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Dive Review of Grand Komodo -- Raja Ampat Explorer/Explorer and RADL in
Indonesia/Raja ampat

Grand Komodo -- Raja Ampat Explorer/Explorer and RADL: "Raja Ampat Explorer and Dive Lodge Dream Trip", Nov, 2014,

by carl berenson, WA, US (Reviewer Reviewer 5 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 7909.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Dream dive trip began with three dives in gangga at Bangka island. Plush resort there.
Great service then flight to Sorong and speedboat after Sorong overnight to raja ampat dive lodge. Check out the website. Good food and great diving the damper strait dive sites. Beginners stay home. Lots of fish and variety of coral, soft, hard, ...birds in the am and eve. After 20 dives ( get the unlimited dives so you can dive three dives a day plus night dive on the house reef). Back to Sorong for the explorer liveaboard. Great crew, captain, great food, and a trip down to Misool (100 miles) the first night so diving the south east Misool sites for several days as boat made its way north. Thirty dives later we experienced gorgeous islands, dove the pristine reefs of Misool then up to damper straits again. And back to Sorong after ten nights on board.
That is a lot of diving but that is why anyone visits this area. Took three days in Singapore for some eastern culture, soft plush beds, and shopping.
A dream come true. No worries along the way as grand Komodo took care of everything. Great transits. Took care of the bags to airport...dive equipment taken good care of. As everyone had a camera, respect for the photo equipment was shown.
Read Burt jones and Maureen shimlock's book ( mostly photos) of raja ampat.
There were currents in damper straits but advanced divers can handle them with a reef hook and experience. Viz was variable ...not gin clear but who cares? Mantas, eagle rays, thousands of fish...great diversity of corals like no where else.
If I had to chose, I would choose the explorer dive boat but to do the dive lodge and the boat was the best. 23 days to do that, minimum.
Websites Grand Komodo -- Raja Ampat Explorer   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Solomon Islands, Fiji, Sulawesi, Komodo, Bali, Cozumel, key largo.puget sound
Closest Airport Sorong Getting There Manado Sorong

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas
Water Temp 85-90°F / 29-32°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility - Ft/ - M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions 60 mins was the request but could go longer.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities 4 stars
UW Photo Comments RADL set up in your own room. Rinse tank at dive shop. Explorers had table in dining room for each photographer. Rinse take and care handling equipment from dinghy
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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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