Boutique Dive Resorts - Indonesia

Hello Everyone,

I am overwhelmed and in-experienced. In perrforming thread searches here, I'm trying to picture some of the places I know less about and work on putting some trips together to some new locals I have not yet been.

For those of you who have been to Kasawari in Lembeh, I kind of define that as a boutique type of dive resort, and my wife and I enjoyed it immensely.

Knowing this, can you all point me to similiar value packed boutique style dive resorts like Kasawari I might be able to find in Borneo, Bali, Komodo, Philippines and Raja Ampat? Great diving is a must.

I presume Raja Ampat is all-liveaboard vacation, so that might not be an option for a land-based option as described, I don't know?

Why I am overwhelmed is because of all the recommended places you can be in the areas, but not knowing which places have similiar accommodations like we enjoyed at Kasawari. Spending higher dollars do not always equate to this. Kasawari to us had a very good value, clean and comfortable, with excellent service and guides.

We would even like to couple the resort on either end of a liveaboard if its possible?

I believe Wakatobi sounds like it would be similiar, but the reason why I mentioned places like Borneo or Bali, etc instead of Wakatobi is because I'm seeing a combination of larger schools and pelagics, coupled with macro opportunities near the same areas. Wakatobi seems to be a large focus on just macro and we'd prefer more than that. We've been to the Philippines and North Sulawesi (Lembeh Straits) and they were wonderful. But an all-macro trip needs to be on hold for a little while.

Perhaps this makes sense and some of you might be able to point me in the right direction?

Thank you so much!

Sincerely,

paquito

I can recommend Sorido Bay Resort on Kri Island in Raja Ampat. We stayed there last November. Owned and run by Max Ammer, land based, the guides have made thousands of dives in these waters and can find anything. Rooms were beautiful, included camera work areas in each room, and in-room TV's even had CNN and BBC. Lobby had wireless internet. Food was great, diving was amazing.

Also, you may want to look into Misool Eco Resort ( not sure if that is the exact name.) Also in Raja Ampat, but south of Sorido Bay. We did not stay there, but visited it one day, it look great... very boutique-y.

Fletcher

Thank you Fletcher, I appreciate the suggestion and will check them out.

Can anyone tell me, it looks like the Borneo Divers Resort looks good as well as the Sipidan Water Village.

Bali seems much larger and overwhelming for options, is there a particular area for diving I should concentrate on to narrow the choices?

Perhaps many resorts offer what I'm looking for in Indonesia, I'm just not used to finding as other places in the world do not unless you pay and exuberant costs, and that does not usually coincide with great diving.

Any suggestions welcomed.

I'm not sure if Sorido compares to Kasawari, but it is the closest you will get in Raja. I do believe that Raja is best done by live aboard in order to see all the dive sites.

Wakatobi or either Mimpi would probably come to closest to Kasawari. No live aboard quite gives you the luxury and ease of Kasawari.

The water bungalows run by the SMART folks might be an alternative.

BTW, I shot mostly wide angle on my last trip to Wakatobi

Wakatobi shots

Thank you Gordon. Yes, Kasawari was a wonderful experience. And while Wakatobi would be nice and the stay wonderful, I'm kind of ruling that out for now, as I'm looking for something a little different in the diving that what Wakatobi offers. I followed your link, nice photos Gordon! If you don't mind, where were the food market shots from, was that your stop over in Bali?

I forgot to ask. Mimpi has two resorts, Tulamben and Menjangen, can you direct me to which is preferred for diving? I don't know this area.

Thank you Gordon. Yes, Kasawari was a wonderful experience. And while Wakatobi would be nice and the stay wonderful, I'm kind of ruling that out for now, as I'm looking for something a little different in the diving that what Wakatobi offers. I followed your link, nice photos Gordon! If you don't mind, where were the food market shots from, was that your stop over in Bali?

 

I forgot to ask. Mimpi has two resorts, Tulamben and Menjangen, can you direct me to which is preferred for diving? I don't know this area.

The food market is in Ubud, Bali. If you are going for more than 3 days, then stay at both Mimpi's. If just one, then Tulamben. Don't dive with the on-site operator. I'd use Jeff Mullins or Tulamben Wreck Divers.

Scuba Seraya is another good choice in Bali.