Bali-Komodo live-aboards?

[pakman]

It was Sea Safari 8. It was the newest of the Sea Safari fleet. Yes the boat was great and really made the trip. The layout wasn't as diver friendly as Kararu's Sea Safari III, but still a great boat. It was organized by two great guys Chris Paporakis and Michael Ishak who really made the trip and were a constant source of entertainment. Their website is www.oceanfocusbali.com but looks like they haven't made any progress on the site since last summer!!

Here's another link for the sea safari fleet.
http://www.seasafaricruises.com/fleet.php

 

[Kevrumbo]

Komodo sites often have wild currents, so I would get some more dives under your belt before you dive there so you can get the most out of it.
I wouldn't dive Komodo from Bali anyway. The one and a half days getting there, then the one and a half days getting back don't offer great diving. Better (in my opinion) to fly Bali - Komodo and start your trip from there.

Most of the komodo liveaboards either start in bali or end there, not both. This mean a one way trip from Bima to Bali or viceversa. Now whether the long steam out to get to the komodo sites is worth it thats up to the individual diver. I'm not aware of any land based op in komodo or a liveaboard that doesn't start or end in bali. If I'm incorrect in assuming this then by all means set me straight.

The Sea Safari Boat of Kararu Dive Voyages has a few Bima to Bima Itineraries to Komodo: http://www.kararu.com/schedules/seasafari.html

 

[pigletfish]

My husband and I went on the Mermaid I from Bali-Komodo-Bali in August 2003 and we loved it. In 6 days there were 24 dives plus 3 shore excursions, including the fabulous tour of Komodo to see the dragons. The viz was excellent and the reefs were beautiful and teeming with life. We avoided sites with ripping currents -- had a problem with that on a GBR/Coral Sea trip last year, but not in Indonesia. The Mermaid I was a lovely boat, just the right size, and everyone was very friendly. We combined our week on the liveaboard with a land-based week on Bali, which is a marvellous island. It was an amazing trip and I would highly recommend it. eyebrow

 

[opalobsidian]

Ohhh pigletfish!!!

that does sound fun! What company was that with?

Thanks for posting!
Pamela

 

[Batfish]

You'll find some information about the Mermaid 1 trips here:

Mermaid 1 trips - Bali / Komodo

 

[pigletfish]

We booked through Tauch Terminal Tulamben, the "sponsor" resort that the Mermaid I sailed from in Bali:

http://www.tulamben.com/emermaid1-itinerary.html

Happy planning!

 

[Batfish]

Mermaid 1 will run this summer out of Benoa Harbour (close to all the main beaches in the South of Bali). Tauch Terminal is no longer connected to Mermaid 1.