thefrys - Bluewater Dive Travel

thefrys

thefrys

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Reviews (7)

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Papua Explorers Dive Resort

5
5
5
5

Papua Explorers is one of the most beautiful places you can want to visit. Well off of the beaten path, you must take a 2-3 hour boat ride from the mainland to get there. The small islands in the area are dotted with little villages. Upon arrival we were greeted with music and song as the staff welcomed us to the resort, escorting us to the main building for a welcome drink served in a coconut shell. The staff continued to be amazing for our entire stay.

All of the bungalows are over the house reef which is accessible from the front porch. Here these is a hammock and loungers for enjoying the sea and the sun. The bungalows are very spacious and comfortable. Water is provided in each bungalow as is wifi. Meals are served buffet style in the main building. There are plenty of meal options with meals consisting of soup, salad, entree, sides, and dessert. There is a small gift shop here as well.

The resort is the homebase for the Raja Ampat Sea Center. Here they focus on education and preservation. The center is clearing making a difference in the lives of the local community as well as assisting in the protection of the reefs around them.

Diving in this area is spectacular. The corals are stunning and the fish amazing. We saw wobbegongs, dugongs, napoleon wrasse, bumpheads and giant sweetlips. There were plenty of rays and shark which can be found on the house reef too. We did not have the opportunity to see the walking shark but they can be seen here too. The dive staff were wonderful. Very helpful and extremely knowledgeable. Safety was of primary importance and the staff paid a great deal of attention to handling our gear. very well.

I cannot say enough about Papua Explorers Resort. I would recommend it to anyone who, especially those who enjoy the simplicity of life and the beauty of nature. And of course, great diving.

Visited on 10/2023 - Submitted on 01/06/2024
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Spice Island Divers Ambon

5
5
5
5

This is a very nice resort. The cottages are comfortable and spacious. Each cottage has a porch that looks out over the water where you can relax after a day of diving. The grounds are well maintained. All of the buildings are open air, allowing the sea breeze to keep things cool.

Food is eaten in common with a nice menu of a limited variety of options, Asian being the primary cuisine on the menu for all meals. Meals include a soup/salad, main course, and dessert. The food was very good and the wait staff was wonderful.

The diving was very nice here. The dive team were very helpful in helping you to get the most out of each dive, always on the lookout for the little critters that surely would go unseen if not for the expert eye. Some of the things we saw included Fire Urchins, Snowflake Moray Eel, Zebra crab, Emperor Shrimp, Paddle-flap Scorpion Fish, Ghost Pipefish, Harlequin Shrimp, Seahorse, Box Fish, and Pink Lionfish. And there are several variety of knudi's. The gear area was great. There is also a very nice A/C camera room. I was having issues with my strobe and the manager lent me his strobe so I could still get pictures. He was so kind.

I would recommend this resort especially to those who enjoy muck and critter diving.

Visited on 10/2023 - Submitted on 01/06/2024
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Waidroka Bay Resort

5
5
5
5

We had the pleasure of visiting Waidroka Bay Resort in September. Everything about the resort reflects Fiji: the friendly staff, the food, the bures, the scenery. You are wecomed as a member of the village. We stayed in a deluxe bure which looks out on the ocean. It was very spacious and comfortable. Meals are served in the main building. Food is plentiful and tasty, offering both Fijian and Western options. We had the opportunity to participate in Fijian lovon night which included a kava ceremony, all prepared and presented by the staff. There was music and dancing and a lot of laughter and fun.

The diving here is wonderful. There are lots of beautiful soft corals, fun pass through formations, and an unforgettable shark dive. The dive staff was fantastic. They are knowledgable. helpful, expierenced, friendly and just a lot of fun.

Waidroka Bay Resort is perfect for the diver that wants to experience the local life both above the water, as well as below. It is for the person who wants to experience Fiji.

Visited on 09/2023 - Submitted on 12/29/2023
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Volivoli Beach Resort

5
5
4
5

Volivoli is a beautiful resort. It is contemporary Fijian style architecture with a spectacular view overlooking the sea. The grounds are beautifully manicured with indigenous plants and flowers. Built on a hill the walkways were easy and well lit. We stayed in an Ocean View Room which was very comfortable and spacious. Sitting on the patio after a day of diving was relaxing. The pool area is beautiful and the beach bar is very tropical.

The diving in the Bligh Waters is nice. We enjoyed the variety of fish, the reef shark, and the corals. We did not get to the sites that we had hoped to get to, such as Vatu-I-Ra passage. The dive staff were, overall, fine but fell short in a few areas, such as safety and handling our gear.

The food was excellent and the wait staff went above and beyond to make everything perfect. They were very friendly and made a point of knowing your name.

There were a few items added to our overall bill that were incorrect so I would certainly make sure to check your invoice when leaving. The items were corrected once brought to the staffs attention. Overall, this is a beautiful resort with great food, great hospitality staff, and good diving.

Visited on 09/2023 - Submitted on 12/29/2023
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MV Spoilsport (Mike Ball Dive Expeditions)

5
5
5
5

Diving the GBR was a bucket list item for us and the Spoilsport experience made it everything and more. From the boat, to the crew, the food, and the diving everything was done exceptionally well. From the moment you board the boat until your final step off the gang plank you are the crews number 1 priority. The crew were all very knowledgeable and very helpful. They were friendly and fun.

The diving was spectacular. The dive area was well organized with a focus on diver saftey. Dive briefs were very thorough. Divers always had the option to dive with their buddy or with one of the crew. While initially we dove with a crew member, we ended up diving just the two of us as the sites were easy to navigate. The marine life was phenomenal and the corals were spectacular. Each site offered something new and was a bit different. The crew made sure areas of marine life divers should be aware of were well marked. The crew was also aware of each divers skill level and made sure that each dive was a great dive for everyone. Our only disappointment was we were unable to make it out to the Ospry sites and the outer reefs due to weather. We had booked the Coral Seas Safari but ended up diving totally along the continental shelf which resulted in diving a few sites twice.

The rooms were comfortable. The food was excellent with a lot of variety in cusine. I would recommend this dive trip to everyone and hopefully we will have the opportunity to return.

Visited on 09/2023 - Submitted on 12/29/2023
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White Sands Beach Resort Lembeh by Eco Divers

5
5
5
5

What a lovely resort. The grounds are nicely groomed and all of the cottages have a beautiful view of the white sand beach with palm trees. There is a nice pool and a camera room, along with the main area used for meals and conversation. The staff was all very helpful, friendly, and enjoyable to be with. The food was very good, offering a variety of cuisines for all palates.

Diving in Lembeh was something very new to us and initially I wasn't sure what to think. Our dive team was GREAT. They where with us each step of our dives to make sure we saw everything you could want to see in the area. They were very helpful with assisting me with my new camera, ensuring I took the best pictures. We saw plenty of marine life including Electric Clams, Longarm Octopus, Painted Frog Fish, several types of shrimp, Balloon Fish, just to name a few.

I would recommend this resort to anyone.

Visited on 09/2023 - Submitted on 12/30/2023
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LumbaLumba Manado Resort

5
5
5
5

I cannot say enough good things about Lumbalumba. This is a stunning resort. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and manicured. The cottages are comfortable and very spacious. The bathroom is huge. Each cottages has a porch that looks out over the water. The infinity pools is gorgeous with plenty of loungers lining the sand and palm trees surrounding it. Small swallows swoop in over the water creating a beautiful ambiance.

Meals are served in the main building which has a bar, seating for casual conversation, and plenty of resources to look up information about what you saw on your dives that day. The food is excellent with plenty of options for all types of palates. Of course the specialties are Asian and fish. Meals included soups, salads, sides, a choice of main course, and dessert. Each night was different and each offered 2-3 options of mains, sides, and salads.

The staff was phenomenal. Every person on the Lumbalumba team, from gardeners, to cooks, to housekeeping, to the dive team, and especially the owners bluegave 120% to ensure your stay was exactly what you had planned.

The diving in Bunaken National Park was spectacular. Beautiful wall dives, nice corals spotted rays, white tips, frog fish and lots of turtles. This truly is a great place to dive. And true to the name, dolphins escorted us to the park on a few days of the trip.

Lumbalumba also offers a variety of land tours for those who aren't diving or for no-dive days. We took a tour of the surrounding region that included a trip to the Tomahan Market, several local villages, a walk to the top of a volcano, and a visit to the rice fields in the valley.

I highly recommend this resort to anyone thinking of traveling to the Manado area.

Visited on 10/2023 - Submitted on 01/02/2024
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