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I will have to weed through hundreds of photos and figure out how to post them in a trip report. I WILL write a complete report, then. For now, I will give a quick impression of the two trips.
Raja Ampat was remarkable. The vis was not the best, but all that "stuff" in the water was the food that made all that biodiversity possible. The Odyssea 1 was a really nice boat. It had the largest crew of any liveaboard I've been on. You do almost nothing but put your gear on and dive. Our schedule for the day; Dive, eat, dive, eat, dive, eat, dive, eat, sleep, repeat the next day.They even wash your wetsuit for you after every dive. They are really set up for the photographers with complete camera room and more charging stations than you can use. Not being used to diving from tenders (zodiacs) I had to get used to the inconvenience. I highly recommend the boat.
Kasawari is the loveliest, most comfortable and best run resort I have seen. It is brand new but it will flourish if it is still run like this in the coming years. Sadly, KBR (nearby) seems to be sliding, if all accounts are true. The Kasawari grounds and bungalows are beautifully designed and appointed. The wonderful staff cheerfully sees to your every need. The dive boats are of native design and are a delight to dive from. The pool had the softest water I have ever swum in.
While Lembeh is not for everyone (if you need the "big stuff" to be entertained, rethink going there) I absolutely loved it! The critters are as exotic and wierd as I thought they would be.
Last edited by allisonfinch; 02-24-2007 at 10:03 PM.
Thanks for the heads up on the Odyssea.....I have been trying to find a liveaboard for the Raja area.....the 3 others (nice ones) are not doing the Raja area in late Dec/Jan...The Odyssea does.....thought I was going to go and stay at the Sorido resort......My travel agent wants to put my in the KBR...I am glad to read your report.....does the Kasawari have nitrox and aprox was the upcharge? also do they have 100 tanks?
We've all been waiting! Let me know how I can help as to uploading photos in the Gallery here. We ought to create a Gallery Folder called Indonesia or Raja Ampat or something.
As you can see, we've been busy tending house since you've been gone, and the event countdown you asked for I got, just in time to be too late for your trip! lol
We also added the SM WorldMaps so you can see just about anywhere in the world up close via satellite.
It will be nice to hear a report and see photos! Our Publisher has had Sulawesi, Lembeh, Gangga and Raja Ampat on the radar as like me, he too is a macro fan.
Kasawari does have excellent nitrox, although I used air. I don't know about the 100's. I have the kind of air consumption that makes me want 60's. I hate coming up with a lot of air. on one dive with a similar consuming diver, we spent 80 minutes on a shallower dive. Everyone was about to send out a recovery party.
Well I found out Kasawari has only one 100 tank.!...Lembeh Resort has many....People like you make Air Hogs like me.....Cry!!!!! ....LOL.....In Guam....Calling my flight to Palau...gotta go
Well, call and reserve that tank. They fill it for each dive since you dive one at a time. You will really love that place. It's worth it to stay there.
Diving is Lembeh Strait is great! I go there regularly and it's always a pleasure to see all those weird creatures
But for some variation in your dives, next time think about Bangka. If you stay on Bangka, you get the change to dive around Bangka itself (with amongst others many kind of very tiny seahorses), but Lembeh and Bunaken Marine park are only 1 hour away by boat
What more can you want...
A beautiful and new resort is Mimpi Indah resort on Bangka, and they have nitrox and very full tanks
Yes, Lembeh is well worth the trouble to get there. I saw creatures I have been searching for all my life. On one dive I saw five different frogfish. I saw five different HAIRY frogfish there. They all pose patiently as you click away, too.
And that was just the frogfish! The shrimp, pygmy seahorses, octopus, and other critters wowed me too.
As for Kasawari Lodge, I can't say enough good things about that place. Here are a few of my pics to show what you might find there. I WILL be going back there some day.
The boats were a local design and wonderful to dive from.
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....LOL.....In Guam....Calling my flight to Palau...gotta go
