Singapore and scuba diving destination out that way?

[HolidayDiver]

Have name changed due to outing details.

Friends keep mentioning going on a group scuba diving holiday somewhere like Bali or the Philipines.

As we have relatives who live in Singapore, if we were going out that far DP and I would want to visit them as part of the trip, as we've never been. Is such a thing easy to arrange? I've never been out of Europe and if you can't book a flight myself on the Ryanair website or similar, I feel a bit out of my depth .

The diving part and associated accommodation is usually booked using a specialist dive travel agent and I think they sort out your flights too - would I be able to add a few days in Singapore on the way back or is this likely to be too complicated/expensive? Does anyone know if the flights are usually a decent price if booked by a company or do they add a lot extra on as part of the service? Don't mind paying a bit extra for convenience and protection of a package but don't want to pay loads extra for something I can easily do myself.

Also is there a good or bad time of year to go, as would want to avoid extreme weather like Monsoons if at all possible.

tia

Raja Ampat in Papua!!! It’s a diving paradise. There’s a direct on Silk Air out of Singapore to Manado, and then from there you fly to Sorong. It’s out of the way but some of the best diving the world has to offer.

Meant to add, have a look at Misool Eco Resort.

I did the first part of my PADI open water diver course in a swimming pool in my home country
Plus some extra practice sessions in the pool

I completed the second part of my PADI open water diver course in the sea near Semporna in Borneo/Malaysia. Then 5 days diving in the marine park. This was pre booked before travel

I've also been diving in Europe, Jamaica, Philippines

Suggest you complete a TRY dive in your home country first to see if you like it

Always have dive insurance

Always dive with PADI divers

If you travel, you must take your dive certificate and dive log with you to each dive centre

Enjoy the wonderful under water world

Be safe !

If flying to Singapore book flights with Emirates or Quatar airlines directly

If flying from UK, change plane at Dubai or Dohah

To answer you question I would phone the company and ask about stopover in Singapore.

I've got flights booked for another long haul destination for later in the year. I've been looking at the dive companies. May pre-book before I fly, may book when at destination.

Diving is expensive approx £350 to complete the open water course

Other dives cost per dive, plus equipment rental

Depends on your budget

Thanks for the replies so far. Some useful pointers. I also forgot to ask about which airlines were good/bad, but will ask the family out there if the plan comes off as they have been back to UK a few times and travel around Asia on holiday.

Yes I think the easiest thing to do will be to ask whichever travel agent we use to book a few days of stopover in Singapore and not think too much about whether or not it is costing extra as unless they really pile on the cost, it will be a relatively small fraction of what will be an expensive holiday.

Sail1ngCraft38 Apologies if my post was unclear, but I've been a qualified diver for a few years and have done a couple of hundred dives in the UK and several places in Europe so I don't need a try dive.

Always dive with PADI divers. Ha ha. I'd rather not if I can avoid it. Some of the worst divers I've dived with have been those who have qualified to PADI 'advanced' level while on holiday somewhere exotic.

I second Linguaphile. Raja Ampat has by far the best diving in the world, we found it even better than the Maldives, and is definitely worth visiting. Easy to get to from Singapore, don't be put off by the distance or having to book it yourself.

Thanks, I will look at your suggestions for future dives

I'd look at Singapore airlines personally, they usually have great stop over options. Travel agent is unlikely to get you a better fare in my experience. Perhaps they are good for the diving bit- I am not familiar.

For accommodation in Singapore they have a lot of apart-hotels if you're travelling with more than two people its far more enjoyable and spacious also more economical. Plus a lot have access to beautiful swimming pools on their grounds. I'd only book a place with a pool, its humid all the time!

Singapore is a great destination! Be sure to be adventurous with the food - its fantastic!

We are going to Singapore and Borneo this summer.

We have found it is often worth a couple of hour stopover in Europe to bring down the cost. Also look at codeshares.

So we fly London to Frankfurt (1.5hr stop) then to Singapore. In theory whole lot is Lufthansa but the Frankfurt to Singapore leg is a codeshare operated by Singapore airlines.

It is a lot cheaper firstly as UK air passenger duty is a lot lower going to Europe on the first flight and secondly because Lufthansa is cheaper than Singapore airlines.

We also saved £1,000 going to Cuba by having a 2hr stop in paris rather than going direct (4 of us).

Have a look around rather than just book direct. I’m very happy with two hours waiting to save £1,000! I wouldn’t be for £50 saving though.