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Dive Review of Maluku Explorer, formerly MV Liburan in
Indonesia/Halmahera

Maluku Explorer, formerly MV Liburan: "Good Liveaboard, Great Uncrowded Diving", Oct, 2018,

by Lisa C. Evans, CO, US (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 24 reports with 11 Helpful votes). Report 10563.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Second time on this boat, with a slightly different itinerary this time. We were the only liveaboard we saw in 8 days of diving. Where the corals are healthy, they are generally great, with huge sponges and sea fans. However, this time we encountered several spots at the end of dives that had been dynamited, which is so sad. But many of the sites were beautiful and amazing!

Fish life was great - not a ton of huge fish, but I lots of sweetlips, snappers, fusiliers, trevallies, etc, and actually the biggest grouper I have ever seen - probably literally 7 feet long. Often big schools of medium and small fish. Reef sharks everywhere. Great diversity.

Some strong currents, but great action at the split! Lots of sea mounts. Good night diving.

The boat is not luxury, but perfectly fine and well set up. Comfortable salon, good dive deck. You do put on your BC/tank at your station and walk down 3 steps to get in the tenders, but if requested they will happily take your BC to the tender for you.

Food was tasty, but not as much variety as I would have liked.

Cruise Director and DMs were great, though one new DM was still learning the sites, which can be a bit problematic.
Websites Maluku Explorer, formerly MV Liburan   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving GBR, Philippines x 5, Raja Ampat x 3, Komodo, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Lembeh, Caribbean, Bali, Palau, Yap, Red Sea, Maldives, Ambon, Sulawesi, etc
Closest Airport Ternate Getting There You can fly on domestic airlines from Jakarta to Ternate via Makassar.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy Seas calm, surge, currents, no currents
Water Temp 80-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 30-80 Ft/ 9-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Generally stayed with DM/groups, though they let those of us who don't use much air stay down on our own after we showed we were competent. Then we were also able to go off on our own on dive sites that warranted it.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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