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Dive Review of Peter Hughes -- Paradise Dancer in
Indonesia/Raja Ampjat

Peter Hughes -- Paradise Dancer, Nov, 2009,

by Kathy Granger, AZ, USA (Reviewer Reviewer 4 reports). Report 5276.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments The Paradise Dancer is a magnificent ship that you have to visit to appreciate how wonderful it is ! Our room, the Master and Commander suite, was spectacular and I would definitely spend the extra money to have it, if you are considering this boat! Awesome views, jetted tub, bean bag, large lounging couch and table , beautiful teak wood appointments and art, a long row of picture windows, gorgeous shower and vanity area, etc. Every morning and every evening I would take pictures of the sunrises and sunsets from our windows! We relaxed in our lovely suite after each and every dive and were gently rocked to sleep in our huge bed every night! Wow!

One of the best parts about the trip for me was the crew! You fall in love with these guys! They are so wonderful and they treat you so well tending to your every need sometimes even before you know that you need it. Hendrick is an amazing chief steward that was so much fun to be around and knew all of your likes and dislikes immediately! His assistant Augus was so sweet and helpful by the end of the trip you want to take him home with you. What can I say about the dive staff, especially Wendy! She is one of the best "chief of operations" on any of our dive trips ever. Hands down! Her love of diving is contagious! She is so much fun to dive with and she is excellent at pointing things out and making sure everyone sees "it!" She is always upbeat and happy and very funny! Yan and Acho have keen eyes and Yan even found a rare frog fish with eggs on a night dive. What a treat that was! Diving is made so easy! The crew sets everything up and takes excellent care of all of your equipment the whole time you are on board. They were marvelous on the tenders.
Slamet, Andika, Wasis, Ketut, Aan and all of the others go out of the way to help you with everything! When you come back from the dives they are all there to greet you and cheer your return. Then you are treated to relaxing massages with heated towels after each and every dive! After the night dive you are treated to all of this and also Hendrick's "medicine!"

The food was tasty and wonderful and I have no complaints in that area at all. Boy were we spoiled.

The diving in Raja is spectacular to say the least! Thousands and thousands of fish on a lot of the dives! Wobegongs,epaulet sharks, nudis,mantas, huge groups of swirling bumpheads,napoleans,jacks and tunas etc. everywhere. It just boggles your mind! Gorgeous reefs with beautiful corals and amazing cut outs! Great muck dives with cool critters and baby wobegongs! Frog fish, cuttlefish, pipe fish, pgymy sea horses,octopus, mangroves,gobies,blennies,crabs,shrimps,and lobsters everywhere, etc.etc. On a couple of dives the fish were so thick you could not see ! I have only touched on the surface of what you will see on this dive trip to Raja. Couple this with beautiful topside islands and a simply gorgeous sailing ship and we truly were in PARADISE!!! Go and go soon!
Websites Peter Hughes -- Paradise Dancer   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Tahiti, Belize, Komodo, Bali, PNG, Galapagos, Channel Islands, San Carlos, Puerta Vallarta, Honduras, Grenada, Fiji, North Sulawesi, Malaysia, Thailand, Phillipines, Hawaii
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, currents, no currents
Water Temp 82-84°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 60-100 Ft/ 18-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 60 minute time limit
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas Squadrons
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 5 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Great camera room! Great charging area for cameras and lights as well!
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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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