Where are the best diving destinations in Southeast Asia?
Everyone’s got an opinion but how many of us actually list them down? Well, I finally decided upon my Top 10 for 2010, with the main criteria being easy accessibility and value for money.
Twenty- or 30-something divers who take several budget trips a year will probably agree and find something worthy to check out in this list.
If you happen to be a merchant banker, though, or an expat with housing and transportation allowances, then your preferences aren’t likely to be similar. So here we go:
Malaysia’s Top 5
Pulau Redang
This is no Obama-got-the-Nobel Prize shocker. Redang, with its fabulous chalk-white beaches and azure waters, is still a big draw for all the right reasons.
Of the many dive sites here, Big Mount is still the pelagic attraction, with regular sighting of batfish, trevally and reef sharks. Tanjung Batu Terjun is still an amazing site for macro sighting, with many species of shrimp, frogfish and gold spine fish.
Staghorn Garden remains a wonderful site at the five-minute “safety stop” for the coral cover — it makes me want to make it a 10-minute stop.
Overcrowding is the major concern but things are still holding up — so far. A good balance of idyllic living, luxurious offerings and party-friendly beaches makes Redang an easy destination to choose.
Travelling is easy if you fly Berjaya Air direct to the island. Otherwise, it’s a lengthy six-hour-plus drive. Do yourself a favour and take a plane.
For more information, visit www.redang.org or www.myoutdoor.com/redang
Pulau Tioman
It’s the mother of all dive-friendly islands in Malaysia — ask anyone. But if we had to pin down some convincing points, we’d start with the diving.
Renggis Reef is among the best hard coral sites around, according to veterans. The amount of reef life here is staggering at times. Also, you can do a live-aboard and explore several wrecks.
Like Redang, overcrowding is a problem but only slightly, thanks to its much larger size.
What puts Tioman in the Top Two is its duty-free status and amenities like pasar malam (night market) and real shops for longer-term convenience. Berjaya Air flies direct here too. Need we say more?
Visit www.tioman.com.my or www.tiomanguide.com
Miri
After so many years, Miri is still in my good books for its great coral reefs — soft coral especially. The majority of dive sites are only 10 to 15 minutes away by speedboat. The lushness of these “underwater jungles” means you should bring your camera.
Dive sites are 10-15 minutes from the jetties (where the decent hotels are), and the dive centres are practically around the corner from them.
The best way to travel here is by Air Asia, thanks to the new, well-equipped airport.
Visit www.redmonkeydivers.com or www.seridanmulu.com/v2/tropicaldives
Pulau Perhentian — Kecil and Besar
Party-crazy Perhentian Kecil is the more popular of the two sibling isles. There’s not an awful lot of great diving here.
Tanjung Besi and Batu Nisan attract big pelagics and turtles. Long Beach’s north House Reef (where a huge grouper and many bumphead parrotfish abound) remains a great destination for young, fun-loving divers doing easy shore dives. Rustic shops keep you busy and rock-climbing activities add to the fun. Come twilight, the parties really start to rock, too!
However, Perhentian’s northern location makes it the furthest group of isles to reach, plus there’s no airstrip. Your best bet is to fly via Air Asia either to Kota Baru (40 minutes’ taxi-ride to jetty) or Kuala Terengganu (45 minutes’ taxi-ride to jetty).
Travelling by car will take around six to seven hours, depending on speed and luck with traffic.
Visit www.perhentian.com.my or www.diverperhentian.com
Pulau Lang Tengah
Here’s the perfect place for a relaxing diving trip. Tanjung Nibong, Batu Bulan and Batu Kuching all have their fair share of pelagic sighting like bumphead parrotfishes. Coral and swim-throughs are good, too, especially at White Reef and Tanjung Nibong. There are a smattering of dive resorts that will offer good choices, without breaking your bank.
There are no shops, jetties or crowds to speak off, so you will find a sense of seclusion and the most languid of stays. The only down-side is the need to travel by car to Kuala Terengganu. A speedboat from Merang will take around 30 minutes.
Visit www.dcoconutlagoon.com or www.malaysiaislandresorts.com
Southeast Asia’s Top 5
Manado, Sulawesi
A direct flight from KLIA takes you straight to the famed town of Manado, gateway to the pristine Bunaken-Manado Tua Marine Park.
Whether it be the steep walls of Bunaken or the coral gardens of the coastline itself, this is the place to be.
Manado Tua, a dormant volcano, features even more wall dives on its west coast. Some amazing resorts and friendly natives round up this amazing experience.
Visit www.divenorthsulawesi.com or www.north-sulawesi.org
Pulau Weh, Aceh
By all accounts, it is only a matter of time before Pulau Weh stamps its mark on the diving map. Close proximity, amazing coral, impressively clear waters and thriving marine life are the key attractions.
Batee Tokong is unrivalled for its moray eel sightings, with many varieties not seen elsewhere. Steep walls are adorned with gorgonian fans. Right next door is Shark Plateau, where blacktip, whitetip and even silvertip sharks can be found roaming, along with huge groupers.
The downside is that the accommodation is quite rudimentary at the moment. But, hey, that translates to “affordable”, and that’s what this article’s all about!
Visit www.rubiahdivers.com or www.pulauwehresort.com
Similan Islands, Thailand
Flying to Phuket is relatively easy. Travelling to the Similans, however, takes a few hours by speedboat or live-aboard. However, if you’ve had the privilege of diving any of the nine magical islands, you’d realise how beautiful they are.
The amazing coral, gigantic boulder-created swim-throughs and sightings of the Andaman Sweetlips are some of the treats to be had here.
If you can make if further north, the whale sharks at Richelieu Rock await. That in itself puts the Similans on our radar — always.
Visit www.similans.net or www.divetheworldthailand.com
Bali
If you discount its famous land-based distractions, Bali is still a really enjoyable destination for diving. Friendly people and numerous flights make it easy to reach. Add those well-known touristy extras, and you are in divers’ heaven.
Several dive sites are available, and there’s a chance you might see the Mola-Mola or a whale shark. If you want to tough it out, try the Tulamben Wreck, famed among divers, up north, with Candi Dasa making for a great half-way stop for diving.
Visit www.balidiving.com/best_dive_sites or www.kapalselam.org
Subic Bay
For an extra hour’s flight over Kota Kinabalu, you can venture into the Philippines, drive another 30 minutes to Subic Bay, and — Voila! — you have an array of awesome wrecks to check out in depths of less than 30m. They range from historical wrecks pre-dating the Spanish-American War to World War II battleships like the USS New York.
As if that’s not enough, there is also an abundance of marine life and great coral that will have you wishing you had bought more hard disk space for all those digital pictures.
There are hotels of all price ranges here and the dive centres are among the best in terms of service.
Visit www.subicbaydivers.com or www.divephil.com/subic
