Real Time Blue Manta Review: Banda Sea 9 – 19 Sept 2019

[chillyinCanada]

Does the Spaniard where too much cologne? Spill Bill!

 

[outofofficebrb]

Does the Spaniard where too much cologne? Spill Bill!

It sounds more like the Spaniard is in @billt4sf ’s room spraying the room every now and then with cologne

 

[scubaNYC16]

I think they are referring to some automatic air fresheners that were in the rooms not Paco Rabanne.

 

[acidrush]

You have thoroughly convinced me that this boat is not for me, regardless room size.

I think you should keep an open mind. I've been on a few of the other boats in Indonesia like both the Damai boats, Dewi and Tambora. Blue Manta is my favourite due to the size, no creaking compared to wooden boats, stability in bad weather and twin engines(especially important for banda sea), 10% single supplement and wifi. Food could be better but its hard to beat Damai's food.

Just remember to choose a cabin on the upper deck.

 

[moorish8idol]

Following this review carefully too - thanks Dan and Bill for keeping us up to date! Hopefully the Ring of Fire brings better diving... as a hammer-lover I am sad to hear you haven't had much luck yet (but if there is dynamite fishing going on, surely there is also lots of shark fishing in the area too - when I was in Malaysia earlier this year, it was sad - the fish and sharks are just... gone). On another note, I just got back from Malpelo (my review is posted) and it was sooo sharky and wonderful and we saw hammers every dive!

 

[Jay]

I was acting.

You have thoroughly convinced me that this boat is not for me, regardless room size.

Ok, tell me about the food again? Heehee

I’m on this trip too and have quite a different take in things.

Yes some drop(s) by some of the DM(s) on day 1 were not too hot but these sites are not often dived and currents are regularly changing. So far for all dives our group has had perfect drops and dives.

The staff and food are amazing. We had chateaubriand quality beef a few nights back, giant prawns the other night, Cordon-bleu chicken last night ... that’s just half of the choices. Amazing food.

We’ve had some moderate seas when moving overnight between sites. That caused a tender to leak and mostly sink. This crew spent a day floating it, beaching it, repairing it, and now it’s hoisted on the stern. They did an amazing job. What did we lose ... ONE dive which we are making up for today!!

Even in these moderate seas, it’s a stable vessel ... my electric toothbrush hasn’t even toppled over at all.

Sure there’s some finessing that can be done re acoustics, and other MINOR things.

I’ll express my feedback on those things constructively at the appropriate feedback time.

We’re going to be rendezvousing with the New White Manta in a couple of days as she’s enroute for delivery. I believe we’ll be one of the first customer to see her. It’ll be interesting to compare some aspects.

Net net. This is an awesome boat, awesome crew, and awesome trip so far.

 

[outofofficebrb]

I love it! Thanks for sharing, @Jay. Please take photos of the White Manta if you can and if you have any pictures, even if they are inception style pictures (picture of a picture), I would love to see more of Indo!

 

[Jay]

 

[outofofficebrb]

@Jay it's a comfy dinghy to dive off of. Much more comfortable for those with sore back and knees to get up and sit with support on the tanks, etc.

 

[Dan]

This liveaboard is the best one out of 15 liveaboards I have been in, including the noisy Mermaid & 2 Aggressors (Palau & Maldives), but food wise, Mermaid is better. DM, I’ve seen better elsewhere.

We are half way, 5th day. We’ll be diving the 1st day in the Banda Sea region (won’t mention the detail location for the fear of longline shark fishiherman lurkers who are checking out this post) for the hammerheads.