Overview

From June to October we operate 6 day/7 night diving trips to the Komodo region of Indonesia. All cabins onboard MV Queen Scuba have air conditioning and unsuited bathroom. She is also able to provide unlimited Nitrox for scuba diving. Queen Scuba is dedicated to providing great customer service and provide one Professional Padi Scuba Diving Instructor per every four guests, meaning you can enjoy dives in small groups with close attention from our multilingual dive professionals. The large vessel has plenty of space for relaxing in between dives in the air-conditioned saloon, the outdoor dining area, as well as the large sundeck. The large dive platform ensures no one feels crowded when preparing for the next dive. The onboard chef serves excellent Thai, Indonesia and western cuisine throughout the diving and snorkeling cruise. MV Queen Scuba is one of the safest vessels fitted with two life rafts, firefighting equipment, GPS and radio.

Description

International Liveaboard, International and local crew, some of the best diving availabe in Thailand and Indonesia.

Standard Inclusions

• 6day/7 night Bali-Komodo-Bali dive charter
• All meals, drinking water, soft drinks, tea, coffee, snacks,
• tanks, weights, dive guides.
• Free Transfer to/from the boat from select locations at set times.
• STANDARD CABINS PRICE IS BASED ON A WILLING TO SHARE BASIS - PRICE IS FOR 1 PERSON SHARING THE CABIN WITH OTHERS.
• Any marine park fees are at additional costs payable onboard.

Trip Info

Bali-Komodo Dive Itinerary.

Sunday: Evening of Departure: Check-in on board MV Queen Scuba between 14:00-16:00 hours. They will show you to your cabin and start to set up equipment. Then they will introduce the staff, provide a boat & safety briefing followed by dinner. From here it's sweet dreams as we cruise into the sunset on our overnight journey to Moyo Island, north west Sumbawa (0 Dives)

Monday: Moyo Island will be our first stop, diving a couple of the best sites Angel Reef and Panjang Reef, then the boat head's south toward Satonda Island. As the crew prepare for the first night dive you may have the chance to see the bats of Satonda take flight into the sunset. After a great dive you will be greeted with a hot towel on the dive platform and then another delicious dinner as they cruise overnight to Sangeang Island, off the north coast of Sumbawa.(3 Dives).

Tuesday: Our next two dives at Sangeang Island are filled with rare nudi species, Pygmies and the chance to see underwater hot springs and the diverse life that thrives in the area. From here there are many choices around Gilil Banta for sharks, pelagics, and exceptionally beautiful corals. Into the Komodo National Park we go, as we approach another world class night dive at the South Passage of Gili Darat. (4 Dives).

Wednesday: Taka Toko Gili Lawalaut is a great place to start the next day, though catching the tide at the right time can be a challenge. The reward is worth it, possible dives with dolphins and reef sharks. Next up we have our choice between a couple great drift dives, Lighthouse Reef or the Old Passage, sharks, schooling reef fish, and the ever graceful Manta's. With great pelagic fish activity the teaming fish of Crystal Rock create a massive fish soup. Near the southern entrance to the park at Pink Beach you will experience another breathtaking dive into the night. (4 Dives).

Thursday: This is a very special morning with the opportunity to walk with dragons in the Komodo National Park. Then a relaxing sail to Rinja Island for a stop at the famous Cannibal Rock to look for frogfish, nudies, stunning corals, turtles and teaming fish everywhere! You will be amazed as the wildlife passes by, dragons on the beach, monkeys, deer and wild pigs full of activity along the shore. Before you'll head in for our night dive at one of the many choices in this little piece of paradise you may see whales and dolphins feeding in the bay.(3 Dives).

Friday: You awake knowing this could be the day your dreams come true at Padar Island and Three Sisters with more sharks, devil rays, nudis, surgeon fish, fish, fish and yes more fish! Manta Alley or Takat Makasar follows for a chance at one of the largest manta ray feedings in the world ? ABSOLUTLEY INCREDIBLE ! The sheer beauty, color and diversity of life makes it difficult to choose between the sites available to us. It doesn't matter if it's Current City, Tatawa Kecil, we are guaranteed another world class dive. Before we sail overnight to Satonda Island there is one more opportunity to see what Gili Banta offers when the sun goes down.(4 Dives).

Saturday: Two more incredible dives at Satonda and Moyo Islands before we cruise overnight to the south of Bali. (2 Dives).

Sunday:At breakfast you think about the past week, the diving, the food, the new friends.Transfers ashore are at 9am.(0 Dives).

Boat Specications

Built in the year 2003
Length 28m (92ft)
Beam 7m (17ft)
Draft 2.5 m (8 ft)
Two Hino Engines 2 X 510 hp
Two Hino generators each with 50kw (220V + 12V)
Two Bauer mariner compressors 2 X 190 lpm
Enriched Air (Nitrox) onboard
All cabins complete with 220v of Electricity 24 hours a day
Air-conditioning system (Hino)
Water capacity 20000 liters
Fuel capacity 15000 liters
Guest capacity 21 pax for Thailand cruises, 17 pax for Indonesian cruises.
Cruising Speed 9.5 knots
Max. Speed 12 knots
1 Master Cabin with private bathroom (King size double bed / Air-con / Minibar / TV / DVD)
5 Deluxe Cabins with private bathroom (Double bed / Air-con)
1 Standard Cabins with private bathroom (2 x Bunk bed / Twin share / Air-con)
1 Standard Cabin with private bathroom (3 x Bunk bed / Triple share / Air-con)
1 Standard Cabin with private bathroom (4 x Bunk bed / Quad share / Air-con)
2 Staff Cabins + Captain's wheelhouse
60 sqm sun deck area
Large comfortable saloon with air-con
CD / VCD Music system with music selection
TV / DVD Player with a library of films

Standard Cabin info

The Standard cabins have nice bunk beds (from 2-4 guests in each cabin), these cabins are all located on the lower deck, but are still light, also with a large en suite bathroom with hot water, air conditioning. (perfect for individual traveler, family or friends).
STANDARD CABINS PRICE IS BASED ON A WILLING TO SHARE BASIS - PRICE IS FOR 1 PERSON SHARING THE CABIN WITH OTHERS.

Activity Info

Queen Scuba diving gear

The Dive Deck

This boat has the largest spacious dive deck of them all, very well designed and this is where most of your time will be spent getting ready for some fantastic diving, No need to move tanks around, all tanks are continuously filled at their stations, the friendly boat crew will help handle the lifting of the tanks. Put your gear together and forget about it. The two dinghies will transfer you to the dive sites, or we'll jump off the mother ship. Most pick-ups are done with the dinghies for your convenience.

The Tour leader on the boat does all dive briefings. They are thorough and very interesting, this helps you to have more knowledge about the underwater world, and to recognize what you're seeing. All the dives are guided if you choose; there will always be a dive master available for you if you want one. If you just want to dive with a buddy that's ok too.

The Nitrox System

They realize that Nitrox is the future of diving, this mixture of air, gives you much more bottom time, and is the reason why more and more divers are using this. They have a Enriched Air or Nitrox station on board. And, if you are not yet Nitrox certified, then we offer this course onboard Queen Scuba for your convenience. There are two options a full certification in Nitrox, or introductory dives for those not sure if they will like it or not. And of course they have plenty of normal air available as well.

Komodo Diving

On the northern dive sites of the Komodo Islands you will experience the warm waters of the Flores Sea. The marine life here is similar to that found in most tropical seas world wide, but with a magnitude and diversity that is unsurpassed. Hard coral reefs are extensive and largely pristine, while the water is clear with incredible visibility. Discover a haven for nudibranchs, pigmy seahorses, rare invertebrates, pipefish, and tiny frogfish. Be one of few to experience these mystical waters!

Batu Bolong (Northeast Komodo, Tetawa Besar Island)

Also known as Current City, Batu Bolong is a Komodo Islands signature dive site, and a must see on any Komodo liveaboard trip. Located to the north east of Komodo Island, Batu Bolong ( Hollow Rock) is a small rock outcrop with a hole through it that just breaks the surface. Below the water giant slabs of rock create magnificent steep walls, and spectacular drop offs that disappear into the depths, and are a sight to behold. The currents here can be strong, but that is what has protected the site and created some of the most fascinating and exhilarating diving in all of Indonesia.

The top of the reef is covered with every form of marine life imaginable from swirling clouds of brilliantly colored reef fish, to beautiful colored soft corals, and magnificent invertebrate life. The massive walls and steep drop offs which are covered with hard corals and sponges, are patrolled by larger marine life and pelagic's including a variety of sharks, napoleon wrasse, giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, and large schools of rainbow runners. This dive site is a prime example of marine bio-diversity in action, as everything in the eco-system is on display. Stay a while and discover the magnificence of a world class dive site.

Batu Bolong should not be dived if the currents in north Komodo are very strong since the site is small and there is no opportunity to drift. This site is one of the top diving locations in all of Komodo but it should only be attempted at slack tide when the current is not at its peak.

Currents moderate to raging, for intermediate to advanced divers. Depth to 40+ meters. Komodo Islands diving at its very best!!

Tetawa Kecil (Northeast Komodo)

This small rocky islet southwest of Tatawa Besar Island is an egret nesting site and a fantastic snorkel and dive site when the current is not raging. Another exhilarating dive site among the many world class dive sites of the Komodo Islands National Park.

Impressive schools of large pelagic fish patrol the blue waters, a huge school of batfish hang in the water, seemingly motionless, near a coral encrusted overhang, napoleon wrasse can be seen patrolling in the blue, and bumphead parrot fish move through the water like a herd of buffalo looking for their next meal. Nurse sharks and bamboo sharks are frequently found hiding in cracks and crevices among the massive coral encrusted boulders they call home. The crystal clear reef shallows are teeming with life and display vibrant and colorful varieties of hard coral that are a great place to find banded sea snakes, coral file fish, and baby sharks on the hunt.

Spectacular rock formations, caves and beautiful coral gardens grace the reef on the western side of the islet. Many reef fish including large groupers, humpback snappers, sweet lips, trevally, and sharks will be in attendance. Amazing numbers of beautiful anthias swim among the colorful fields of branching and table coral. Dugongs have been spotted here and manta rays are often seen on the southern side of the island. This dive site truly has something for everyone.

Large or inexperienced groups should only attempt this site around slack tide.

Currents moderate to strong, for intermediate to advanced divers. Depth: to 40+ meters. Experience the mystical Komodo dragon!

Tetawa Besar (Northeast Komodo)

Starting on the northwestern tip of Tatawa Island there is an excellent drift dive down the western coast at about 15 to 20 meters deep. The first stage of the dive can happen rather quickly and will require all of your attention as you will most likely encounter a swift up current before you enter the main current. Once past the up current you will descend down to an endless field of stunning orange soft corals which cover the entire reef. The view is like an amazing sunrise under the sea.

As your enjoying the ride and the sunrise keep your eyes open for hawksbill turtles, giant trevally, black tip reef sharks, bumphead parrot fish, and massive great barracuda. Manta rays frequent this site so be sure to look above and below.

At the southern end of the island the roller coaster ride will end and you will have time to take in your surroundings and explore the rest of this world class Komodo dive site.

It is also possible to drift down the north coast of Tatawa Island from the same entry point. This site is a good dive option if the current is too strong at Tatawa Kecil or Batu Bolong.

Currents moderate to strong, for intermediate to advanced divers. Depth to 40 meters. Go Komodo Islands Diving!

Castle Rock (North Komodo, Gilli Lawa Laut)

Castle rock is another amazing Komodo dive site that usually has excellent visibility but is prone to strong currents. The current usually flows eastward and is much stronger at the surface than in the deeper water. A submerged sea mount, the top of the rock which is approximately 3 to 4 meters deep can offer divers shelter from the current; hence the name Castle Rock. Upon entry divers should make their way to the top of the mount and use the rock as shelter from the current. The top of the rock is also a good calm place to explore at the end of a dive during a safety stop.

Once out of the current divers are in for an exceptional treat. The fish life here is simply stunning with schooling barracuda, trevally, and mackerel awaiting divers at depths of 30-40 meters. White tips, black tips, gray reef sharks and giant trevally all frequent this site in hopes of a good meal. At approximately 20 meters there is excellent soft coral growth and numerous sea fans that host the tiniest of pygmy seahorses. Curious batfish will escort you, and fusiliers will pass you by as you look for big rays out in the blue.

In recent times a pod of bottlenose dolphins have made this spot one of their favorite hunting grounds, and you can often see them while diving. These creatures are amazingly agile while working and to watch them in their natural environment is an experience not to be missed.

Currents moderate to strong, for intermediate to advanced divers. Depth: to 40+ meters. One of the many hidden treasures of the Komodo dragon islands!

Crystal Rock (North Komodo, Gilli Lawa Laut)

Crystal Rock is yet another open water pinnacle that just breaks the surface at high tide and is surrounded by amazing crystal clear water. Located just north of Komodo Island between to small islets this dive site is known for magnificent and colorful soft corals, huge rust colored sponges, and very impressive table coral coverage. The shallows host thousands of colorful anthias and damselfish, large cuttlefish, pyramid butterfly fish, hawksbill turtles, and large red octopus. This site is exceptional for wacky macro discoveries including many varieties of nudibranchs, and frogfish.

On the north west side of the pinnacle is a submerged sea mound that rises to 14 meters with a 20 meter deep saddle in the middle. Due to the strong easterly currents you'll need to make a quick descent to reach this area in anything other than slack tide conditions but the reward can be worth the effort. The area around the mound should not be missed as it offers incredible big fish schooling action. There are schools of yellow-ribbon sweet lips, black snappers, blue fin and big eye trevally, tuna, mackerel, and white tip reef sharks always in attendance. Keep your eyes open for the bottle nose dolphins and eagle rays gliding by in the blue.

Currents moderate to strong, for intermediate to advanced divers. Depth: to 40+ meters. Book your Komodo liveaboard diving today!!

Komodo and Rinca Dive Sites - South

In the southern portion of the Komodo and Rinca Islands divers will encounter cooler water temperatures typical of the Indian Ocean. Upwellings, caused by deep ocean currents colliding with the continental shelf, force an endless supply of plankton into the water column and result in an explosion of marine life. The invertebrate and fish species found in south Komodo are diverse, dense, prolific and brilliantly hued. Many rare and unusual species, large pelagic fish, mantas, whale sharks, dugongs, green and hawksbill turtles are resident here. Don't miss this pristine and world class dive destination!

Testimonials

Queen Scuba is one of the best liveaboards i have been on, outstnading service from the boat crew, excellent and knowledgeable dive guides and the food....so good and so much. We will be back to dive with the Queen Scuba crew again.

Dave and Eileen
England


Great fun, great diving, great boat.

Jay.
California, USA


It had been a while since my last dive, the Instructors onboard MV Queen Scuba went out of their way to make me feel relaxed, before long I was back in to the swing of things and the diving was fantastic. Thanks to Michael the cruise director and the rest of the crew onboard.

Ani
Italy.