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Dive Review of World Wide Dive and Travel/SY Siren in
Indonesia/Komodo Island

World Wide Dive and Travel/SY Siren, Sep, 2009,

by Bill Ehler, TX, United States (Reviewer Reviewer 5 reports). Report 5181.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 5 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 2 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments The best liveaboard I have ever done.
The Cruise Director, Jay Monney and Operations Manager, "Kay" Punthasuree Arsrairas, husband and wife, were the key to the trip. Jay and Kay did an outstanding job of briefing us on safety issues, boat workings, dive briefings and cabin arrangements. Unfortunately this trip was their last trip. They will be purchasing their own vessel. I will be sure to book a trip with them when they become operational.
All of our dive briefings were presented digitally on a large LCD screen in the salon. We were shown the dive site with and pictures of the expected fauna and flora.
Many of the crew have worked together for up to ten years in the diving industry making it a well oiled operation. They did not miss a thing. A tug on the wet suit sleeve or help with a tank strap.
There were four dives a day. Wake-up at 6:30 AM with a light breakfast prior to first dive. The full breakfast included oatmeal, eggs or pancakes, tomatoes, potatoes, bacon, sausage, juice and coffee/tea/milk(a wonderful self serve expresso maker was always available) were served after first dive. Snacks, juice, tea/coffee and soft drinks were available at all times and free of charge. Lunch was the highlight of the day and included fried chicken (yum),baked chicken, fish prepared in many different ways, salad, vegetables and starches. After the third dive snacks were served. Dinner was served after the night dive. Soup was always the first course and followed by pork, beef, chicken and fish. There were at least two or three of each offered at each meal along with veggies and salads. Desserts were freshly prepared and were delicious.
Each cabin had its own computer with flat screen monitor connected to the server. There were at least a hundred movies to view and music to play in my cabin. The AC was controlled independently in each cabin. It worked very well and the AC filters were even cleaned during our trip.
Each cabin was serviced everyday. Fresh towels were available every day if needed. The ensuite bathrooms are small,very efficient and have lots of drinkable, hot water.
There are 8 cabins. Cabin 1 was forward with a double and single bed. Cabin 2 and 3 had two twin beds. Cabin 4 and 5 had a double and twin. Cabin 6 and 7 had three twins and Cabin 8 a double.
I brought two wet suits with me. A 3/2mm for the northern area where water temps were 81-83 F and a 7 mm for the southern area where water was 71-73 F. The currents were strong and unpredictable during the new moon.
Merpati Air was four hours late from Bali to Bima. They charged our group US $60 for overweight bags going to Bima. On our return trip they told us our bags would have to be sent back to Bali the following day. Fortunately our dive master, Koman was with us and was able to negotiate a price to have our bags travel with us.
The entire boat was very well maintained. Everything worked!!
We booked our trip with Scuba Travel Ventures out of San Diego 1-800-298-9909. They always do an outstanding job.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving PNG, Lembeh, Cocos, Maldives, Mapelo, Red Sea, Mexico, Palau, Truk, Yap, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Phillipines, Saba, Honduras, Belize, Mozambique, Red Sea, Australia, California, Baja, Thailand, Vanuatu, Fiji, Niue, Solomon Island, New Zealand and Malaysia
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, dry Seas choppy, surge, currents
Water Temp 71-83°F / 22-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 7
Water Visibility 15-80 Ft/ 5-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions None. There were very detailed dive briefings describing the currents. We were encouraged to follow the dive master but not obligated.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments There was a 5 X 2 ft well lit table in the salon for cameras. There were five photographers on our trip with small digital cameras that worked out fine. If there were SLR housed cameras on board there would be a problem.
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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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