Komodo LOB questions....

[Seekup]

We are thinking of doing a liveaboard to Komodo next April. It seems that this is a good time of year considering vis and seas. Can anyone recommend a LOB that departs from Bali and is in the $2,000 range? I was interested in one of the Mermaid LOBs, but they don’t sail the area until the end of May.

We've never been to Indonesia, so any advice or suggestions are much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[ScubaduoAdventures]

You will find it difficult to find a liveaboard dive boat that goes directly from Bali to Komodo especially at the price you want as it is more of a distance for them to travel. Most of the Komodo boats start and return to the island of Flores you should google Dive the world or Grand Komodo Tours for more information.

 

[Shasta_man]

There are numerous boats going to Komodo.

Komodo Dancer has a roundtrip from Bali for $3K and you might get a discount. We did this trip because I didn't want to deal with the notorious Indo domestic flights. We enjoyed some of the dive sites outside of Komodo as well, with Moyo reef being one of the best of the trip. They intended to do Tulumben (?) on the way back, which would have been great, but a storm delayed us so we ended up diving the last point on Bali.

 

[Shasta_man]

BTW, I'd recommend spending some time in Bali before returning. Very interesting place with nice people and lots of nature to see even there.

 

[OnTheSpot]

Hi There,

I think you need to move your dates forward to June in order to meet you requirements.

MV Queen Scuba is starting trips in Komodo this season and departing from Bali. See MV Queen Scuba video here.

Its very hard to be disapointed with a trip on MV Mermaid II but, again, you need to wait till June. See the video of MV Mermaid II here.

Here is some information on Indoneasia.

Good luck with your plans.

 

[scorpiofish]

1. April is a little early for boats that move locations (e.g. from Raja)

2. $2000 is on the low budget, even for 7 day trip. It will be pretty difficult to find a good 10 day trip for $2000.

3. It is possible to find a trip that starts OR ends in Bali, but harder to find one that starts AND ends in Bali, especially for a 7 day trip.

4. Even if you found a $2000 7 day trip starting and ending in Bali, it wouldn't be a great trip. The best diving is near Komodo. You would spend too much time diving lesser sites between Bali and Komodo. The Komodo Dancer used to do this very thing, but changed.

5. Flights to Flores are relatively cheap and short. Taking that extra flight isn't that big a deal.

There are between 20-1,000 boats doing the Komodo area. Good luck on your search. You might want to use an experienced travel agent to help you.

PS I know there are some budget boats out there, I just don't know who they are. A friend did a week for $700. Food: rice and whatever they caught. Lodging: mattresses pulled out on deck every night. He thought it was a great trip.

 

[highdesert]

I would definitely recommend Grand Komodo for a "standard class" liveaboard in Komodo. Very professional, good guides, food is all it needs to be, good AC cabins on most boats.

Raja Ampat Liveaboard Diving, also Komodo, Alor, other Indonesia

 

[Wisnu]

Ari Jaya Aridive - live aboard dive, diving, Komodo, safari, nurkowanie, plongee, croisiere, Indonesia, Indonesie start from Flores, simple and very basic LOB, well meet your budget even if you incl. airfare to Flores.
I read one positive report in this forum while ago

 

[InDaWata]

Komodo is a place I really liked diving in. Theres a lot to see and you can definitely find a bit of variety if you want it.

I would really recommend spending a little more money on a LOB from a larger, well known company- think of it as insurance!

My wife and I did the Ari Jaya a few months back, and despite the multiple good reports that you can find around the internet, our trip was filled with problems.

 

[Seekup]

Thanks everyone for the information and suggestions. We need to travel during March/April of next year, so the Philippines might be the way to go. That was the original plan until I thought we might be able to make Komodo work out.

Hopefully, we can do Komodo the following year....we've been on the Mermaid II while in Thailand and consider it a great trip for the $$.