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Dive Review of Kasawari in
Indonesia/Lembeh

Kasawari, Feb, 2007,

by Mel McCombie, CT, United States (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 27 reports with 17 Helpful votes). Report 3247.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 2 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments This new resort is a diver's paradise. The villas are lovely and spacious, made of local hardwoods and decorated with beautiful textiles; we booked a villa over the water and enjoyed the deck but the standard villas are virtually identical, just lacking the deck. All have indoor and outdoor showers, mini bars, fridges, and lots of storage space. Towels are huge and all-cotton, as are the comfortable bed linens (on good quality mattresses, too). The resort itself has WiFi at a pretty reasonable cost; one must bring one's own laptop as there is no common computer for the guests.

But it's the dive operation that blew our minds. Nus Lobbu, famed DM in Lembeh, is the resort manager and the dive operation is built from the water up to meet every need. There are 6 huge rinse tanks, 4 just for cameras; lots of space for wetsuits, bcds, etc.; 2 piping hot showers near the rinse tanks and 2 complete changing rooms with toilets and their own showers. They have three dive boats, and since the resort only has 12 villas, there are never more than 8 divers per boat. I have never been more pampered on a day boat. As one emerges, a crew member hands you a steaming face cloth scented with lemongrass to wipe the salt off your face; then he offers you cold water and a fruit plate! The briefing area has a board where divers can write in their wish list critters, and with only one exception, the list was fulfilled. The crew washes your gear after every dive and when it is hung up overnight, industrial fans help to dry it out by morning. (I am not writing about the diving in Lembeh on the assumption that anyone going there knows what it's like!)

The food at the resort was pretty good and the staff is working on making it better. Like sister resorts in the Strait, you give your breakfast, lunch and dinner orders before diving, chosen from an extensive menu. The dining area is attractive and breezy; there is a nice bar; but if you like wine, be sure to bring your own. It is very hard to find in the area (we stopped en route from the airport to the resort and bought some).

The only thing lacking at Kasawari are spa facilities, but given how much diving one does, when would you have the time? This dedicated dive resort is the best we have ever experienced, luxurious yet aimed at divers. My hat (hood) is off to them. We will definately go back.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving worldwide
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, currents
Water Temp 78-81°F / 26-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 75-10 Ft/ 23-3 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions staying fairly near the DMs
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities 5 stars
UW Photo Comments 4 huge dedicated camera rinse tanks, lots of space, and a dedicated room for photographers with outlets, transformers, and yet more space!
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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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