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Dive Review of Dive Damai/Damai 2 in
Indonesia/Maumere to Ambon to Kupang

Dive Damai/Damai 2, Oct, 2013,

by Mike Elliott, CA, US (Reviewer Reviewer 3 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 7207.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 3 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments The bad...
Central AC meant all ACs needed to run 24/7 otherwise if one was turned off caused problems. This meant many times it was cold. We tried to control temp with scattered results.
Water pressure varied a lot. Not an issue until you take a shower and the water temp runs from cold to hot, you had to be fast to avoid getting scalded. This also affected the flush toilets meaning it could take several minutes to work.
Noise and smells but its a wooden boat and this is pretty typical, squeaks and diesel.
Water leaks. Again since its a wooden boat in a strong rain water is just going to get in.

The good...
The tenders are awesome. Stable, comfortable, easy entry exit, fast, spacious. Live the tenders!
Dive deck is great as each diver has their own station with its own storage and rinse tanks. The floors have anti-slip strips. Tanks are filled quickly and rarely did I get a tank less than 3000PSI and usually it was 3050 to 3200PSI and very few leaking issues for the entire trip for a group of 12 divers! Any problems were immediately fixed. Great briefings. Hooks, sticks and spare air were avail for free to those who wanted them.
Diving was easy. Walk to boat, check gear before entry, drop in and enjoy, then the skiff captain pulls in your rig takes your fins and mask and you climb up a very nice rear ladder.
Food was great and you cold eat as you wanted or what they served which varied greatly for all pallets. Sodas, coffee, beer and one glass of wine free per meal. Tim Tams and Oreos whenever you wanted them. Order an espresso or cappuccino!
Rooms were large with in suite bathrooms. Clean and comfortable.
Parlor was large and comfy. Fish books for doing ID.
Upper sunning deck was large and had lounges.
The cruise directors did an excellent job. Arrival was fast and efficient, orientation and getting settled was easy as pie. They ran the trip well, and accommodated any request I made. Departing was just as easy and effortless with everything all taken care of.

Overall a stunning boat and great crew. Even my bad comments are overshadowed by all the good. If you want to get spoiled take a cruise on this boat.

When everything runs this smooth you can really concentrate on the awesome diving. Well done Damai!
Websites Dive Damai   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Bonaire, Bahama, Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Raja Ampat, Lembeh, California.
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, rainy, cloudy Seas calm, choppy, surge, currents
Water Temp 76-82°F / 24-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 30-100 Ft/ 9-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions No restrictions. You must dive safely and observe good diving practices (ie don't go into deco and not clear it, unsafe practices will ban you from further diving). No max depth enforced other than to stay safely within Nitrox limits for 31-32%. You were expected to know what you were doing.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 5 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Dive room accommodated easy 10 big rigs. Stations along walls included a shelf. Well lit. Storage underneath. Blowoff avail on dive deck. Dehumidifier avail. Rinse tanks at each divers tank station. Boat crew know how to handle big rigs and are careful.
Projector and large screen in the parlor made presentations a snap. It was great while it worked but an electrical problem interfered.
I give this boat excellent scores for UWP. I shoot a 7D and my wife a 1DX with all the bells and whistles there was plenty of room.
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Subscriber's Comments

By William Bynum in TX, US at Nov 01, 2013 14:56 EST  
Ditto Mike! See you in Komodo
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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