Komodo Island September 18-27, 2016

 

http://www.wallacea-divecruise.com/ 

 

The 9 night Komodo trip has a promo price of $2,726 per person, which is available through June 25, 2015 (many other liveaboards are offering the same trip for $5,000.+!)

 

SCUBA SHOW Special price: Lower deck cabins is $2,726 USD per person and the upper deck cabins are $2,936 USD per person.

 

A deposit must be paid by July 9, 2015 to receive that price. Thereafter it goes back to the regular price of $3,124 per person. There is a $23 USD per person per night supplement for the upper deck cabins, making the upper deck cabins $2,933 before and $3,331 per person after the deadline. 

 

A 10% deposit is needed to lock in your reservation.  

 

The prices include: 

- All dives (3 during the day and 1 night diving whenever possible)

- Tanks, weights, and weight belts

- All meals and snacks onboard

- Water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee

- Round trip airport transfers from local airport 

- Starting in 2016, nitrox is included

- Excursion to Rinca island to see the dragons

 

Not included: 

- Flights

- Harbor and national park fees (approx. 140 Euro, ~160 USD)

- Alcoholic drinks

- Gratuity

 

 

- Also new for 2016, there is no fuel surcharge!

- The park fee for Sept 2016 is 125 Euro, paid onboard (can be paid in the equivalent USD).

- They can absolutely accommodate vegetarians, as well as dietary restrictions. Before arriving on the boat, everyone will fill out a guest information form so they can properly prepare for any specials meals/diets.

 

AIRFARE:

 

Since we’re so far ahead of the date, the airlines have not published their fares. but based on what they charge this September in 2015, here is an estimate.

 

LAX - Bali - LAX (round trip): $750 - $1000 (Right now good flights with minimal connection times in Sept. 2015 are $753.)

Bali - Bima (one-way): $65

Labuan Bajo to Bali (one-way): $75

 

So all international and domestic flights should run about $890 - $1,300 total, but obviously it is based on this years prices, so plan to adjust. Depending on your flight itinerary you may need to stay over night in Bali.  There are a couple hotels that Ambai recommends, but there’s no shortage of hotels right around the airport for $30 - $80 per night (per room, not per person).  You’ll take an early morning flight to Bima on Sept. 18, so guests will need to arrive Bali at least 1 day before. The flight is Lion Air/Wings Air #1826, departing Denpasar at 8:45am, arriving Bima at 9:45am. 

 

For the return, you’ll most likely take the Garuda flight just after 4pm. There are late/red eye departures back to the states so some guests may not need a hotel stay on the way back, depending on their international itinerary. 

 

 

Blue Water Travel can also book any extension trips (e.g. Bali) if people would like to spend some time there, which they highly recommend!  I hear Bali is just beautiful. 

 

Katie over at Blue Water Travel is super friendly and is open to working out any details. 

 

Guests can pay with a credit card to Blue Water Travel, but there’s a 3% fee. No fees for check or wire.

 

Katie says: One other thing you’ll notice (that perhaps guests will appreciate) is that the tipping suggestion is much lower than what we’re used to here in the states. Boats that cater to a US market typically recommend tipping 10% - 15% on liveaboards. Ambai’s suggestion of 10 euro per day is much lower than what we’re accustomed to. For everything else in Indonesia (taxis, restaurants, massage, etc.) tipping is not commonplace, as just about everywhere includes a service fee in the prices.

 

 

Kaz Aizawa
solesearchersdiveclub.com
kazualdiver@gmail.com