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Dive Review of Pelagian - Dive Asia Pacific in
Indonesia/N/A

Pelagian - Dive Asia Pacific, Sep, 2003,

by Steven Levin, VA, United States . Report 1457.

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 3 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments I was on this boat for four (4) trips for a total of two (2) months. I started with their first trip of the year in late February 2004, did another trip from Sorong to Soring in July, and concluded with a trip that went from Sorong to Bali via Kupang in September.

The good.

Diving in Indonesia when covering diverse areas from Irian Jaya (now Papua) to Bali provides great opportunities for seeing areas with pristine corals, wonderful fish life, glorious invertebrates, and many macro opportunities. Areas such as Komodo, to include Rinca, offer beautiful soft corals with extensive fish and macro. There are locations that are "National Geographic" class. Example: Gunung Api is a volcanic island that has hundreds to thousands of Sea Snakes.

The boat is very large and spacious for the number of divers which is a maximum of twelve (12). Diving is done from two tenders with a dive guide and a maximum of six divers per tenders. Entry is a back roll and exit via a ladder. Nitrox is available and consistently filled to 32%. The lounge area is large and comfortable. There are many areas on the boat for sitting outside to read or lounge.

There is typically three day dives and one dusk or night dive. On a few days subject to transit conditions there may be fewer dives. All dives are guided but you are free to dive solo.

The bad.

By most standards this boat is luxurious but it was showing wear and tear. The owner tells me they will do a major refit in at the end of the season.

Food was average and could be improved. Salad offered at lunch but not dinner. Sliced fresh fruit only at lunch although there was a bowl of fresh fruit at other times. Cooked to order breakfast. Buffet at lunch and dinner with two choices for main courses.

There was no cruise director as the captain attempted to fill this role. The diving staff and operation needs improvement. Dive briefings were minimal and uninformative. Dive guides varied in their "attentiveness".

Some dive spots, not many, were damaged from dynamiting. A few of these are encountered on the trips as in a couple of locations whether or timing does not provide better diving on those days.

Overall.

Indonesia offers fabulous diving. With some capital investment and an improvement in diving operations this would rate as one of the best of boats.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving World-Wide: PNG, Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, Galapagos, Malaysia, Philippines
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, rainy, cloudy Seas calm, choppy, surge, currents, noCurrents
Water Temp 72-82°F / 22-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 35-80 Ft/ 11-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions General time limits from 70 to 75 minutes.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments There is a large dedicated area inside of the boat for photographers. The area contains many charging stations for 110 and 220. On the dive deck there are two large rinse tanks. Diving is from tenders and cameras are placed in the rear of the tenders. Care must be taken to not kick equipment.
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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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