newasia-singapore.com/

or my favourite travel reference, Lonely Planet: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/south_east_asia/singapore/

Also, some info on diving in Malaysia’s Pulau Aur and Pulau Tioman, which I mentioned earlier, if you do decide to take that detour:

Pulau Aur: http://www.koolbuzz.com/fyi/aursite.html
Pulau Tioman: http://www.koolbuzz.com/fyi/tiomanp.html

Scubakat, if you have other questions, just gimme a buzz. Always happy to help.

Cheers

 

[Asiandivergal]

Hi Thresher,

Yup, based in Singapore all right, and it was really funny how both of us posted similar responses around the same time

And yes, I second Thresher's advice to try the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel - besides the signature Singapore Sling, there's a nice live band, and the great fun of hurling your empty peanut shells on the floor - the only place where u get away with littering


For some lively pubbing/clubbing action, check out these following places: Embargo at One Fullerton, China Black and Bar None at Scotts Road, Anywhere Pub at Tanglin, Liquid Room, Siam SupperClub, The Next Page or dbl O at Mohammad Sultan/Robertson Quay, Zouk, and Carnegie's at Far East Square if you are into bar top dancing

Food! Singaporean's favourite topic - do try the hawker fare here, the concept similar to what joewr had described. You can check out Geylang, Newton Hawker Centre or Pasir Ris Park for the lovely seaside ambience, not forgetting the fantastic seafood - try the seafood centre at East Coast Park - Jumbo restaurant there is a hot favourite and it is always packed.

Yup, the Underwater World is quite good - have heard that diving in the aquarium is loads of fun - whatever u do though, avoid the other tourist attractions at Sentose - a tourist trap! Thumbs up for the Night Safari too

Do let me know if you need a guide when u get here...it's always fun to bring people around

Cheers,
ADG

 

[scubakat]

Wow, Many thanks to you ADG, Thresher, & Joe!! I love this board! I will start looking at your references & will be back soon with more questions!

-kate

 

[Doraemon]

Hi Kate,

When I heard that my first OWD is supposed to be a local dive in one of the southern island of Singapore (Pulau Hantu), I almost freaked out. I've heard so much stories about how dirty the water is, the limited vis and "nothing to see".

After my first dip, I realised I was so wrong about the "nothing to see" part.

Although vis is pretty limited, so long as you don't stir up any silt at the bottom, you can and do, see quite a lot of stuff. There are many types of hard and soft corals, squirts, sponges...butterfly fishes, clown fish, gobies, nudibranchs, etc. The reef area is small but it is very diversifed.

Ever since I've completed my OWD in Pulau Hantu, I've been to Tioman, Aur and Dayang. Although Hantu is not as interesting as the Malaysian islands, it does have its own charm.

If you hang around the corals, stay low and close to the bottom, I believe you won't be disappointed - but you must not stir up too much silt 'cuz whatever vis you have is very precious.

In fact, I just came back from Pulau Hantu last Sunday. Vis was pretty good - I'd say about 3 to 5 metres. Besides the usual corals and fishes, we saw a spotted seahorse (so cute!) - its tail was curled around a tiny coral, and a beautiful iconaster longimanus.

You can join any local dive operator that goes out to Pulau Hantu - that is one of the more popular dive sites in Singapore. Here's an URL that shows you the map of Singapore's southern islands. You can find Pulau Hantu on the map, as well as other diveable islands.
http://www.arl.nus.edu.sg/mandar/yp/EPIC/nudi/frame.html (click on "Collection Sites" on the left frame).

Cheers!

 

[scubakat]

HI Doraemon, and welcome to the board! Thank you for the Nudibranch page, they are one of my favorite things! We are quite used to low viz diving here in the northwest.We have lots of cool stuff to see too, just as long as you don't silt it out!

-kate