Hi, we are a couple currently living in Hong Kong and looking to do some diving for 10-12 days in last 2 weeks of June. (Time is not flexible as we will need the grandparents to baby sit our kids at home, and we need to accommodate their schedule). We have approx 75 prior dives, but have taken a 5 year break from diving since my last child was born. So we are not newbies but also not experienced divers either. Previously we have taken diving trips to:
Grand Cayman
Belize
Bohol Philippines
Sipadan/Mabul
Misool Eco Resort
Wakatobi Resort
In particular, Misool just blew our minds away! Wakatobi just pales after our Misool trip (although service top-side at Wakatobi was top notch).
I suffer from sea-sickness, my husband does not. We have never done a liveaboard before. We usually like to discover new destinations every trip, so right now I am considering the following:
A land-based trip in Northern Raja Ampat - Turns out Garuda Indonesia has a direct flight to Sorong from Jakarta now (yeah no more Express Air!) and it's pretty cheap now to fly to Sorong from Hong Kong. Only 700 USD! So it's not prohitively expensive to do a return trip. Only concern is June being monsoon season, will it significantly affect our diving experience?
A land-based trip in Komodo - Komodo is definitely on my bucket list, but I am worried that we would not have enough experience to handle the current there. Also Komodo sounds better to do as a liveaboard? Round trip airfare to LBJ is only 450 USD though. Can you get current diving training while at Komodo?
A land-based trip to Palau - Is Palau better than Indonesia? And is the current diving in Palau easier than Komodo? Round trip to Koror is 700 USD
I haven't considered other places like Fiji or PNG as flight cost is a little more expensive for me to get to. Originally I seriously considered Tavenui but scrapped the plan when I realize I will miss the Great White Wall dive due to timing of my trip. Maratua/Sangalaki requires 2 transfers to get to.
So where should I go? I value safety above all else, so would like recommendation based on our diving proficiency level. Thanks!
Grand Cayman
Belize
Bohol Philippines
Sipadan/Mabul
Misool Eco Resort
Wakatobi Resort
In particular, Misool just blew our minds away! Wakatobi just pales after our Misool trip (although service top-side at Wakatobi was top notch).
I suffer from sea-sickness, my husband does not. We have never done a liveaboard before. We usually like to discover new destinations every trip, so right now I am considering the following:
A land-based trip in Northern Raja Ampat - Turns out Garuda Indonesia has a direct flight to Sorong from Jakarta now (yeah no more Express Air!) and it's pretty cheap now to fly to Sorong from Hong Kong. Only 700 USD! So it's not prohitively expensive to do a return trip. Only concern is June being monsoon season, will it significantly affect our diving experience?
A land-based trip in Komodo - Komodo is definitely on my bucket list, but I am worried that we would not have enough experience to handle the current there. Also Komodo sounds better to do as a liveaboard? Round trip airfare to LBJ is only 450 USD though. Can you get current diving training while at Komodo?
A land-based trip to Palau - Is Palau better than Indonesia? And is the current diving in Palau easier than Komodo? Round trip to Koror is 700 USD
I haven't considered other places like Fiji or PNG as flight cost is a little more expensive for me to get to. Originally I seriously considered Tavenui but scrapped the plan when I realize I will miss the Great White Wall dive due to timing of my trip. Maratua/Sangalaki requires 2 transfers to get to.
So where should I go? I value safety above all else, so would like recommendation based on our diving proficiency level. Thanks!