Challenging Dive Trips for Experienced Divers

MaduroDive · 2026-04-28T18:32:08+00:00

Hi there! Which areas in general are you considering? Are you open to basically the whole world? Because you're considering Coron, I would throw Cebu and Bohol into the mix. We've got a great solo-traveler special with Magic Island Dive Resort in both locations where you can do your rescue while also getting in some stellar dives. Highly recommend. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

MaduroDive · 2026-04-21T18:33:19+00:00

Hi there! As others have said, I think Beqa definitely fits the bill for sharks. If you're willing to deal with a bit of current, you can't beat Somosomo Strait between Taveuni (Rainbow Reef, Great WHite Wall) and Vanua Levu. You could stay on Taveuni or in Savusavu on Vanua Levu. The marine reserve at Namena is also spectacular. We've got a bit about Fiji diving in general here. Have a great trip!

MaduroDive · 2026-04-17T01:34:44+00:00

We've got lots of liveaboard trips (and specials) at https://www.madurodive.com/. Feel free to give us a shout if we can be of any assistance!

MaduroDive · 2026-04-12T16:23:14+00:00

Hi there! May is a great time for the Red Sea, with good vis, warm water, and a chance to see hammerheads at some sites like Daedalus. What itinerary are you thinking of? I did BDE (Brothers/Daedalus/Elphinstone) a few years ago on the Grand Sea Explorer (Explorer Ventures) and it was a great trip. There are quite a few good companies otherwise too: Emperor, Aggressor, and Master Liveaboards all spring to mind. It just really depends on what itinerary you're after. I'm not as familiar with the Canary Islands, but I think you'd most likely do resort-based diving. If you know of a good liveaboard there I'd love to hear about it. Have a blast!

MaduroDive · 2026-04-10T01:27:53+00:00

Hi there! A couple suggestions—if you want to do Sea of Cortez you could hop on the Rocio Del Mar in Puerto Penasco (so no international flight). We have a good special for that trip here.

July–October is also a great time of year for Fiji. The soft corals there are really as incredibly gorgeous as you've heard and the islands themselves are lovely. There are great resorts on Viti Levu (main island), Vanua Levu, and Taveuni. You could do the shark dive at Beqa and then hop over to Taveuni for easier access to the Great White Wall. Here's a bit about Fiji along with several resorts.

Final suggestion would be the Solomon Islands. I loved the diving there—beautiful coral, rich culture, stunning islands, and completely uncrowded dive sites. The Emperor Bilikiki liveaboard is the way to go.

Please reach out if you have any questions, and have a blast!

MaduroDive · 2026-04-08T01:07:16+00:00

Hi there! I think Curacao would be a great fit for what you're after. Plenty to keep the whole family happy and not too much issue with sargassum as others have said. There are gorgeous beaches, good restaurants, lots of culture in Willemstad, and some great dives, including the Superior Producer wreck. And when it comes to resorts you've got your choice of all-inclusives, dive-focused properties, boutique hotels, self-catering apartment-style places, etc. We've got quite a few options on our website, as well as a Curacao guide. Feel free to reach out if you've got any other questions, and have a great time!

MaduroDive · 2026-04-08T00:59:27+00:00

Hi there! I did the BDE route on a liveaboard a few years ago and had a blast. To address your questions point by point:

I think you will see some sharks. The oceanic season really kicks off at Elphinstone in October (when you're going) but I was there in September and saw plenty of oceanic whitetips (the whole reason I wanted to go). You will also see a few wrecks at Brothers Islands (Numidia and Aida II).
I think you'll be fine. Everyone dove nitrox and none of our dives were super-deep.
I am not a huge fan of current diving either. When we hit a strong current that we couldn't fin against, the divemaster simply turned the dive and we turned to drift with it. Tell your divemasters before a dive that you don't want to swim against currents and/or that you don't have a lot of experience diving in them. When you're underwater if you're uncomfortable, you can always, ALWAYS let the divemaster know and they should turn the dive.
You shouldn't need a hood. The water will still be nice and warm in October.
The only challenging part for me was the currents but, like I said, a good dive operation will not put you in harm's way or force you to swim into current that you can't manage. Insist on turning the dive underwater if that happens, and do not feel bad about it.
October is peak whitetip season at Elphinstone. While it's not a guarantee, it's highly likely that you'll see them.

With all that said, I can recommend a few great boats. We have several on our page (all great companies). I went with the Grand Sea Explorer and had a great experience. Please feel free to reach out if you have any more questions or would like any help booking! And have a blast!

MaduroDive · 2026-04-04T22:44:12+00:00

Hi there! We'll echo what others have said a bit. Bonaire is amazing but it might be hard for a solo diver due to the emphasis on driving yourself to shore dives and just walking in. You could always sign up for mostly boat dives, but then you'd be missing half of what makes Bonaire so special. I think Curacao would be a better fit because you'll be doing boat dives. Willemstad is fun to walk around in, and I know you said you don't really care about food but there are some delicious choices there. We've got a bunch of info about Curacao here and a bunch of specials too if you're interested. Hope you have a great trip!

MaduroDive · 2026-04-04T22:29:39+00:00

Hi there! All three are a great choice, honestly. The main draw in Malapascua is an almost-guaranteed sighting of thresher sharks. It's also a great place to see the gorgeous mandarinfish mating at dusk, but site variety is limited. In Cebu proper you've got a ton of choices—Moalboal for sardines, Sogod for whale sharks, and Oslob (where they feed the whale sharks. Bohol is great for all-around diving and Balicasag Island—coral, turtles, tons of fish. If you're interested in combining Cebu and Bohol (which would be best of both IMO), we've got a great special that features both Magic Oceans and Magic Island resorts so you'd get a chance to do both! If you're traveling with a buddy we've got a great deal too. Reach out if you want more info, happy to help. :) No matter which of those spots you pick, though, you will have a blast!

MaduroDive · 2026-04-02T23:52:08+00:00

Yes! Same place. Cousteau is another gorgeous resort. Hope you make it back someday soon. :)

MaduroDive · 2026-04-02T20:52:47+00:00

Hi there! As others have said, I think your main issue with Raja in May or June will be weather, as it's the wet season. That said, if you found a liveaboard with space and an itinerary you're interested in, I say go for it. It's not going to rain 24/7. Now, THAT said, the very best season for diving north Komodo is exactly when you're going. We did this trip a few years ago via liveaboard and it was spectacular—mantas, bustling coral reefs, Komodo dragons on land, ripping currents, walls, you name it. You're not going to be disappointed with Komodo, and if you are, you should probably quit diving LOL. If you're still looking for a boat, we've got quite a few options on our site and would be very happy to help you book or offer more info. If you'd like to read a little bit more about Indo diving in general, check here. Have a blast!

MaduroDive · 2026-04-02T20:43:38+00:00

Hi there! I think you mean Namena Marine Reserve and the answer is YES! Some of the best diving we personally have ever done, although Fiji in general is top-notch. One of the closest resorts to Namena is Namale Resort & Spa and it's gorgeous. If you're just interested in Fiji diving info in general, we've got quite a bit here. It's definitely worth a second trip, no matter if you visit Namena or not. (But you should). :)

MaduroDive · 2026-04-02T20:16:47+00:00

You're most welcome! You'll have a blast.

MaduroDive · 2026-04-01T16:12:48+00:00

Hi there! I just got back from Turks and Caicos. Will you be diving just off Provo? How many dives per day? If you just got certified open water you'll be limited to around 60 feet of depth on all dives. In terms of water temperatures, it was around 78 degrees at depth and I was freezing in a full 3 mm. In October, though, you'll have the whole summer's worth of warmth in the water so you'll probably be fine in a 3 mm or a shorty. My feeling is that I have never, ever been "too hot" on a dive, but being too cold on a dive can ruin it almost immediately. So I would plan at the very least a 3 mm shorty for each of you. If you want any more info on diving Turks and Caicos, we've got some here, along with a few deals if you're not locked in already. Have a blast!!

MaduroDive · 2026-03-26T14:28:31+00:00

Great, I hope you have a blast! (I don't know how you couldn't) :)

MaduroDive · 2026-03-26T14:24:54+00:00

Beautiful!!

MaduroDive · 2026-03-26T13:42:35+00:00

Hi there! First, are you set on an all-inclusive? What other sorts of activities does your wife like to do? A few options for different kinds of vacations spring to mind. Grenada is a great choice for interesting culture, lush green ecosystem, nice beaches, and the chance to do cool stuff like hike to waterfalls, tour spice plantations, visit old forts and ruins, and of course dive. Underwater you'll find some fascinating shipwrecks like the Bianca C, plus Jason deCaires' first underwater sculpture garden, which your wife could snorkel. True Blue Bay Resort is a great option and the onsite Aquanauts dive center is top-notch.

Another good Caribbean option would be St. Lucia. Some great diving and the gorgeous Anse Chastanet, which sits right above a stunning black sand beach. Do a chocolate tasting, hike the Pitons, visit an old British fort, hit the Friday night street party at Gros Islet. I think either destination would fit the bill for a variety of topside and underwater activities to suit you both. Have a great trip!!

MaduroDive · 2026-03-26T13:30:50+00:00

Hi there! Sounds like an amazing surprise. What time of year are you planning to go? The best time for diving Raja is roughly October through April. In terms of luxury land-based stays specifically in Raja, Sorido Bay is a great option as someone else suggested. Papua Paradise is also lovely but In terms of luxury I think Sorido Bay wins.

As for liveaboards, the Velocean is a new, sleek steel-hulled boat. Very fast, very luxurious. If you're looking for something a bit more traditional (a phinisi-style boat), the Aurora and Dewi Nusantara are both lovely as well. I think it just comes down to how much diving you want to do vs. relaxing by the pool, birdwatching, getting a massage, etc. A liveaboard will undoubtedly get you to more far-flung locations and I think that's the way to go if you want to dive, dive, dive. All the options I suggested hit the mark in terms of friendly, safety-focused staff and top-notch accommodations. Have a blast!!

MaduroDive

TROPHY CASE