JOIN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RAINBOW DIVERS IN KOMODO NATIONAL PARK FOR AN EXCITING POST–DFL WEEK ABOARD THE MV MERMAID II DIVE LIVEABOARD
Komodo National Park offers Northern California Rainbow Divers (NCRD) every kind of tropical diving imaginable! Its warm, colorful reefs are alive with rays, sea turtles, eels, invertebrates such as nudibranchs, crabs, and shrimps, reef fishes such as frogfish, pygmy seahorses, cuttlefish, ghost pipefish and wrasse. At many dive sites, cool-water sea mounts are fed by currents bringing in large pelagics such as sharks, snappers and tuna.
Komodo is also home to the world's largest living monitor lizard, the Komodo Dragon. This carnivorous species grows to a length of about 10 feet, weighing up to 300 pounds. A population of about 3-5,000 lives within the Park, with about 1,100 on Rinca Island, where divers will have the opportunity to go ashore, see the lizards living free and wild in their native habitat and learn more about these endangered animals in the Park's Visitor Center.
18 LGBT divers from Northern California Rainbow Divers and Undersea Expeditions will share a spectacular week aboard one of the most comfortable dive yachts in Indonesia. The trip has been designed to coincide with the end of Diving For Life's (DFL) week in Bali in October, 2012. Although our charter is a private, independent event, 10% of Rainbow Divers' proceeds will be donated to Diving For Life for distribution to local LGBT health charities.
Our starting point for this expedition is the enchanting island of Bali. If you attend DFL 2012, our liveaboard week begins in Bali on the day that DFL ends and returns to Bali a week later. No further inter-island air flights are required within Indonesia to meet the boat once you reach Bali.
We'll board MV Mermaid II from Bali's Benoa Harbor on the afternoon of October 20, 2012. For divers attending DFL 2012 the previous week, a group transfer will be available from DFL's hotel in Candi Dasa.
ITINERARY:
Day 1 -- Saturday, October 20
Check-in on board MV Mermaid II between 2-4pm in Benoa Harbor, Bali. After the boat and safety briefing, the crew will set up equipment, and we can settle into our cabins. Dinner will be served at 7pm as we cruise into the sunset on overnight journey to Moyo Island, northwest Sumbawa.
Day 2 -- Sunday, October 21 -- 3 dives
We begin our adventure with a great dive in the calm, clear waters of Angel Reef at Moyo Island. Massive elephant ear and barrel sponges, schools of longfin bannerfish and redtooth triggerfish numbering in the hundreds, frogfish, nudibranchs, eels, surgeonfish, snapper and dogtooth tuna. After a visit to the local village, it's lunch for us!
Next is a great dive at Panjang Reef, where pygmy seahorses can be found. Then we cruise for 2 hours to Satonda Island for a world-class night dive after watching hordes of bats fly at sunset. After a great dive and dinner, we cruise overnight to Sangeang Island, off the north coast of Sumbawa.
Day 3 -- Monday, October 22 -- 4 dives
We'll do 2 dives at Sangeang Island for rare nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses and the underwater hot springs that support this very unique marine life. Then we cruise to Gili Banta for exhilarating dives at Tanduk Rusa with turtles, colorful reef stonefish and Spanish Dancers. In this calm sea, it's a great place to stay overnight.
Day 4 -- Tuesday, October 23 -- 4 dives
If the tide is right, we hunt grey reef sharks and dolphin at Taka Toko Gili Lawalaut. Dive 2 is a fast drift dive with pelagics and manta rays at Lighthouse Reef or the Old Passage, followed by a dive at Crystal Rock with its awesome soft corals and the chance to see sharks, turtles, giant Maori wrasse, literally a "fish soup” dive with a high chance of eagle rays too! Then we cruise south for a fascinating night dive at Pink Beach near the entrance to the Komodo National Park.
Day 5 -- Wednesday, October 24 -- 3 dives
We start our day with an exciting visit to Komodo National Park to walk with the dragons! Then relax as we cruise 2 hours south to Horseshoe Bay on Rinca Island. Spectacular diving awaits at the world famous Cannibal Rock, where we may find rare nudibranchs, frogfish, vibrant corals, sponges, ascidians, huge black coral bushes, turtles, cuttlefish and loads of reef fish too. Watch dragons on the beach, monkey, deer, wild pigs along the shore, go beachcombing... maybe even a chance to follow whales and dolphin feeding in the calm bay. We overnight at this peaceful place, night diving at one of the many fabulous spots.
Day 6 -- Thursday, October 25 -- 4 dives
The Three Sisters call us to Padar Island for sharks and nudibranchs, surgeonfish and devil rays. Manta Alley or Takat Makasar follows for the chance to see a manta aggregation! Batu Bolung, aka “Current City,” is the home of large Napoleon wrasse, turtles, bluefin trevally. Or maybe a dive at Tatawa Kecil – we check out the currents first to make sure the dive will be safe. Then we say goodbye to Komodo National Park with a fabulous night dive at Gili Banta with Coral Cat Shark, or we cruise west, enjoying a post-dinner night dive along the way. Overnight we cruise to Satonda Island.
Day 7 -- Friday, October 26 -- 2 dives
We enjoy two fantastic dives at Sumbawa Surprise; macro enthusiasts will be in seventh heaven! Then on to Moyo Islands for more chances to see ghost pipefish, ribbon eels, turtle, cuttlefish and more before we cruise overnight to Benoa in the south of Bali. Off-gas as we cruise into the sunset with the crew rinsing and packing our equipment for us. This is paradise, Mermaid Liveaboards style!
Day 8 -- Saturday, October 27
After breakfast, we'll transfer ashore at 8:30am to head home and start planning our next SCUBA vacation!
TOTAL DIVES: 20
INCLUDED:
- 7 nights aboard the MV Mermaid II
- air-conditioned, double-occupancy cabin with ensuite bath (the Budget cabin shares a bath)
- all meals and between-meal snacks
- alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including soft drinks
- up to 4 dives a day, conditions permitting, as indicated above
- air fills and use of tanks, weights and weight belt
- divemaster and dive guide services as provided by the boat
- onshore excursions as described in the above itinerary
NOT INCLUDED:
- dive gear rental
- 32% Nitrox fills @ €6/fill or €96/week
- optional dive courses onboard
- international flights to Denpasar, Bali (DPS)
- Indonesian entrance visa
- pre- or post-liveaboard accommodation
- alcoholic beverages
- international airport departure tax (US$25)
- park and port fees of €90
- tips and crew gratuities
- boutique purchases onboard
- any items of a personal nature
- travel or dive accident insurance, or medical evacuation costs
FLIGHTS:
Many international carriers serve Denpasar, Bali (DPS), including Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Because we'll cross the International Date Line to get to Bali, flights from North America depart on October 17 to arrive on October 19, the day before we board the vessel. Due to the possibility of flight delays, we recommend arriving on Bali at least one day early.
If you plan to participate in Diving for Life, you'll already be on Bali and will join the group transfer to Benoa Harbor on October 20 to board the boat.
After the liveaboard, you may plan to depart Bali on the afternoon of Saturday, October 27, or later.
CAVEATS:
Please do not commit to air flights or other logistical arrangements until you have received confirmation of your space from the Trip Leader once your initial deposit has been received.
All divers on this trip should be comfortable diving in currents and have good buoyancy skills. Divers are required to carry valid, in-force dive accident insurance, such as may be obtained from Divers' Alert Network (DAN). Use of individual dive computers is mandatory for diving from this vessel.
The water in this region is warm, averaging 78-82°F or 26-28°C. For most divers, a 3mm or 5mm shorty or full-length wetsuit is comfortable. A hood, beanie or hooded vest is recommended for divers who tend to feel the chill after repetitive dives.
Divers must agree to NCRD's Event Terms and Conditions to participate in this trip.
PRICE:
US$2,399 per person, Deluxe Cabin (ensuite bath)
US$2,131 per person, Budget Cabin (shared bath)
PAYMENT PLAN:
| 1st: |
At registration
|
US $ 700 to hold your space
|
| 2nd: |
January 20, 2012
|
US $ 500 Deluxe & Budget
|
| 3rd: |
April 20, 2012
|
US $1,000 Deluxe
US $ 931 Budget
|
| 4th: |
June 22, 2012
|
US $ 199 Deluxe only
|
PAYMENTS:
Trip payments may be made by PayPal or by personal check.
If paying by PayPal, please make payment to this email address: paypal@rainbowdivers.org All PayPal payments should be increased by 3% to cover transaction fees charged by PayPal to the club.
If paying by check, please make payable to NCRD and send to:
NCRD
P. O. Box 640388
San Francisco, CA 94164
