Komodo or Sulawesi liveaboards?

I've been looking at possible dive trips to Bali, Komodo, or Sulawesi. I'm particularly focused on macro photography, though I have a 10-22mm lens and dome as well. I want a trip where I'm doing 4 dives a day typically, so I've been looking at live aboards, since the shore operations I've seen all seem to assume 2-3 dives per day at most.

Boats like the Paradise Dancer are attractive, but I'm suffering from a bit of sticker shock from the price. $430 per night! I can afford that, but I'm seeing prices from boats like the MY Liburan or the MV Tarata at more like $200 per night covering the same region. On the other hand, I'm having a hard time finding trip reports from the less expensive vessels.

Things I'm looking for in a live-aboard:

* Camera friendly (i.e. work tables, soak tanks)

* Photography-friendly diving. I've been with operations where the dive master herds the group around, which can be a problem if I'm taking time with a particular photograph. A few reports I've read from the region indicate some boats are pretty rigid. I'm aware that a good guide can be important for spotting the smaller critters, though.

* Nitrox. Not an absolute requirement.

* Reasonably organized and pleasant crew. Again, I've read a couple of negative trip reports about specific dive operations.

- Gus

I've been looking at possible dive trips to Bali, Komodo, or Sulawesi. I'm particularly focused on macro photography, though I have a 10-22mm lens and dome as well. I want a trip where I'm doing 4 dives a day typically, so I've been looking at live aboards, since the shore operations I've seen all seem to assume 2-3 dives per day at most.

 

Boats like the Paradise Dancer are attractive, but I'm suffering from a bit of sticker shock from the price. $430 per night! I can afford that, but I'm seeing prices from boats like the MY Liburan or the MV Tarata at more like $200 per night covering the same region. On the other hand, I'm having a hard time finding trip reports from the less expensive vessels.

 

Things I'm looking for in a live-aboard:

 

* Camera friendly (i.e. work tables, soak tanks)

 

* Photography-friendly diving. I've been with operations where the dive master herds the group around, which can be a problem if I'm taking time with a particular photograph. A few reports I've read from the region indicate some boats are pretty rigid. I'm aware that a good guide can be important for spotting the smaller critters, though.

 

* Nitrox. Not an absolute requirement.

 

* Reasonably organized and pleasant crew. Again, I've read a couple of negative trip reports about specific dive operations.

 

- Gus

Gus,

I was on board the Paradise Dancer last April and I had a wonderful trip; rest assured that all your requirements will be met on that vessels, plus some others you did not mention !!! Another option would be the Komodo Dancer (same kind of organization at a lower price) .... I am looking forward to book a cruise on the Komodo Dancer this summer, although Komodo might have a few more dive sites which are good for wide-angle rather than macro.

All the Best ..... Francesco

Gus,

The Mermaid 1 as a good medium priced live-a-board that does a Bali to Komodo to Bali run in the summer.

Also you should look at: www.aquamarinediving.com. They are a Bali diving agent that I have used to arrange my Bali dives and live-a-boards, they are excellent.

Regarding the Bali to Komodo live-a-board, it is both wide and macro photography. I did mostly macro, but used my dome for manta rays and sharks. Diving Horseshoe Bay in Rinca with Cannibal Rock is a highlight of the trip.

Elmer

Hi Gus,

Looking at your requirements, first off I'd say don't write off shore based. With two morning dives, an afternoon and a night dive, you're at your 4 dives/day. You might even be able to squeeze in a 5th at some places. Certainly cheaper than a live aboard. If you're focused on macro, then really consider Bali, which will still have some w/a and is super easy to get to/from (plus is just a super cool place) or go straight to Lembeh for all macro, crazy critter diving.

As for live aboards, I tend to go pretty up scale and I balked at the Paradise Dancer price too. Plus the extra hassle of getting to/from Sorong. In both Rajah Ampat and Komodo you're going to get much more wide angle, although there's always plenty of macro. Currents and distance between sites on the route may interfere with your 4 dive/day need. I can recommend the Komodo Dancer - very nice boat, great service, great food, but given the currents, there were times we only got 3 dives in. They have nice workbenches for your rig, so long as there aren't too many big slr's. I've also been on the Ondina which had a great crew and the Cheng Ho which was spacious and had lots of room for cameras and gear, but leaked like a sieve in the rain (which I'm told is typical of the older wooden phinisi boats).

I'd also take a look at photography-specific trips. Wetpixel, Backscatter, UnderExposures, diving4images, City Seahorse and a host of others all run trips that are photographer friendly so you know the boat will be set up well and the guides will give you plenty of freedom.

You will love diving in Indonesia!

Phil

I've been looking at possible dive trips to Bali, Komodo, or Sulawesi. I'm particularly focused on macro photography, though I have a 10-22mm lens and dome as well. I want a trip where I'm doing 4 dives a day typically, so I've been looking at live aboards, since the shore operations I've seen all seem to assume 2-3 dives per day at most.

 

Boats like the Paradise Dancer are attractive, but I'm suffering from a bit of sticker shock from the price. $430 per night! I can afford that, but I'm seeing prices from boats like the MY Liburan or the MV Tarata at more like $200 per night covering the same region. On the other hand, I'm having a hard time finding trip reports from the less expensive vessels.

 

Things I'm looking for in a live-aboard:

 

* Camera friendly (i.e. work tables, soak tanks)

 

* Photography-friendly diving. I've been with operations where the dive master herds the group around, which can be a problem if I'm taking time with a particular photograph. A few reports I've read from the region indicate some boats are pretty rigid. I'm aware that a good guide can be important for spotting the smaller critters, though.

 

* Nitrox. Not an absolute requirement.

 

* Reasonably organized and pleasant crew. Again, I've read a couple of negative trip reports about specific dive operations.

 

- Gus

Gus,

I did a liv trip to Komodo on KM Bidadari in February(the weather was perfect(no rain) but vis was so so, 50 feet max). Nice boat but due to low season it was just me and my dive buddy(3 other divers from Asia cancelled last moment). I thought it was an excellent trip, having separate rooms and only have 3 divers in the water at once. The Bidadari is a good boat, not luxury but had adequate space. I believe their rates are reasonable. Check their website. Also, see link below with some pictures.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47679496@N02/...57623487704704/

Looking at your requirements, first off I'd say don't write off shore based. With two morning dives, an afternoon and a night dive, you're at your 4 dives/day.

That's the schedule I ran in Bonaire, but I could drive to the dive sites in the rented truck, and dive whenever I was ready. My experience with shore-based diving elsewhere is that you get to the sites in a small boat, and the dive shops run either one 2-tank trip or two 1-tank trips a day, and that's it. It's completely not clear to me which dive operations run more dives than that, at least from the web pages. The descriptions of the all-included packages often state that you get just 2 dives a day, plus unlimited dives of the house reef.

- Gus

Doing 2 morning followed by 2 afternoon and an evening/night dive is no problem in Bali. Hire a private guide and they are use to a 4 to 5 dive a day routine.

Elmer

Most if not all dive resort in Lembeh or Tulamben will be able to accommodate your requirement for 4 dives/day easily. We stayed at KBR Lembeh last October; did min. 3 boat dives/day + 1 night diving or mandarin dive. It is possible to have 5 dives/day. Most of sites can be reached within 10 minute from resort. Great house reef for night diving.

They are very photographer friendly - nice camera room, you don't even have to carry your camera to the boat. Very sweet hot chocolate always ready in boat after night diving. Delicious cookies always waiting you on the first morning dive. I love their sweet pineapple after every dive. What I hate - my weight increased 2 kg just in one week.

Similarly in Tulamben - we had no problem at all to have 4 dives/day - all shore diving except if we want to dive Amed, Seraya and Kubu; but still not more than 30 minute.

yes, Mamel is correct, the shops in Lembeh typically do 2 in the morning then 1 after lunch with an option of a night dive. Some operators go out on the boat and stay out for the two morning dives with snack etc on the boat, others go back to the resort between dives.

For diving in Lembeh i would definitly stay in a resort. As people have posted earlier u can still get at least 4 boat dives per day and most resorts offer some great shore diving.