Dive Review of Wallacea in
Indonesia

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Wallacea: "Great Indonesia Liveaboard", Apr, 2023, by Paul Barrett, NM, US ( Contributor 12 reports with 10 Helpful votes). Report 12403 has 1 Helpful vote.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food	N/A
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Wallacea operates two liveaboards in Indonesia, the Ambai and the Seahorse. Wallacea caters to Europeans, and specifically French, but a friend in the Indonesian dive industry recommended them. We did an eleven day cruise on the Ambia with fifteen American guests. he ship has eight cabins with two people in each. There are a mix of double beds and bunks. Two of the cabins are on the upper deck and offer a sea view. The others are below decks, with portholes. All are air conditioned and have en-suite bathrooms and showers. The crew consisted of the ships Captain, First Officer and others that operated the vessel. Dive operations were coordinated by a cruise director that oversaw four dive guides. There is a maximum of one dive guide for each four quest. The rest of the crew consisted of cooks, cabin hands, various other workers and even a pastry chef! Food varied daily and was plentiful. As expected, on an eleven day cruise we began to see repeats on the menu but it was not excessive. Usually there were three dives a day, an excursion to land for a hike or to see birds, and a night dive. There was no extra charge for Nitrox. Before each dive water was offered and after each dive water or some other drink was presented. Furthermore, earth a meal or fresh baked snacks were available in the dining room. Our trip consisted of dive, eat, dive, eat, dive, eat, dive eat, sleep! Of course anyone could skip dives if the were tired or just wanted a break. The diving and professionalism of the operation was outstanding. This was my first rip to Raja Ampat so I can’t say how it was twenty years ago but the coral looked healthy and the reefs teemed with fish. We left from Sorong Harbor and first dove the Dampier Straight then down to Misool. We had planned to go to Raja Ampat but a storm came in. As a result, we had a morning dive, then traveled back to the Dampier Straight for protection. After the seas calmed, we did travel to Raja Ampat the Wayag then back to Sorong. Conditions varied, but the water was a consistent 83 degrees. Dives ranged from no current to the need for reef hooks. Just prior to each dive, a dive guide would enter the water and test the current direction and velocity to determined the dive plan. Most dives started from 70 to 90 feet and proceeded to shallower depths with of course a 15 - 20 ft safety stop. Some of our divers would have preferred to stay shallower the entire dive for gas consumption and light but others were fine with the dive plans. A few things to keep in mind. First, bring a reef hook. You may not need it but better to have it and no need it than need it and not have it. As a previous reviewer noted, the ship does not accept credit cards so bring cash for tips and other charges. I was able to pay my charges by transferring funds to the Cruise director using Wise. When I return to Raja Ampat I’ll certainly use Wallacea again.
Websites	Wallacea
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Bonaire, Caymans, Cozumel, Honduras, Truk, Sipidan, Phillipines
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, currents, no currents
Water Temp	83-°F / 28-°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	50-70 Ft/ 15-21 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	?
Enforced diving restrictions	60 min max. Safety stop at 700 psi
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	Squadrons
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of Wallacea in Indonesia

Wallacea: "Great Indonesia Liveaboard", Apr, 2023,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Wallacea in
Indonesia