grand komodo brochure

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Live - aboard CruisesIndonesia

(c) Ernest Mak

HOW WE GOT STARTEDGrand Komodo began in 1987 as an adventure – tour operator who organize tours off the beaten track throughout Indonesia but especially to the islands east of Bali and other major islands. In 1990 we carried out our first dive explorations, teaming up with naturalists and photographers such as Dr. Kal Müller, Burt Jones, Maurine Shimlock, Gerry Allen, Roger Steene, Wally Siagian, Mike Severns and David Pickel. Teamed with them we discovered some of Komodo’s most exciting dive sites.

THE BOATSAll the boats used are sturdy Bugis-style wooden boats optimized for Indonesia’s waters. On the boats the accommodations aren’t fancy but they are clean and cozy, safe and comfortable with air conditioned cabins and ensuite bathroom, a dive platform, gear up stations, a dedicated camera table and rinse tank, and battery charging stations (both 110V and 220V). Once each diver’s outfit is rigged, the tank stays in place throughout the trip, being refilled in place.The boats’ home port locations mainly support Komodo or Raja Ampat trips.Our itineraries take adventurous divers to locales such as Komodo National Park, Raja Ampat, Triton Bay, Cendrawasih Bay, Halmahera, Ambon, Lembeh, Alor and Bali. Many potentially exciting dive sites in Indonesia remain undiscovered, and we are steadily exploring and opening up new areas.

WHY DIVE WITH GRAND KOMODO Our pioneering efforts pay off for divers today. Our divemasters all grew up here, and nobody knows the sites, the conditions, and the critters better than they do. We always have a Plan B if a given site isn’t good that day. Likewise our captains, chase boat drivers, compressor operators, engineers, cooks and cabin attendants are all local people experienced in our locales, operations and customer service. Plus, we have a “home court advantage” in dealing with local authorities and airlines. Our agents greet you and handle local arrangements for you every step of the way. But when you travel halfway around the world to go diving you want more than competent service—you want excellence where it counts most: underwater. And even though our cruises consistently cost less than those of competitors, we never stint on the quality of the diving. Overall the individualized service of the competent and friendly local divemasters and staff ensures customized, personal diving experiences not soon to be forgotten.We run scheduled departures throughout the year, and the diverse fleet makes it easy to arrange a charter to fit your specific needs. We can also provide you with an itinerary combining several consecutive trips—including landbase diving in Raja Ampat using the Raja Ampat Dive Lodge, an intimate dive resort strategically located in Mansuar Island, surrounded by many great dive sites.

For further information and reservations please contact:GRAND KOMODO TOURS

Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai no. 147 x, Sanur – Bali – IndonesiaTel (+62)(361) 808 5858, 271 538 / Fax (+62)(361) 271 539

Website: www.grandkomodo.com | www.komodoalordive.comE-mail: [email protected] | [email protected]

Alternate e-mail : [email protected]

Team work is our Strength, Quality our Tradition …..INDONESIA …… Unity in Diversity ……

GRAND KOMODO TOURS

Komodo National Park

MV RAJA AMPAT EXPLORERLOA 33.52 M | Beam 7.50 M | Draft: 2.10 M

Facts • Services • Facilities• 7 Air-Conditioned cabins for 14 persons with ensuite bathroom,

hot shower, wash basin and toilet• Air-conditioned lounge with dining seating for fourteen• TV, CD / DVD Player• 14 gear up stations, 20 scuba tank• Electricity 220 V

MV TEMUKIRALOA 33.51 M | Beam 7.09 M | Draft: 2.64 M


shower, wash basin and toilet• Air-conditioned lounge with dining seating for Twelve• TV, CD / DVD Player• 12 gear up stations, 20 scuba tank• Electricity 220 V

MV PUTRI PAPUALOA 26.16 M | Beam 5.48 M | Draft: 2.52 M


shower, wash basin and toilet• Fan cooled lounge with dining seating for ten• TV, CD / DVD Player• 10 gear up stations, 20 scuba tank• Electricity 220 V

MV TARATALOA 25.50 M | Beam 5.50 M | Draft: 2.00 M


shower, wash basin and toilet• Fan cooled lounge with dining seating for ten• TV, CD / DVD Player• 12 gear up stations, 20 scuba tank• Electricity 220 V

MV NUSA TARA (KOMODO PLUS)LOA 20.40 M | Beam 4.60 M | Draft: 1.90 M


shower, wash basin and toilet• Fan cooled lounge with dining seating for Six• TV, CD / DVD Player• 6 gear up stations, 10 scuba tank• Electricity 220 V

MV KETILOA 15.45 M | Beam 3.65 M | Draft: 1.00 M

Facts • Services • Facilities• MV Keti, our “Honeymoon Boat”• 1 AC cabin, ensuite bathroom, shower, wash basin and toilet.• Electricity 220 V

Raja Ampat Diving InformationHeart of the Coral Triangle

The final frontier, the far eastern edge of Indonesia, it’s not just only brilliant diving in Raja Ampat but also probably the best topside scenery of any dive destination in the world. At times you will be diving at the edge of tropical rainforest and cruising amongst masses of small mushroom shaped islands. This is where Dr. Gerald Allen found the highest fish count of 273 different species on one single dive. Probably, it’s the only place in Indonesia where you can regularly see the strange looking, Woebeegong (carpet) shark.

The Essence Of Raja AmpatRaja Ampat is not only about rare critters or seeing sharks, there are generally not as many of what one would call - classic critters

or big marine life. What is so special about this area is the scenery and in places the abundance of fish life. Masses of fish swarming over vast expanses of living coral. Dives where you are inundated with vast schools of fish, on the best of dives fish seem to block out the sun there are so many. Mellow drift dives across the most beautiful coral slopes and channels, unique dives with heavily undercut mushroom shaped islands with gorgeous coral growth virtually to the surface. Some of the best coral gardens we have seen are in this area. Taking a live-aboard will allow you to see not just these great fish dives but also the topside highlights of this area too. The real “essence of RajaAmpat” is the incredible mix of wonderful topside scenery with great reefs to dive on. Tender boat rides through the most outstanding island scenery of any dive destination is another highlight of this area.

Mansuar AreaThis is the place where Dr. Gerald Allen found those 273 different species, see how many you can count! A great range of dive sites

here makes this area stand out as being probably the best dive areas in the whole of Indonesia for fish life. Not just for the species diversity, as the schooling fish life is also incredible. Most reefs here are vibrant with vast amounts of soft corals covering huge coral outcrops that in turn are surrounded by thousands of small sweepers. There are critters but not as many as other areas, though for sure there are some great areas with rare and unusual marine life. An intimate dive resort, the Raja Ampat Dive Lodge is here in Mansuar Island. Fronted by a white sand beach and backed by the ever-verdant Papuan rainforest, the dive lodge is surrounded by natural beauty.

Birds of ParadiseA short trek through a village and small plantation takes us under the canopy of prime forest where we can see these rare and

mythical birds dancing on their special tree near Sawingrai or Yenwapnor villages.

Waigeo (Aljui Bay)A great area to anchor amongst the many small islands that make this area like a huge maze. There is also a very interesting pearl

farm here. The welcoming staff can show divers some of the processes that go into farming high-end pearls. Dive sites vary with brilliantly colorful invertebrate covered walls that are dotted with caverns. These all seem to just fall from the rock faces that rise up above the water, being topped off with incredible tropical scenery. There are dive sites here that are great critter dives with many great nudibranches and crustaceans to keep the macro lovers content. This area probably has the best macro site in the northern RajaAmpat we have came across up to now!

Kawe AreaMore small islands here that are home to some incredible dive sites. Amongst these we encounter groups of small islands. Here

pelagic fish and many different schooling fish can be seen. Right on the edge of equator there are more impressive islands, some looking like Bonsai trees sitting on a rock base. One very small island has what can only be described as being one the best topographical sites in the area. Walls surround most of the island that can easily be circumnavigated on one dive. But there is much more, a coral covered sea mount with hundreds of schooling fish swimming around it, there are small plateaus, a small cavern, giant sea fans and many black coral bushes surrounding a tall pinnacle. Some sites here are very open to the seas and often strong currents, often swells make safety stops near the reef a little awkward.

Wayag AreaThis has to be as good as it gets for topside scenery, with lagoons and small mushroom shaped islands, a short trek for those with

enough energy will reveal this island in all its glory. We are now surrounded by that same scenery, lagoons and islands where we dive are home to great marine life, beautiful reef scenery, some schooling pelagic fish and wicked topographical dive sites. Also this is home to a hidden blue lagoon with the only way in being from the ocean, it is only us divers that will ever see this sight.

Wai Island AreaSurrounded by white sand beaches and reefs that are home now to plane wrecks as well as great marine life. One plane lays on

a reef slope covered in an array of beautiful soft corals with the slope itself sometimes being a good place to find interesting critters. Reefs here have been impacted in the past though in places the reef crest is an area where you will want that over-under lens. With a tropical island backdrop what more could you ask. At times it is possible to see large groups of manta rays cruising by on this island too.

One of Truly Outstanding Diving in Indonesia!

The Mother Lode of Marine Tourism:Eastern Indonesia

WEST PAPUA (IRIAN JAYA) RegionBird’s Head Seascape :Raja Ampat * Triton Bay * Cendrawasih Bay

RAJA AMPATThis is the final frontier, the Planet’s heart of marine Bio-diversity with the most stunning topside scenery at the eastern end of Indonesia. This archipelago contains over 540 species of hard coral and 1320 reef fish species, far surpassing any other tropical reef system. Raja Ampat offers dazzling sites due to unparalleled array of marine habitats, from current-swept reef points to sheltered black sand bays to blue water mangroves. Raja Ampat is where Dr. Gerald Allen counted 273 fish species on a single dive. If you’re looking for amazing diving in this region, then a Grand Komodo liveaboard cruise here is for you. Water temperature: 24 – 29 C. Visibility: 10 – 30 M (seasonal). Year-round diving.

TRITON BAYTriton Bay is still pretty much in the middle of nowhere, far away from the crowd. There are innumerable small islands in the bay. Spectacular scenery over the mainland features rock art cliffs. This area enjoys an unexcelled fish Biomass. Soft coral gardens cover the ridges. Hard coral growth also shows excellent health. This area has both pelagics and critters, with the diving ranging from very good to outstanding.

CENDRAWASIH BAY Marine National ParkOne of the highest concentrations of unique and endemic fishes in the Pacific Ocean is HERE. World-renowned ichthyologist Dr. Gerald Allen has described Cendrawasih Bay as an “evolutionary cauldron”. The bay’s turbulent geologic history has meant long periods isolated from the rest of the Coral Triangle, allowing a plethora of new species and unique

color variants to evolve. From endemic walking shark to flasher wrasses, and their resident whale sharks. Visitors are asked to carefully follow the code of conduct for interacting with these awe-inspiring creatures and never touch or harass them. Our trip starts from Manokwari for amazing WW II wreck diving, including P-40 (a Curtiss Tomahawk fighter), Cross Wreck, and the Japanese freighter Shinwa Maru, including healthy and profuse hard and soft corals. Dive profiles extend down to the 30 meter range.

MISOOLUntouched environments, completely in their natural states. Fish populations and coral are healthy, with an enormous variety of species. Many rare and exotic critters.

LESSER SUNDAS (Nusa Tenggara) RegionKOMODOthe World Heritage Site - the realm of the dragonKomodo is one of Indonesia’s driest regions. Be sure to include a land visit to see the huge Komodo dragons when you go there. Underwater, Komodo offers just about every type of diving; from current-swept seamounts patrolled by sharks, tuna and other pelagics to calm reefs with teeming schools of fish. Diving is good year-round. Because of strong currents and upwelling the water can be cold. We suggest a 5mm suit and hood. Diving in the NORTH: Best period is during the southeast monsoon, from late March to early May and late September to early November. Currents are often encountered during this time. Water temperature: 24 – 29 C. Visibility: 20 – 25 m. Diving in the SOUTH: Best period is during the northwest monsoon, mid November to early March. Water temperature: 21 – 27 C. Visibility: 10 – 15 m.

MISOOL

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Raja AmpatArchipelago

DIVE PROGRAM

SANGEANG Sangeang is an active volcano whose steep, conical slopes extend up to a nearly 2,000m peak. Lava flows are occasionally visible on its flanks. This island lies between Komodo and Sumbawa island. Sangeang’s black volcanic sands offer underwater photographers a wonderfully contrasting background for fish and other critters, with streams of bubbles rising from the sands here and there due to the volcanic activity. A wealth of sea life can be found in the coral reefs around Sangeang, including nudibranchs and flatworms.

ALOR Alor’s friendly inhabitants are the original source of those beautiful Ikat fabrics sold in Bali. Remote and pristine, Alor’s waters offer masses of swirling, schooling fish and a comparable diversity of rare and weird critters on the reefs. Alor is a macro photographer’s dream.

MALUKU RegionBANDA in the Banda seaKnowledgeable divers seek out this remote location due to a confluence of currents and nutrients there, producing an unusually diverse and brilliant growth of marine life. Fishes large and small can be found on any of the dive sites. The diving ranges from the shallow lagoon between Banda Neira and Gunung Api to the vertical walls of Hatta Island.

HALMAHERA in North MalukuThese were the original Spice Islands. Until the Dutch planted cloves on Ambon Island, every clove in the world came from the Halmahera islands Ternate and Tidore. This region features unique reef formations, with visibility 20 – 30 m, and water temperature of 27 – 28 C. Plenty of macro and micro subjects for UW photographers.

SULAWESI RegionLEMBEH STRAIT in North SulawesiCritter heaven! Bring your macro lens and shoot flamboyant cuttlefish, harlequin shrimp, skeleton shrimps, innumerable nudibranchs, and amazing fish such as stargazers, snake eels, stonefish, sea robins, devilfish, weedy scorpion fish, pygmy seahorses, Pegasus sea robins, cardinal fish, ghost pipe fish, and the queen of small tropicals, the kaleidoscopic mandarin fish. Moreover, while much of Indonesian diving requires dealing with currents, Lembeh features easy diving in calm lake-like water. This place has earned its reputation as the muck diving capital of the world. And it makes for part of a great combination trip with Togian National Park (see the next listing).

WaKaToBi(also called the Tukang Besi Islands) in Southeast Sulawesi. This archipelago is named after its four main islands: Wangi Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomea, and Binongko. Here you’ll experience great wall diving, unparalleled diversity of marine life and the healthiest reefs in the Sulawesi region. On any given day look for mimic octopus, devil scorpion fish, stonefish, ribbon eels, “disco clams”, and many other fascinating critters. Night dives are breathtaking. Entire walls burst into vivid colors as nocturnal tubastrea and soft corals “bloom.” And the diversity of invertebrates such as crustaceans, nudibranchs and mollusks is bewildering. Caribbean divers will sit staring at their logbooks after each dive, not knowing where to begin.

Text edited by Lee Thé

KOMODO NATIONAL PARK

DESTINATIONS DURATION Embark/Disembark

KOMODO 8 Day - 7 Night Labuan Bajo / Labuan Bajo

RAJA AMPAT 11 Day - 10 Night Sorong / Sorong

TRITON BAY 11 Day - 10 Night Sorong / Kaimana

CENDRAWASIH BAY 8 Day - 7 Night Manokwari / Manokwari

AMBON 8 Day - 7 Night Ambon / Ambon

ALOR 8 Day - 7 Night Maumere / Maumere

HALMAHERA 8 Day - 7 Night Ternate / Ternate

LEMBEH 8 Day - 7 Night Bitung / Bitung

KOMODO - SANGEANG 10 Day - 9 Night Labuan Bajo / Sape

KOMODO - ALOR 15 Day - 14 Night Sape / Maumere

MISOOL - RAJA AMPAT 11 Day - 10 Night Sorong / Sorong

MISOOL - HALMAHERA 15 Day - 14 Night Sorong / Ternate

MISOOL - BANDA - ALOR 16 Day - 15 Night Sorong / Maumere

HALMAHERA - TOGIAN 15 Day - 14 Night Ternate / Bitung - LEMBEH

HALMAHERA - AMBON 15 Day - 14 Night Ternate / Ambon

LEMBEH - HALMAHERA 15 Day - 14 Night Bitung / Sorong - MISOOL

LEMBEH - TOGIAN 13 Day - 12 Night Bitung / Gorontalo

gili banta

NUSATENGGARABARAT

NUSAT ENGGARAT IMUR

SEL ATSAPE

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TelukLangkoi

Toro Letuhoh

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Loh Weci PHPA post

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SELATL INTAH

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LABUHAN BAJO

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Seaing is Believing

Explore the MagnificentMarine Life of Raja Ampat

The Heart of the Coral Triangle

SALES & RESERVATIONS CENTRE:

Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai no 147 X, Sanur – Bali – IndonesiaTel (+62) (361) 808 5858, 271 538 / Fax (+62) (361) 271 539

Website: www.rajaampat-divelodge.comEmail: [email protected]

Alternate e-mail : [email protected]

Liveaboard & Landbase DivingSnorkeling & Bird Watching

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