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Reviews (5)

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Compass Point Dive Resort

4
0
5
5

I have been to grand Cayman many times diving but August of 2013 was my first time on the east end of the Island. Compass Point Dive Resort has an on site scuba team, Ocean Frontiers Dive Shop a 5 star PADI certified shop.

I stayed in a 1 bedroom condo for 2 weeks, cooked most of my meals and ate a few at the restaurant on the resort as well as local restaurants a few miles away. The condo was beautiful and fully furnished, airconditioned, Jacuzzi jet bathtub, Washer & Dryer, TV and internet included. A rental car was included in my package that I picked up at the airport, a quick stop by the grocery store and wine store, and off I went to the resort. Remember, you will drive on the left side of the road, so take it easy. The drive took about 1 hour and was an easy and scenic drive.

Diving: I did 3 boat dives a day, nitrox and a few night dives. I even did a 90 minute shallow macro dive, seen the biggest bump head parrot fish. Found turtles, sharks and lots of nice coral and plenty of fish. Some of the guides were outstanding and would model for you as well as find great critters. The silver sides were there so brought home some amazing pictures. Also did a day trip to see the sting rays and spent hours taking pictures of them. The dramatic sky added to the excitement when taking pictures that were over/under. Many times when we took our boat ride to dive sites, I seen numerous eagle rays. I thought the viability was very good for the Caribbean, +75 foot. The Kittiwake Wreck was very enjoyable to dive, it is a lot bigger then you would guess.

Downside to the dive boats: Many times we had lionfish hunters on the boat, seems they get paid for the fish they spear. The issue I had with them was when I was taking pictures they were often under you rustling up the landscape in their hunting pursuits. So lots of backscatter, I think if they had gone to an area away from the photographers it would have been better for everyone. Their spears were in the camera rinse tanks, so I didn't use the tanks.

Camera: This is the down side of the resort for me, no camera room and my condo was on the 3 rd floor at the end of the resort. I used the bathtub as a rinse tank and the beautiful formal dining room table as my set up area. On the way to the boat they have a rinse tank you can use for a quick leak test.

Food: The on site restaurant was expensive but I purchased groceries before getting to the resort, and yes they were also costly. There are many restaurants in the area, some high end some reasonable. Get out and take a road trip for dinner at least for a few nights, you are on vacation. There is a coffee machine in your condo, remember to buy coffee.

Added fun to the resort: 2 swim pools, hiking close by the resort, a well furnished store for scuba stuff and very nice employees through out the resort.

Cost was about 2500.00 per week. extra costs, nitrox, and extra dives

Visited on 08/2013 - Submitted on 03/04/2014
silver sides!!
take a hike!
run lion fish from the hunters with spears
reef
wonderful dive guide
sting ray sandbar
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Lembeh Resort

5
5
5
5

To get to the Lembeh Resort you will need to fly to Manado airport, then you will be picked up by the resorts van for a 80-90 minute ride, then a very short boat ride and you have arrived. I traveled to the resort in Oct of 2013, all transfers went smoothly and all luggage arrived with me. I decided to rent a BCD from the resort, it was in great shape and fit like a glove. I placed all my scuba equipment in the locker provided, and then I went to the camera room to unload my equipment. Wow, what a nice room dedicated to the underwater photographer! Lots of room for your camera, electricity and room to store extra stuff under your table.

The rooms are lovely with air-conditioning and all the amenities you would use at home, blow drier, alarm clock,shampoo, soap, etc. The food was outstanding and varied each day, they also can accommodate special diets. Wine and beer was also available for a cost and snacks are available during the day by the swim pool. The laundry service is at a very low price, so don't over pack.

This was my first time with muck diving and the guides were wonderful explaining the correct way to dive, so when I entered the water I looked like a pro. Most of the dive sites were 15-45 minutes away from the resort on nice size boats, so I never felt crowded. The dive staff are so helpful, and very careful with your equipment. Nitrox is available and can be purchased in your dive package when you book your trip. You have to look beyond the rubbish in the water, and many different critters became apparent to me. Some live in the rubbish, a leather slip on shoe was the home to a coconut octopus, a sprite bottle supported a blenny and half a basketball contained a Devil Scorpion Fish.

My favorite dive sites were Nudi Falls, Hairball 1 thru 3 and Tek 3. Frogfish and unusually nudibranchs was my goal for the week but what a surprise when I kept finding many types of Octopus. The list of small critters I found during my stay is too long to post, instead I think you should experience the muck diving yourself, then we can compare our lists.

Visited on 10/2013 - Submitted on 03/03/2014
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Murex Dive Resort Manado

5
4
5
4

I traveled to another resort before booking at the last minute my stay at Murix Bangka, so I traveled by boat from Lembeh resort, diving along the way to the resort. I was warned ahead of time hat it is basic and limited electricity, and no internet. I am so glad I did not let this stop me!! Frogfish, seahorses, pipe fish, shrimp, stone fish, eels, I could go on and on. When I say frog fish I mean many on each dive. Ok, let me get on with this review, I also traveled by boat to catch my taxis to the airport in Manado. All went smoothly and I was taken care of very well.

The accommodations: Basic, you will need bug spray and don't read in bed because you will have a lot of bugs in bed with you, and yes you have a mosquito net. The bed was very comfortable and clean, shower was solar heated. You have a small deck on the front of the hut to enjoy the ocean and relax on.
The food was just a few selections, not sure if they could make special diets, it was hot, tasty and plenty to fill you. I don't use oil in my diet so they cooked me vegetables each day, enough to share with my table of new friends. Bring your own adult beverages, they were out when we were there.

The dive operations: The boats had plenty of room, nitrox and water was available. My dive guide was very helpful in finding critters and a hand with your gear if you need it. I think this was the best diving I have done in all of Indonesia, except for the muck diving at Lembeh. It is not muck diving, very nice corals and plenty of fish every where. I repeat best wide angle diving I have done in all Indonesia, so the rustic conditions are worth it. Electricity is from 6pm- 5 am, so you can run the air-conditioning and charge batteries. A generator is used, but I could not hear it from my room.

Visited on 11/2013 - Submitted on 03/03/2014
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Puri Wirata Dive Resort and Spa in Amed Indonesia

5
5
5
4

I was visiting a friend in Sanur Bali and decided to do some diving in the Amed area, known for its muck diving. I contacted Puri Wirata Dive Resort and Spa and started the 2 hour drive from Sanur to the resort. Breakfast is included in the price of the 1 bedroom condo for 42.00 a night. The room is huge with a king size bed and a nice balcony. They serve lunch and dinner at the resort but I explored the surround area for different dinner options. Italian, local food and French was available, wonderful, all in walking distance.

I stayed at this resort in Nov 2013 for a week of diving. I would give it a 4 star and was very happy with my stay. Their on site dive team are wonderful and very knowledgeable about finding critters that you are looking for. All shore diving, but the guide will help you with your camera. I was interested in muck diving and was not disappointed with what the area had to offer. Big shout out to (Gede) Libra Pogot my dive guide. On one dive site I found 5 ornate pipe fish, had to change the lens to accommodate the group for my return dive. All dive sites are between 10 minutes to 1 hour from the resort, and I opted to stay away from the resort for the 2 morning dives. The third dive was after lunch and I asked for dwarf seahorse areas each day, I was never disappointed. We used a new truck for transport and I rode in the front with the driver.

Underwater Critters: numerous nudibranches and flatworms, pipe fish, frog fish, eels, dwarf seahorses, seahorses, cuttlefish, harlequin shrimp, boxer crab, white manta shrimp, gold and peacock manta shrimp are just a few of my highlights from the week.

Nitrox was free, and each dive was based on a package price. It was very affordable. The packages include all the gear if you want to use theirs instead of packing yours. I used their BCD.

I suggest you bring hard sole bootees for your fins because you will have to walk on slippery rocks and it will be a lot easier.

Did I mention they have 2 swimming pools? You cannot go wrong staying here and diving with their professional team, Bali Reef Divers.

Visited on 11/2013 - Submitted on 03/03/2014
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Wakatobi Dive Resort

3
5
4
5

November of 2013 my husband and I headed to Wakatobi for a 11 night stay in a ocean front bungalow, food included in our stay. The journey to the resort from Bali is on their private jet at $675.00 each roundtrip. A light lunch was provided and a short 2 hour flight, a short car ride and a short boat ride, we arrived at Wakatobi. My husbands first impressions was, wow. First timer to Indonesia he has decided he needs to see more of this wonderful Country.

After check in, you unload all your land items to your room then dive equipment to your area by the reception area. Camera room is amazing and has everything you need to charge your batteries. It is air conditioned so be careful not to open your housing when you get outside because your camera will be fogged up for 1/2 a day, seen a few unlucky people have this happen to them.

Check out time in the ocean, wakatobi requires you to flood your mask, exchange air supply as they observe you doing this. I found this to be unnecessary since you have a divers certificate, but you have no choice if you want to dive. The check out dive is on the house reef, and that does give you an introduction to the reef so you can go on your own. We did this several times during our stay and I even found dwarf seahorses on the house reef.

Boat Dives are 3 a day, 70 minute limit and a 4 to 1 ratio is now being used. The guides do a great job finding critters you are looking for, I was interested in pipe fish and we found all kinds. This area is very good for wide angle and some macro. I came home with some very beautiful wide angle pictures and many had turtles in them, the house reef has at least 3 I found. All the diving I did was wall diving, and the boat most times locates you at the end for pick up, your dive guide will release a dive buoy for the boat to find you. Works well! The captains of the boats are very safety minded and have spotters on the boat to help keep an eye on divers and snorkelers.

Underwater life: Turtles, cuttlefish, Crocodilfish, Blennies, Anemonefish just to name a few. Dwarf seahorses, Nudibranches and Eels. I didn't see any frog fish or large fish but I might have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Rooms: Ocean view room has an outdoor shower, fridge and coffee maker. We were abit far from the ocean to have a view but we just walked to the shore and enjoyed it. A garden view room would be a better money saving alternative, and you can still spend time on the beach to enjoy the ocean.
The food was outstanding and many different choices at each meal.

Costs:

flight to the resort 675.00 each

soft drinks, wine, beer and everything but ice tea, some juices and coffee is extra.

If you are offered a soft drink on the dive boat you are charged for it.

Visited on 11/2013 - Submitted on 03/03/2014
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