Dive Review of Adventure H2O in
Indonesia/Banda Sea/Irian Jaya

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Adventure H2O, Dec, 2005, by Allan & Barbara Jones, CA, usa . Report 3015.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	This was our second trip on KOMODO H2O. Our first trip was 14 days in the Irian Jaya area. Three days into that trip, we were so impressed with the operation we signed up for this trip. This trip, and also our next one in Dec. 2006, is a "crossing" trip. It starts in Timor, Indonesia and crosses the Banda Sea. The first days are around Alor and Wetar Islands and then north east through the Banda Sea. Various sites are dived along the way, including Banda Neira and Guni Api for sea snakes. The Banda Sea is clear, wide angle blue water diving. The last part of the trip is around islands off the western tip of Irian Jaya. Here, the visibility falls slightly due to the food load in the water. Stops are made in the Cape Kri area where the highest fish count in the world was made several years ago. At times, there are just too many fish in the water! Diving on this boat is under the direction of Larry Smith, the most knowledgeable dive master in all of Indonesia. Even with thousand of dives under his belt, his enthusiasm is never diminished. Just tell him what you want to see and follow the 'big yellow fins!' The boat is a fully air conditioned aluminum catamaran and takes 10 passengers with a crew of 10. Diving is done off two tenders with a guide in each. During the dive, one tender is always on the dive site. Each tender has a hand walki talki and can communicate with each other and the main ship. Normally 4 dives are done per day and the boat moved at night. This is a full up-scale operation with cordon blue dining service. The owner has vineyards in Australia and serves his wine on board. Snacks, wine and all else except Nitrox are included in the base cost - no lists and you're never nickel-dimed for incidentals. EMail and Sat phone service is also available. A typical day: arise about 6:30 am and have fresh baked pastries and fruit, 1st dive briefing and place your order for main cooked-to-order breakfast. Do the dive, return to boat and be greeted with fresh juice, and personalized deck towel. After breakfast, dive, more juice and lunch. Then the first afternoon dive, horse devours, second after noon or night dive and finally dinner and fine wine! Repeat this for 14 days. Certifications are available on request, all mission dependent equipment is redundant, dual water makers far exceed fresh water requirements for many daily showers and an oxygen generator is on board. The luxury of this operation will lull you into forgetting that you are diving in some of the most remote areas of the world. Safety sausages and powered horns are mandatory. When the dive master advises you not to swim around the point - don't as you will be off to China. The main diving rule is "Don't do any thing stupid!" With over 50 live aboard trips, we believe this is the best operation in the best waters! Email us for additional info. KOMODO H2O website -- [adventureh2o.com link]
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Indian, Pacific, Carribean & Atlantic Oceans
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny,dry	Seas	calm,choppy,currents,noCurrents
Water Temp	79-84°F / 26-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-120 Ft/ 15-37 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	No decompression dives, return with 500 psi
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	Schools	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	Good camera table, covered with safety netting during boat movements. Large seperate rinse tank for cameras only, water changed frequently. 110 and 220 volt charging in cabins. Current appears clean with out voltage spikes. Once you show the crew how to handle your camera, they follow through perfectly. Crew loads your camera into and out of the diving tenders. Cameras are covered from the sun to/from dive site.

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Dive Review of Adventure H2O in Indonesia/Banda Sea/Irian Jaya

Adventure H2O, Dec, 2005,

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 Adventure H2O in
Indonesia/Banda Sea/Irian Jaya