Dive Review of Pindito in
Papua New Guinea/Raja Ampat

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Pindito, Mar, 2012, by Chuck Edson , OR, US ( Reviewer 5 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 6517.
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	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	This trip was organized by Alan Markis through Dolphin Dive in Sacramento CA. It was advertised as "Whale watching and Muck Diving." A marine biologist and whale expert, Benjamin Kahn, was on the ship. He was VERY knowledgeable and on the first day we spotted Sperm Whales. Kahn was on a grant to conduct whale research. Edi Frommenwiler, owner of the Pindio (the dive boat), was on board. Edi is a colorful character, environmentalist and avid underwater photographer who very much supported Kahn’s research. Although the whale watching and listening through the hydrophone were interesting, these activities compromised the diving opportunities in my opinion. We stayed near deep water to increase prospects of whale sightings which I believe limited chances for good coral diving locales. Also, I felt that we spent too much time following dolphins. (Many on board enjoyed it though.) All this said, I do not regret the trip. It was a pretty good compromise of mammal pursuit and diving (though as implied I was disappointed with some dives). Manta sites were good and some dives were beautiful. The dive staff was excellent and the service was exceptional. The Indonesians were extremely friendly and threw a party when we departed. The food was good but not notable and not much variety. I was disappointed that fish was not served more, but that may have been due to environmental sensitivity. There was a tour of a pearl farm. Alan Markis has a following mostly from Central California. These divers accepted us newcomers warmly. Many of them were older than we are (mid 50s to 60s plus) but there were some “youngsters” too. Alan is a charming person who is very experienced about diving options in Indonesia but he wasn’t always great at guiding his brood through some transfers. All this said I would not hesitate to go diving with Alan again on the Pindito or elsewhere in Indonesia or Raja Ampat. Time and money limit us, however.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Hawaii, Belize, Micronesia, Palau, Wakatobi, Great Barrier Reef, Cozumel, Solomans, Fiji, Sea of Cortez, Bonaire ...
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	rainy, cloudy, dry	Seas	calm, choppy
Water Temp	82-84°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	15-75 Ft/ 5-23 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Recommended depths and guides were reasonable.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	Squadrons
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	> 2
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	I did not bring an underwater camera but most of the 16 divers did and accommodations and care of equipment seemed very adequate.

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Dive Review of Pindito in Papua New Guinea/Raja Ampat

Pindito, Mar, 2012,

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 Pindito in
Papua New Guinea/Raja Ampat