Diving in Indonesia

Stevie_W · Post by **Stevie_W** » Wed, 02 Oct 2013 10:22 pm

Apart from Bali, Lombok, Gilli Islands and Manado, are there any other decent places to go diving which won't cost you an arm and a leg?

the lynx · Post by **the lynx** » Thu, 03 Oct 2013 8:58 am

Stevie_W wrote:Apart from Bali, Lombok, Gilli Islands and Manado, are there any other decent places to go diving which won't cost you an arm and a leg?

I assume you're more than average diver (because you mentioned Manado and Gili), you should consider Sipadan island off the east coast of Borneo (Malaysia). Only divers with OW and above are given the permit to dive there. It was also the shooting location for the first Survivor series (close to Tiga Island).

Another one would be Perhentian island off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. You can consider Redang island (the larger one) but it has been over-commercialised so the smaller neighbouring Perhentian would be better.

Tioman/Sibu island are not bad too. Cheaper and closer to Singapore. Just 3 hours' drive up along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and a boat ride.

HTH

Stevie_W · Post by **Stevie_W** » Thu, 03 Oct 2013 9:06 am

I'm not sure what you would class as average. I still consider myself as a "beginner".
I'm looking more for places in Indonesia so i can try and link it in with a business trip.
Gilli/Lombok i want to leave for the moment as i have another trip planned that way towards end of year.
I do want to do Perenthian but not this time as it would involve too much travelling.
Thanks

Girl_Next_Door · Post by **Girl_Next_Door** » Thu, 03 Oct 2013 9:36 am

The better dive areas are unlikely places that you can do with business travel. I always wanted to get to Cendrawasih Bay. I heard Raja Ampat is great for diving too. I had great fun diving in Komodo last year.

Nonetheless, my best dives is still Layang Layang.

v4jr4 · Post by **v4jr4** » Thu, 03 Oct 2013 12:32 pm

Girl_Next_Door wrote:The better dive areas are unlikely places that you can do with business travel. I always wanted to get to Cendrawasih Bay. I heard Raja Ampat is great for diving too. I had great fun diving in Komodo last year.

Nonetheless, my best dives is still Layang Layang.

Some people that I know suggest Wakatobi or Bunaken, since Raja Ampat will cost you a lot (some even said it's almost similar to a trip to US or Europe).

Akimbo · Post by **Akimbo** » Thu, 03 Oct 2013 1:42 pm

I also heard that it's good to dive in the Kupang area. Google for Alor Dive Kupang.

There's another near Komodo Island, but I just can't remember what the area was called...and Maluku too.

Girl_Next_Door · Post by **Girl_Next_Door** » Thu, 03 Oct 2013 2:52 pm

For Raja Ampat, I think its pricey if you are doing liveaboard. There ain't a lot of accommodation options there, hence luxury accommodation is out of the question. If you fly there directly, basic accommodations plus day trips shouldn't be too pricey. Same for Komodo. We dived with whitemanta, which obviously charge a huge premium for the comfort. When we walked around Labuan Bajo, there are definitely cheaper accomodation options.

sethabsolvat · Post by **sethabsolvat** » Thu, 03 Oct 2013 3:02 pm

Isn't Bunaken in Manado as well?
I've dived in most of the nearby areas, like Tioman, Dayang, Redang, Sipadan, Manado..

So far the best still seems to be Sipadan in terms of diving goodness, but for relaxation, Manado is good.

Have you tried Lembeh? Great macro stuff there if you're into it.
Hairy frogfish, hairy sea urchins... For some reason, the hairy creatures only exist there.

Stevie_W · Post by **Stevie_W** » Thu, 03 Oct 2013 3:15 pm

OK. Thanks for the responses so far.

Basically i need to be in Jakarta for work on 16th October, and seeing as 15th is public holiday, i thought i'd take off the 14th and go somewhere for 4 days. Don't really want to go anywhere too far, and would like to keep it within Indonesia.
A lot of the places mentioned sounds fantstic, but they all seem to be on the very east of Indonesia. AAnd as i mentioned before i'm going to be in the Lombok/Gilli region towards end of the year.
As no one has mentioned anything closer i guess the simple answer is that there isn't really anything closer in Indonesia and the nearest places would be somewhere like Bali/Lombok/Gilli?

Thanks

Girl_Next_Door · Post by **Girl_Next_Door** » Thu, 03 Oct 2013 4:01 pm

October is rainy season, so Bali and Lombok will be wet. When I was working in Jakarta, a couple of my colleauges & I went to Krakatau. It is one of the few active volcanoes, about 2 hours away from Jakarta. Its simply camping on the grounds, bbq for dinner and admiring the volcano eruptions at night. Its not luxurous but one of the best memories.

Jakarta have terrible traffic... so you should try to leave office early.

v4jr4 · Post by **v4jr4** » Thu, 03 Oct 2013 4:15 pm

Stevie_W wrote:OK. Thanks for the responses so far.

Basically i need to be in Jakarta for work on 16th October, and seeing as 15th is public holiday, i thought i'd take off the 14th and go somewhere for 4 days. Don't really want to go anywhere too far, and would like to keep it within Indonesia.
A lot of the places mentioned sounds fantstic, but they all seem to be on the very east of Indonesia. AAnd as i mentioned before i'm going to be in the Lombok/Gilli region towards end of the year.
As no one has mentioned anything closer i guess the simple answer is that there isn't really anything closer in Indonesia and the nearest places would be somewhere like Bali/Lombok/Gilli?

Thanks

14th will be the "sandwich" day (which means, most people will take leave). Probably Bandung won't be a good choice. As for Jakarta... that's a hell hole. So, within 12 and 15, I guess Bali/Lombok is not a bad choice (except for the weather, and the post APEC event).

Stevie_W · Post by **Stevie_W** » Thu, 03 Oct 2013 4:19 pm

v4jr4 wrote:APEC event

What's that?

v4jr4 · Post by **v4jr4** » Thu, 03 Oct 2013 4:36 pm

Stevie_W wrote:
v4jr4 wrote:APEC event
What's that?

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, CEO summit, 5-7 Oct 2013, will be held in Bali.

Michael X · Post by **Michael X** » Thu, 03 Oct 2013 8:30 pm

My friend just got back from some dives in Indonesia around the island of Flores. He said it was awesome. May be worth looking into.

the lynx · Post by **the lynx** » Fri, 04 Oct 2013 8:27 am

After 24 hours, I realised that this diving thread is about Indonesia. I misread it and suggested Borneo and Peninsula Malaysia dive spots instead. My bad.

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