Dive Review of Kararu Dive Voyages/Cheng Ho in
Indonesia/Ambon and Banda Islands

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Kararu Dive Voyages/Cheng Ho, Mar, 2009, by William Deertz, Jakarta, Indonesia ( Reviewer 5 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 4749.
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	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	This is my third trip with Kararu (www.kararu.com) and I can attest that they run a quality operation. This was my first trip on the Cheng Ho, it was similar to the Sea Safari III but more spacious and roomier. Unfortunately for the operator (good for the passengers) there were only 5 paid passengers on this trip. The boat can accommodate up to 20 passengers so we had PLENTY of space with only 5 passengers (only 4 divers). As such on many dives there were more dive guides than guests which really helped for finding critters for the 3 photographers. The food is hearty and varied, although not gourmet no one lost any weight on this 12 day trip. My 3 member group had 2 of the upper staterooms which are roomy and well appointed, although on one evening we had some leakage from rain but nothing too serious. The operator had sealed the ceiling with a plastic laminate but obviously there was still some need for repairs. Fortunately we only had rain on 1 day during the trip and this wasn't a hard rain. The diving was from two tenders but with so few divers we all fit in one tender and the second tender was a watch/backup. The muck diving in Ambon harbor was in my opinion as good as Lembeh Straits. Unfortunately during this trip we were in the early phase of a new moon so the currents/tides were very mild. While making for easy diving we didn't see many pelagics or large fish which I believe may be because of the lack of strong currents. Despite this we saw many small critters. Overall assessment, would I return again? As for the operator I will definitely do another trip with Kararu. All crew were knowledgable, helpful and friendly. In terms of Ambon, while it was good diving I'm not sure it warrants a repeat trip. My next trip will hopefully be Fak Fak. Finally we did a shore excursion in Banda Neira to a 16th century Dutch fort, this was an interesting topside diversion.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	Throughout Indonesia (Bali/Lombok/Manado/Lembeh Straits/Komodo/Alor/Raja Ampt/Derawan) Australia, Philippines, Thailand, Maldives, Hawaii, Florida
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, no currents
Water Temp	29-30°C / 84-86°F	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	5-35 M / 16-115 Ft
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	No real restrictions other than return to boat with 500 psi of air
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
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	Plenty of charging stations and camera storage/setup

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Dive Review of Kararu Dive Voyages/Cheng Ho in Indonesia/Ambon and Banda Islands

Kararu Dive Voyages/Cheng Ho, Mar, 2009,

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 Kararu Dive Voyages/Cheng Ho in
Indonesia/Ambon and Banda Islands