Dive Review of Papua Diving/ Kri Island Resort in
Indonesia/Rajah Amphat, West Papua

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Papua Diving/ Kri Island Resort, Nov, 2005, by Donald Gard, Bangkok, Bangkok . Report 2176.
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	Lack of Management and Poor Organization Sinks Kri Island Trip 1st two weeks of November 2005 Diving Problems 1. Able to dive only nearby the resort for the first four days because of engine difficulties that could have been handled in the slack weeks prior to the arrival of 6 or 7 guests including myself. 2. Many delays at the dock because engine repairs or maintenance were left until the last minute. 3. No consideration for guests’ preferences in choice of dive sites a.During the first days of my second week, the manager would decide on the dive sites according to his personal agenda. He wanted to visit and mark (via GPS) those spots that he was not familiar with. This was being done for his future employer as he was quitting mid week. b.I resolved the problems about dive sites with the manager. However, I was informed in the morning that the owner over ruled the agreement reached the evening previous. c.When his manager left, the owner took over the management of the diving and he, too, had his own agenda. Instead of asking for guest preferences and involving the dive guide, who was with the guests all day, the owner would sell us on, “great dive spots”. We were sent on long boat rides to various damaged reefs. All of these dives were adjacent to small settlements where we stopped between dives. Our stops at these settlements seemed to be the reason for these trips. The owner may have had his crew conduct some business at these places; there could have been some local official to impress, or some other reason. The trip was not for the purpose of providing guests with good diving. d.Because of these inconsiderate actions I sat out 2 days refusing to be charged 35 Euros for poor dives. This proved to be futile, as I had already paid for the dives. Other Problems 1.Offered in-country arrangements at as much as 100% mark up. Example: 50 Euros for a one-night hotel stay in Sorong; my walk in price at the same hotel was $21.00. Any airfares arranged by them were, also, marked up 20 to 30%. 2. Failure to be met at the Sorong Airport after being assured that this would be done. 3. No manager on site for the first and last 3-4 days of my stay. My orientation to the resort was on the 4th day of my stay. No problem 1. There were a number of other annoyances but none of them had to do with the living facilities, the Papuan Staff, or the food. The reason for these problems is that the owner, Max Amer, is fully occupied by another resort project about 500 meters down the beach. He doesn’t have time manage the resort himself and he is unable to hold on to any manager for more than a short while. All of this leads to a troubled atmosphere that is not new to this resort. It is my assessment that these problems will not be resolved soon and that a visit there is a real gamble at this time. I paid approximately $2400 plus travel expenses for a 13-day 24-dive package. Only 10 of the dives were in reasonably good locations. Some of the 10 were not so good because of the conditions but that is not the fault of the resort. At $240.00 per dive, a live aboard would have been a better choice. I would add that some the best dive spots are good but not great. I agreed with some Singaporean guests who felt that this area was overrated. I suggest that divers be wary and hold off on visiting the resort Kri Island Resort until the owner can show that he has some reasonable management (not temporary backpackers working for free) in place. A written agreement to allow a prorated refund at any time during your stay is a good idea.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Many other places in Indonesia, Thailand, Malyasi, PI, and Hawaii
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	rainy	Seas	surge
Water Temp	28-29°C / 82-84°F	Wetsuit Thickness	2
Water Visibility	3-15 M / 10-49 Ft
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	see comments below
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	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	[None]

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Dive Review of Papua Diving/ Kri Island Resort in Indonesia/Rajah Amphat, West Papua

Papua Diving/ Kri Island Resort, Nov, 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 Papua Diving/ Kri Island Resort in
Indonesia/Rajah Amphat, West Papua