Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
 

Dive Review of Misool Eco Resort in
Indonesia/Raja Ampat

Misool Eco Resort, May, 2013,

by Dave Mintz, CA, US ( 2 reports). Report 7031.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling 4 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments This is one of those moments when I'm torn:

I often use Undercurrent when I'm considering a destination so I want to return the favor to those who have written useful reviews...but I'm tempted to keep this little slice of paradise a secret since it is such a unique and special place. Decisions, decisions.

OK, here we go:

My wife and I traveled to MER in late April and stayed for the 12 night package. Because of the complexities involved in actually getting to the resort and the actual travel time from the West Coast of the US, it seemed to us a no-brainer that we should opt for the longer of the lodging options. This was definitely the right call to make as the entire round trip trip consisted of 8 plane flights and two 5 hour boat rides. Not a destination for those looking for a quick getaway.

However, MER is worth the trouble to get there. We found the resort to be equally as beautiful in person as it appears on the website and as those who travel extensively know, that is not often the case. In fact, there have been several worthwhile and attractive improvements to the grounds that are not represented in the older photos on the site. A nice surprise.

We found the water cottages to be quite comfortable and functional with jaw dropping views of the lagoon. What a treat to wake each day have such a glorious ocean view right from your bed. (I should mention that while the rooms have air conditioning, they tend to serve more as dehumidifiers than actual room-coolers. There are screened vents up high on the walls of the rooms that allow for cross-ventilation and as a result of the transfer of warmer outside air into the space, travellers who expect their rooms to be chilly will be disappointed. We did not find this to be a problem or inconvenience at all.) The outdoor areas of the cottage were clean and comfortable. We are always fans of outdoor showers in tropical climes and certainly enjoyed this one. The spacious deck and comfortable seating were well thought out in the design phase and every guest made use of them when relaxing.

Food was plentiful and tasty. My wife and I are adventurous eaters and made an effort to enjoy the local/regional dishes that were offered at mealtime. We were fed four times each day and somehow I managed to shed a few unwanted pounds. How does one lose weight on such a vacation? This must speak to the fresh and healthful offerings on the menu each day. Kudos to those who worked in the kitchen to prepare tasty fare for the guests.

The diving was excellent as were the dive staff. Friendly, helpful, knowledgeable team members made for a very pleasant underwater experience. The reefs are very healthy, the water warm and clear and the abundance of fish life is due to the resort's commendable efforts to create an extensive no-take zone which is actively patrolled 24/7. Photographers will love MER and they will find a great camera table/work area in the Dive Center. Nicely done.

Be sure to attend some of the evening presentations in the dive shop where one can learn about the local marine life. Do not miss the presentation about the creation of the resort itself as it is a facinating tale of vision, determination and perseverance. Resort owners Andrew and Marit Miners were definitely "in the trenches" with the construction team and had a hand in everything.

Spa services were terrific, relaxing and reasonably priced.

In closing, we had a fabulous time at MER and offer our heartfelt thanks to Andrew and Marit, whose company we enjoyed very much, as well as to those who worked behind the scenes to make the guest experience so fabulous.

Be warned: we will be back!

Dave and Elaine Mintz
Websites Misool Eco Resort   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Truk, Palau, Indonesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, PNG, Hawaii, So. California, Curacao, Cozumel, Grand Cayman
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, rainy, cloudy, dry Seas calm, choppy, currents
Water Temp 81-84°F / 27-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 30-70 Ft/ 9-21 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions The only strictly enforced rule was not to exceed 90ft due to the distance from any kind of emergency medical facilities.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas Squadrons
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities 5 stars
UW Photo Comments [None]
Was this report helpful to you?
Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here
 

Subscribe Now
Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 1386 dive reviews of Indonesia and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

 
Featured Links from Our Sponsors
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Reef & Rainforest, Let our experience be your guide -- Reef and Rainforest
Reef & Rainforest
is an agency for travelers that scuba dive. Looking for Biodiversity, critters, Komodo, Raja Ampat, temples? We specialize in adventures to Indonesia.

Want to assemble your own collection of Indonesia reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

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.

Undercurrent Home


Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email.
And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent

Free Undercurrent Issue
Get a free
monthly email and
a sample issue!


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

Page computed and displayed in 0.13 seconds