First time in liveaboard

[Iknee]

We did the total eclipse on a boat in Halmahera in 2016 and it was awesome!!

That must have been awesome! I am a bit jealous about that... I was in the Wind River Mountains for the 2017 eclipse, and after seeing it on land, I have been itching to experience it underwater. If I don't make it to Biak for this next one, April of 2024 the path of totality goes directly over Mazatlan....

 

[seba76]

Thank you for all your advices. I feel reassured about the current.
I narrow down to two liveaboard for now, the Blue Manta and Tiare. I do not see any review or comment of the Tiare in scubaboard, but they seems to have nice review and experienced in RA. Anyone tried this boat in the past?

I also wonder if there is something to do in Sorong? My plan was to arrive a day before (to avoid any travel issues or delay). And take a return fly a day after the end of the cruise (otherwise the flight is early in the morning and I will have to skip the last dives on the day before the boat return to Sorong). Unfortunately their is no convenient flight the day after, so I will need to stay two nights in Sorong.

I also wonder if you recommend to take the Nitrox option. On both boat is available but with a surcharge. How deep are the dive in general?

 

[Darnold9999]

Yes dive Nitrox - you will be doing multiple dives a day and pushing NDL limits on air in a remote destination.

 

[Cali_diver]

Yes on Nitrox as @Darnold9999 states. No on something to do in Sorong. Its nickname is SoWrong for a reason.

 

[acidrush]

Thank you for all your advices. I feel reassured about the current.
I narrow down to two liveaboard for now, the Blue Manta and Tiare. I do not see any review or comment of the Tiare in scubaboard, but they seems to have nice review and experienced in RA. Anyone tried this boat in the past?

I also wonder if there is something to do in Sorong? My plan was to arrive a day before (to avoid any travel issues or delay). And take a return fly a day after the end of the cruise (otherwise the flight is early in the morning and I will have to skip the last dives on the day before the boat return to Sorong). Unfortunately their is no convenient flight the day after, so I will need to stay two nights in Sorong.

I also wonder if you recommend to take the Nitrox option. On both boat is available but with a surcharge. How deep are the dive in general?

Don't bother staying in Sorong, nothing to see or do.

 

[Darnold9999]

I was kind of hoping someone would chime in with something to do in Sorong! I have never found anything interesting. I just pick a direction from the hotel and walk for a couple hours. Always some interesting people and houses but otherwise nothing. I did find a place that sold masks and other tourist stuff but I couldn’t tell you where it was.

 

[Joneill]

Don't bother staying in Sorong, nothing to see or do.

Bad advice - it’s a really good idea to arrive in Sorong the day before the boat leaves and stay a night to help prevent flight delays/cancellations and/or baggage issues from ruining you trip!

 

[Darnold9999]

Bad advice - it’s a really good idea to arrive in Sorong the day before the boat leaves and stay a night to help prevent flight delays/cancellations and/or baggage issues from ruining you trip!

The OP was planning to stay two nights. I do agree that you definitely want to be there the day before and stay one night - two is not needed.

 

[Joneill]

I was kind of hoping someone would chime in with something to do in Sorong! I have never found anything interesting. I just pick a direction from the hotel and walk for a couple hours. Always some interesting people and houses but otherwise nothing. I did find a place that sold masks and other tourist stuff but I couldn’t tell you where it was.

December will be my first time in Sorong, but it does not look like much to do there - I could only find tips like this:

What to Do in Sorong | Papua Paradise

 

[Joneill]

The OP was planning to stay two nights. I do agree that you definitely want to be there the day before and stay one night - two is not needed.

They may not have a choice. I’m staying 2 nights as Garuda is not flying Jakarta to Sorong every day anymore - so I had to arrive either the day of the LOB departure or 2 days in advance.