Labuanbajo Divine Diving or Bajo Dive Club

[MOWgirl]

Hey Everyone!

I am looking to dive this fall in labuanbajo and I am trying to decide between Divine Diving and Bajo Dive Club. I have narrowed it down to these two, but I was wondering if anyone has been with both recently or could talk about their strengths and weaknesses as far as staff, operations and overall experience.

Thanks so much!

MOWgirl

 

[boletus1973]

Hey Everyone!

I am looking to dive this fall in labuanbajo and I am trying to decide between Divine Diving and Bajo Dive Club. I have narrowed it down to these two, but I was wondering if anyone has been with both recently or could talk about their strengths and weaknesses as far as staff, operations and overall experience.

Thanks so much!

MOWgirl

i think you want to dive komodo from land.... from Labuan bajo, you can do it, but every day you travel on a boat for hours... and not for reach the divesites.. but only for go from and to Labuan bajo-komodo... i never dive with those diveshop, but looking their boats, the daily trip to the park can be a nightmare! yes, is more cheap than a liveaboard... but there are many boats not so much more expensive... take a look, because if you take the full day rates of those diveshop and the hotel rates at lbj... the dinners... many liveaboards can be a bargain...
i stay there 3 times.. i do 3 weeks liveaboard + one week land based diving... in the future i never do this land based diving anymore... komodo is a liveaboard place... for me....
my two cents.
fabio

 

[Luko]

In a way Fabio is right. It will take you 2hrs to get from LBJ to central Komodo sites such as Batu Bolong, plus you won't reach many other sites, like the ones in the southern part.

That said I understand that you prefer landbased resorts for spending your days and nights, me too. In fact I can't stand liveaboards, because personally I feel stranded and uncomfortable. Probably your best bet would be staying closer to the dive sites at Komodo resort for instance.

I've been on BajoDive club boat -unfortunately, although I thank them for that- because they rescued us at Batu Bolong coming up from our dive, while the boat from reefseekers was drifting away almost a mile from where we were. Lots of young backpackers, the DM was at the time a young gothic russian girl with lots of piercing and green painted nails, not typically local indonesian born guide... I think I would prefer Divine Diving boat though.

 

[MOWgirl]

Thank you for that information! I will definitely take that into account. Boletus1973m I understand that the liveaboards are great but I am kind of set on staying in labuanbajo for a bit and doing the landbased diving as well as a trip with the livaboards, since I do hear they are amazing!

Luko, great to know about the boat and DM experience. Good to hear first hand your opinion about the shops.

Thanks and happy diving!
MOWgirl

 

[highdesert]

I haven't dived with either company, bit I have dived with Hila Jansen, with Divine Dive Company, earlier in his career. He is a first-class dive guide, home-grown on the island of Flores, and I would jump at the chance to dive with him again in Komodo ... or anywhere for that matter.

 

[puncho]

I walked into Divine Diving this past march, rang the bell/asked if anyone was there and no one answered for a few minutes...

 

[lamarpaulski]

My wife and I stayed at komodo dive resort last September..its on an island quite close to some great Komodo diving about 2 hours from Labuan bajo. Loved it. Run by Italians and the food, at the time, was great. Batu Balong was a favorite along with manta alley. Excellent snorkeling right at resort too.