Muck stick group trip!

[chinacat46]

Well that pretty much confirms it. I had heard it from Brent formerly of Fathom's magazine. That is another reason to do a liveabord. PNG is very bad for crime. Port Moresby is one of the scariest places on the planet. You don't want to be walking around there.

[Travelnsj]

Those same people, upon arrival in Port Moresby....were headed out the door of the Airport and gunshots were heard...they hit the floor a man in front of them was being robbed and then shot....Sounds like the wild west!

[azdiver]

Originally Posted by chinacat46

Well that pretty much confirms it. I had heard it from Brent formerly of Fathom's magazine. That is another reason to do a liveabord. PNG is very bad for crime. Port Moresby is one of the scariest places on the planet. You don't want to be walking around there.

OK... Tiwali is definitely out! There's no way I want to be worried about a security issue on what is supposed to be a relaxing dive vacation!!

I have time over the next week or so to really start researching places, dive operations, resorts and live aboards but you both seem to know a heck of a lot more about that part of the world (Indonesia) than I do from having gone there already.

So... if we can all narrow down the selection to maybe 5 spots that would great.

My suggestion is for everyone that is seriously interested in going on the trip to list your top 5 places that you want to go to. If it's a live aboard, just name the vessel and the destination.

I'm just finishing up washing my gear and clothes and will get around to tyring to post a few pics in a brief San Sal trip report in a day or two.

[Travelnsj]

1. Bali/Lembeh/Raja Ampat (Antares LOB)
2. Lembeh/Raja Ampat (Antares LOB)
3. Rangiroa/Fakarava
4. Eastern Fields 7 day LOB (still have to go thru Port Moresby)
5. Did I mention Lembeh and Raja Ampat?

[chinacat46]

I'd like to go someplace I haven't been.

In Indonesia that would be the Ambon area and probably on the Archipelago II. I haven't checked there schedule to see where they are over xmas 2010 though.

Maldives on an LOB(a few to choose from)

Land based I'd like to check out a few different areas in the Philippines high on my list are Anilao, Moalboal and Malapascua. So maybe one or two of those for a trip.

I'd like to do the Eastern Fields but the Golden Dawn is the only boat I know that does the area and they don't have anything available over xmas 2010. So that rules that one out.

French polynesia is another area but I've heard it's very expensive and over xmas probably more so.

Another area is the Ningaloo Reef off western Australia.

Also the Solomon Islands on LOB.

So that is 6 choices. I could pick more but they are probably to cold for Scott in his 1 mm wetsuit. Scott you need to buy a 3 mm!!!

[Travelnsj]

The MV Golden Dawn is open from Dec 20 till Jan 1...Linda perhaps an email to Craig to see if he is able to fit in a week out to the Eastern Fields...that is if we could fill the boat.

The Philippines I'd be up for in July when the water is not 76 to 78!!!!

6. Ambon/Raja Ampat on the Antares.

I do not think Rangiora or Fakarava would be anymore expensive in December than any other time of the year as when I was there a few years ago in Dec/Jan...not many people there.

Ningaloo may be a possibility.

[chinacat46]

Just checked the Archipelago II over xmas/ny of 2010 and they are doing Raja Ampat then. I might be talked into doing Raja again.

[chinacat46]

The water in the Philippines is 78-82 in December depending where you are. You were there at the end of Feb when it's at it's coldest.

[chinacat46]

Originally Posted by Travelnsj

I do not think Rangiora or Fakarava would be anymore expensive in December than any other time of the year as when I was there a few years ago in Dec/Jan...not many people there.

So what you are saying is it's so expensive they can't raise the prices anymore then usual?

[chinacat46]

Just realized the schedule Scott and I were looking at for the Golden Dawn was for this December. They don't show anything past Feb 2010. So no idea what is going on in Dec of 2010. Might have to shoot Craig an email and see what is going on then. A good place either before or after the Eastern fields would be here: Loloata Island scuba resort - Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea