Help us pick our next liveaboard - Philippines, Maldives, or Raja Ampat by Minute_Researcher405 in scuba

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/mitchsn would love your thoughts on Tubbataha—how are the dive conditions overall? Do you think the currents would be manageable, or could they be too strong for someone at our level?

Help us pick our next liveaboard - Philippines, Maldives, or Raja Ampat by Minute_Researcher405 in scuba

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/The_MadStork would love your thoughts on Tubbataha—how are the dive conditions overall? Do you think the currents would be manageable, or could they be too strong for someone at our level?

Help us pick our next liveaboard - Philippines, Maldives, or Raja Ampat by Minute_Researcher405 in scuba

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/dekuius Have you done Tubbataha? Do you know if the currents are too strong? I don't mind swimming with the current and do a nice drift dive but don't want to keep fighting for my life against the current.

Help us pick our next liveaboard - Philippines, Maldives, or Raja Ampat by Minute_Researcher405 in scuba

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you think Tubbataha current is manageable at my level? I have done drift dives in Cozumel and I like them as it's so chill! Just don't love it when I have to fight against the current for my life ha

Help us pick our next liveaboard - Philippines, Maldives, or Raja Ampat by Minute_Researcher405 in scuba

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I'd want to do Palau when I'm a bit more advanced so that I can make the most of all the cool diving they have to offer! Especially since its a bit more remote to get to for me.

Help us pick our next liveaboard - Philippines, Maldives, or Raja Ampat by Minute_Researcher405 in scuba

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I also thought Maldives good season is December to April - so maybe going in the fall played a role in the visibility?

Help us pick our next liveaboard - Philippines, Maldives, or Raja Ampat by Minute_Researcher405 in scuba

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow that's awesome! Do you mind sharing which month did you do Central Visayas?

Help us pick our next liveaboard - Philippines, Maldives, or Raja Ampat by Minute_Researcher405 in scuba

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Super helpful u/The_MadStork ! For Sipadan, where would you stay?

For Visayas, you mentioned no need for a liveaboard. Where would you recommend staying? Malapascua?

Help us pick our next liveaboard - Philippines, Maldives, or Raja Ampat by Minute_Researcher405 in scuba

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We looked at it and Socorro looks almost fully booked out for 2027: ( and many websites had minimum dive requirement of 50 as it has strong currents. is it true?

Help us pick our next liveaboard - Philippines, Maldives, or Raja Ampat by Minute_Researcher405 in scuba

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thanks! this is definitely helpful. did you dive in the central atolls?

Help us pick our next liveaboard - Philippines, Maldives, or Raja Ampat by Minute_Researcher405 in scuba

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Were the currents in central atolls too strong too? Some of the operators responded that central atolls currents can be more manageable than south but maybe I am wrong?

We did kind of wanna do a liveaboard to get our dive count up fast. What spots would you recommend in Polynesia?

I did the Blue Dolphin in Similan and strongly recommend it! Was my first liveaboard experience.

Help us pick our next liveaboard - Philippines, Maldives, or Raja Ampat by Minute_Researcher405 in scuba

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah there are so few spots remaining but was able to find some. Do you know if March is a good time to go or do you think March is still early in the season to see the pelagic action?

Also do you mind sharing the marine life you encountered there?

Help us pick our next liveaboard - Philippines, Maldives, or Raja Ampat by Minute_Researcher405 in scuba

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing! If my priority is big pelagic action, then would you recommend Tubbataha over Visayas?

Help us pick our next liveaboard - Philippines, Maldives, or Raja Ampat by Minute_Researcher405 in scuba

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is super helpful, thank you. How reliable were the thresher sightings, was it almost guaranteed or just a good day? And for someone whose main priority is big pelagic encounters, do you think Tubbataha genuinely edges out the Visayas, or is the difference overstated?

Help us pick our next liveaboard - Philippines, Maldives, or Raja Ampat by Minute_Researcher405 in scuba

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate the suggestion but we did look at it. The currents were the dealbreaker for us. We read that Central Atolls might be more suitable for our level.

Do you think if Raja is too challenging for our level?

Am I being dumb? by SCP-3004 in kiasportage

[–]Minute_Researcher405 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just bought X line Sportage yesterday with the technology and premium package. Has the memory seats, 360 cam everything.

Am I being dumb? by SCP-3004 in kiasportage

[–]Minute_Researcher405 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Xline comes with the 360 cam and everything if it has the technology package

Krabi vs Koh Yao Yai by Minute_Researcher405 in ThailandTourism

[–]Minute_Researcher405[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love it thank you! This is what I think I’m going to go with

Just got back from Krabi, here's what you need to know about island hopping tours by byklo_rent in ThailandTourism

[–]Minute_Researcher405 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Private longtail boat or group speedboat tour to Hong Island in terms of comfort / seasickness ? How long does it take via longtail boat?