Bali or East Malaysia
- Thread starter Mattias L
- Start date
captstinky
New member
I had an aunt that recently went to Bali. Spoke highly of it, but said something about leeches...
WarmWaterWuss
New member
I am just incredibly jealous of your choices and that you get to go... sorry can't help but have fun. 
drdoolittle
Active member
I been to Tioman Islands.. that place is Awesome!!! and super cheap!!!
The snorkling was nice, but sad. I saw lots of crush coral crater. Our tour guide told us that the local fisherman sometimes use dynomite to fish. The distruction was obvious under water. You could see 6 feet circular craters..
But there still some nice area with corals.. The tour guide took us to several little islands.. Just wear insect repelant, the have this thing the locals called buffalo fly by the beach that stings worse than a mosqiuto.
if you want to really snorkle. you should go to Puket, Thailand and take the boat ride into Phi-Phi island. That place has the nicest reef i seen..
The snorkling was nice, but sad. I saw lots of crush coral crater. Our tour guide told us that the local fisherman sometimes use dynomite to fish. The distruction was obvious under water. You could see 6 feet circular craters..
But there still some nice area with corals.. The tour guide took us to several little islands.. Just wear insect repelant, the have this thing the locals called buffalo fly by the beach that stings worse than a mosqiuto.
if you want to really snorkle. you should go to Puket, Thailand and take the boat ride into Phi-Phi island. That place has the nicest reef i seen..
WarmWaterWuss
New member
I'll second Phi Phi islands in Thailand, so awesome. The diving and the snorkeling is stellar with incredible vis.
drdoolittle
Active member
Funny that you asked. Thinking about it still give me the chills.
I was in Singapore on a job assignment that entire year. So, we got to visit a few nice places. We were in Phuket and Phi Phi Island exactly one month before the Tsunami. We liked it so much that me and my colleague planned to spend christmas in the islands. A day before christmas, my manager ask me to stay back. Two of my colleague went, one just landed in Phuket airport and the other was in the mid flight when the tsunami happened. Since most communications were cut off after the tsunami, we could not get a hold of my colleagues. Both colleagues were ok, but traumatized. I lucked out.
I know people that visited Phuket recently. They said that it all back to normal. The water/corals was not affected. I heard stories of diver did not even know about the tsunami until they came out of the water.
if i had a choice, i would still go back..
I was in Singapore on a job assignment that entire year. So, we got to visit a few nice places. We were in Phuket and Phi Phi Island exactly one month before the Tsunami. We liked it so much that me and my colleague planned to spend christmas in the islands. A day before christmas, my manager ask me to stay back. Two of my colleague went, one just landed in Phuket airport and the other was in the mid flight when the tsunami happened. Since most communications were cut off after the tsunami, we could not get a hold of my colleagues. Both colleagues were ok, but traumatized. I lucked out.
I know people that visited Phuket recently. They said that it all back to normal. The water/corals was not affected. I heard stories of diver did not even know about the tsunami until they came out of the water.
if i had a choice, i would still go back..
AMW
New member
Even though I love Bali, I would definitely recommend SIPADEN ISLAND (east Malaysia/Borneo). Sipaden rocks because you get to see the big action such as schools of chevron barracuda, turtles, rays, schools of bumphead parrot fish, and sharks, and can also see the macro stuff like nudibranchs, pom-pom crabs, etc. Sipaden Island is a marine reserve so you won't be able to stay on the island itself, but you can either stay at a near by resort or do it by liveaboard. I would recommend the liveaboard experience for Sipaden.
drdoolittle
Active member
i had a chance to visit Sabas Malaysia (sp), close to Borneo. I heard that place looks awesome for diving..
Borneo is in my list of place i want to visit. its on my bucket list.
Borneo is in my list of place i want to visit. its on my bucket list.
Thanks a lot guys for your inputs. The decision is taken and the booking is done. We're going to Bali in May for 2,5 weeks. We will definitely spend some days around Mejangan Island and Nusa Lembongan, which suppose to be really good snorkeling spots.
I'll try to get hold of an underwater camera for this holiday so that I can share some pics with you.
I'll try to get hold of an underwater camera for this holiday so that I can share some pics with you.
klepto
New member
Check out Tulamben in Bali. There is a wonderful wreck dive and a fun shelf drop off dive (both from the shore). I saw countless corals and fishes that blew my mind a couple years ago. We ran across nudis, cuttles, sweetlips, all sorts of gorgonians and more than I could take in..
It is definitely worth the trip. The sand is also largely from volcanic remains so that adds an interesting element to diving/snorkeling in that area..
It is definitely worth the trip. The sand is also largely from volcanic remains so that adds an interesting element to diving/snorkeling in that area..
