Dive Review of
Adventure H2O in
Indonesia/Banda Sea/Irian Jaya

Indian, Pacific, Carribean & Atlantic Oceans

Dive Conditions

No decompression dives, return with 500 psi  

Good camera table, covered with safety netting during boat movements.
Large seperate rinse tank for cameras only, water changed frequently.
110 and 220 volt charging in cabins.  Current appears clean with out
voltage spikes.
Once you show the crew how to handle your camera, they follow through
perfectly.
Crew loads your camera into and out of the diving tenders.
Cameras are covered from the sun to/from dive site.  

Overall Rating

This was our second trip on KOMODO H2O. Our first trip was 14 days in the
Irian Jaya area.  Three days into that trip, we were so impressed with the
operation we signed up for this trip.

This trip, and also our next one in Dec. 2006, is a "crossing"
trip.  It starts in Timor, Indonesia and crosses the Banda Sea.  The first
days are around Alor and Wetar Islands and then north east through the
Banda Sea. Various sites are dived along the way, including Banda Neira and
Guni Api for sea snakes. The Banda Sea is clear, wide angle blue water
diving.  The last part of the trip is around islands off the western tip of
Irian Jaya.  Here, the visibility falls slightly due to the food load in
the water.  Stops are made in the Cape Kri area where the highest fish
count in the world was made several years ago. At times, there are just too
many fish in the water!

Diving on this boat is under the direction of Larry Smith, the most
knowledgeable dive master in all of Indonesia.  Even with thousand of dives
under his belt, his enthusiasm is never diminished. Just tell him what you
want to see and follow the 'big yellow fins!'

The boat is a fully air conditioned aluminum catamaran and takes 10
passengers with a crew of 10.

Diving is done off two tenders with a guide in each. During the dive, one
tender is always on the dive site.  Each tender has a hand walki talki and
can communicate with each other and the main ship.  Normally 4 dives are
done per day and the boat moved at night.

This is a full up-scale operation with cordon blue dining service.  The
owner has vineyards in Australia and serves his wine on board. Snacks, wine
and all else except Nitrox are included in the base cost - no lists and
you're never nickel-dimed for incidentals.  EMail and Sat phone service is
also available.

A typical day: arise about 6:30 am and have fresh baked pastries and fruit,
1st dive briefing and place your order for main cooked-to-order breakfast.
Do the dive, return to boat and be greeted with fresh juice, and
personalized deck towel.  After breakfast, dive, more juice and lunch. Then
the first afternoon dive, horse devours, second after noon or night dive
and finally dinner and fine wine! Repeat this for 14 days.

Certifications are available on request, all mission dependent equipment is
redundant, dual water makers far exceed fresh water requirements for many
daily showers and an oxygen generator is on board.

The luxury of this operation will lull you into forgetting that you are
diving in some of the most remote areas of the world.  Safety sausages and
powered horns are mandatory.  When the dive master advises you not to swim
around the point - don't as you will be off to China.

The main diving rule is "Don't do any thing stupid!"

With over 50 live aboard trips, we believe this is the best operation in
the best waters!
Email us for additional info.

KOMODO H2O website -- http://www.adventureh2o.com/komodo.html
 

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