
INDONESIA
Indonesians call their own country Tanah Air Kita, Our Land and Waters, a good way of describing the largest archipelago in the world. Occupying a surface equivalent of the entire Europe or the U.S., Indonesia is strategically positioned across the tropics between the Indian and the Pacific oceans, and is crossed in its entirety by the Ring of Fire.

The combination of deep inner seas, volcanic islands, and a monsoon weather regime creates a vast variety of ecosystems both on land and underwater, with a variety of ethnic groups and cultures to match. The result is a kaleidoscope of landscapes, peoples and nature that won’t cease to amaze the most demanding traveller, no matter how many times you visit...
ITS NATURE
Volcanoes, rainforests, vast expanses of mangroves and some of the richest seas on the planet, this fascinating archipelago is home to a myriad of unusual creatures, from the little Tarsier to the (almost extinct) Sumatran rhino, tiger and elephant. Underwater, more than 4.000 species of fish and 500 types of coral are found throughout its mosaic of islands and reefs, creating a spectacular background that sets the scene for memorable encounters, from the tiny pygmy seahorse to the largest animal ever to exist, the blue whale, everything is possible in this land of wonders...

ITS PEOPLE
Different races and ethnic groups have coexisted here for centuries. This is the world’s largest Muslim country, a permissive Islam that coexist with matriarchal cultures, and gives an important role to women in social life. There are also important populations of Christians and Hindus, and traditional animist rituals are still widely practiced, blended with all other faiths. It is this rich mixture of beliefs, customs and lifestyles that make this country a real gem to visit. Indonesians are well known for their permanent smile and hospitality. A trip through this immense country is always a guarantee for wonderful experiences.
How to get there
Bima or Labuanbajo

Cruises to Komodo start and/or end in Bima or Labuanbajo. For Alor, Maumere, or Kupang are the starting/ending points.
All flights to these destinations leave from Denpasar (Bali), which is the usual entry point into the country for these routes. Arriving in Jakarta or Manado means an extra stop in Bali to connect to the above-mentioned starting points. The duration of these flights is between one hour and 90 minutes.
Arriving in Jakarta or Manado means an extra stop in Bali to connect to the above-mentioned starting points.
Sorong, Manokwari, Ambon, Tual or Bitung

Cruises starting or ending in Papua, Moluccas or Celebes have Sorong, Manokwari, Ambon, Tual or Bitung as embarkation points.
For these routes the best entry point is Manado (from Singapore), or Jakarta from elsewhere. From either of these two airports, you can fly to the starting points with a direct flight or with a short stop-over in between.
For questions and inquiries on how to reach the starting points of our cruises, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@thebestdivingintheworld.com and we will inform you about the most convenient way to travel there.
FAQs
What to bring?
- 250 € cash to pay for the Harbour Fee on board. This fee includes all national park fees, diving permits for Marine Protected Areas, unexpected fuel price increases, etc...
- Passport valid for a minimum period of 6 months.
- Since 2015 the Indonesian authorities have extended its Free Visa program to all countries except six (Cameroon, Guinea, Montenegro, North Korea, Pakistan and Somalia). All other countries don’t need a pre-arranged visa for stays of less than 30 days. If you plan to stay longer in Indonesia, make sure you have the right visa. Check out with the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate in your country in case of any doubt.
- Your own diving gear and all spare parts you may need. We have a limited number of sets of dive gear for rent and spare parts on board, but better check in advance if you plan to rent equipment onboard.
- Photography and video equipment.
- Mosquito repellent for when we go out on land tours (not needed onboard).
- Any specific medication you may be taking. No need for malaria treatment unless you are extending your stay in a malaria-endemic area. We have a complete First Aid Kit on board for minor injuries and regular illnesses.
- Your personal toiletries.
- Light and comfortable clothing (cotton shorts & T-shirts are best), a sweater, and a pair of washable footwear for landing ashore on some land tours.
- Your favourite alcoholic drink from the Duty-Free shop at the airport. We have beer and a limited number of bottles of liquor on board, but you are welcome to bring your own bottle of the latter. Beer from outside the boat is not permitted. If you want to bring your own beer, we charge a “corkage” fee.
- Domestic flights are usually strict with overweight. You may have to pay extra if you exceed the allowance, so bring the minimum with you and some change to pay for extras.
- Electricity onboard is 220V all-around-the-clock, and all sockets are two round pins European standard. Please bring your adaptors if needed.
Water temperature and wetsuit
The average water temperature is around 28ºC, but in some areas like south Komodo, Alor or North Raja Ampat the temperature can drop to 22-24ºC. Usually a 3 mm wetsuit is enough, but bring a 5 mm or a hooded vest if you tend to get cold underwater.
Why 3 dives per day?
The first day we only do the check dive in the afternoon plus night dive if we don’t have to cruise a long distance. The last day we also program two dives: early morning and after breakfast, to allow enough time to desaturate and safely fly the morning after. The remaining days we usually do three day-dives and night dive most days, unless we need to sail overnight to the next destination, in which case there is no night dive. Also, certain land tours - such as the walk on the Komodo National Park or the early tour to see the birds of paradise in Papua - take the time equivalent to the first dive in the morning. For all these reasons, the average number of dives at the end of the cruise ends up being about 3 per day.
Embarking and disembarking time
We encourage our guests to arrive at the port of embarkation before noon (12:00) on the departure date, to allow for the check dive in the afternoon and subsequent departure the same day. If you can’t find a flight arriving at noon at the latest please consult the organization so we can plan accordingly.
Equally, on the departure date guests are expected to leave the boat around noon at the latest, to allow for the preparation of the next cruise.
The boat usually arrives at the departing port the night before the day of departure.Transfers from and to the airport or hotel at the starting and ending towns are included in the price of the cruise. Remember to provide specific details of arrival, either flight number and ETA, or name, address and telephone number of the hotel if you arrive earlier than the scheduled day of departure. Guests staying in a hotel will be contacted by our Cruise Director at 6 pm the latest the day before departure.
Are all the dives in strong currents?
Currents make for good diving, and the reason Indonesia enjoys such great levels of biodiversity is precisely because of this constant flow of nutrient-packed currents and upwellings that feed the reefs. These currents promote rich, varied environments, from walls to flat reefs, slopes, underwater mountains, jetties, river mouths and black sand slopes. It is this extraordinary variety of ecosystems that provides the unique experience that diving Indonesia is.
When it comes to currents, it is important to understand is that our cruise directors and diveguides all have many years of experience taking groups of divers in the waters of Indonesia. We have never had an accident, something we pride ourselves for, but we also make an effort to adapt to the needs of every diver, starting from the assessment of the kind of group we have during the first pre-dive briefing upon arrival, and subsequently dividing the group into smaller sub-groups with a ratio of about 4-5 divers to a guide. We assess the needs and interests of every group and plan the dives according to the level and interest of every diver, working around the tides and timing the dives to always ensure everybody has a good experience on board.
Money
Euros and Dollars are widely accepted in Indonesia, although dollar notes must be from years later than 1996 and virtually flawless, or else might be (and often are) rejected. The best exchange rates are in Bali, though pretty much every town has at least one place to exchange hard currency.
Banks do change as well but at a slightly lower rate. Always try to stick to larger money changers and avoid smaller ones in tourist areas.
We accept any kind of hard currency or Indonesia Rupiah on board, though not credit cards nor checks. We recommend you to bring some small (local) money to buy handicrafts when visiting villages.
Internet access
As defendants of the “digital detox” movement, our boats don’t have internet connexion. Still, nowadays about 50% of the time there is some public internet connection available, depending on the route. If you are the kind that likes to be connected at all times, we suggest you purchase a phone card with a data package upon arrival in the country. Telkomsel works best and is available in any of the many dedicated phone stores.
Our boats are both equipped with a satellite phone for emergencies, and guests are welcome to use them at the established rates.
Recommendations
General
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Visa
Most countries are allowed a 30-days free visa on arrival, but it’s always good to check in advance.
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Passports
The date of expiration must be a minimum of 6 months from the date of exiting the country.
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Diving insurance
Our guests are required to present a personal diving insurance at the beginning of the cruise, valid for the duration of their stay on board. If a guest doesn’t present such valid diving insurance, the organization will produce one before departure with a cost of 40 US for a duration of up to 10 days, and 50 US for a duration between 11 days and one month.
Others
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Land tour extension
We strongly recommend considering a Land Tour extension before or after the cruise. After a long journey to Indonesia, it is worth exploring one or more of the numerous places of interest in the region, by the hand of professional, experienced guides. Should you need help arranging for one of the tours we can put you in touch with our partners in Bali which can organize many different land tours and activities throughout the archipelago.
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Conditions for Payment and cancellations
To avoid problems, please read carefully the section of Bookings and Cancellations.
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Money
Most hard currencies can be exchanged directly at airports and hotels in Indonesia. The best exchange rate to Rupiah is found in the money changers in Bali, though it is best to use the larger ones with a good, professional image. Credit cards are accepted in Bali and the big cities of Indonesia, but not in villages nor in remote islands. You can pay with any currency on board, but not with credit card nor checks.
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Cruise fees
Remember to carry € 250 in cash per person to pay the Harbour Fee.
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Diving
The diving is normally carried out from the tenders, sometimes without even anchoring. The tenders stay on top of the group for the entire length of the dive, picking up the divers at the end of it. We recommend divers to hold an advanced certification or a minimum of 50 signed dives, so they can fully enjoy the diving. Although we do our utmost to assess the level of the divers and organize the underwater activities accordingly, some dives are in strong currents and a minimum experience of every single diver is key for the safety and enjoyment of the group.
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Water temperature
The temperature is normally 28º C, although areas exposed to upwellings from the ocean (like South Komodo or Alor) can experience lower temperatures down to 22º C. Usually a 3 mm dive suit is enough, though some divers like to add a hooded vest or simply wear a 5 mm.
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Visibility
The average visibility is 15-20 m, with variations depending on season and tides.
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Safety in diving
Every diver must carry a Surface Marker Buoy; if you don’t bring your own we will lend you one for the duration of the cruise.
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Rental of diving equipment
Available onboard, please ask in advance for availability and check prices in the Services Onboard section of the menu.
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Electricity
Electricity onboard is 220 v with standard two-pin European sockets. The same applies to land.
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Health
There are no mandatory vaccinations for traveling to Indonesia. The Tropical Disease Institutes consider that some of the islands of the Indonesian archipelago are affected by malaria, although this is only true for highlands on the interior. Risks are minimum during the cruise and it is sufficient to bring a mosquito repellent for the land tours, or use the one provided onboard. It is important not to drink tap water nor eat fruits and vegetables without peeling, washing or boiling them. If you suffer seasickness carry your own remedy.
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Clothing
Our boats do not have laundry service, so we recommend you bring enough clothing for the entire length of the cruise. T-shirts, polo shirts, shorts and bathing suits are the norm, and a sweater for the evenings is usually enough.
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Heat
We are near the tropics and it can get very hot. Bring high protection sunscreen, sunglasses, hat...
Minors on board
We do not recommend bringing children under 6 years of age unless it is a consolidated route (see the Types of Route section), and at least one parent or legal tutor must remain on board with the children under 6 during dives.
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Most Exotic Islands
Occupying over half of the Coral Triangle, it contains more species of coral and fish than any other place on the planet.
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Safety
Our dedicated team of professionals has been successfully operating our cruise ship S.M.Y. Ondina since 2001.
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S.M.Y. Ondina
Sailing aboard SMY Ondina will give you the opportunity to explore the most exotic and remote islands of this unique country.
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Comfortable and affordable
We have focused on what really matters and left aside superfluous and expensive luxuries.
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Divers
Beginners, advanced, photographers and video enthusiasts, according to your needs, in a flexible but professional way.