Tambora Indonesia
Massive discounts, up to $900 off per person on certain upcoiming trips in March and April - click here to see more information.Tambora has been built by traditional boat builders on the island of Sulawesi, in the centuries-old tradition of a wooden.
Phinisi. The design and materials used guarantee immense strength and resilience of all key structural elements, especially the keel, hull and decks. Among others, they include a double keel and relatively smaller beam, to minimize rolling of the vessel in heavy seas.
Tambora has been sized and configured to comfortably accommodate a maximum of 16 divers in eight spacious guest suites, each at least 15m2 in size, and with a large en-suite bathroom.
Cabins have a choice of double and large twin beds (no bunk beds!) all longitudinally aligned with the vessel, so our guests sleep in the direction of the vessel movement.
Each guest suite comes with a writing desk. If you like, you can fill in your logbook or review the shots from the day's diving in the privacy of your own suite and ample storage space for clothes, bags, books, magazines, etc.
Our large salon with separate dining and relaxing sections, offering enough space during mealtimes, as well as for chilling out over a chat and drinks with fellow divers, with a book in your hands, or working on your laptop.
Three seeparate lounge decks - bow, aft and salon rooftop - provide enough space and privacy, and can be fully shielded from the sun - click here for cheap deals on all our Indonesian liveaboards
Tambora - gallery
Tambora - Video
Tambora - 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 :
Transportation to and from Tambora in the city of embarkation and disembarkation of the boat
Accommodation in twin bed or double bed suite on board, all with en-suite bathroom with hot coldwater and individually controllable air conditioning.
All dives conducted as part of the regular cruise program
All food drinks served during the cruise, except wine and liquor - Please note on discounted trips canned and bottled drinks including beer are not included unlike the full paying trips
Filled dive tanks (your choice of DIN or INT connection), weight belt and weights
Any land excursions and visits to beaches as part of the regular cruise program
The trip price does not include :
Transportation to/from city of embarkation/disembarkation, visa fees, airport taxes, excess baggage charges
Accommodation, food drinks ashore before/after embarkation/disembarkation
National Park entrance fees - see below
Wine and liquor
Dive courses, trainings and certifications
Nitrox - US$15/day
Dive gear other than tanks, weight belt and weights
(dive gear is available on board for rental)
Any souvenirs you might want to purchase on board
Laundry services (available throughout the cruise)
Phone calls, email internet access (available throughout the cruise via satellite)
Travel, dive, medical, etc. insurance
Tips gratuities for the crew
For guaranteed single occupancy of one cabin please add 50% single supplement. See below for the full list of marine park fees.
Marine park fees - subject to change:
Four Kingdoms of the East: IDR1,350,000
Hidden Bays & Painted Rocks: IDR2,250,000
Beneath Cliffs & Cloves: IDR1,800,000
Among the Volcanoes: IDR850,000
Pearls of Borneo: IDR350,000
Borneo-Celebes Blues: IDR350,000
Sulawesi’s Secret Sites: IDR350,000
Sulawesi Seas & Sights: IDR400,000
Journey in Time: : IDR2,500,000
Planet Pelagic: IDR1,850,000
Colors of Kei: IDR1,500,000
Sapphire Seram Sea: IDR2,500,000
The Spice Trail: IDR750,000
Triton Bay Trilogy: IDR1,200,000
The Blue Asylum: IDR750,000
Terms and conditions:
Individual bookings:
Booking deposit:
30% of booking is required within 7 days of booking - non refundable
70 % 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.
Group charter:
Booking deposit:
10% - within 7 days of booking - non-refundable
Second deposit:
20% 180 days prior to departure - non-refundable
Balance due
90 days before departure - non-refundable
RENTAL GEAR PRICE | |
---|---|
Item | Per day |
Computer | $5 |
BCD | $5 |
Regulator | $5 |
3mm Wetsuit | $4 |
Torch | $2-3 |
Fins + booties | $3 |
Mask Snorkel | $2 |
Fins, booties, Mask Snorkel | $5 |
Complete Set : includes BCD, Regulator, 3mm wetsuit, safety sausage, computer, fins mask snorkel, torch | $25 with computer $20 w/o computer |
Nitrox | $15 |
Tambora - cabins
Showers in all en-suite guest bathrooms come with individually adjustable hot and cold water
Separate shower and hand towels for each guest and each guest suite comes with a writing desk. So if you like, you can fill in your logbook or review the shots from the day’s diving in the privacy of your own suite.
All guest suites are equipped with individually controllable air conditioning. Individual reading lights above each bed and plenty of power outlets (European 220V type) in your suite and throughout the vessel.
2-4 portholes per guest suite for natural light, as well as a fresh sea breeze when opened!
Tambora - itineraries
Four Kingdoms of the East - Raja Ampat
Raja Empat has only fairly recently been discovered as scuba diving’s new frontier, and has very quickly gained a reputation as one of the world’s finest dive areas, perhaps the finest amongst all in terms of biodiversity. New species keep being discovered here, and considering the vast geographic expanse of this group of islands, this is set to continue for years and years! Our cruises depart from and return to Sorong, the area’s major town on the tip of the Bird’s Head Peninsula. Soon upon leaving Sorong harbor, Tambora will sail in crystal clear waters, among an endless string of densely forested and mostly uninhabited islands.
The vast expanse and sheer number of islands allows us to pick itineraries and dive sites that suit during any season. We will start things off diving the superb sites of the Dampier Strait. This is where waters from the Pacific and the inner Indonesian Seas first meet, providing for an extreme wealth of marine creatures including manta rays, schooling trevally and jacks, reef sharks, and the bizarre wobbegong shark.
From here, cruises continue southwards towards Misool and the labyrinth of little islets surrounding it (Note: cruises in the June-August time period will turn north towards Waigeo and Wayag). You can expect it all - big pelagics, reefs teeming with life, great macro sites, and vibrantly colored night dives! From Sorong, the major town on the Bird’s Head Peninsula and in the West of Indonesian New Guinea, you can connect easily to destinations across Indonesia - back to the Schedule
How to get to Raja Ampat
Sorong is the harbour town in West Papua and the normal departure point to dive Raja Ampat.
If you are unsure of how to get to Sorong to start your trip it will depend on where your international flight into Indonesia is landing.
We recommend flying to Jakarta or Bali to make your entry point into Indonesia and each has it’s pros and cons as explained below.
From Jakarta to Sorong with Garuda air is an over night flight arriving in the morning perfect for a pick up by your liveaboard crew at the airport.
The downside of this is that you may be awake most of the night before your board the liveaboard depending on if you sleep on flights but most boats cruise only on the first day so you can catch up on your sleep during the day.
Garuda currenlty also offers a 23K sports bag allowance which includes diving equipment on top of the usual 20 Kilos and bearing in mind it is Indonesia’s most reliable airline this is the one we recommend as you can also purchase the tickets yourself
(most other Indonesian airlines won’t let you purchase tickets without an Indonesia creit card).
Garuda JAKARTA - SORONG GA682 etd 00.30am eta 06.35am direct.
Flights from Bali to Sorong are not quite so simple and cannot be done in one day, you will need to fly from DPS (Bali) to UPG (Makassar) the day before your liveaboard and stay over night in Makassar in a hotel or guesthouse and then continue on with the UPG (Makassar) to SOQ (Sorong) flight the following morning, arriving the day of your liveaboard departure.
This ends up being perfect timing to be picked up on your arrival in Sorong at the airport to then be taken to the boat.
This takes longer but you might arrive more refreshed than the Jakarta rooute and of course you could always factor in a stay in Bali before or after your trip, this flight is also by Garuda airlines.
DENPASAR - MAKASSAR Garuda Indonesia GA620 etd 1720 eta 1855
MAKASSAR - SORONG Garuda Indonesia GA698 etd 0330 eta 0645
Recently Garuda, our recommended airline, has made it possible to purchase their tickets online and we recommend you take this approach as it is often cheaper than the set price we have to charge using other airlines and Indonesian flight agents.
Other airlines are cheaper but are not so trustworthy or have such good luggage allowances.
Again, we highly recommend TRIP and BAGGAGE insurance as well as diving insurance just in case something were to go wrong with your flights or luggage.
It is also possible to come throught Kuala Lumpur (KUL) in Malaysia to Denpasar (DPS) in Bali or Jakarta (JKT) with Malaysian Airlines and then join one of the above 2 options above to get to Sorong, here are the flights from KUL to Jakarta and Bali
by Malaysia Airlines
KUALA LUMPUR - DENPASAR MH715 etd 0900 eta 1205
KUALA LUMPUR - DENPASAR MH851 etd 1225 eta 1530
KUALA LUMPUR - DENPASAR MH853 etd 1500 eta 1830
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH713 etd 0720 eta 0830
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH711 etd 0855 eta 1015
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH717 etd 1000 eta 1120
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH721 etd 1345 eta 1505
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH723 etd 1610 eta 1735
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH725 etd 1750 eta 1905
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH727 etd 2150 eta 2305
Premier liveaboard diving and its local flight agent can purchase the tickets on your behalf, however, in doing so, Premier liveaboard diving is only acting as an agent for the airline and is not responsible for, and can accept no responsibility for, cancellations, delays, schedule changes, or problems caused by the air carrier.
We highly recommend trip interruption and cancellation insurance.
Journey in Time - From Ambon to Triton Bay
The cruise takes us from Ambon, the modern-days capital of the Moluccas, through the Seram Laut group, now forgotten by the world but powerful trade ports 300 years ago, to the south coast of New Guinea with its characteristic ancient rock paintings.
We will start off this cruise with some much diving in Ambon Bay, producing many a photographer’s dream specimen, including many varieties of frogfish, the elusive ghost pipefish, and mandarin fish. Upon our long journey in time towards the East, we will dive the South coast of Ambon with its cavernous walls, the Lease Group and the South coast of Ambon with lots of big fish action, prior to arriving in Seram Laut. Here, strong currents and up-wellings from the depth produce an incredible richness of fish, including barracudas, giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, and mantas, among many others.
Leaving Seram Laut, we will continue eastwards to the New Guinea coast. The limestone cliffs here served in ancient times as burial grounds, and are decorated with galleries of rock paintings. Below the sea, adjacent Triton and Aetna Bays boast some of the world’s most amazing coral gardens, alive with the world’s most diverse assortment of reef fish! The area is of a size that allows us on every cruise to combine all-tome favorite sites with some exploratory diving. So in some spots, you might very well be among the first ever-divers in the water!
You will disembark in the picturesque little town of Kaimana, with good flight connections to Sorong, Manado, Denpasar and Jakarta - back to the Schedule
Hidden Bays Painted Rocks - From Raja Empat to Triton Bay The Edge of the World
This cruise between Sorong and Kaimana takes us along the Papua coast and through South and Central Raja Empat to some of the world’s very best yet at the same time very little dived sites. We will leave Kaimana bound South along the towering New Guinea coast line. A backdrop of steep limestone cliffs topped by pristine rain forest make for eerie scenery; oftentimes for kilometers, galleries of rock paintings delineate ancient burial grounds. The sea underneath is rich in nutrients and offers stunning biodiversity.
We will explore Triton and Aetna Bays, with exuberant coral gardens and an amazing array of reef fish as well as lots of pelagic action. Turning around to head back North, we will spend a number of days in the Southern part of Raja Empat, diving Misool and the labyrinth of islets and rocks surrounding it. Also here, the surface and underwater scenery are equally pristine, and each and every anchorage will be a picture-book experience. The ensuing leg of our cruise takes us further up north, through the Dampier Strait and to the spectacular dive sites at Fam, Mansuar, Sardines Reef, and Cape Kri.
Expect an endless variety of fish, including manta rays, dogtooth tuna giant trevally, the shy napoleon fish, and the bizarre wobbegong shark.
From Sorong, the major town on the Bird’s Head Peninsula and in the West of Indonesian New Guinea, you can connect easily to destinations across Indonesia - back to the Schedule
The Edge of the World - From Raja Ampat via Halmahera to Manado
This cruise takes Tambora along the very edge of the Indonesian archipelago, and through some of the most exciting and diverse yet very rarely dived regions.
Starting out of Sorong, we will quickly move into the Dampier Strait for our first couple of dives. We will next work our way up North, past Waigeo to Wayag, a labyrinth of uninhabited limestone islands and sheer cliffs. After taking in the breathtaking beauty of the scenery both above and below sea level, Tambora will set sails for the passage to Halmahera.
The next coupe of days, we will take in the frontier sites in this new diving province. In addition to excellent soft and hard coral coverage on its reefs and lots of fish action, the area around Morotai also offers a lot of WW II relics, both at the bottom of the sea and on land. After passing round the northern cape of Halmahera, we will dive the Loloda group. Leaving Halmahera for our crossing to Sulawesi, we will stop en route at Mayu island prior to pulling into the world famous Lembeh Strait.
Manado is within easy reach from either Singapore, Bali or Jakarta. From Manado, daily scheduled flights connect to Sorong. For travelers wishing to extend their cruise with resort-based diving and/or land-based exploration, Manado offers a wide choice for both. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information as well as recommendations - back to the Schedule
Sulawesi Seas Sights - From Manado to Borneo
The passage from Manado on the northern tip of Sulawesi all the way to the island of Borneo takes us through two entirely different dive areas: the almost virgin North and West coast of Sulawesi, sparsely inhabited and with its many islands and bays, and the well-known islands of Sangalaki, Derawan, Maratua and Kakaban rising out of the depth of the Makassar Strait.
We will depart Manado out of the harbor of Bitung, and start things off by diving the Lembeh Strait, Bangka and Talisei islands, and the Bunaken National Marine Park. Leaving Bunaken, we will embark on our long journey westward, following closely the Sulawesi coastline and stopping for dives along the many reefs facing the open Sulawesi Sea. Some of these dives have frontier character, as this entire stretch of coastline has not been well explored yet.
Halfway into our cruise we will cross the Makassar Strait, continuing our diving on the other side in the rich waters around the many reefs and islands off Borneo’s East coast. While not far from shore, these islands are off the continental shelf, rising abruptly out of kilometers of water. They are surrounded by turtles (Derawan), manta rays (Sangalaki), sharks, barracudas and jacks (Maratua), and non-stinging jellyfish (Kakaban) - you name it. And cruising through this area aboard Tambora, you will see all of them in a single voyage!
We will end our cruise in the island of Tarakan, from where you can catch a flight to Balikpapan and on to Singapore, or to Bali or Jakarta - back to the Schedule
Pearls of Borneo - Sangalaki, Derawan, Maratua, Kakaban, Samama
This 11-Night roundtrip from/to Tarakan in the Northeast of Borneo takes us to the islands and reefs rising out of the depth of the Makassar Strait. Leaving the Borneo coastline behind, the sea becomes deep very soon. Yet a little further out, a series of large coral reefs and islands rises out of the sheer depth to the surface. They are swept by strong currents, washing up big fish from the depth to shallower waters, where they join in and chase the many reef fish.
Each island has its own specialty: Observe schools of manta rays at Sangalaki, who come here to feed on plankton. Dive amongst turtles and search for the many hidden critters in the waters around Derawan. See the barracudas, sharks, and once again mantas outside the V-shaped island of Maratua. Immerse in the saltwater lake full with non-stinging jellyfish in the middle of the island of Kakaban - or dive the spectacular walls fringing the island. Scan the shallow waters surrounding Samama to find a wealth of macro life. There are other islands in the group we will pass and dive on our way, however we will also include a few exploratory dives on the long reef lining the Borneo coastline, a huge place no-one else but us is diving! Our point of departure/arrival, Tarakan, is well connected to the rest of the world - to Singapore via Balikpapan, as well as to Bali and Jakarta - back to the Schedule
Borneo-Celebes Blues - Sangalaki, Derawan, Maratua, Kakaban and over to Sulawesi
This special 11-Night cruise takes us from Tarakan in the Northeast of Borneo across the Makassar Strait to Palu in Central Sulawesi. It allows us to sample three distinct dive areas as part of one and the same itinerary: the islands offshore northeast Borneo; virtually untouched reef structures lining the Borneo coastline; and, the many bays and islands lining the Sulawesi side of the Makassar Strait north of Palu. We’ll start it off with a group of current-swept islands rising out of the depth of the Makassar Strait. Each island has its own specialty: Observe schools of manta rays at Sangalaki, who come here to feed on plankton. Dive amongst turtles and search for the many hidden critters in the waters around Derawan. See the barracudas, sharks, and once again mantas outside the V-shaped island of Maratua. Immerse in the saltwater lake full with non-stinging jellyfish in the middle of the island of Kakaban - or dive the spectacular walls fringing the island.
Moving on, we will do some exploratory dives on the long reef lining the Borneo coastline, a huge place no-one else but us is diving! Next we cross over to the Sulawesi side of the Strait, following closely the coastline with its many beautiful islands and hidden bays. Diving here is characterized by large reefs with great soft and hard coral coverage, and inevitably pelagics, including sharks on basically every dive. Our point of departure/arrival, Tarakan and Palu, are both well connected to the rest of the world - to Singapore via Balikpapan, as well as to Bali and Jakarta - back to the Schedule
Unknown Side of Bali - Dive Forgotten Islands in the Java Sea
This special cruise starts from Semarang, the capital of Central Java, and takes us all the way east to Bali. Although centrally located within Indonesia, with easy logistics for travelers, it covers some of the least dived parts of the country.
Our trip takes us to the dive sites around the Karimun Jawa and Bawean islands in the Java Sea before proceeding eastward to the Kangean islands, a spread-out and little-explored archipelago north of Bali. En route, we will explore wrecks lying in20-30m of water, and dive some of the many channels, slopes and reefs in the Kangeans. Most dives are a maximum of 20-30m in depth and hence suitable for less experienced divers, too. However, be aware that currents can pick up at times and in some places.
Travelers wishing to combine diving with onshore vacations can do so at both the port of embarkation and disembarkation. Semarang is a convenient base to explore seldom-visited ancient Hindu temples and ruins of the hinterland; the volcanoes further south, as well as the city proper with its colorful Chinatown and well-kept colonial buildings. And Bali of course offers many options for relaxing, shopping, exploring nature and culture - back to the Schedule
Bali’s Little Sisters - Diving the Lesser Sunda Islands from Bali to Komodo
This cruise starts off from Bali and goes eastward along the North Coast of the Lesser Sunda islands into Komodo, ending in the port of Labuhan Bajo in Flores. It is a long-time favorite of many divers and takes us to some of the country’s most famous dive sites.
Leaving the port of Benoa on Bali, we will make our way up north to dive sites along the island’s east coast and the famous wreck of the USS Liberty. We will sail overnight across to Lombok and the Gili islands, diving Gili Trawangan and sites along the north coast of Lombok. Another nightly traverse will bring us to the island of Moyo on the north coast of Sumbawa. For here, we will sail in protected waters along Sumbawa’s north coast to the island Sangeang, an extinct volcano. We will finish off the cruise sampling some of the best dive sites of the Komodo National Park.
Travellers can readily combine this itinerary with an on-shore vacation in Bali, prior to or after the cruise. The small harbor town of Labuhan Bajo is only a one-hour flight from Denpasar. And for the adventurous, Labuhan Bajo makes a convenient starting point to further explore the long and rugged island of Flores, dotted along its entire length with many sites rich in culture and of amazing natural beauty - back to the Schedule
Dive into History - Wreck-Diving in Bangka-Belitung and the Gaspar Strait
This unique cruise brings us to a group of islands only 50 minutes by plane from Jakarta yet definitely off the beaten track. Bangka-Belitung and their surrounding isles have something of a magic thanks to their massive and mysterious granite stones. Our ship will depart from the harbor of Tanjung Pandan to cruise in the nearby Gaspar Strait, which is a unique theatre of shipwrecks.
We have a dozen wrecks charted for recreational diving, and many more on our exploration list. Amongst them are several old and still unpublicized wrecks, such as the 3-masted Marie-Therese lost in 1872, in 17 meters of water, with a full load of French wine and champagne bottles, some salvaged, some still there for you to witness; the British clipper Herculean lost in 1861 on his way back from China to the UK with a cargo of general merchandise. Her wood superstructures have since then been firmly embedded into coral reefs; the Chinese junk Teck-Sing, dubbed the Titanic of South East Asia, which went down in 1822 carrying more than 1000 people and an enormous amount of Chinese porcelains and ceramics.
As the pioneer of adventure scuba tourism in this part of the country, we will take you to dives sites no one else is diving. It is important, however, to always remember that only photos are allowed to be taken! - back to the Schedule
Sea Snakes Spices - Through the Banda Sea
This 11-night cruise is a highlight of our schedule, taking us across a reasonably long distance from Maumere on the island of Flores through the Banda Sea to the island of Ambon in the central Moluccas. We will leave Maumere eastbound, travelling and diving along an endless stretch of islands to our first stopover destination in Alor. The vessel will go an anchorage, and we will navigate with our zodiacs to some of the best dive sites in Eastern Indonesia.
We will spend 2-3 days here before embarking on our overnight trip to the mysterious Merapi (or fire mountain) island in the middle of the Banda Sea. Here, an out-of-this-world scenery awaits you, as the waters around the uninhabited island are teeming with sea snakes. Our next overnight leg will take as to the uninhabited Maisel and Penyu (or turtle) archipelago with lots of pelagic action. From here, we will set sails to the Banda islands, for centuries the epicenter of (at the time) priceless spices. At Banda, more big pelagics and pristine reefs await you, as well as a lava flow from a more recent eruption that is already covered with lush soft and hard corals. We will anchor 2-3 days in the protected lagoon, exploring the area, prior to departing for Ambon.
Both Maumere and Ambon are well connected with domestic flights. And for those with a little more time to spare, both make excellent bases for further exploration, too - back to the Schedule
Mystical Moluccas - Dive Ambon, Banda, Seram Laut
This incredible 11-nights cruise takes us along a triangle-shaped route through the Banda Sea, from highlight to highlight. Due to seasonal constraints, it can be conducted only within two narrow time windows. So book early!
We will start things off with some great muck diving right in Ambon Bay, only minutes away from our point of departure. Next day, we will make our way along the south coast of the island, diving cavernous walls with healthy coral coverage. From here, we proceed to the Lease group east of Ambon, definitely big fish country. After an overnight journey, we reach the Banda islands, a volcanic mini-archipelago rising out of 5000m of water. We will dive westernmost Run and Ai islands prior to making our way into the lagoon where Tambora will go on anchorage while we will dive a line-up of world-class sites nearby.
We will spend 2-3 days here prior to making our way further east, diving Hatta and Karang Hatta along our way, to the fabled islands South East of Seram, collectively know as Seram Laut. Strong currents and up-swellings from the depth produce an incredible richness of fish, including barracudas, giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, and mantas, among many others. From Seram Laut, we will slowly start our journey back westward, along the South coast of Seram, where towering mountains make a perfect backdrop for the many spectacular reefs and walls alive with fish.
On day 12 we will pull back into Ambon bay, where you can catch your flight or stay on a couple of days to take in the varied cultures and sights of the central Moluccas - back to the Schedule
Rugged Beauty of Flores - From Komodo to the East of Flores
This cruise combines the world class diving in the Komodo National Park with some lesser known albeit equally great dive sites along the north coast of Flores. It takes off from the port of Labuhan Bajo on the west coast of Flores, and takes us all the way to the city of Maumere in the East of the island.
Leaving Labuhan Bajo, we will take in all the famous dive sites of the Komodo National Park, and spend the first couple of nights anchoring in beautiful secluded bays of the manyislands in this area. You can expect intact coral coverage on kilometers of reef, macros sites, colorful night dives, as well as lots of pelagic action. We will next set sails for our voyage along the north coast, stopping en route for extended diving in the Seventeen Islands National Park and finally taking in the best dive sites in the Maumere Bay including Pomana Kecil, North and WestPulau Babi and Pangah Batang.
Both Labuhan Bajo and Maumere are within easy reach by plane from Bali. For those adventurous few with lots of time to spare, and alternative would be to make their way back to Labuhan Bajo along the “Trans-Flores Highway”, taking in en route the world famous three-colored crater lakes at Mount Kelimutu, the port city of Ende with its perfectly table-flat mountan in the middle - back to the Schedule
Dragons Currents - Diving the Komodo National Park
The many islands in between Sumbawa and Flores are home to one of the largest lizards on earth, the Komodo dragon, as well as to some of world’s best diving. Expect crystal clear waters with excellent visibility, bright blue skies for great color under water, and an intact and extremely diverse marine life!
Our cruise commences and ends in the small port town of Labuhan Bajo on the west of coast of Flores. The whole area is dotted with islands of various sizes and shapes, providing for very short commutes between dive sites and shelteredbays for overnight anchorages. Waters within the Komodo National Park have been protected for a long time, and are home to an endless number of world class dive sites – Current City, The End of World, Pilar Steen, Red Beach, GPS Point, and Tatawa Besar Tatawa Kecil, to name just a few. Excellent soft and hard coral coverage, macro life, pelagic action – it’s all here!
Labuhan Bajo, the cruise’s port of embarkation and disembarkation, is only a short one-hour flight east of Bali; hence travelers can readily combine this cruise with their vacations in Bali. Alternatively, you can venture along the “Trans-Flores Highway” to the megalithic sites and traditional villages around Bajawa and the three-colored crater lakes atop Kelimutu mountain! - back to the Schedule
Tambora - specs
She has been entirely constructed out of Sulawesi iron wood and chosen Javanese teak. While her hull has been painted white, the superstructure, decks and roofs have all been finished with a view towards preserving the natural beauty of the teak wood. All decks and the salon rooftop feature teak parquet flooring. This way, the rustic charm and warmth of a traditional wooden vessel could be preserved.
All guest suites and rooms on board have been designed by a renowned Indonesian interior designer, and built-to-design by an experienced interior architect. Guest suites are well appointed and tastefully designed in a perfect blend of traditional Indonesian motifs and modern functionality. The traditional Phinsi-style arrangement of the sails has been kept unchanged. Experiencing Tambora under sails, with a good wind blowing, is an amazing sight and a great way to travel through the Indonesian islands.
Great care has been taken to optimally combine the space and atmosphere on deck with the activities of liveaboard diving. Our dinghies are equipped with customized racks to store diver’s gear in between dives; tanks do not need to be carried back and forth but can be re-filled directly on the dinghies. At night and during longer legs of sailing, all gear is stored away from the elements in the dive station. No dive gear is left sitting around on deck.
Our guest suites and the large salon make your life on board as easy as possible:
Custom-designed and built for Scuba Diving Unlike many other vessels of different origin that have been retrofitted as dive liveaboards, Tambora has been designed and built from scratch as a liveaboard vessel catering to the needs of divers. She offers great comfort and flair, and at the same time is optimally geared towards supporting a diving operation in terms of safety, convenience, and efficiency
Dedicated dive station with separate wet and dry sections
A large room on the upper deck has been custom-built and outfitted as a full dive station, divided up into two separate sections. The wet section features:
Personal dive baskets for all guests, to store your BCD, regulators, fins and mask away from the elements, as well as individual wet suit hangers
Two large rinsing tanks, one for regulators and the other for cameras and computers (our 6.5 tons/day reverse osmosis and large freshwater tanks allow us to change water as often as required)
Complete range of AquaLung, UWATEC, Underwater Kinetics dive gear available for rental
40 steel tanks (12 Liter) filling station and storage for dive tanks
The dry section provides a safe place to open your camera, dive light or computer
Large desktop area as work space, as well as to store sensitive (and often bulky) equipment when not in use
Large number of power sockets - you will never have to wait if you want to charge your batteries
Large and convenient dive platform, two dedicated dinghies
Our large dive platform is located at the backboard side of the vessel, three easy steps down from the main deck. For some dives, it serves as a starting point, while for others, you will board one of our two dinghies from here. Of course, in between dives, you can use it for swimming, snorkeling, or just relaxing over the water.
Our dinghies are equipped with dive tank racks holding your gear while on the way to/from your dive site. Where dive sites are close by, you can leave your gear on the rack in between dives, and your tank can be refilled right in the dinghy. Where dive sites are further apart, our experienced crew will carry all your dive gear to/from the dinghies.
Showers in all en-suite guest bathrooms come with individually adjustable hot and cold water | |
---|---|
Separate shower and hand towels for each guest | |
Each guest suite comes with a writing desk. So if you like, you can fill in your logbook or review the shots from the day's diving in the privacy of your own suite | |
All guest suites are equipped with individually controllable air conditioning | |
Individual reading lights above each bed | |
Plenty of power outlets (European 220V type) in your suite and throughout the vessel | |
2-4 portholes per guest suite for natural light, as well as a fresh sea breeze when opened! | |
The large salon is well ventilated at most times, but also has its own air conditioning for those rainy days | |
Large flat screen TV/DVD with home cinema surround sound in the salon | |
Satellite-based communication for phone calls, your personal email and internet access |
Our Chef serves a menu of tasty Indonesian, European and Japanese specialties, freshly prepared in our well-equipped kitchen. Five meals per day mean there is a tasty bite awaiting our guests when they surface!/n Snack prior to the first dive of the day: coffee, tea, fruit juice, milk, toast, selection of biscuits
Breakfast after the first dive: choice of omelet, scrambled eggs, bacon and eggs, pancakes; also toast, marmalades, and fruits, served with coffee, tea, fruit juices, milk and soft drinks
Lunch: served, soup and main course, kept rather light!
Afternoon snack after the third dive of the day: variation of cakes, fruits, and Indonesian specialties, with coffee and tea
Dinner: buffet-style, with a different theme every evening
Drinks are on a help-yourself basis available in the salon: drinking water, a broad selection of local coffees, tea, milk, a range of soft drinks soft drinks and beer are all included in the cruise fare
Wine, of which we carry a fine selection, and liquor are charged on a separate basis
Tambora - diving
Raja Ampat diving
All our boats run fantastic Raja Ampat liveaboards of varying length visiting all the best places each with their own unique itinerary and features.
They are all different prices dependant on the length of the trip and standard of the liveaboard.
All our boats are liveaboards for people enthusiastic or serious about their diving but also welcome snorkellers and non-divers who will have their own separate itinerary."
author: "Raja Ampat liveaboard
Raja Ampat (or the Four Kings) is an archipelago consisting of the islands of Misoool, Salawati, Batanta, and Wiageo which are surrounded by over 1,500 small islands and cays. Formerly known as Irian Jaya, this area is now part of the newly named West Papua province of Indonesia and is located on the northwest tip of Bird’s Head Peninsula, on the island of New Guinea.
Put simply, Raja Ampat could quite possibly be the best diving in the world. It certainly is the world’s most bio diverse marine region with more recorded fish, coral and mollusc species than anywhere else on Earth. The variety of marine life can be staggering. Some areas boast enormous schools of fish and regular sightings of sharks, such as wobbegongs. In Mansuar, you may encounter large groups of manta rays and turtles. From the boat and often close to shore you may get the chance to don your snorkelling gear for some unforgettable interaction with resident pods of dolphins or even some passing whales. Other highlights include the innumerable war wrecks, both ships and planes (with new wrecks being discovered constantly).
The reefs of Raja Ampat are just as varied as the marine life. There are vertical walls, reef flats, slopes, sea mounts, mucky mangroves, lagoons and pinnacles. The reefs are in pristine condition with miles of perfect hard corals and many varied colourful species of soft corals. The diving is predominantly drift dives due to the moderate prevalent currents in the area which provide nutrients for the myriad fish and coral. Currents are average to moderate and vary from none to very strong. Visibility is normally very good but can vary and is normally at its best earlier in the day so your pre-breakfast dives are not to be slept through!
This is truly “Frontier Diving”. Topside the beautiful islands stretch as far as you can see and are largely uninhabited. At night the lights of local fishing boats twinkle in the dark along the few inhabited shorelines while in more remote areas you may only see a distant spec of light over the entire horizon.
Not many liveaboards dive the Raja Ampat area, making this adventure even more unique and special.
Raja Ampat has a high season from October to May and weirdly enough it is during their rainy season due to the winds in the dry season making parts of the park inaccessable. The rainy season should not be mis-construed though. It is generally mostly a shower in the late afternoon and evening and most of the time the days are nice, wind is minimal and the skys are generally clear or slightly over cast. The seas are calmer at this time of the year as the oppposite season has winds that kick up waves and make it very difficult to dive the more exposed sites in the Southern part of Raja Ampat. The water temperature stays around the 27-30 degrees celcius mark all year round.
Recently due to the popularity of Raja Ampat a lot of boats have been running trips in the so called low season but this is also the dry season and so promotes nicer weather and better visibility but the trade of is that only the northern more sheltered part of the park is accessable but as the area is so vast and there are so many quality dive sites the reports from these northern trips have been glowing so far.
Komodo 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.
How to get to Raja Ampat
Sorong is the harbour town in West Papua and the normal departure point to dive Raja Ampat.
If you are unsure of how to get to Sorong to start your trip it will depend on where your international flight into Indonesia is landing.
We recommend flying to Jakarta or Bali to make your entry point into Indonesia and each has it’s pros and cons as explained below.
From Jakarta to Sorong with Garuda air is an over night flight arriving in the morning perfect for a pick up by your liveaboard crew at the airport.
The downside of this is that you may be awake most of the night before your board the liveaboard depending on if you sleep on flights but most boats cruise only on the first day so you can catch up on your sleep during the day.
Garuda currenlty also offers a 23K sports bag allowance which includes diving equipment on top of the usual 20 Kilos and bearing in mind it is Indonesia’s most reliable airline this is the one we recommend as you can also purchase the tickets yourself
(most other Indonesian airlines won’t let you purchase tickets without an Indonesia creit card).
Garuda JAKARTA - SORONG GA682 etd 00.30am eta 06.35am direct.
Flights from Bali to Sorong are not quite so simple and cannot be done in one day, you will need to fly from DPS (Bali) to UPG (Makassar) the day before your liveaboard and stay over night in Makassar in a hotel or guesthouse and then continue on with the UPG (Makassar) to SOQ (Sorong) flight the following morning, arriving the day of your liveaboard departure.
This ends up being perfect timing to be picked up on your arrival in Sorong at the airport to then be taken to the boat.
This takes longer but you might arrive more refreshed than the Jakarta rooute and of course you could always factor in a stay in Bali before or after your trip, this flight is also by Garuda airlines.
DENPASAR - MAKASSAR Garuda Indonesia GA620 etd 1720 eta 1855
MAKASSAR - SORONG Garuda Indonesia GA698 etd 0330 eta 0645
Recently Garuda, our recommended airline, has made it possible to purchase their tickets online and we recommend you take this approach as it is often cheaper than the set price we have to charge using other airlines and Indonesian flight agents.
Other airlines are cheaper but are not so trustworthy or have such good luggage allowances.
Again, we highly recommend TRIP and BAGGAGE insurance as well as diving insurance just in case something were to go wrong with your flights or luggage.
It is also possible to come throught Kuala Lumpur (KUL) in Malaysia to Denpasar (DPS) in Bali or Jakarta (JKT) with Malaysian Airlines and then join one of the above 2 options above to get to Sorong, here are the flights from KUL to Jakarta and Bali
by Malaysia Airlines
KUALA LUMPUR - DENPASAR MH715 etd 0900 eta 1205
KUALA LUMPUR - DENPASAR MH851 etd 1225 eta 1530
KUALA LUMPUR - DENPASAR MH853 etd 1500 eta 1830
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH713 etd 0720 eta 0830
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH711 etd 0855 eta 1015
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH717 etd 1000 eta 1120
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH721 etd 1345 eta 1505
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH723 etd 1610 eta 1735
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH725 etd 1750 eta 1905
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH727 etd 2150 eta 2305
Premier liveaboard diving and its local flight agent can purchase the tickets on your behalf, however, in doing so, Premier liveaboard diving is only acting as an agent for the airline and is not responsible for, and can accept no responsibility for, cancellations, delays, schedule changes, or problems caused by the air carrier.
We highly recommend trip interruption and cancellation insurance.
Tambora - 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