Uber Scuba Komodo Amalia Assessment: Diving in Paradise
15 min read
Famous for its hazardous dragons, aquatic adventures, and jaw-dropping surroundings – a take a look at to Komodo Nationwide Park ought to be on every single traveler’s bucket checklist. But far more importantly – it must be in the vicinity of the Best of the checklist for each individual scuba diving addict (this kind of as myself).
Indonesia is arguably the solitary ideal place in the globe for scuba diving, and Komodo is just one of the crown jewels that maintain divers coming back again year soon after year. It’s a magical underwater playground that can be hard to describe, but people who have skilled it for them selves know just what I’m chatting about.
Our Uber Scuba Crew!
Mantas, sharks, eagle rays, turtles, crocodile fish, moray eels, and fish just about everywhere you glance as if you’re inside of an aquarium. Komodo has SO Significantly to offer divers, from extremely assorted coral gardens to an array of maritime everyday living that’ll blow your thoughts. Plus breathtaking topography dive sites with vibrantly vibrant coral.
Although there are a lot of dive resorts offering working day excursions out to Komodo Countrywide Park for scuba-diving and sightseeing, the Best way to check out Komodo is location sail on a liveaboard!
I just obtained back again from performing 4-Day/3-Evening Liveaboard with Uber Scuba Komodo and had these types of a surreal experience — and it will permanently stay 1 of my diving profession highlights. My only regret is that I didn’t hold out to e-book a single of their 5 or 6-evening liveaboards, but those people are saved for generally throughout peak year.
So let us dive into this liveaboard encounter and glimpse at what designed this a emphasize of my scuba adventures hence significantly!
I also posted a spotlight video clip on my YouTube, so examine it out prior to studying the report:
Uber Scuba Komodo Liveaboard Overview
I very first arrived to Komodo back in 2015 (again in my snorkeling times), and ever because I became scuba-qualified, it is been a Aspiration of mine to arrive back again and finally experience scuba-diving here. I can truthfully say that it’s the ideal diving I have encountered in my lifestyle (so far).
Right after every dive, in its place of working with my logbook, I’d head to my laptop computer and jot down some rapid notes about what we observed, and what produced each individual web page one of a kind.
We did 11 Dives about 4 Times (but I basically finished up extending my time in Komodo and did 6 a lot more dives)
Working day 1 (Two Dives)
Day 2 (3 Dives) + Komodo National Park + Pink Beach
Working day 3 (4 Dives) + Padar Trekking & Sunset + Night time Dive
Working day 4 (Two Dives)
At the close of each individual working day, the dive guides would demonstrate us on the map in which we sailed and the dive web-sites accomplished — which was genuinely fun to see exactly where we experienced sailed all-around Komodo Countrywide Park.
Komodo Liveaboard Working day 1
After a brief breakfast, I met up with the staff and my fellow divers at the Uber Scuba business in downtown Labuan Bajo. We before long manufactured our way to the dock, began the boarding system and set sail into the Countrywide Park.
We were presented a tour of our momentary floating property, and talked about the approaching itinerary as nicely as the crucial basic safety briefings about liveaboard diving.
Immediately after a scenic sail with 360 views of the majestic archipelago, we have been all set to embark on our 1st two dive web-sites of the liveaboard expertise.
Mawan Dive Site — WOW – what a way to start out the journey! From the initial 2nd soon after leaping into the h2o, I was face-to-face with a massive manta ray! Then in just minutes, we have been surrounded by mantas majestically swimming and having fun with the cleansing station. We stayed close to and marveled at these mild giants for 20-30 minutes, and also spotted colorful coral and fish, a welcoming turtle, and a sleeping shark. An epic to start with dive and begin to the journey!
Siaba Besar Dive Web-site — While the beginning of the dive commenced with murky waters and a rather-unexciting sandy base, the second fifty percent of the dive was amazing! An unbelievable – nevertheless shallow – dive internet site giving a vast assortment of sea everyday living. The highlights involved a pretty chilled-out cuttlefish, a helpful turtle, quite a few faculties of fish, and even a shark swimming close to. Whilst the visibility was a bit sub-par, I can notify this dive web site would be head-blowing on a crystal-crystal clear working day. I have considering the fact that learned this is a quite well known dive site for new divers as it’s shallow, there is quite very little recent, and it is a secure guess location for turtle recognizing with unbelievable coral variety.
Following the diving for the day was total, we anchored in this quiet nook in amongst two substantial islands. We experienced evening meal, went by way of our footage, viewed the sunset and moon soaring, and I acquired my initially couple of drone flights in on the journey (which finished up becoming rather a ton)!
Komodo Liveaboard Day 2 | Komodo Countrywide Park + Pink Beach
A single matter I’d like to be aware, and possibly a further reason I like the liveaboard lifetime so substantially, is waking up for the sunrise every day. Diving normally takes a large amount of power, so I always slept very well and was in bed most evenings by 10PM.
Our to start with dawn was expended sailing to the first dive of the day, and there is just some thing so unique about being on the drinking water during dawn. It’s just a beautifully peaceful way to commence just about every working day.
Batu Bolong Dive Website – What an absolute dream dive website! When it could just glance like a standard rock poaking its way out of the ocean, underneath is a marine biologist’s desire. There is really robust present-day on the two sides, so we had to swim again and forth to stay away from remaining pulled out to the open drinking water. Batu Balong is translated to Rock Hole, but it definitely should really be named “Aquarium” as that is what it feels like. We observed sea snakes and ginormous eels, plus plenty of sharks, turtles and every single sort of fish conceivable. Not to mention the tremendous vivid coral. I snorkeled Batu Balong again in 2015 and at the time identified as it the very best snorkelling of my lifestyle, and this dive web page is what has single-handedly created me want to return to Komodo as a diver.
Siaba Kecil — A DRIFT DIVE TO Try to remember. Holy shit! This was quickly one particular of the coolest dives in my full daily life. The 1st fifty percent of the dive was a roller coaster of a drift dive, as you enable the current acquire you on a journey together a amazing coral reef. But the actual magic took place in the 2nd 50 percent of the dive when we experienced close encounters with two stunning manta rays. The visibility was so obvious, and at 1 place I had a shark, a turtle and a manta all in a single line of eyesight. Certainly breathtaking at only close to 20 toes deep or so.
We appreciated a rapid lunch and quick sail, as it was time to head go obtain some dragons!
Komodo National Park — Komodo Dragons
No journey into Komodo National Park is comprehensive without the need of stepping foot on Komodo Island and currently being privy to the famed Komodo Dragon in man or woman. When we arrived, I was stunned at how we were the ONLY folks there on the island.
I have normally considered that Komodo was a actually preferred 12 months-spherical place, but December-January is very low year and quite a few liveaboard/working day-vacation organizations don’t even run through this time.
The park felt deserted, but we had a welcoming guidebook who walked us close to for an hour to acquire a swift peek and to consider some exceptional images of these frightening creatures!
Pink Beach front + Pink Beach Dive Web page
An additional essential advertising issue from Komodo sailing journeys is a cease at this legendary “pink beach” – which will get its vivid sand shade from microscopic animals named Foraminifera, which go away a purple pigment on the coral reefs and that wash ashore.
Although I will say that when you are standing on the beach on a cloudy afternoon it is not actually that mad, from a drone you can unquestionably detect the pinkish shade.
The majority of the liveaboard guests determined to opt-out of essentially producing the quick boat ride more than to the island – I’m happy I did! Take a look through some of my favored shots I obtained from our cloudy “Pink Beach” jaunt.
What I cherished was that I experienced no thought was that this Komodo landmark is also property to a quite spectacular dive web site just correct off the beach front! We experienced fantastic visibility, and observed some definitely exceptional corals that I’ve by no means seen just before, as nicely as the FATTEST Moray Eel – I legitimately did not know they could be that large.
Our liveaboard crew had two birthdays celebrated throughout our journey, so soon after our diving was comprehensive for Working day 2 we savored a awesome evening meal, birthday cake and candles (with singing of class), and a mini birthday get together with songs, Bintang and good firm.
Ahead of we all acquired also outrageous nevertheless, we decided to get to bed early as we realized the future day was going to be the longest so considerably, with a amount of dives, trekking, and a honest length traveled on the boat.
Komodo Liveaboard Day 3 | Padar Island + Evening Dive
As the sunlight rose, we ended up by now on the go down to the southern element of Komodo Island. This is a highly sought-soon after area for diving for the reason that it’s way far too far for diving businesses to make it for a working day vacation. In purchase to experience these dive internet sites, you have to e book a liveaboard.
This is an spot of Komodo Countrywide Park that amazed me the most when it arrived to its landscape, as it reminded me of the Scottish Highlands or Hawaii. Vibrant environmentally friendly hills sloping down the island’s mountains, which shined so fantastically in the morning daylight.
We experienced another early start to the working day and done two dives at our 1st location, and while it was pouring rain when we attained the area (which was a entertaining working experience), it cleared up following the second dive and I was able to sneak in a drone flight ahead of sailing onward.
Manta Alleys Dive Web site (2 Dives) — In all probability the greatest dive website I have ever encountered and 1 of the coolest! It just held likely and going at all depths, and there was never a uninteresting moment. In spite of its name, no mantas are usually discovered in the waters down listed here in the wintertime, as this is the time that they swim further north for warmer waters.
3 Sisters Dive Site – 3 Sisters Dive Web page off the south coast of Padar Island. The diving just retains getting superior and far better! This exclusive dive web-site has Three gigantic pinnacles, just about every providing some of the finest coral. I saw a few stunning eagle rays off in the distance, a beautiful lionfish, ridiculously huge moray eels, and a bunch of other eye-catching maritime everyday living. 1 of my beloved dive web pages so far.
Komodo Liveaboard Evening Dive
Considerably to my disappointment, this 4-Day/3-Night liveaboard only incorporates one evening dive. I was hoping for two, but for that, you have to ebook a for a longer period journey. With that getting mentioned, it helps make perception to only include one particular night dive, as diving four moments in a day definitely will drain you. You absolutely want some energy left about for having fun with the other functions in the park.
Pasir Putih Night Dive – OOF, Okay so this one was a bit rough for me, as I experienced pretty a couple struggles!
I had issues with my mask (as it was a bit far too compact for my head resulting in a gnarly headache – reminder to deliver my very own mask future liveaboard), had a mini panic attack when I believed I shed my GoPro (considering I missing so a great deal footage that belonged to my mate, who applied it for a number of dives), saved obtaining divided from my group mistaking the other dive group as mine, and then at the conclusion of the dive, my fin absolutely broke.
With all that being reported, it was still a good dive that’s actually obtained me psyched to go night diving yet again shortly! It’s a little bit of a scary encounter, but one you just cannot overlook out on.
Komodo Liveaboard Day 4 | Diving + Sailing Back again to Labuan Bajo
All superior things need to come to an finish, and regretably, this journey was practically more than.
Pillar Steen & Mystery Backyard garden Dive Web sites – A wonderful day and ideal conditions for our very last two dives, like it was meant to be. Secret Garden’s blend of challenging and comfortable coral was really magnificent, and there were being so many fish that it felt like we were in an aquarium.
We had been given a bit of downtime for swimming in among the dives, so we used it jumping off the leading degree of the boat, and we even noticed some dolphins swim earlier us. We tried out jumping in to get a closer search, but regretably, they were long gone.
The 3+ hour sail back to LBJ was a calm and peaceful prospect to reflect on the previous few days and the numerous incredible ordeals we experienced been blessed plenty of to have. The group put in it just hanging out, reading through, and experiencing some chilly beers with our ultimate onboard food.
Uber Scuba Komodo Liveaboard | Amalia Boat Assessment
Now let us speak about the boat, named Amalia — a attractive 29-meter/95-ft-extended Phinisi with a entertaining nautical concept. It functions the cabins on the bottom deck, the main deck is for having, lounging, and dive briefings and the major deck is for sunbathing for the duration of the day and magical stargazing at evening. Amalia a excellent put to phone home for a number of times.
Uber Scuba is just one of the several funds-travel-helpful liveaboard operators in Komodo. As I found out in the course of my exploration, there were being so many luxury choices (costing 1000’s additional dollars), but I was Very delighted on board the Amalia for my a few-evening liveaboard encounter.
Giving house for up to 11 visitors in 3 different possibilities at several price points for every single excursion:
2x Non-public Ensuite Cabin with 1 Queen Bed + Non-public Toilet
2x Twin Cabin sleeping two guests (shared bathroom)
1x Greater Shared Cabin with 1 Smaller Double Mattress and 1 Solitary Bed (shared lavatory)
I finished up reserving my location in the Bigger Shared Cabin and was very satisfied with it in general.
Even though it was dimly lit at periods and got a small scorching for the duration of the day, the reality of the make any difference is that you are Seldom in your cabin. The times are so jam-packed with diving and checking out, that the only time you’re in your cabin is to modify apparel and to go to slumber.
Even though we’re on the issue of slumber, I’d say at minimum 50 percent of the visitors on our liveaboard made the decision to slumber outside the house on the deck! They’d deliver their blankets and pillows onto the main and major decks, wherever there are plenty of comfy cushions readily available. Sleeping underneath the stars with the seems of the ocean lulling you to snooze is normally a tranquil practical experience, so I absolutely recognize why numerous did this.
I chose to snooze in my mattress for all a few nights, and finished up acquiring my shared home to myself as my cabin mate (who has been on this trip three occasions now) usually slept outside.
My Bed
Shared Toilet
Just one of the most essential elements of the Amalia to preserve in head is that there is no air-conditioning. Prior to embarking on the trip, I have to confess that I was a bit skeptical about that, as Indonesia does have incredibly substantial temperatures and intensive humidity. In the conclusion, however, it wasn’t an difficulty at all. Diving and checking out all day normally takes so a great deal energy out of you that most evenings, I handed out promptly and awoke refreshed at sunrise – all set for another day.
I did a tour of the Amalia boat on my Instagram stories & Youtube, so be positive to test out my Komodo Highlight for the inside of seem.
Price tag / Price For Revenue
I actually have nothing at all but constructive things to say about this knowledge when it arrives to money. It was value every penny, and as I mentioned higher than, it is one particular of the most inexpensive liveaboard choices in the overall environment, as scuba is known for being a fairly highly-priced hobby.
For the three nights in the big shared cabin, it price tag 15,600,000 IDR – which is $994 USD. I did obtain a price reduction nevertheless in trade for a couple of drone clips/evaluate.
On major of that, you have to pay back four times of Countrywide Park fees which came out to $70 USD.
I also tipped a good quantity of dollars, as all the Uber Scuba crew ended up top-notch.
For Drone Fliers – you have to have to implement for a allow in advance to fly your drone in Komodo National Park, but thankfully, Uber Scuba was capable to tackle the paperwork and stress for me. The allow value an supplemental 1,100,000 IDR, which was a different $70 USD.
For 3 nights of lodging, 11 dives, 14 foods, and impeccable provider – I assume this is an absolute cut price and will certainly have to return in the long run. I’m very seriously thinking about chartering their boat for a team excursion subsequent yr, so if you are studying this and interested in signing up for, enable me know!
Liveaboard Suggestions / Packing Listing
Because I’ve now been on a couple of different liveaboards, below are a number of suggestions I’d like to share so you can make the most of your practical experience!
I’d suggest obtaining some ear drops for scuba diving to enable with any suffering/stop ear bacterial infections.
Carry some treats alongside for you to continue to keep in your cabin. Even though there were 3x meals a day and snacks/fruit in involving every single dive, I’m a hungry hippo and liked acquiring some Pringles and other goodies on hand.
Carry a very good book! There is downtime in concerning dives, and reading as you sail to the upcoming site is tremendous stress-free.
Deliver alongside a GoPro and a drone to doc your trip! Whilst this isn’t a necessity, it is a ton of entertaining!
Reef Secure sunscreen is critical!
Commit in your very own dive pc. I lastly acquired my have recently as a Christmas reward, and I like it so a lot. This is also the only portion of the dive machines not incorporated in the price of the liveaboard.
Bring your individual dive mask to prevent any troubles like I had through my night time dive.
General Uber Scuba Komodo Liveaboard Review
If you’re looking for a price range-welcoming diving experience that you are going to never neglect, then I simply cannot endorse this journey adequate! Awesome dives, crew, meals, sunsets, sunrises, hikes, dragons, and ordeals that you are going to recall and cherish for many years to appear!
Whilst the rooms may possibly be much more on the fundamental side than more magnificent liveaboards, the relatives-like ambiance on this just one will see you shelling out most of your time on the boat on the primary or top decks anyway.
If you favored this posting, make sure you do share it with your close friends and get them to reserve this vacation with you! When I went solo, there are so a lot of pals I wished had been together with me exploring these reefs and getting photos with dragons!
Thanks so considerably for reading! Be positive to observe together on my Instagram as I’ll be doing A Whole lot more scuba-diving and heading to a bunch of enjoyable music festivals this yr!
Now go make some bubbles!
