Bali and Thailand this month, where and with whom?

A fellow instructor is taking a month long trip, starting Dec 17, as in this month.

She will be in Bali December 21-28 and either Phuket or Krabi Dec 30-Jan 8.

Given the time of year, where would be the best place to dive in Bali? What dive operator?

Same with Phuket. I have a feeling she would not want to use all the time for a liveaboard, so perhaps a 3-5 day trip, enough to get her to the Similans/Richelieu Rock.

Thanks.

George, the wet season is usually in Dec. So crossing to Penida/Lembongan can be a bitch. So if she is into macro, have her stay at Scuba Seraya and dive the area (including Seraya Secrets, the wreck and the surrounds). If viz goes to crap, and it can when it rains due to run off, go to Menjangan up north and Secret Bay, which is also a great muck dive.

Another area which is pretty decent and not as far is if she stays in Padang Bai and dive the Gili Tepekong and Padang Bai areas. The viz is usually decent there but when it rains, it's not a great place to be.

I've used BIDP for all my diving in Bali since they opened in 2000. Great guides and service. Local owned (ok he's really Javanese but it's the next island) and run. Scuba Seraya has its own dive ops as well but you can also arrange it through BIDP. Have your friend plan a flexible schedule by arranging the diving based on the weather forecast of the next day. It's a pain for the ops but they'll do it. Just don't tell them I suggested it.

For Thailand, someone already asked the same question in the forum. Do a search in the last few days.

Most liveaboards going out to the SImilans leave from Tap Lamu in Khao Lak. Again there's a plethora of boats so it depends on her budget. Many people made their recommendations in that thai thread.

So, Tulamben and the norheast are better odds than the southeast?

It all depends on the weather. If it's flat, head out to penida and Lembongan. If not, hit the macro sites up in the NE. The great thing about Bali is that there's diving all over the island. Have her contact the ops and ask the guides where to go based on what she wants to see. There may be hot areas which pop up. When I was there in Sep, Amed was good, ask Alex Mustard. Then it went down in Oct. So you rely on the advice of the ops at the time you are there. I think Tulamben area is a must since the wreck never disappoints (I'm a little sick of it but that's just me ) and the muck diving in the area is topnotch. I call the muck diving in Northern Bali a mini-Lembeh but the spas and food are better

but the spas and food are better.

Can't argue that. About 70,000 rupiah for a massage on the beach. I now cook mi goreng once a week, slightly modified (I call it Indo-American fusion).

Made, a guide at Tulamben Wreck Divers, puts on a weekly feast. We chipped in 120k rupiah for both of us. It just seemed so wrong to pay so little.

I was at Scuba Sareya and Menjangan about 4 weeks ago water temp was 28 degrees and the diving was great.

I think the rainy season is little late this year