Mimpi liveaboard / Thalassa Divers in Manado: Any opinions?

[highdesert]

Greetings Indo Lovers -

Just curious if anyone has had any experience aboard the liveaboard Mimpi, operated by Thalassa Dive Center in Manado. I know that this is not a big glittery liveaboard on the grand scale, but a smaller boat in a more local style, which is just fine with us. More concerned with learning if it's a professional, safe, dependable operation, regardless of whether it has lots of bells and whistles on board or not. Even if you have not been aboard, but have dived with Thalassa, that might give some indication about their operation.

Anyone out there with any info? Thanks for your replies!

 

[chewie999]

I dove with Thalassa quite a few years back when they first opened. At that time, they were very professionally run with good service, ie. towels, drinks, gear prep and lifting, etc. I don't know the latest news tho.

I've also dove with Murex, who are just as good or better. They also operate a liveaboard around that area so you might want to check them out.

 

[Rickg]

Greetings Indo Lovers -

Just curious if anyone has had any experience aboard the liveaboard Mimpi, operated by Thalassa Dive Center in Manado. I know that this is not a big glittery liveaboard on the grand scale, but a smaller boat in a more local style, which is just fine with us. More concerned with learning if it's a professional, safe, dependable operation, regardless of whether it has lots of bells and whistles on board or not. Even if you have not been aboard, but have dived with Thalassa, that might give some indication about their operation.

Anyone out there with any info? Thanks for your replies!

highdesert,

Can't comment on Thalass and Mimpi but my wife and I did a combo shore resort and LOB with MUREX in '04. I've attached the trip report. I can't vouch for them now but at the time we were very "happy campers" with our trip and at the time was an amazing bargain. Please be advised though that the LOB we were on (MV Serenade) is not luxurious by any stretch of imagination but it was larger than the Mimpi and traveled further north along the Sangihe Island chain.

 

[highdesert]

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I think the LOB's from either Thalassa or Murex are about the same vintage and (lack of) amenities. Like I said, that part is fine. None of those boats has any bookings for the late November period we want. Mimpi needs 4 bodies, one of the Murex boats needs 4, the other one 8. All have some pretty interesting itineraries. So we could book any one of them right now, hoping for others after us to book the same period. Problem is we're trying to book back-to-back with a week at another resort on Sulawesi, so it's hard to juggle the pieces and come up with anything firm enough to book a plane reservation. It's one of those "where do you start" puzzles. It may be that we have to just book a flight for the period we want to be in Indo, then fill in the rest as we get closer. There are certainly enough amazing diving options there to go that route.

 

[pelan-pelan]

Not sure if this is relevant to you. I heard that Singapore airlines was going to start to fly in to Singapore with the "big plane". That might help with booking that leg of the journey.

That said, why not book your flights when you want and then work out the rest of the details. Why not stay at 2 or 3 land-based operations instead of a LOB? Transfers are pretty quick and easy. One time we transferred from one resort's dive boat to another at lunch time and effectively "dived" our transfer from Manado to Bunaken.

 

[highdesert]

why not book your flights when you want and then work out the rest of the details.

I think that's what it's going to come down to ... just book the travel and fill in the blanks later. Thanks for the heads-up with Singapopre Air. We found on our last Indo trip, and again on this one, that Cathay Pacific from LAX-HKG-DPS, then shuttling to Manado and back, is much cheaper than Singapore Air from LAX to Singapore to Manado. Yes, Singapore Air is a top drawer airline, but Cathay Pacific is not far behind.

As far as going all land-based, these LOB's travel some out of the way itineraries at fairly reasonable prices, and we thought it would be worth the change. Still undecided.

 

[JenM]

We were very impressed with Thalassa when we dove with them a few years back and people with recent experience have good comments also so I doubt they've changed any. The owner, Simone, is very organized and customer service oriented. When we were there, we dove with a couple who'd just gone on the Mimpi for 5 days or so. Their comments were pretty much in line with what you've heard - nothing luxurious, but definitely satisfactory for the price you pay. Also, they were the only ones on the boat and Simone tailored an itinerary to fit into their schedule so it sounds like it's pretty flexible.

Anyway, I'd say just go ahead and book your air. There's plenty of land-based diving to keep you busy between Manado, Bangkka and Lembeh. Truthfully, most divers who visit the area don't bother with liveaboards unless they've made several trips to the area already and they want something a little different.

 

[Mr. Blues]

Howdy neighbor....
Yeah I was on the Mimpi (about 5 years ago) as well as Thalassa at Hotel Santika.
I had a great time. The Mimpi is (I assume still is) sea worthy but funky. (Kinda like camping out) There were only two other couples, everyone got along, great diving as we island hopped to the Lembeh straits, food ok, relaxed pace, tell them what you want and they'll do their best. Simone runs a great operation and is well respected. YOU WILL HAVE GREAT TIME! Indo still remains one of my faves.

 

[highdesert]

Amazing ...

I wait 3 weeks for a first-person reference, and it comes from someone a few minutes down the road! But hey, I have time to wait for good reviews. I'm assuming right up front we'll have a good time. Quite honestly, we are a lot more comfotable with funky than 5-star ... something about being a little closer to nature and the people around you. And if you don't buy that, then it's a good excuse for why we travel 3rd class!

Thanks for the reply!

 

[Harley1962]

I was just on the Serenade this afternoon in Lembeh Strait (invited for Lunch), and while it is by no means "luxurious" it is indeed seaworthy, with an excellent Captain and Dive Staff. They encountered some "rough seas" around Siau and northern islands, but nobody expressed any doubts or reservations about safety. Just based on the one meal I had, I thought the food could be a bit better/more plentiful, but being at the end of their 6 day itinerary perhaps their supply of fruits/veggies was running a bit "low"...nevertheless, there was almost a full boat (11 divers, including several Americans) and they all seemed very pleased with their dive experiences--which is after all the main reason we go there, correct?

I have seen other LOB's in the Strait, but thus far have no direct experience with them.
Many of the Indonesian Guides on my Staff have worked for LOB's in the area, including Agressor, Liburan, Thalassa/Mimpi, Murex, ...
(BTW, I was recently hired as Manager/Instructor of a land-based Resort on the Lembeh Strait)

Enjoy your trip!
HB