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Dive Review of Grand Komodo -- Tarata in
Indonesia/Komodo

Grand Komodo -- Tarata, Apr, 2012,

by John Woolley, WA, US (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 11 reports). Report 6522.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations N/A Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 1 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Indonesians are delightful, diving around Komodo is fantastic, and the food onboard is the usual yummy Indonesian fare. Enough said?

But I'll go on anyway. We dove with Grand Komodo in Raja Ampat at Christmas and just had to get back to Indonesia, so did a repeat trip with Grand Komodo but this time in Komodo. With Raja Ampat as top-top shelf diving, Komodo is just one small level below in terms of corals and fish. In other words, suburb. One important caution: there is a reason it is famous for its currents--they rip! So it really isn't a good place for beginners, and, make sure you take a reef hook. Appropriately prepared, you will love the diving.

On one dive, around appropriately titled "Current City", we hooked-up and had 13 (yes 13) Giant Mantas hovering around us. And I mean the type of hovering where we frequently had to duck to avoid them. And then 15 Mobula (Devil) Rays swam by. Oops, forgot the Spotted Eagle Ray that preceded the Mobula.

The other dives were equally delightful, with fantastic corals and excellent fish. Lots of turtles, Sweet Lips and Spade Fish, and the odd shark. And the day trip excursion to check out those giant reptiles--Komodo Dragons--was a fun, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Finally, we wholeheartedly recommend Grand Komodo. I do try and keep my money local when I travel, and Grand Komodo (Indonesian owned) fits the bill. True, the boats are not five star luxury, but they are comfortable. I don't know about you, but I never have trouble sleeping on a live aboard. Four dives, one beer, and I'm out. I'm told the beds are very comfortable: I just remember falling asleep and waking up.
Websites Grand Komodo -- Tarata   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Raja Ampat, Thailand, Philippines, Roatan, Saba, Belize, Bahamas, Puget Sound
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas currents
Water Temp 79-83°F / 26-28°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Maximum depth per dive site, 500 psi at safety stop.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? no

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas Squadrons
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments We have a small camera, so are easy to accommodate. One shipmate had a very large camera: Komodo staff are very accommodating to photographers however I am a bad judge of facilities.
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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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