Trip Report Scuba Junkie Komodo: sketchy diving practices

[Living4Experiences]

Not to be disrespectful to your opinions, but if you knew they didn't have Nitrox, why did you book? Nitrox is a necessity for me when doing multiple dives over multiple days, and if a resort does not offer it, they don't get my business.

I'm one of those people who has no problem going to the management on site if I see the guides harassing the wildlife. Once in Cozumel, I spoke with the owner after the dive and reported the particular guide that was picking up marine life and tossing it around to make it move and wiggle. It was appalling!

Another time in Raja Ampat, an 85-year-old diver had no buoyancy control and would stand on the reef. I spoke to the resort management, and they said they'd talk to him, but they also said something like, "He's 85. He won't be diving much longer," as if to just ignore it. It got to the point during the dive, I'd swim over to him and pick up his fins off the reef. Sometimes, really old people think they're entitled to be obnoxious, both underwater and above the water.

 

[Plutonist]

As I noted above, the air-only policy was originally not a deal-breaker to me. In future trips I might rethink that stance though. I will definitely not book resorts that allow non-computer dives anymore. You live to learn!

I fully agree with you. The morally correct thing would have been to address the guides or the management directly. However, on diving holidays I am in a very non-confrontational mood, since I have more than enough bickering at work. And as I stated numerous times now: we simply didn't know (and still don't know) who the management and/or owner was! As a paying customer, I don't see it as my task to find out these things.

Concerning tips: Most operations I've been to in Indonesia have a "don't tip the guides directly" policy (unless you have a private guide, obviously) and I love that. There is one tip box, the content of which is shared between the whole staff. In that respect likewise I find Scuba Junkie not that great. They have distinct tip boxes for the boats, the resort and additionally you may or may not tip the guides. What a mess for someone from a place without tipping culture.

Since this operation is recommended here quite often, I just wanted to give a more nuanced picture. But again: overall I find the operation excellent value for the money, there are just a few sore spots that cannot be excused by the cheaper price.

 

[Centrals]

1. If nitrox is so important then why not asked the question in the first place.
2. Tipping? I do it my way because there is NO easy solution. Don't make a meal out of nothing because it is NOT enforced. Do it your way and who care!!!
3. "Unacceptable guiding behaviour"! I will tell the guide after the dive and might report to the management discreetly. How difficult it is to find out who is running the place. The office in SJ Komodo is tiny. "Non confrontation mood"!!!!! The management would not aware everything behind their back.
4. Diving without computer is OK as long as the diver keep track with the ndl. I had came across many divers who simply did not understand why their computer flashing or the sound of the alarm. Dive guide is a thankless job because some divers should had tried other less dangerous sport.

It would be much better if the OP has reported his/her unhappiness to the management on the spot rather than afterward.
Some divers are just hard to please, rightly or wrongly!!!

 

[hedonist222]

I think the content of this thread is okay. OP sharing OP's experience.

I think the the title is unfair and should be adjusted.

 

[Plutonist]

@Centrals: What you would have done is irrelevant to this thread. Matter of fact is that I dove with six operations and ALL the others had their guides under control. Nowhere else have I witnessed this systematic abuse of wildlife. That says something about the operation.

I'm a paying customer, not a consultant. It's not my job to fix your operation. Something as obvious as a guest response form would have avoided this thread. ALL other operations had something like that.

Provide worse service than the competition and you will get mixed reviews. Tough.

By attacking the messenger, you're not helping them - on the contrary. Feel free to make them aware of this thread, if you want to help them improve.

@hedonist222: Not sure why you deem the title unfair? "Sketchy" is putting it mildly given the harassment of wildlife by guides and the fact that a guest was diving without computer after a deco violation.

 

[Centrals]

@Plutonist

Know Before You Go | Scuba Junkie Komodo

We have put together some information about things to know when planning your trip. If you can’t find the answer you are looking for then please get in touch!

www.scubajunkiekomodo.com

Never bother to check.

Nitrox also has ndl. I had done 5-6 dives a day on air on numerous occasions without needing nitrox!! How did diver perform multi dive in a single day before computer appeared? TABLE.
Do you believe dive guide can control the behaviour of other divers?

Just report what you knew and drawn your own conclusion rather than "benefit of the doubt".

 

[Luko]

at 5 euro, they would only break even if every guest took it, 3 euro is not possible in their location.

I am not sure you can bluntly state this assumption.
For instance Alor Divers charges 3€ per nitrox tank and trust me getting anything to Pantar at the eastern end of Nusa Tenggara Timur is another story than Labuan Bajo.

It will just depend on the value the operation puts on the safety/comfort of their guests.

 

[runsongas]

@Luko alor divers is also a more upscale operation, its not impossible they are subsidizing the nitrox in order to encourage it being used by more guests. its an economy of scale issue at that point.

@Plutonist it just sounds like you were frustrated you didn't get enough ass-kissing for your opinion. you could have been proactive bringing up your concerns instead of coming across like a karen. and anyone diving without a computer is on them, its possible to rent for a fee as needed.

 

[cetacean]

@Plutonist

As someone who dove with SJ before our first LoB trip in Komodo, I experienced something very similar, although only for 2 days before we boarded our LoB.

SJ is very much a "get what you pay for" type of operation. They are not at the very bottom of Komodo operators, nor are they anywhere near the best. Many people on this forum like them because they are relatively (for the area) cost appropriate for what they want to pay.

BTW - you likely didn't meet the owner because the owners are rarely there. They also run dive ops on Sangalaki, Kota Kinabalu, and Nusa Penida, and their liveaboard, the Eliya (which I believe is still operating in Komodo). BTW - the Eliya offers Nitrox at $12 USD per dive or $110 USD per trip. One way to read into this is they likely expect to see the more experienced/serious divers pick their liveaboard vs. land-based in Komodo.

@runsongas

As a fairly serious underwater photographer I recall a very similar experience diving with them. The guides are all very friendly and very laid back, and I;m assuming their motivation is mostly just to please the guests, however manipulating the u/w life (to a bit of an extreme) was too much.

To your point of not offering Nitrox:
I dove Truk Lagoon ~30+ years ago, all on air. Just because we did it then (with no other options) doesn't make it smart now.

 

[cetacean]

@Luko alor divers is also a more upscale operation, its not impossible they are subsidizing the nitrox in order to encourage it being used by more guests. its an economy of scale issue at that point.

@Plutonist it just sounds like you were frustrated you didn't get enough ass-kissing for your opinion. you could have been proactive bringing up your concerns instead of coming across like a karen. and anyone diving without a computer is on them, its possible to rent for a fee as needed.

@runsongas

How about digging in a bit before sharing your (clearly one-sided) opinion?

From the SJ website:
"Having a dive computer is recommended by PADI but it is not mandatory. Our dive guides all have their own dive computers and will ensure that you are well within the no decompression limits."

In at least this case, not really true (guides ensuring you are well within the NDL). Also - clearly not representative of the common practices shared by most operators in Komodo (who highly recommend you dive with your own dive computer).