HELP-Where to go??? Need advice on a long distance trip.

[tywenglar]

I need some help and advice.

My wife has about 300,000 airline miles that are going to expire so we want to book a trip that is far away. i.e. Truk lagoon.

However, we both prefer the road less travelled so to speak so I thought I'd ask here for any advice that anyone has on a less known dive spot with amazing diving. My wife LOVES dolphins and Turtles. I like the big pelagics. We both HATE cold weather/water.

Neither of us really care about deluxe accommodations etc. Clean and has a shower is really our only requirement. We are flying for free so cost is not the driving issue but don't want to waste money either.

Liveaboard is fine, land based is fine...

Thanks in advance for the help...

Ty

[tywenglar]

by the way...her miles are on American Airlines

[georoc01]

Well, doesn't American have a codeshare with Quantas? That opens up any of their destinations, which includes northern Australia.

When we did this boat last year, EV was showing the northern route, which includes snorkeling with turtles at Raine Island..

http://www.explorerventures.com/pdf/NEXItinerary12.pdf

Definitely looked to be a road less traveled.

[obrules15]

What about FIJI. I've heard the diving is amazing, but remote.

[Sansho]

We just booked through AA a trip to Australia, which is entirely on Quantas. Georoc01 posted a link for a Northern trip that might be of interest too.

[Travelnsj]

Head to Lembeh Straits and Raja Ampat...stop over in Singapore for a day or two......You want "road less traveled" you will have it.....Plus it is the finest diving I have found on the Planet!....I was there in January....I'm headed back in October.

The water is a cool 82 to 85 degrees...I have a couple of trip reports (Lembeh & Raja) posted in the Asia forum.

[chinacat46]

I'll second what Travelnsj said. Although I don't think the water is that warm. I've been to Lembeh twice and Raja once and I'm headed back in November to both places.

[Travelnsj]

The water was 82 in Lembeh except for a nite dive that got to a bone chilling 81.....Raja was 84 to 85.....that was in December/January.....please tell me it will be that warm in October?....I'm a WWW!!!!!

Tywenglar....Palau is a good second choice and if you like wrecks Palau has plenty.

[thesmoothdome]

Following Chincat and Travelnsj is always tough as they are they resident experts of the Pacific, but I'll throw my two cents in. If you want the best diving out there, you can't go wrong with Papua New Guinea. As usual, I'd recommend going by live aboard. The Star Dancer was great, but there are others out there.

[chinacat46]

There is one problem with doing Lembeh/Raja and PNG. You could probably only use your miles for part of the trip. Geting to Lembeh and Raja would most likely require an airline which wouldn't allow you to use miles. Similarly once you get to Port Moresby you would have to pay for a flight in PNG. I agree with thesmoothdome though PNG would be a good choice as well and the 86 degree water of the Bismarck Sea is like bath water.