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

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Grand Komodo/Raja Ampat Dive Lodge, Sep, 2011, by Barbara M Shively, MD, US ( Sr. Reviewer 7 reports). Report 6255.
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	My husband says it should be renamed the Raja Ampat DIET Lodge! The food was basically unedible -- and we are not real picky eaters. There was no choice, no menu, food was just set in front of you. Most meals were totally lacking in flavor with tough, overcooked meats, lukewarm unseasoned rice and flavorless, overcooked (or almost raw) vegetables. At dinner the soup course was the exception and was not bad. Butter was in a slab and tasted 'off', probably rancid. If you like a drink occasionally, beware, there is NO alcohol except Bintang beer. Accommodations were adequate if you don't need enough light to read by or otherwise see much. Interiors are dark wood paneling that absorb what light is given by the very low wattage bulbs. We did ask for and get one reading light. As for diving, I was led to believe mantas were there year round and that currents were mild (Undercurrent report was one source). Neither was true! I specifically went to see and photograph mantas -- not there, wrong season. Our dive guide, Jemi, was extemely nice and competant and tried his best. All dives were done along the tops of sea mounts out in the open sea between islands and the dive guide said currents are almost always strong to very strong. I found it impossible to do much photography while being swept along by 3 knot currents. We were not told to bring reef hooks and they had only one available. I don't like the damage they must do to the reef. I might have resorted to use it in desperation had I not come down with a cold that stopped me from more diving. Also, we were warned by the dive guide that we needed to be able to descend immediately upon getting into the water or risk being swept too far along the sea mount and possibly pulled very deep by the current at the end of the sea mount. Equalizing is often a problem for us so this was a frightening prospect. In summary, we were not young, strong or fit enough (nor willing) to deal with the challenges of this diving. That plus the minimal comfort level of the accomodations added up to the worst dive trip of our lives.
Websites	Grand Komodo Raja Ampat Dive Lodge
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Around the Caribbean for 20+ years, Costa Rica, Hawaii
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, dry	Seas	currents
Water Temp	81-83°F / 27-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	50-75 Ft/ 15-23 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	Strong currents required staying with dive guide.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	There is a dedicated rinse tank for cameras on shore

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

Grand Komodo/Raja Ampat Dive Lodge, Sep, 2011,

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