Komodo Trip 2009
We will be on the boat from the 7th - 17th September 2009, but will need a few days extra for travelling, making this a 14-day trip. The precise dates for flights are still to be confirmed, but we will update this page as soon as we have more details. Please email komodo@e-scuba.co.uk to express your interest and to be kept up to date.
Komodo National Park can be found 200 nautical miles east of Bali, nestled between Sumbawa and Flores in Indonesia. It has been a World Heritage Site for more than 15 years, and, at 132,000 hectares of water, is one of the world's largest protected zones. The area was formed by volcanic eruptions which also produced Sumatra, Java and Bali, giving it a striking, mountinous topography with soaring volcanic cliffs.
The Park is home to a marine environment abundant in wildlife and rich in diversity. Notable species range from whales to pygmy seahorses, and share the waters with more than 260 species of coral and 70 of sponge, as well as dolphins, manta rays, groupers, anglerfish, nudibranchs, dugongs and napolean wrasse. On the land there is also a great diversity of animals and birds is similarly large, and includes wild horses, the macaque monket and white-breasted sea eagles. The trip will include visits to the islands of Komodo and Rinca, to see the world's largest lizard, the famous Komodo Dragon!
John Weinberg, founder of Scuba Training Ltd says, "I have done some of my best divers ever around Komodo. There is a real mixture of dive sites. There are black sand dives with hairy frogfish, ambon scorpionfish and all the strange fauna that you would find in Lembeh. You can also do long drift dives along walls covered in safron coloured soft corals. There should also be plenty of pelagics and at the other end of the scale pygmy seahorses and nudibranches."
The boat for this trip will be the beautiful live-aboard yacht, the Siren, which we have rebooked after being extremely impressed with the high standard of care and level of comfort we experienced on our Adamans 08 trip.
S/Y Siren
The 34 metre sail and motor vessel Siren was originally called Sampai Jumpa Lagi but has been renamed Siren as it is easier to say. She has been designed and built by Worldwide Dive and Sail on the island of Sulawesi. She is a traditional Indonesian ‘gaft-rigged Phinisi’ handcrafted from ironwood and teak. Thus she has been custom-made with all the luxury facilities for the modern diver. Worldwide Dive and Sail considers safety essential on their yachts so the S/Y Siren has been designed and constructed based upon Lloyds Standards, the leading international body of maritime safety standards.
The cost of the boat is £1450. Included in this price is diving, food, soft drinks and beer. Gear hire if required (needs booking in advance) except computers and torches which are available at extra cost.
Not included but necessary:
A VISA before you go, travel insurance, tips, park fees
Extras such as massage and laundry
Features of the S/Y Siren
- 7 sails
- An expansive leisure deck area
- A spacious air-conditioned saloon with cocktail bar, 42 inch flatscreen & computer server supporting the inter-cabin network, covered outdoor dining area
- 9 large air-conditioned cabins each with their own personal computer, audio-visual entertainment system and ensuite bathrooms with hot water. All rooms are lavished with luxury extra’s including bathrobes, hair dryers, towels, individually controlled mood lighting and individual controls for your air-conditioning unit
- Hot towels after night dives, Laundry Service, Massage Service
- Free Enriched Air Nitrox
- 2 high-powered Zodiacs accompany the S/Y Siren, Waterskiing and Wakeboarding
- Kayaks, Fishing Tackle
- Specialized features for Underwater Photographers & Videographers include:
- Each cabin is fitted with an individual computer and multiple power sources to facilitate the needs of digital photography. The computer features high-end specifications and 20” high-definition flat screens, which is integrated with the yacht's network server in the saloon
- Workstations for the preparation and maintenance of cameras including prep and storage areas
- Large rinsing tanks with fresh water changed three times daily
If you'd like to learn more about the trip, express your interst or ask any questions, please call us on 020 7381 5000 or email komodo@e-scuba.co.uk
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." - Mahatma Ghandi