Dive Review of Seven Seas in
Indonesia/Raja Ampat/Banda Sea

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Seven Seas, Nov, 2008, by Richard Litsch, CA, USA ( Reviewer 3 reports). Report 4577.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Every serious diver should have Indonesia on their travel list. This two week trip on the SEVEN SEAS left from Sorong and ended up in Ambon. The boat was a traditional Indonesian craft that held 16 divers, in eight air conditioned staterooms all with their own head and shower. I have never seen a harder working staff on a liveaboard. Our trip director, Stewart, was top notch in every way. He had the perfect balance of safety, having a good time and not having to be a Nazi while achieving it. Every guests needs were attended to. Whether it be a shore excursion, wildlife viewing, fishing or whatever, the staff was more than happy to accommodate. The food was varied and plentiful and surprisingly good for such a remote location. A lone vegetarian was well taken care of. Other than beer which was only $2 US a can, wine and booze was expensive. This is not due to the owners fault but it is just hard to come by in this remote part of a Muslim country. Due to the excellent fishing in the area, we were treated to a platter of wonderful sashimi every evening. When the air conditioner in our cabin went out half way through our trip, the owners Jos and Lida Pet insisted that we switch cabins with them. There is really nothing negative to say about the SEVEN SEAS. Diving was done from two open fiberglass boats which accommodated eight divers each. There was also a zodiac available for diving or other excursions. I found that a skin was all that was required for diving this entire trip, however most people used a three mil suit. The diving was simply stunning. Though the Raja Ampat area had less than hundred foot visibility and some significant currents it is the finest reef I have ever seen. Period. There is not a place on the reef for even the slightest finger hold that is not covered with gorgeous reef life. Dives varied from sheer walls, gorgeous coral gardens both hard and soft, and exhilarating drift dives. As we continued south to the Misool area, which was my favorite part of the trip, we experienced slightly less marine life but this came with outstanding visibility as well as phenomenal top side attractions such as "the cave". The final part of the trip was visiting and diving the Banda Islands. The historical significance of the Banda Islands is well known. The top side attractions were well worth it. We saw a traditional Indonesian dance that was not put on for tourists, because there aren't any. We met the King of Banda and had him on the boat for dinner one night. The diving around the offshore islands around the Banda area was breathtaking. Visibility was at least 150 feet if not unlimited. Beautiful drift and wall diving! Yes, it is a long way to get to this part of Indonesia, and it makes for quite an expensive trip. But if you're looking for the finest diving in the world, a true adventure below and above water, in first class accommodations you can't beat this trip on the SEVEN SEAS.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	Red Sea, Fiji, Great Barrier Reef, Palau, Yap, Truk, various Carribean, Mexico, Galapagos.
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, rainy, cloudy	Seas	calm
Water Temp	83-85°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	40-150 Ft/ 12-46 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	1 hour maximum dive time
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	> 2
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
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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Dive Review of Seven Seas in Indonesia/Raja Ampat/Banda Sea

Seven Seas, Nov, 2008,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Seven Seas in
Indonesia/Raja Ampat/Banda Sea