Indo Aggressor - Indonesia Liveaboard

Inquiry

Welcome on board the luxury liveaboard Indo Aggressor (formerly Komodo Dancer) for a trip of a lifetime to a place of of dazzling coral reefs, spectacular marine life, fierce Komodo dragons and smoking volcanoes,a real life "Jurassic Park" above and below the surface of the seas. The Indo Aggressor is the Bali based vessel of the Aggressor Fleet, the world renowned liveaboard group is at the very forefront of luxury and provides high quality dive trips to the Komodo national park, Alor and Maumere in Indonesia's spectacular Nusa Tenggara area.

The Indo Aggressor is a traditionally crafted, two masted wooden motor sailor, stretching 30 metres long, 9 metres wide and accommodating 16 adventurous divers. Following the standards of the Dancer Fleet, the Indo Aggressor replicates Peter Hughes Diving service, amenities and the highest standards of safety in the industry.

The Indo Aggressor offers different itineraries to 6 different areas over 7, 10 and 11 night cruises featuring enhanced itineraries that allows guests more time diving and more time in the signature areas.

Check out this video of Indo Aggressor to see more.

Indo Aggressor - Video



Indo Aggressor - prices and what's included

Prices are per person and in USD based on 2 persons sharing a cabin.
Exact pricing is available on the schedule here as prices vary dependant on the time of year, destination and the length of the trip and sometimes special offers are available.

The trip price includes :

All meals & non‐alcoholic beverages on board the vessel.
Free local beer on board the vessel, while stocks last.
Free 1 glass of wine at dinner on board the vessel.
Land transfers between airport, hotel & vessel (3 transfers in total are 1 in Bali and 2 in Labuanbajo/Maumere).
( transfer in Bali only for guests stay around Kuta / Sanur / Denpasar area)
Usually 3‐ 4 dives a day, depending on weather.
Shore excursion during the cruise.
tandard Indo Aggressor amenities.

The trip price does not include :

Diving equipment rentals.
Diving courses & nitrox fills.
Return internal flights (DPS‐LBJ‐DPS) / (DPS‐MOF‐DPS).
One night compulsory accomodaDon for transit in Bali.
Compulsory park fees.
Wine, Liquor, Spirits and other alcoholic beverages except for local beer and 1 glass of wine for dinner.
Fuel surcharge, if any.
Airport tax.

Nitrox fills, instruction and all other services and purchases made aboard the vessels are subject to local taxes

Terms and conditions:

Booking deposit:
50% of booking is required within 7 days of booking - non refundable
50 % is due to 90 days prior to departure - non refundable.
Balance due 90 days before your trip departure date - non-refundable.
Individual booking made less than 90 days before the departured ate are payable in full at the time of booking.
Cancellation at any stage involves forfeit of monies already payed.

Dive Equipment rental

Equipment type 10 N 7 N 5 N  
BCD 90.00 75.00 60.00  
Complete set of Rental (BCD, Regulator, Computer, Night Dive Light, Mask, Fins, Snorkel) 260.00 220.00 175.00  
Scuba Package (BCD, Regulator, Computer) 225.00 190.00 150.00  
Dive Computer 90.00 60.00 40.00  
Dive Alert (Surface air horn) 24.00 25.00 25.00 Compulsory safety item.
Dive Light (Per day) 8.00 8.00 8.00 Per night.
Mask / Fin / Snorkel 75.00 63.00 50.00  
Mini Strobe 10.00 10.00 10.00 Compulsory safety item.
Safety Sausage 10.00 10.00 10.00 Compulsory safety item.
Regulators 90.00 75.00 60.00  
Wetsuit 70.00 50.00 30.00  
10 & 15 Litres / or 62 & 100 C/feet Tank 100.00 70.00 50.00  
Safety Equipment Package (Safety sausage, Dive Alert, Mini Strobe) 40.00 35.00 30.00  

Indo Aggressor - cabins

Top Deck

The top deck is where you will find our expansive sun deck, right in front of the wheelhouse. Moving backwards from here you can find the captains cabin as well as two luxury guest cabins.

Main Deck

From bow to stern, the main deck is where you’ll find the dive deck, comfortable lounge, galley, crew cabins, workshop and tender deck.

Lower Deck

Eight guest and dive crew cabins are located on this deck, four on the port side and four on the starboard. Finished in wood and fine linen they are a great place to relax and rest after a fun day’s diving.

The Indo Aggressor crew

The Indo Aggressor crew are from all over the Indonesian archipelago - always ready to help you out with a smile.

  • Captain: Pak Daeng
  • 1st Officer: Mucuk Wiriwan
  • 2nd Officer: Petrovik Salindehu
  • Steering Mates/Tender Crew: Raswan Bin Kosim, Komang Murdiana, Silfinus Hardim
  • Engineering: Sanusi, Andi Syarifuddin, Nono Suparno, Safruddin (International Manof Mystery)
  • Head Chef : Eben Sunarko
  • Galley Slaves: Basory, Hendrik Nurcahyo
  • Room Boy: Panca
  • Purser: Sebastianus Petrus

Indo Aggressor - itineraries

Komodo Deep South 7 nights

The boat embarks and disembarks at Labuan Bajo, Flores and the entire cruise is focused on diving South Komodo National Park where we will cover Padar Island, Langkoi, Horseshoe Bay, South West Flores, Mota Island and the Mola Straits (The channel between Rinca Island and Flores). This is only possible in the 1st quarter of the year during the North West Monsoon). Mota Island and Mola Straits are only available in this itinerary only. There will be the walk on Rinca Island to see the Komodo Dragons.

Highlights of the itinerary: Manta rays and occasional Molas in Langkoi, excellent macro life, schooling fishes such as jacks, bumphead wrasses, excellent soft coral growth, torpedo rays, sea apples in Mota Island, the Dragon Walk.

Notable Dive Sites:
Manta Alley – Langkoi
Rodeo Rock – Horseshoe Bay
Cannibal Rock – Horseshoe Bay
Torpedo Alley – Horseshoe Bay
Pelican Head – Horseshoe Bay
Yellow Wall – Horseshoe Bay Secret Garden – Padar Island
Three Sisters – Padar Island
W Reef – Padar Island
Lehoksera Point – Langkoi
Kerita Tol – Mota Island
Apple Orchard – Mota Island
Toro Sie – Rinca Island

Komodo National Park 7-10 nights

The boat embarks and disembarks in Labuan Bajo. For this itinerary, the whole of Komodo National Park including Banta Island will be covered. Diving activities will primarily be concentrated in Sape Straits (The straits separating Komodo and Rinca Island). Bima Bay and Sangeang Volcano in East Sumbawa will not be covered in this itinerary. There will be hiking in Gili Lawa Darat and also the walk on Rinca Island to see the Komodo Dragons.

Highlights of the itinerary: Manta rays in Makassar Reef & Manta Alley, variety of beautiful soft corals, schooling fishes such as Jacks, fusiliers, Eagle Rays, Napoleon and Bumphead wrasses, Oriental Sweet Lips, black tip sharks, nurse sharks, Oceanic White Tip Sharks, Dolphins, good macro life, The Dragon Walk.

Notable Dive Sites:
Sebayor Kecil – Sebayor Island
Tatawa Besar – Tatawa Island
Tatawa Kecil – Tatawa Island
Crystal Rock – Gili Lawa Laut
Castle Rock – Gili Lawa Laut
Lighthouse – Gili Lawa Laut
Shotgun – Gili Lawa Laut
Batu Bolong – Sape Straits Makassar Reef – Sape Straits
K2 – Banta Island
Circus – Banta Island
Rollercoaster – Banta Island
Secret Garden – Padar Island
Three Sisters – Padar Island
W Reef – Padar Island
Manta Alley – Langkoi Lehoksera Point – Langkoi
Rodeo Rock – Horseshoe Bay
Cannibal Rock – Horseshoe Bay
Yellow Wall – Horseshoe Bay
Torpedo Alley – Horseshoe Bay
Passage – Gili Lawa Darat
Sabolan Kecil – Sabolan Island
Coral Garden – Batu Moncho

Forgotten Islands - Saumlake to Tual / Tual to Saumlaki / Saumlaki to Maumere / Maumere to Saumlaki

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and boarding Indo Aggressor
Maumere

Day 2: Sizzling Critters & Giant Bats
Lewoleba & Ipet Island

Day 3: Dramatic Walls and Thundering Fireworks
Teluk Waihinga & Komba Volcano

Day 4: Mythical Alor
The Alor Strait

Day 5: A Submarine Wonderland
Wetar

Day 6: Hard Coral Ridges
Romang

Day 7: Along The Circle of Fire
Damar

Day 8: Reefs Of Discovery
The Leti Islands

Day 9: Picture Perfect Atolls
The Sermata Reef Complex

Day 10: More Islands To Explore
Babar

Day 11: The Tanimbar Islands
West Yamdena

Day 12: Disembarkation
Saumlaki

Please note: This itinerary is only an example and may at times vary and visit different areas than the above. All is dependant on weather, sea conditions and marine life expectations.

Where are the The Forgotten Islands?

Adventure, unknown dive sites, spectacular scenery off the beaten track…. this is The Forgotten Islands. The Forgotten Islands are part of Indonesia’s south Maluku province, a region located at the extreme south eastern boundary of the country and less than 200 nautical miles from the northern tip of Australia. These cruises concentrate on the most unexplored regions of the country and will start or finish in either Maumere, on the north coastline of east Flores or at Saumlaki on Jamdena, the largest island of the Tanimbar group. These itineraries will give guests the opportunity to dive some of the fabulous sites of East Nusa Tenggara around Lembata, Pantar and Alor during the cruise as well as exploring the fascinating reefs, walls and topside scenery of the islands further east, the mysterious and rarely visited Forgotten Islands. East Nusa Tenggara.
For cruises that start from Maumere, the Indo Aggressor will initially be covering areas that we have been visiting for many years, the line of islands that include Lembata, Pantar and Alor. These areas were part of our initial eastern explorations many years ago when the Indo Aggressor was brand new and features incredible clear water wall and reef dives. Alor, located at the very end of the Nusa Tenggara archipelago is the last large landmass you will see before we move further east and enter the region known as The Forgotten Islands, the most southerly part of Indonesia’s Maluku province. These smaller island groups mark the southern boundary of the immense Banda Sea to the north. The Banda Sea is a huge expanse of open ocean approximately 200 nautical miles from north to south and 450 nautical miles from west to east and in certain parts over 5,000 metres deep. Around the south-east edge there are two distinct lines or arcs of islands that appear as the sea gets shallower, the inner line and the outer line, these are The Forgotten Islands.

The Damar Ridge

The most northern or inner line of islands guests will visit are located along the top of a marine mountain range known as the Damar Ridge and take in the islands of Wetar, Romang, Damar, Nila, Serua and finally Manuk as well as their numerous satellite islands and associated shallow reefs and atolls. Composed of a chain of high jungle clad volcanoes and surface breaking coral reefs that run up in a curve from south-west to north-east, the Damar Ridge is a mini “Ring of Fire” and their close location to the extremely deep waters of the Banda Sea makes them a magnet for all manner of marine life. The southern arc of islands, which extend eastwards from the island of Timor are in shallower water and are larger with the topside consisting of barren limestone hills and mangrove forests. The coastlines are fringed by white sandy beaches shaded by swaying palm trees before the sea begins to run over extensive reefs and atolls.

South to Saumlaki

This southerly line starts in the west at the Leti island group and continues to the atolls and island of Sermata, Barbar, and the Tanimbar Islands before finishing at the Kei and Aru island groups, made famous as the final destination of the “Ring of Fire” television documentary. The diving and anchorages across this southern line are for the most part more sedate than those on in the north, although they are certainly not lacking in vibrant reef life and incredible topside scenery.

Getting There

The embarkation port for many of these special trips is Maumere, north Flores. This is easily accessible from Bali, sometimes with a non-stop flight. The other ports of embarkation or disembarkation will be Saumlaki on Jamdena for the majority of cruises and Tual, the capital of the Kei Islands for the rest. Both Saumlaki and Tual require transiting through Makassar airport on Sulawesi and Ambon.

Airports

All itineraries will start and end at the following locations. The airports you will fly in and out of are:
Maumere Airport (MOF)
Tual Airport (LUV)
Saumlaki Airport (SXK); on the island of Saumlaki-Yamdena Island, Indonesia
Ambon (AMQ)

Komodo National Park, East Sumbawa

The boat embarks and disembarks from Labuan Bajo. The boat will sail west towards Bima Bay in East Sumbawa, covering Sangeang Volcano, Banta Island and North Komodo National Park up to Padar Island in Sape Straits. The south side of Komodo National Park including Langkoi and Horseshoe Bay will not be covered in this itinerary. There will be hiking in Gili Lawa Darat and also the walk on Rinca Island to see the Komodo Dragons. There will also be a visit to Bonto Village in Sangeang.

Highlights of the itinerary: Schooling Angel Fish, Octopus, excellent macro life, excellent wall completely covered with soft corals, Stargazers, bubbling reef, Oriental Sweet Lips, turtles, Ghost Pipefish, cuttlefish, Oceanic White Tips and black Tip sharks, eagle rays, manta rays, schooling fusiliers, Napolean wrasse, The Dragon Walk, bubbling reef in Sangeang Volcano, Bonto Village Visit.

Notable Dive Sites:
Sebayor Kecil – Sebayor Island
Tatawa Besar – Tatawa Island
Tatawa Kecil – Tatawa Island
Crystal Rock – Gili Lawa Laut
Castle Rock – Gili Lawa Laut
Lighthouse – Gili Lawa Laut
Shotgun – Gili Lawa Laut
Batu Bolong – Sape Straits
Makassar Reef – Sape Straits
K2 – Banta Island
Circus – Banta Island
Rollercoaster – Banta Island
Secret Garden – Padar Island
Three Sisters – Padar Island
W Reef – Padar Island Hot Rocks – Sangeang Volcano
Deep Purple – Sangeang Volcano
Mentjeng Wall – Sangeang Volcano
Estuary – Sangeang Volcano
Bima Bay – Bima, East Sumbawa

Cuisine

Komodo diving can be hungry work so on a Indo Aggressor dive cruise there is always plenty of great food to be enjoyed on our cool decks or air conditioned lounge. After an early morning beverage, delivered to your cabin, breakfast is cooked to order and is always accompanied by fresh fruit and cereals. Lunch is buffet style and is generally varied and interesting Indonesian cuisine with other additions.
In between times snacks are provided throughout the day to keep your diving strength up.
When the diving day is over it’s time to sit down for dinner around the main deck table to recount your underwater adventures and enjoy our head chefs range of international dishes and maybe have a glass or two of wine - all fully inclusive of course.

Photo and video

Komodo diving provides a myriad of photo oportunities and the Indo Aggressor is comprehensively set up for the underwater imagemakers with dual voltage charging stations, large camera set-up and storage areas, digital download and burn facilities and even film-making capabilities.

Large tables in the lounge make working on cameras and housings a breeze and we have a large tool kit if things start to get serious. Laptop power points are situated at these tables too for easy dowloading and editing.

Transporting your imaging equipment to the dive sites is worry free too, our tenders are camera safe with sprung rubber flooring for protection.

When the diving is over there is a huge wide-screen TV in the lounge for video and image viewing or presentation and our on-board experts are always on hand to give you advice and guidance to help you capture your own exciting pictures.

Rental

Want to try your hand at underwater imaging? Diving in Komodo gives our guests such a huge range of subjects, large and small, that it is a great place to learn to get pictures of your own.

The Indo Aggressor has on board underwater camera and video rental equipment to get you started. High quality digital and still video can be shot, downloaded and edited, with the guidance of our experienced dive crew, so that when you get back home you can enjoy your Komodo experience with family and friends.
Also available is a Nikonos V film still system with a wide range of lenses.

  • Digital Still: Nikon Coolpix with Nikon housings
  • Digital Video: Sony PC110 and PC120 with Sea&Sea and Light & Motion housings
  • Film Still: Nikonos V with various lenses

Nitrox

Diving with nitrox has become the rule rather than the exception these days on Komodo liveaboards. When submerging up to five times a day to depths of 20 metres or more the elevated levels of oxygen in our mix keeps us safe and out of the dreaded decompression zone.

The Indo Aggressor was the first vessel in the region to offer nitrox and runs a Nitrox Technologies membrane system to produce EANx. This is the latest method of production and is very safe and accurate. We have five separate O2 analysers on board to enable our divers to analyse and log their own cylinder (32%) with every new fill.

The NT system differs from other production methods in that we subtract nitrogen from the mix rather than adding oxygen - so no heavy cylinders on board. Production limit is 40% for SCUBA or rebreather use.

Tenders (Dingies / Zodiacs / RIBS)

Our two twin tenders were made in Bali by Bali Fibreglass close to our home port of Benoa to our own design. They are 6 metres long and 2.5 metres wide and are each powered by two 40 hp Yamaha outboards. They have electric starters and are driven from the front leaving most of the interior free for divers. Each craft has its own Oxygen Unit, VHF Radio, Camera Area, Shot Line, Stern Line and Electric Bilge Pumps. They are each crewed by at least one Divemaster as well as a driver and an assistant.

Our divers sit either facing forwards or backwards with their scuba units secured in special slots in the seats. This enables us to re-fill your cylinders in position so there is no need to carrying your equipment up and down the tender entry staircase.

Dive safety equipment

Diving in Komodo can sometimes mean diving in currents and there are certain pieces of equipment that are needed for safe operations. The Indo Aggressor carries SMB’s (safety sausages) and Dive Alerts for our guests use though it is recommended that they bring their own.

Guests will be also issued with an EPIRB (Electronic Positioning Device), if desired, and shown it’s correct method of operation.

Oxygen Units and First Aid:

The main vessel and both tenders carry O2 units. If there are guests on board who have training in O2 administration they are shown the location and correct operation of these units.
The Indo Aggressor also carries a comprehensive first aid kit for any cuts, scrapes and headaches.

Indo Aggressor - specs

Port of Registry/Flag:
Indonesia
Built:
South Sulawesi, Indonesia 2000/2001
Type:
Wooden schooner
Length:
30 metres LOD, 35 metres LOA
Beam:
8 metres
Draft:
2.5 metres
Number of Passengers:
16
Accommodation:
7 Double Occupancy Staterooms
Total Displacement:
350 tons
Propulsion:</dt>
1 Mitsubishi/Hyundai 450 Hp
Fuel capacity:
12,000 liters
Fresh Water Capacity:
11,000 liters
Desalinator Production:
6200 liters per day
Cruising Speed:
8 - 10 knots
Range:
1100 Nm
Navigation Aids:
VHF, SSB, Furuno 36 mile radar, GPS x 2
Voltage:
1 x Mitsubishi 63 KVA gensets, 220v, 50 cycle plus 1 x Mitsubishi 50 KVA
Air-conditioning:
To all interior areas
Communications:</dt>
Satellite Phone, USB and VHF Radio.

Indo Aggressor - diving

Diving in Komodo is not a new idea but recently it’s being recognised as a premier destination due to the awesome variety of diving to be had. Crystal clear water and dive sites where you never see another diver provide a little something for everyone whether it’s macro or massive you love. One day you can be crawling along the bottom looking at pygmy seahorses, frogfish and unusual nudibranch and the next you are in the big blue on an open water pinnacle as the mantas fly by, the sharks circle and the dolphins hunt and the next day diving a live volcano!! For sheer variety there is no better place on earth.

Komodo is one of the few places left in the world where sharks are not rare and down south is one of the places where manta rays have their legendary aggregations, meaning they are here in the area in their hundreds!!!

One of the highlights of these trips is the rare opportunity to walk with the lengendary Komodo dragons. These truly awesome beasts can reach 3 metres plus and can reportedly run at 20km an hour chasing their prey. It’s the icing on the cake, Stunning diving and one of the world’s last surviving dinosaur descendants all one amazing package.

Covering the best of both worlds, from up close and personal with aggragating mantas to shy pygmy seahorses and rare nudibranches Komodo diving has it all. The beauty of Komodo liveaboard diving is in the balance between the large and small animals. One day you will be in the blue swimming with mantas and sharks and the next swimming along a bubbling volcanic reef covered with venting submerged fumeroles blowing bubbles into the water and hiding one of the worlds best kept secret macro dive sites.

In North Komodo the water temperature is normally 27-29°C. Around Southern Komodo and Rinca Islands the water temperature drops can drop a bit to 22-26°C. A 5mm long suit is advised and hood and booties are strongly recommended for the southern area.

These are some of the top sites that most liveaboards visit.

Angel reef, Moyo, Sumbawa diving

We start our Komodo liveaboard with the first dive of the trip and the check out dive. This dive site doesn’t disappoint. A beautiful wall stretching down to 50 metres covered in hard and soft corals very reminiscent of Bunaken in North Sulawesi. Schools of bannerfish and trevally patrol the walls with the occasional reef sharks making an appearance. Ribbon eels hide in crevices and many different nudibranchs crawl over the vast elephant ear sponges that hang from the beautiful soft coral infested wall.

Satonda island bay

A protected bay on Satonda island north of Sumbawa hosts a treasure trove of macro critters, the more we dive here the more we find. The rare Denise pygmy seahorse lives in fans here, frogfish hang out in big barrel sponges and ghost pipefish hide amongst the featherstars that cover the reef slope. In the sandy bottom you can find jawfish with their mouths full of eggs, myriads of anemonefish, mushroom coral pipefish and spearer mantis shrimps.

Sangeang island diving

Sangieng island is a perfectly round volcanic island jutting up from the sea bed. Still active and last blowing in 1996 this well kept secret is one of the world’s finest macro dive areas. With diving available all around the island there is not one specific spot but always new ones to be discovered. Bubbles of volcanic gas seep through the sand creating a surreal atmosphere and a warm black sand bottom hosting rare and unusual nudibranch. Pygmy seahorses, frogfish, Pegasus sea moths and carnivorous shells and all common here, this is my personal favourite dive site as every time we dive here there is a surprise in store of something new that is often not in the books - this site is why you go Komodo liveaboard diving.

Gps point - Gili Banta diving

Gps point is an open sea mount prone to strong currents at certain times of the day. This provides prolific hard and soft coral growth that is home to hundreds of different types of reef fish. Loved by sharks, white tip sharks cruise around the whole dive in amongst the hunting giant trevallies and schooling jacks and surgeon fish, an exciting dive.

Takat Toko, Gili Lawalaut diving

This is one of my favourite sites on the Komodo liveaboard itinerary and is very similar to Gps point this site takes it to the next level. Grey reef shark, white tip sharks, occassional dolphins and a literal fish soup created by jacks, surgeonfish, giant trevallies and bannerfish surround this large sea mount as you hang on to the reef edge and watch the action. Again this site is prone to strong currents but we time our dives to hit around slack tide and a little current brings in the big fish. Great pelagic action, my favourite blue water dive.

Lighthouse reef, Gili Lawalaut diving

An adrenalin pounding drift dive along the wall and around the corner under the lighthouse. Sharks, mantas, dolphins are all frequent visitors on the dive with some of the best coral reef top in the area around the corner out of the current at the end of the dive you can hunt for porcelain crabs, cuttlefish and unusual seahorses whilst waiting for the adrenalin to funnel out of your system and your heart rate to return to normal-this is what Komodo liveaboard diving is all about!.

Crystal rock, Gili Lawalaut diving

A stunning soft coral and sea fan covered pinnacle with crystal water clarity this is a great site for those magazine cover wide angle shots. With at least 5 different types of angelfish, 4 types of trigger and butterflyfish everywhere it is a excellent reef fish dive with frequent visits from eagle and manta rays and the resident sleepy hawksbill turtle.

Pink beach, Komodo diving

Colder water and lower vis here due to the huge amounts of organic matter in the water due to the southern currents but this is more than made up for by the astounding life available to see here due to this phenomenon. Normally done as a night dive it also makes a good day dive with everything from white tip sharks to pygmy seahorses; zebra crabs, Coleman shrimp, many coloured frogfish, xeno crabs, Spanish dancers, and unusual nudibranchs are hidden amongst the dense coral growth.

Cannibal rock, Rinca island diving

Colder water than the north but touted by many as one of the worlds best 10 sites, yes I know there seems to be way more than 10 “top 10 sites” but this one really is one if you like macro. Everything is here even the rarest of the rare, the Rhinopias scorpionfish. It’s nudi heaven with only the special and the rare getting to appear here, more species than I care to mention along with large and different frogfish mixed in with schools of fish and the resident dopy turtle we do 2 dives here and it’s still not enough!! You will love it, I personally adore this dive site.

Torpedo alley, Rinca island diving

Just next to cannibal rock and where the boat moors is a beach that has wild pigs, monkeys and Komodo dragons in the daytime and hosts a myriad of critters in the waters in front if it at night. Named for the large amount of torpedo rays found here, a member of the electric ray family- no touching! They cover the sandy bottom along with loads of nudis obvious on the black sand bottom along with bizarre crabs and octopus.

Manta alley, Komodo diving

In the cooler waters in the south of Komodo there is a bay in which there are a series of pinnacles that seem to be a magnet for aggregating mantas. They are here in their tens, often we come up having seen over 20 different individuals. Often a little shy, their evasive spins and pirouettes makes the watching of them that much more enjoyable.

Takat Makassar, Komodo diving

This is our other manta site. A little bit more of a risk to see them as it is a huge area and we drift along the bottom in about 10 metres but along the way we always run into loads of turtles, napoleon and humphead wrasse, white tip sharks and very very occasionally you will be incredibly lucky and run into the resident dugong that inhabits this area along with scores of mantas as they migrate north.

3 sisters, Padar island diving

A series of underwater pinnacles reaching nearly to the the surface off the coast of Padar island next to Komodo this site constantly springs surprises on you from silvertip sharks and mobular ray schools to marbled rays and rare nudibranchs.

Indo Aggressor - faqs

Please note these are generic FAQs about Indonesia in general and not always boat specific.
If you are unsure about something please ask us to get confirmation.

What documents will I need to show on the boat?

Dive certification cards and dive logbook.

What money will I need?

Most boats accepts payment by Visa or Mastercard, Indonesian Rupiah, Euro or US Dollar. Please be advised that foreign notes should be clean, new and crisp. Indonesian banks and money changers will not accept old notes or notes which are damaged in any way. You can also use your credit or debit card at ATM machines in towns prior to boarding the boat to withdraw Rupiah, which is better should you wish to purchase local souvenirs or for tips. It is advisable to inform your bank or credit card company that you will be visiting Indonesia prior to your departure, as it is not uncommon for the bank to put a block on the card if they suspect it has been misappropriated.

What type of food is available on board?

Meals are prepared by the onboard chef and consist of a delicious mix of international and local dishes. Please advise us as soon as possible if you have any special dietary requirements. Certain special dietary requests and beverage requests may not be available on a consistent basis due to the remote nature of the locations.

Will there be any opportunities to go ashore during the cruise?

There are many different land excursions which are dependent on the schedule and guest preferences. Some land excursions available are beach visits, village visit and other treks dependant on the area, weather and local conditions.

What if I am prone to sea sickness?

If you are prone to sea sickness we strongly urge you to bring some motion sickness medication.

Will I have to share a cabin if I am travelling as a single?

All rates are quoted on a share basis therefore, unless you require a guaranteed single room and pay an additional supplement you will share your cabin with one other guest.

What is the voltage on the boat?

Voltage in Indonesia is 220-240 V.
If you feel you will need an adaptor please bring one.

Does the boat provide any toiletries?

There is soap, shampoo, hand wash and towels.

What time zone is Indonesia located?

Komodo, Flores, Derawan and Sangalaki, Kaimantan and Sulawesi are 8 hours ahead of GMT. Raja Ampat is covered by Eastern Indonesia Standard Time which is 9 hours ahead of GMT.

Is smoking permitted?

A designated area on the boat is available for smoking.
Smoking is not permitted in any other area for any reason.

What about crew gratuities?

Gratuities for the crew are not included in your trip price. If the crew performs to your expectations, we suggest a gratuity of approximately 5-10% of the published package price per person be considered normal aboard a liveaboard dive boat.
All tips are generally split equally among the boat crew. Personal tipping is frowned upon. Payment of gratuities can be by cash or credit card.

Diving Information

Do I need evacuation/dive insurance?

It is mandatory that each guest purchase comprehensive evacuation and dive accident insurance.
The boat will be operating in extremely remote areas. Emergency evacuations from remote locations can cost in excess of USD $100,000.
We recommend Divers Alert Network (DAN): www.DiversAlertNetwork.org (in USA), www.daneurope.org (in Europe).

How many dives will we do each day?

There will be up to 4 dives per day with 3-4 dives being normal dependant on the distances travelled between sites and possibly at nightime but this is dpeendant on the boat and route being taken.

Are there any limitations or restrictions on the diving?

You should stay within the limits and standards of your qualifying agency.
All dives should be no- decompression dives. Solo diving is not permitted.

What dive equipment do I need?

Tanks, weights and weight belts are provided onboard. Divers will need to bring BCD, regulator, wetsuit,fins, mask, snorkel and dive light.
Rental equipment is available and will need to be ordered in advance.

What can I expect the water temperature to be and what wetsuit do you recommend?

This is always a difficult question to answer because people have different reactions to temperature.
Typically temperatures range from 25-30C or 80-86F so usually a 3mm suit or even a skin is fine. The southern waters of Komodo can be colder with 20-25C or 70-75F so a 5mm suit with a hood is recommended.

Do you have Int or DIN valves?

We have tanks with Int and DIN valve adaptors.

How do we dive from the boat?

All dives will be made from the tenders. Equipment will be transferred to the tenders and guests will board the tender with only their wetsuit on.

Can I drink alcohol and dive?

No. Drinking alcohol and diving can increase your risk of decompression problems.
You can drink alcohol once your have completed your last dive of the day.

Can I fish or spear fish?

Fishing and spear fishing are not available onboard. We will be diving in marine protected areas where any type of fishing is prohibited.

What facilities are available for photographers?

There are ample camera tables and cubby holes with charging stations with 110V and 220V above your dive gear.
There are ‘camera only’ rinse buckets for the exclusive use of photographers onboard.

Can I pay by Credit card on board?

For most things yes you can but there is a bank charge of 3%, normal in Indonesia. Please check with us beforehand about this.

Visibility:

Depending on the season the visibility range is between 10-40 metres or 30-120 feet.

Current:

All diving areas are subject to currents that range from slight to extremely strong.
Dive sites are selected according to currents with some great year round drift diving opportunities.

Night diving:

An opportunity to see some of the world’s most unique marine species that emerge only after the sun has set.

Marine life:

The areas where you will dive are unmatched for small and unusual marine wildlife. The species list is endless and new ones are still being discovered in these areas.

Climate:

The average air temperature in the regions you will visit ranges from 25 - 35 Celsius or 77-90 Fahrenheit.

Health and innoculations:

Vaccinations for typhoid, paratyphoid, tetanus, Cholera, Polio, and Hepatitis A are recommended but not mandatory.
Malaria is endemic in many parts of Indonesia, please check with your local Tropical Disease Centre for anti-malaria/diver friendly medication.

Money:

The Indonesian currency is Rupiah. Rates fluctuate enormously, please check with our cruise directors for your cruise exchange rates.

Population and people:

Regarded as the fifth most populous nation in the world, there are approximately 200,000,000 in Indonesia. The majority, around 60% reside on the island of Java.

Religion:

An amazing diversity of religions exists. Predominantly a Muslim nation, islands like Timor, North Sulawesi and Flores are Christian.
Hinduism is found mainly in Bali.
Scattered throughout the region are a variety of other beliefs.

Language:

Bahasa Indonesia, almost identical to Malay is the one national language.
Several local dialects exist in each region as well. English is widely spoken in the more popular tourist destinations such as Bali.

Diving Indonesia

Out of 14,000+ islands in the archipelago, there are a plethora of exclusive dive locations in Indonesia, boasting up to 80% of the worlds species of undersea life. With Indocruises we take you to pristine spots not that known in your average dive travel guide and which are still being explored.

Dive conditions in Indonesia

  • Diving all year around is possible.
  • Watertemperature 24°(75°F) to 30°C(86°F) (In the south of Komodo it drops down to 21-23°C (70-75°F)
  • Visibility is mostly very good (up to 30m)

Safety Procedures and Emergency Evacuation Information:

There are 6 recompression chambers in Indonesia to treat decompression sickness

Bali: Sanglah General Hospital (in Indonesian language) USUP Sanglah Denpasar JI. Diponegoro, Denpasar 80114 Bali, Indonesia Phone 62-361-227911 through -15 ext. 232 (hyperbaric medical department) Fax 62-361-22426 Run by Dr. Antonius Natasamudra and Dr. Etty Herawati

Manado (Sulawesi): At the Malalayang Hospital (chamber for 3 to 4 persons) Phone: 0811430913 and ask for Dr Jimmy Waleleng (Phone home 860953). Makassar (Sulawesi): Rumah Sakit Umum Wahidin Sudirohusodo. Contact person: Pak Daniel Address: Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Km. 11, Tamalanrea Kampus UNHAS Indonesia TEL:++ 62 - 0411 (584677) , 584675. Said to be for 3 to 4 persons.

Jakarta (Java): Rumah Sakit Angkatan Laut (Navy Hospital) in Jl. Bendungan Hilir No.17, Central Jakarta (see text in italian with some addresses - list of help) Kalimantan: The Borneo Divers have the only professional recompression chamber located on Sipadan island (Borneo - Malaysia)

Surabaya (Java): Rumah Sakit Angkatan Laut (RSAL) (Military Marine hospital) Jl. Gadung no. 1, SurabayPhone 031-45750 and 41731 (another number given was 031-838153 and fax 031- 837511) Run by Dr Suharsono Available SAR (search and rescue) contact information:

  • SAR Bali : ph 0361 - 751111 Radio : 13545.0
  • SAR Lombok : Ph 0370 - 633253 Radio : 13545.0
  • SAR Makassar : Ph 0411 - 554111 Radio : 13545.0
  • SAR Manado : Ph 0431 - 825986
  • SAR Kupang : Ph 0380 - 831111
  • SAR Ambon : Ph 0911 - 351111
  • SAR Sorong : Ph 0951 - 323816

**Available SAR (search and rescue) contact information: Medivac facilities from Travira Air www.travira-air.com

Indo Aggressor - schedule