Suggestions for S. Pacific Diving

My lovely fiancee and I will be honeymooning in July 2006, and we're looking to finally get our feet wet in some warm Pacific water. We're looking at taking two weeks for a honeymoon. I have been given some basic requirements by my better half:

1) Easy diving - no ripping currents, bad visibility, or otherwise challenging diving. Drift diving is probably a bit much right now. She's only got about 40 dives under her weight belt.

2) Topside activities - there has to be something to do at the destination other than diving and other typical honeymoon activities. This can be accomplished at the destination, in the immediate vicinity, or as an add on to the trip. Things like local culture, hiking, kayaking, tours, and such.

3) A locale/resort that would offer massages/spa services of the legal variety. She wants to be pampered.

My only requirement is that I get to dive my brains out and take lots of photos.

The current short list of places (but open to suggestion):

Sipadan (diving) & Borneo (topsides)

Wakatobi (diving) & Bali (topsides)

Coral Sea (diving) & Cairns, Aus (topsides)

Fiji (diving & topsides)

Any thoughts, ya'll?

The current short list of places (but open to suggestion):

Sipadan (diving) & Borneo (topsides)

Wakatobi (diving) & Bali (topsides)

Coral Sea (diving) & Cairns, Aus (topsides)

Fiji (diving & topsides)

 

Any thoughts, ya'll?

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I'd skip Sipadan and Wakatobi... no activities other than diving and the best sites (imho) in the Wakatobi area are current driven (but nothing serious like Komodo). Doesn't sound like your wife to be wants to add another 30 dives to her log book. Your best bet is Bali... 4 of the world's best spa resorts located on the island. Good to excellent diving is available within driving distance. Do a search on this board for some info. You can even fly to Boroburdur and spend a day there. There's river rafting on the Ayung river, hiking up the extinct volcano Agung, surfing and other wonderful cultural experience and an excellent honeymoon locale, complete with beautiful people hangouts in Seminyak for those glam nights. I've been to 13 weddings in Ubud, Bali, more than any other place (even LV).

Fiji is another great choice but the topside cultural activities are less than Bali. Also the resorts I've been to are below par for spa amenities compared to Bali. But what you get is remote island away from it all feeling.

Port Douglas north of cairns is a very nice place but still a bit crowded unless you hit the daintree park and the resorts outside the big cities. There are the islands of Whitsunday or further south the Herons. If you don't do a liveaboard, the local sites off Cairns are pretty bad and they have a 60 ft depth limit which is very enforced.

You did mention the South Pacific. If you like island adventures, the polynesian islands of the Marquesas, Cook, Nuie are all very nice for far from it all experiences. The diving is so so biodiversity wise.

Congratulations Ken!

I agree with scubadru: Sipadan is really for diving only. I've just been to Sipadan/Mabul, Cairns, Fiji and Moorea (French Polynesia) - see my trip report on the visits forum.

Moorea in French Polynesia is neat. Not masses to do but certainly spas and good French food. But not much night life. Diving is pretty enjoyable. There are other islands in French Polynesia (such as Bora Bora) which are very much honeymoon locations.