LauraTaylor - Bluewater Dive Travel

LauraTaylor

LauraTaylor

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Reviews (24)

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Dive Into Lembeh

5
5
5
5

Dive Into Lembeh Resort is a one hour drive from Manado Airport on the Bitung side of Lembeh Strait. We received a warm welcome by owner Miranda and team with a delicious mango juice on a sultry night scented with tropical flowers while we completed our registration. I loved everything about the resort, the beautiful gardens and level setting over looking the pool and the Strait, especially the personal hot tubs on your bungalow deck heated for you just before returning from your afternoon dive.

The Indonesian style bungalows with AC were huge, thoughtfully decorated with a king bed, a single day bed and a long shelf desk with plenty of charging points. There was a filtered drinking water dispenser, fridge and tea and coffee in the room. There are also TV's in the room and wifi available throughout the resort.

The hospitality team were attentive, well trained and their English was very good. There was a full bar and lounge in the common area where delicious meals were served buffet style with plenty of variety. Self serve tea, coffee and cookies were available all day.

The resort sits on a fine black sand beach typical of Lembeh Strait. There is a large dive centre, individual gear hanging stalls and bins, a huge camera work room, with good lights, charging outlets, rinse pool bins and drying guns.

The diving was organised between 3 boats that were well set up for photographers. The dive guide ratio was 1:2 with some guests requesting a private guide, so they have a very large dive team including a photo pro. Most of the dive sites were within 20 minutes of the resort and they dived both sides of the Strait.

Lembeh is known for its' marvellous macro critters and their guides are excellent spotters. They also used slates and thoughtfully kept a written record of each creature spotted and photographed, so you could take a photo record of that list at the end of your dive. They offered Nitrox so 70 minute dives were the norm, sometimes even longer when you are totally absorbed photographing an adorable coconut octopus.

Visited on 10/2022 - Submitted on 03/12/2023
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Dive Into Raja Ampat

5
5
4
5

Dive Into Raja Ampat operates within the Waiwo Resort, Waisai and their dive and stay packages offer great value in Raja Ampat and a relaxed environment. The Indonesian style waterfront bungalows with AC were nice and large with water lapping at the deck at high tide. Fresh water, tea and coffee provided in the room, but bring your own shampoo, conditioner and mosquito repellent.

The chef prepared Indonesian food was plentiful and some of the best I ever had in Indonesia which they kindly adjusted to a milder spice level for my husband. Western meal choices are also offered and their hamburgers were an excellent alternative.

Wifi is only available in the open air dining room where a limited choice of alcohol drinks are kept in a locked fridge. On request the manager kindly went out to get some tonic from town and also some extra toiletries, which was much appreciated.

The diving was well organised- the day before you would know which of the iconic Dampier Strait dive sites you would be going to. New divers arrive any day, so they try to give variety and take into account where you have already been. Some of the sites were a bit further 45 -60 min (surcharge for 60 min trips) but their big boat was fast and comfortable, sheltered and had a toilet. They also have a smaller boat, with shelter. The dive guides gave good briefings and set a relaxed pace underwater suiting us photographers. We had 1 guide between 2 divers while they were not very busy and were allowed up to 70 minutes on closer dive sites. Surface intervals were often spent on an island with refreshments.

The dive team loaded, unloaded and rinsed our gear after each days diving and hung in our individual stalls overnight to dry. They offered Nitrox and had a large dedicated camera room with plenty of charging outlets, workspace and dedicated rinse baths.

We were a bit early in October and thought the visibility was lower than previous visits, apparently there had been a lot of rain. All of the usual fishes and critters were seen except we were unlucky with the mantas, which were seen in big numbers the day we departed. Snorkelling in front of the resort over a sandy bottom , there was clear water, but I did not see much.

Dive Into Raja Ampat will organise your transfer from the airport to the resort by a 2 hour twice daily public ferry between Sorong and Waisai Island any day of the week. There is no minimum stay, so it suits divers that have time before or after a liveaboard. They also offer birdwatching excursions to see Birds of Paradise.

Visited on 10/2022 - Submitted on 03/12/2023
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Raja Ampat Biodiversity Nature Resort

5
5
4
4

Biodiversity dive resort in Raja Ampat, Indonesia is a 40 minute speed boat ride from Waisai, but once there you are closer to some of the dive sites. I loved the setting and ambiance with all the bungalows spread down the beach with lovely palms and chaise lounges everywhere.

The large bungalows are Indonesian style, some with and some without hot water in the a semi-outdoor enclosed bathroom and a big deck. While there is no AC, there were fans and good natural cooling from under the raised platform.

Very welcoming and hospitable management sets a relaxing and casual environment with a common area with a sand floor, open air dining, family style meals with a vegetarian emphasis and an excellent breakfast. The bar and wifi are only open between 5-7.30 pm. I had a snorkel on their excellent house reef, but did not dive with them this time. They do offer dive certification courses there and can cater to beginners in some more sheltered sites. Their boats are smaller covered banana type boats. They did not have Nitrox or camera facilities.

Visited on 01/2023 - Submitted on 01/19/2023
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Meridian Adventure Dive Resort & Marina Club

4
4
5
3

Firstly the Meridian (Adventure Marina Club) Resort is on a marina, not a beach, and has a nice pool and gardens. It is a modern hotel; all rooms with AC are on the small side as the resort was interestingly constructed using shipping containers. Amenities included body wash, shampoo and conditioner. Free wifi was available throughout resort.

A good breakfast is included with espresso coffees. The bar and restaurant are open all day; Ala carte meals are served from same menu for both lunch and dinner with more western than Indonesian items. The friendly staff were well trained staff through-out the resort.

They also offer a homestay option at village resorts, with daily pick-up for diving.

For divers and snorkelers, Meridian have a modern fleet of very fast RIBs; however, there is little shelter from sun or rain.
All dive equipment which looks very new, is included in their deals. The dive plan is posted in the lobby 3 days in advance, rotating through the iconic dive sites in the Dampier Strait.

To get to Meridian, one takes the twice daily public ferry from Sorong and the resort is just 5 minutes up the road.

Visited on 10/2022 - Submitted on 01/19/2023
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