Subject: Raja Ampat Cityseahorse Deb Fugitt Ondina

... you know I am a physician in practice for near 23 years now. Ive had my share of tough situations, and people to deal with. If this is the only complaint you've had in all this time, your way ahead of most..

I quite agree!

I'm impressed by Deb's efforts in replying, which have left me thinking I might be on the wrong boat in February...

... I think that I would join one of Deb's trips, anytime!

As an aside: do you admit your medical qualifications on a trip? I'm an anesthesiologist (though we spell it differently here in the land of much better food than the Yanks believe), do a little hyperbaric medicine, and carry lots of antibiotics abroad, but usually don't admit my medical skills unless something happens. I'm also the only diver I know personally who has been evacuated from a Red Sea cruise and spent a week in an Egyptian hospital - and hence the victim of extreme schadenfreude from my dive buddies - so that I now expect all diving lawyers to be sued, diving chefs to develop food-poisoning and professional photographers to experience total digital meltdown.

Tim

And anyone trying to create an enjoyable and productive photographic trip to be plagued by un-enjoyable and unproductive experiences...

... which is where, I guess, this has ended up.

Tim

as the self-proclaimed cruise director

I am not the cruise director and have never called myself cruise director.

I organize the trips. Loads of details. I doubt you can imagine how many if you've never organized a trip out of Sorong and seen all that can go wrong. I don't just charter the ship and take the standard stuff they provide. I organize air travel, hotel overnights & meals, porters, transport, even for the guests to stay in an executive lounge when their flight is delayed. I arrange extra guides, different food and the trips often only work well because of my contacts in Sorong who occasionally help deliver delayed baggage, fix us up if supplies of something are short, help with a medical problem or cancelled flights and so on.

It's a different job than cruise director.

Agreed that I'm not a warm fuzzy person, that's one reason why I DO have a cruise director on board who is. I picked a heck of a good one for this trip, even Tom mentioned liking him! He talked to Tom and was his dive guide some of the time. Tom didn't request anything of him or express his negative thoughts about the trip to the cruise director.

I asked Tony last night if he'd talked to Tom. Tony and I don't do all the same dives so we are not on the ship at the same time. Tony did speak with Tom a few times and asked him how it was going and if he felt OK. He told me that Tom just mumbled that everything was fine.

Many guests tell me the food on these trips is better than other liveaboards and resorts they've visited. I think so too, but that's not only my opinion. For sure it was far better than the food at the 5 star resort in Bali we treated ourselves to for a birthday celebration after these trips. As I said, we don't serve the standard Ondina menu on these trips. Most experienced travelers ask for Indonesian food. They don't want steak, potatoes and steamed broccoli. Or gourmet western food (not that Ondina would provide it.. if someone asked for that, I'd tell them to find another trip). Some people may not like Indonesian food or may not know what it is. All are asked about food preferences before the trip and told we will arrange the menu based on their responses. if they have likes/dislikes and don't give specific information before or during the trip well..... what's an organizer or kitchen to do?

Several guests on these most recent trips did come with requests for changes in the diving and food and those were honored as best we could. Sometimes logistics or conditions meant that we couldn't do exactly what they wanted.

Some of the responsibilty for what happens before or during a trip belongs to the guest. I emphasis to all the guests that if there is anything amiss they should tell me. If they don't, then it can't be corrected. I've never refused to listen to anyone or to reply to any question by email or telephone. And, as you may have noticed.. I write a LOT and do try to explain in detail.

DebF

... I think that I would join one of Deb's trips, anytime!

 

As an aside: do you admit your medical qualifications on a trip?

 

I'm also the only diver I know personally who has been evacuated from a Red Sea cruise and spent a week in an Egyptian hospital

Tim

Thanks for that!

FYI we get a LOT of medical people (doctors, nurses, vets) on these trips and they all admit it. I don't tell the other guests, but I don't remember anyone who hasn't come right out and told everyone themselves. The one most plagued by questions was a plastic surgeon. Guess that's what happens with a group of uw photographers.. most of whom are 50's and up.

I was on a ship in the Red Sea when someone got bent. So now you know there are at least two. They (the bent one and partner - gay couple) were sent with O2 to a hospital in Israel as the ship's owner felt they would get much better care there and it didn't take long to get them there.

DebF

I do wish to reiterate that Wetpixel forums welcome honest trip reports written by anyone. Obviously, providing a name to the report would provide additional credibility. One must also be ready to take rebutals from operators and other clients as well. Having an opinion (positive or negative) does not mean that operator is good or bad. It is the reporter's opinion of the place/operator. The more review/reports, the better the picture of the operation/operator.

The forums are not for malicious intent by ANYONE, operator and/or client.

I'm an anesthesiologist (though we spell it differently here in the land of much better food than the Yanks believe)

Yes the british isles gave us Gordon, Nigella and Jamie. Having had a meal at several Gordon R at XXX restos all over, I have to say his creations are aptly devoid of tradition british isle cooking. Oh and it wasn't that good either and I always left disappointed I do think cuisine criticism is a VERY subjective issue as the opinions expressed in this thread has shown.

Thanks for that!

 

The one most plagued by questions was a plastic surgeon. Guess that's what happens with a group of uw photographers.. most of whom are 50's and up.

 

 

DebF

Then I probably can't come on one of your trips.

Usually when they ask if I can do anything for them I reply that I can cure the sick not raise the dead!

I certainly don't advertize, but I'm happy to help, and usually have a bag of goodies. I'm glad this thread is finally coming to an end. Alot of emotional energy has been spent

Then I probably can't come on one of your trips.

Is that because you are under 50 or that you are a plastic surgeon? (I've been needing a little work on my chin, a tuck here and there .. so maybe we can work something out... )

My experience so far is that the over 50's are generally much better divers than those under. More experience under their dive belt and a bit smarter about it too. We've had a few people in their late 70's on board. Awesome divers. They realized their limitations, but still did a lot of dives. Also they'd been diving for ages and have some amazing stories to tell. Hope I can be the same in my 70's.

DebF

I've been on your trips Deb.

You say your older divers are better?

All I saw were people who couldn't handle the current with terrible buoyancy.

Damn right it's all about Deb.

There's such a marked difference between how you present yourself online and in emails to how you are in person.

Once you are on the trip you don't give a **** about anyone else.

You forget it's your clients who are paying for your free dive trips every year. Doesn't make so much sense to me to be so cold.

Ok Sparky

If you want to add comments about Deb's trips, please do so in a constructive manner and don't get personal. You have something against Deb, take it offline. Wetpixel has a strong policy against flaming and you are threading VERY close to the line.

If you want credibility, don't hide behind a pseudonym.

Please reconsider some of your words.

Gee, kinda makes one wonder if "sparky" (hiding behind anonymity and making his very first post) might just be the same person who started this thread (or at least a close friend)...

Isn't there a point, after everyone has had their say, when we can lock down threads? Would be nice to not have this popping up to the top anymore now that things are just getting nasty . . .

FWIW,

Mike

Whoa - I just discovered this thread. I was looking for something else when I came across it. I know that everyone wants this thread to go away but I feel compelled to speak out on this matter.

My name is Tom but not that other guy. I was on Deb's trip following the one discussed in this thread. I gotta say - it was probably the best trip u/w photo trip I have been on. On another wetpixel thread I posted my favorite photo of the year and it was taken at the pier!

I learned more about wide angle photography on this trip than ever before. Deb and a couple of the more experienced photographers gave me some excellent advice on how to shoot w/a in the not-so-great viz. To that point, I am giving a presentation at our u/w photo club in February on this very subject.

The Ondina turned out to be a very pleasant surprise, I wish all liveabroads could be as accommodating as this one was. Deb, Roberto, Aan and the whole crew were super to my wife and myself. Unfortunately, the trip to get there was not so accommodating as our luggage did not quite make it to Sorong when we did. The boat captain left a crew member in port for two days until our luggage arrived and then ferried it out to the Ondina - now that's customer service!

I have organized several dive trips for our u/w photo club and like the song says, 'you can't please everyone'. But I sure was happy with our trip and I will be sure to say so to the 60+ members in attendance at our club meeting in February.

Tom Collier

I do sympaphise with both Tom and with Deb.

I know what it is like to pay out a few thousand pounds/dollars to not get what you were expecting. That said I think that Tom should have done a lot more homework prior to parting with his hard earned cash. Perhaps in doing so he would have realized that this particular trip would not have been suited to him.

I was actually at NAD Lembeh earlier this year and a large group of German guests arrived and were complaining about the diving in the Strait. They had obviously not done thier homework as they were expecting the kind of diving found at Bunaken. Walls, drifts, palaegics. They were complaining after the first day of diving in the muck.

I also think that it is hard for Deb to get her point across as it is very difficult to sometimes put into words what you are trying to say, i know this too well also, as i am sure i have come across in other posts as a rude obnoxious person, which i am not.

Food is always going to be subjective. What one person rates another person might slate. this is life and unfortunatley we have to put up with things like this. I remember reading a posting on here a few years ago about a diver who was complaining about the Mexican food at KBR.... saying it wasnt as good as REAL Mexican food. Lol

The postings following the OP I think that you obviously have been doing a good job Deb as there have been some good things written about your tours. I personally would love the idea of an open deck.

Happy New Year to all

Stew

Tom dont book a trip to the Galapagos islands and complain about being stuck at Darwins Arch for a day or two.

ondina food great. crew great. excellent diving. Why the sub-zero Air-con in the restaurant area though? Recipe for respiratory illnesses...

There were many good things about my trip on the Ondina to RA.

BTW - I am not the same person who was also unhappy with their trip who posted on this thread.

e.g. I liked the passage (only went for a day/ half day - can't remember now). Plenty of big enough stuff for me when I was there.

Had an awesome trip to RA all the way to Banda with a different (much friendlier) boat recently. Giant Groupers hunting Snappers in breeding ball.

Rather than rehashing replies to my previous post, I would like to offer some lessons that I learned from my experience.

By way of introduction, I’m a diver first and photographer second.

From the nature of most of the replies on this web board, it appears that most members here are the reverse.

Obviously, I selected a trip that was not in line with my expectations. I should have done more homework.

Out of the frustration that followed, I stumbled onto this forum and hastily posted my review with the desire that others not make my mistake.

I could have stated thiings differently.

I didn't.

In the process, I insulted a number of people, including Deb. For that, I apologize.

I have been on a number of liveaboards, most with lots of avid photographers.

I used to be one of them.

In light of these blunders, out of fairness to Deb and to inform all those photography-first divers out there as to what Deb's trips have to offer,

I would like to offer that which I left unsaid.

So here it goes:

From my first-inquiry email until the last day on the boat, Deb was always there. She replied to every email promptly and clearly.

When she knew she was going to be without Internet access, we were notified and given an alternate contact.

As things progressed, she sent out updates. She researched airfares and offered hotel and resort recommendations.

She cheerfully responded to all of my serious and non-serious email requests.

Organization and management are her strong points and she has them in spades. I have considerable work experience as a manager and have spent a fair of time in developing countries.

In looking at our trip with these challenges in mind, our trip was nearly flawless.

For those of you with high end camera rigs, you will appreciate her attention to detail. The layout of the dive deck, camera table and rinse tanks are nearly perfect.

She specifically recruits a cruise director and dive master for all of her trips and they are excellent at what they do.

The dive briefings were appropriate and to the point. The process of getting dive ‘teams’ in the water that she has developed and refined was effortless to follow. And of course, the all-important dive tenders – good-natured, friendly and totally competent – I can't say enough about them.

It is clear that Deb and I differ as to what constitutes a good dive site.

But that is entirely subjective and could be debated forever.

What is not at question for me is her integrity. She is responsible, reliable and competent at what she does.

If you are a photographer-first kind of diver who appreciates all of the intangibles that high-level photography requires, I can assure that you will find it with CitySeahorse as long as Deb is in charge.

Signing off.

Sincerely,

Tom

What a nice way to end the thread, yes?

A very dignified and thoughtful response, Tom.

A similar thing happened to me a few years back. I was disappointed in my experience on a certain (quite reputable) liveaboard, and upon my return posted a quite negative review of the trip on a prestigious uw photo board. It resulted in a maelstrom of vehement rebuttals, including one passed on from the captain of the boat asking if he really deserved to have his livelihood threatened by things that were largely beyond his control...especially when he had done all he could for so many years to provide his guests with exceptional experiences.

Upon reflection, I decided that I had indeed been a bit brash and had done him a disservice. I felt terrible, and actually lost a good deal of sleep over it, wishing I could take back - or seriously edit - that post. Ultimately I posted something akin to your last post.

Oh, and I agree with JTemple, that was a very nice way to end this thread!