Maluku Divers Resort
Our stay at Maluku Dives Resort began just moments after arriving at the airport in Ambon Indonesia. Being a bit weary from our trip, starting in Los Angeles, my wife said to me, "Wouldn't it be great if they were here waiting for us." From the baggage area where we were standing, I peeked my head around the corner to look out were passengers were being picked up. Almost instantly, I saw someone wave. I gestured to myself, and he waved again. Within 15 minutes we were at Maluku divers resort, sitting underneath a beautiful thatched roof open air patio, enjoying a cool refreshing drink. At the same time we were getting acquainted with our hosts, Marcel and Lily. They both have a wonderful way of making you feel right at home. By the way, this open-air restaurant was where we ate all our meals. We enjoyed a combination of Western fare and Indonesian delicacies.
We found our accommodations to be very comfortable. The Polynesian style of each cabin added to the charm of the compound we would call home for the next week. Each room had two beds, and two separate camera tables. The rooms were spacious and air-conditioned. Comfortable yet rustic with a private porch and chairs, just right for our afternoon game of Cribbage. We were there in September, and there always seem to be a cool breeze coming across the water, making our days pleasant. Our bathroom was also very spacious, providing a very large shower (with limited hot water but a short down time).
The diving was spectacular. It was my first time muck diving, and it was exciting to see so many different creatures unfamiliar to me. The best part of the diving was Solomon, my dive guide. While I was photographing, he would go ahead and find my next subject. His expertise in knowing where to look, coupled with an eye for the macro subjects, I would have surely swam past, gave me maximum time to photograph and minimum down time between shots. Macro photography is the order of the day, so come equipped. We would dive off of one of their sleek long boats that the crew made sure was well stocked with tanks and our gear.
A helpful diver recommended I get and use a pokey stick in preparation for muck diving. This simple apparatuses is essential to maneuvering and staging shots without stirring up the sediment that will ruin your photos not to mention the conditions for those diving with you. I wasted time stateside trying to acquire one of these. On arrival I discovered that Marcel has very nice stainless steel pokey sticks on sale at the resort. (Bring a retractable lanyard) This simple tool can be placed gently into the bottom and acts as a support for your camera, so you can get the shot and then push off the bottom using this to keep backscatter to a minimum. The resort also has a beautiful camera work room (air conditioned) to be able to process photos from the days diving and to affect any needed repairs.
Our stay in this beautiful haven at Maluku Divers Resort calls us to return. A great destination that I have shared with many divers
