During the Andaman Sea off season, the luxury Thai-based MV Philkade moves down to Indonesia to dive the awesome Komodo National Marine Park, sailing from Lombok to Komodo, return.
The East and West Nusa Tenggara Islands of Indonesia have been shaped by the power and force of an enormous chain of mountains and volcanoes, which begins from the North of Sumatra and stretches east across Java. The two provinces consist of over 600 islands, with the largest ones being Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, and Timor.
The area occupies a unique position at the junction of Australian and Asian submarine ridges marked by the Wallace Line (named after 19th century naturalist, Alfred Russell Wallace) and is one the world's most dynamic and exotic marine environments with nearly every species of coral and tropical fish represented. Indonesia is the only equatorial region in the world where there is an exchange of marine flora and fauna between the Indian and Pacific oceans, with passages in Nusa Tenggara between the Sunda and Sahul shelves allowing movement between the Pacific and Indian oceans.
Notes
This dive cruise can be incorporated into a Symbiosis tailor made holiday to Indonesia that can be adapted and tailored to meet your dates, preferences and passions. Please contact one of our bespoke holiday planners to create the ideal itinerary for you.
Lombok-Komodo
Komodo Itinerary: 8 Days / 9 Nights on board
The Komodo National Park lies between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores in an 80 Km wide passage that experiences some huge tidal flows. This, combined with upwellings of cold, nutrient rich water from the Indian Ocean delivers a constant stream of food for the corals and reef fish. This is the basis for a food chain that is almost unbelievably diverse. Some of the coral reefs here are so dense with life there is literally not a square centimeter that does not have corals, fans or crinoids fighting for food and space. On other reefs, the fish life is so dense you may have trouble even seeing more than passing glimpses of the reef. Still elsewhere, you can find some of the most unusual animals the oceans have to offer.
And let's not to forget the larger fish here. Manta Ray, Eagle Ray, Whale Shark, and Sunfish (as well as Dolphins from time to time) can all be seen when conditions are right, and Lady Luck is on the same trip as you. There is a tiny 'but' here though. The waters that surround the islands here in Komodo are turbulent and prone to strong currents. The park is an exciting place to dive, but it is also a very challenging place to dive. Divers should be comfortable in open water and performing drift dives where currents may be moderate to strong and should have excellent buoyancy skills.
Sites pencilled in for these trips include GPS Point, Toko Toko (aka Castle Rock), Cannibal Rock, Current City, and the Yellow Wall among many others. And did we mention the dragons? That's right, Komodo and Rinca are home to some 1500+ Komodo Dragons, the largest lizard in the world!! Reaching up to 2.5m in length and 125kg in weight. There is also the chance to see Buffalo, Rusu Deer, Monkeys, Wild Pigs, and Horses.
Departure Day:
2:00-4:00pm : Pick up from the hotel or Mataram airport
4:00pm : Check-in, orientation, boat and crew introduction.
5:00pm : Depart from Port of Lembar while having dinner.
Day 1 : Dives around Medang, Satonda, and Moyo Islands. Overnight travel to Sangeang
Day 2 : Dives around Sangeang and Gili Banta, including GPS Point
Day 3 : If conditions are favourable, dives today will be carried out at Toko Toko (Castle Rock), Gililawa Laut, and Crystal Rock with a night dive or sunset dive while cruising to Komodo
Days 4-6 : Three days dedicated diving within the Komodo National Park. Conditions are likely to decide the order, but expect to dive sites such as Three Sisters, Current City, Payung Island, Tatawa Kecil, Batu Bolong, Yellow Wall, and Cannibal Rock. There will also be the chance to go ashore and participate in an early morning walk on Komodo Island, with rangers, to see the world famous Komodo Dragons, among other wonders on the island.
Day 7 : Two more dives in the National Park before heading west again to finish with dives on Gili Banta and possibly Sangeang. Overnight to Satonda.
Day 8 : Depending on conditions, dives on either Medang, Satonda, or Moyo Islands. Cruise overnight to Lombok
Arrival Day
6:00am - Arrive Port of Lembar.
8:30am - Transfer to the hotel/airport after Breakfast
Remarks: All itineraries are subject to change without notice based on the weather conditions.
The Philkade
The 29-meter M/V Philkade, launched in 2002, was designed specifically for luxury live-aboard dive cruises. She offers 5-star comfort for a limited number of passengers.
The three decks plus fly bridge include 6 spacious guest cabins, 1 master, 4 doubles and 1 triple, all meticulously appointed, including en suite bathroom and air conditioning. The 70 sqm ‘mega yacht’ dining room and salon is furnished in teak, leather and granite and includes a bar and home theater. The sunbath platform and canopied fly bridge are perfect for either catching some rays or watching the sunset with your favorite cocktail.
Built to meet all international standards, M/V Philkade is equipped with the latest electronics and safety equipment and is capable of transoceanic cruises.
MV Philkade has an upper fly bridge, three main decks, plus 6 spacious, well appointed guest cabins including: 3 superior double-bed cabins with ensuite bathrooms (shower cabin and toilet), 1 standard three-bed cabin and 1 standard double cabin that share a bathroom. All cabins have individual A/C and are equipped with wardrobes, drawers, safe deposits, internal phones.
The saloon and dining place take up a spacious 70 sqm surface area. The aft deck entrance door opens to the saloon, on the left lies a wave shape leather sofa and 2 black granite coffee tables. On the right, an L shape leather Sofa with a black granite table. An integrated wood cabinet shelters the TV and home theater, small fridge, cabinets and drawers and is connected on one side to a Bar with black granite top. The dining area can also be accessed from a separate deck door and is furnished with a black granite dining table, an L shape leather sofa and an electric dumbwaiter connecting to the galley on the upper deck. There is a PC workstation for viewing digital photos and video. The computer has most necessary software programs and a CD burner for you to back up your shots.
Technical details:
Length:97'
Beam: 7 m.
Draft: 1.7 m.
Country of registration: Thailand
Type: Displacement Motor Yacht
Hull Material: Steel
Main Engine: 2x Iveco 8281 SRM44 (440 hp)
Generators: 75kw@50Hz / 50 kw@50Hz
Air Compressors: 2 x Coltri-Sub MCH 16
Nitrox Compressor: Coltri LP 280 Rotary Silent (Membrane System)
Cruising Speed: 10 knots
Electricity: 12 V / 24 V / 110 V / 240 V / 380 V
Fuel type & capacity: 18,000 liters diesel
Fresh Water capacity: 22,000 liters
Registered Passengers + Crew: 30 + 12
Navigation and communications equipment:
GPS: JRC (2), Autopilot, Sounder (2), Chart Plotter: JRC / NAVMAN (2), Radar : JRC 64NM, CB, HF Radio (DSC): JRC (2), SB Radio: Kenwood, and Held VHF: ICOM GMDSS (3), Satellite Phone, Satellite Epirb: MCMURDO
Safety:
Flares (6), Fire Extinguishers (10), smoke Alarms (5) , First Aid Kit / Oxygen Kit, Life Vest (25), M.O.B.- Buoy, 2 Life Rafts: 15 pax, Weather fax : NAV 5 GMDSS NAVTEX RECEIVER
Other gear:
Snorkeling Equipment
Diving Gear
Sea Kayak : (1)
Dinghies : 7 pax / 6 pax
Windlass
Retractable Sun Awning
Deck Shower : (2)
Deck cushions
Saloon with Sitting Area
Deep Freezer
Refrigerators : (2)
Ice Maker
Galley appliances
TV : (2)
VDO library
Home Theatres: Saloon / Aquamarine Cabin (2)
