Dive Review of Grand Komodo/Raja Ampat Dive Lodge in
Indonesia/Raja Ampat

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Grand Komodo/Raja Ampat Dive Lodge, Mar, 2010, by Maurine Shimlock, tx, usa ( 1 report). Report 5408.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	The Raja Ampat Dive Lodge is the latest offering from Grand Komodo. Located on West Mansuar Island in the Dampier Strait, RADL is a wonderful new choice for land-based diving in northern Raja Ampat. Set back a bit from a picturesque white sand beach, the lodge's strategic location is perhaps one of its best features. The manta aggregation sites are a mere 10 minutes away, and RADL is equidistant from Dampier's Sardine and Blue Magic as well as Yangeffo's Mayhem and Citrus Ridge, which we rate as some of Raja Ampat's top dives. Dives are done from comfortable, shaded fiberglass speed boats with decent ladders, we had a knowledgeable, English-speaking divemaster, an experienced boat driver, and another helper to handle cameras and gear. Nitrox is not currently available. The boat leaves at 8 am for two morning dives, and again at 3 pm for an afternoon dive. We also dived at the newly constructed jetty, and saw cuttlefish, various nudis, batfish, etc. Without a doubt, the jetty will be quite a nice site in a couple of years. I got some great reflection shots at low tide just off the jetty and could have dived there more than once, but got distracted by other fabulous sites and just ran out of time! I don't need to rave about Raja Ampat diving as most readers know we wrote the guide, and think it's the best tropical reef diving on the planet. The dive center has good rinse facilities and showers, and nice racks for drying gear. Accommodation is in duplex, wooden AC bungalows with tiled ensuite bathrooms. Each room has a nice porch, small table, desk, and a couple of chairs. Rooms have either king or twin beds and ample closet space. The generator runs 24-7. Food was served buffet-style and was mostly Asian, but there were a few western selections, especially at breakfast. Portions were beyond ample. You won't go hungry here! Coffee and tea is always available. Beer and soft drinks are extra, but reasonably priced. The kitchen and waitstaff were anxious to please and tried their best to handle special dietary requests Transfers from Sorong take about 2 1/2 hours, and are included in the package if you arrive and depart on Friday. On other days there is a surcharge. The Raja Ampat Dive Lodge is an excellent value for the quality of facilities it provides in this remote location. Construction is still ongoing; they currently can accommodate 8 divers. In a few months they will be able to handle 16. Maximum occupancy is planned for 20.
Websites	Grand Komodo
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Just about every tropical location around the world
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, dry	Seas	calm
Water Temp	82-85°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	30-80 Ft/ 9-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	We were encouraged to stay within safe sport diving limits and spend about 60 minutes bottom time
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	no
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	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
UW Photo Comments	The resort is still in the "soft opening" stage. There is a well set up camera room in the main building with 110 and 220 outlets. Fans and voltage stabilizers are in the process of being installed. We charged and downloaded in our room, but that was a personal choice. Crew learned quickly how to handle our cameras and were helpful in carrying them on and off the boat.

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Dive Review of Grand Komodo/Raja Ampat Dive Lodge in Indonesia/Raja Ampat

Grand Komodo/Raja Ampat Dive Lodge, Mar, 2010,

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 Grand Komodo/Raja Ampat Dive Lodge in
Indonesia/Raja Ampat