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Photo credits to Jim Watt & Steve Fish.

In Love With Komodo

Warm greetings to all readers of the Kararu Dive Voyages Newsletter.

In this edition we bring you some very good reasons why we love diving Komodo.

To sum it all up in a few words, our summer months in the Komodo National Park were nothing short of exceptional. The Cheng Ho is currently headed to Raja Ampat but will be back in Komodo in early March 2009. So read on for some great tips about Komodo and contact Stein at stein@kararu.com to book a trip in 2009 with us to one of the best destinations in the Indonesian archipelago.

Next, we bring you two interesting new course options from TDI/SDI which you can now do as part of your cruise with us. Nitrox Online and Solo Diver.

You can also check out some special deals on selected 2008 cruises as well as a chance to win a free trip with Kararu for 2 persons!

And if you're thinking about booking a trip with us, if you haven’t already heard the good news - the U.S. has lifted it's travel warning for Indonesia.

Last, but not least, after almost five years, the time has come to further improve our web site. This time around, a whole new concept will be applied in designing and restructuring the Kararu web site - it should be on line within a month!

6 Tips on How To Dive Komodo

How to get the most out of your Komodo experience, by Hergen Spalink...

In general, I begin our trip report with a run down of what we've seen and things we've experienced...a laundry list of critters, creatures, and corals. Today I would like to do something a little different. In addition to making you extremely jealous with mentions of the cool things we've been doing, I'm also going to give those of you who haven't been here (or have, and are coming back) some tips on how to get the most out of your Komodo experience. So grab a fresh cup of coffee and settle in for a little story...

Tip One: Get Local Knowledge. Let's say you were planning on learning to skydive; what would be your selection criteria for the outfit you plan to undertake this semi-risky activity? The color of the plane? Or maybe the one that gives you a free cocktail after your jump? If you answered yes to any of these questions, stop reading, I will most likely end up offending you. If questions like, “How long have they been in business?” and “What sort of local experience do they have?” didn't come up, you might want to stay away from anything that involves leaving your sofa.

There is no substitute for local knowledge. With the influx of boats into the area, the focus seems to have shifted from the quality of the diving experience, to the style of the bathroom tile. Kararu has been operating in the Komodo area for a decade and we know it intimately. In addition, our vessel offers the most spacious and comfortably appointed dive platform in the region (complete with new bathroom tiles:-)

Tip Two: Attitude is Everything. We love to dive Komodo. It just so happens that it is also our job. The diversity of the Komodo region allows you to have vastly different experiences all on the same trip. From Sangean's world class muck diving to Gili Lawa Laut's shy pinnacles, there is no end to the excitement. Let yourself be taken on a wild ride at Banta's Highway to Heaven. Pick one of the ten Ghost Pipe fish we found on one dive at Sangean and take the best picture of your trip. Watch one of the twelve different species of nudis we found at Torpedo Alley mate. Open yourself to the experience before you. Steve, our photo pro, has a great sign on his desk that says “Creativity Is Difficult to Schedule”.

Open yourself to a unique experience. A lot of divers want the “signature experience”, they come with a checklist of things to be seen and done. If the list is not complete, the trip was not a success. With the unbelievable amount of both new and well-documented subject matter to be found, the right attitude will get you what you want, a truly unique experience.

Another great photographer who is coming back for more in 2010, Cathy Church, said “The best picture of any subject has not been taken yet...”. Well we've got subjects to spare. I spent yesterday with four dolphins swimming within a arm's reach through schools of fusiliers that you could hear moving underwater. And that happens just about every time we dive that site. We found ten Frog fish on a night dive in Sangean. The next night it was Harlequin Shrimp and Starry Night Octopus. Then we went to see Stargazers and Torpedo Rays.

We have found at least one un-described species of nudibranch on every trip this season. See what's right in front of you, not what someone told you should be there.

Tip Three: Ask the Pro. We are the only vessel operating in the area with a dedicated on-board Photo Pro. Steve Fish has been doing professional photo and videography in the Indo-Pacific for fifteen years. He's written books on underwater video and photography and worked on major underwater films for the BBC. In short, he knows what he is talking about. And his sole purpose on the Cheng Ho is to help you become a better underwater photographer or videographer (and make an awesome DVD of your trip for you to show all your friends). He's not a dive guide, he doesn't make the beds, and he doesn't cook the food. He is available to our guests all the time for all your imaging needs and questions (and he can fix almost anything...including espresso machines thank god). Now that beats free booze if you ask me.

Tip Four: Have it Your Way. Bottom time is king. On 98.9% of dives in Komodo (yes I actually calculated that) we do not limit bottom time. You paid for the whole tank, why not use it. With our three twin-engine tender boats (each with two crew members on board) will pick you up whenever and wherever you decide to end your dive. Constant radio communication between the tenders and the main vessel insure that you can feel safe doing long dives. Your camera, tank, fins and any other equipment you don't feel like carrying will be brought to and from the tenders each and every dive. With a complement of 22 Indonesian crew there is no shortage of helping hands.

Tip Five: You Can Take Pictures Out of the Water Too! The topside scenery in Komodo is nothing short of spectacular. Land tours on either Komodo or Rinca will get you up close and personal with a few Komodo Dragons. Beautiful white sand beaches, sheer ocean carved cliffs, and a 2000 meter high active volcano also make for some pretty cool backdrops.

The Cheng Ho has three outside seating areas complete with plush couches, flexible sun chairs, and incredible views.

I admit, it's hard to get up from the ultra-comfy and ultra-spacious air conditioned salon with it's almost 270 degree panoramic views, but sunset on the top deck is not to be missed.

Tip Six: Book now. There is no better time to be here. Contact Stein in the office, we'll take care of everything. It only takes a phone call or an email and you're on your way. With it's robust mix of unbelievable macro, stunning reefs and fish life, and exciting topside activities, Komodo deserves the fantastic reputation it has acquired. Every season here is better than the last, so that means the one you're on will be the best we've had so far! Thanks for reading and we hope to see everyone soon! Cheers.

Captain Hergen Spalink, Cruise Director Cheng Ho.

New TDI/SDI Courses Available at Kararu

Many of our divers choose to dive with Nitrox onboard our cruises. If you are not yet certified prior to your next trip with us, we assure you that the benefits of diving with Nitrox are so numerous that we have now made it even easier for you to get certified.

Nitrox Diver Online

Instead of spending precious time getting Nitrox certified during your cruise you can now complete the biggest component of the course prior to joining the cruise. Learn at your own pace, at your own convenience in your home using the on-line SDI Nitrox Diver facility now available on the web. Simply sign up, log inn and complete all requirements, except the actual dives which you will do on the boat. More specific information on how to sign up for these courses will follow shortly.

Solo Diver

Many of you are very experienced divers and photographer with literally thousand of dives under your belt. Most will at some stage have felt the urge to go solo diving. Now available onboard the Cheng Ho is the worlds first dedicated solo-diver course. Go solo diving knowing that you are prepared to handle it all. Contact us for more details.

New Kararu Website - Your Help Is Needed!

We are entering our 10th year of successful operation of top-notch liveaboard cruises in Indonesia. Like most operations, we started small and have now grown into becoming Indonesia's leading Liveaboard operator. Our website has also grown and expanded accordingly and the time has come to take a hard look on what we can improve. We aim to provide you with an even better on-line experience, and are planning to add several new and very interesting features. Some of these features will include:

• New and improved navigational system
• Interactive route maps of most popular cruising destinations
• An informative guide helping you to choose the right destination
• Stunning videos and photography (not really new)
• New fonts, banners and graphical lay-out

More interesting features will definitely be added, but we will need your help to make it right. So, if we may ask you, our fellow divers, a question "what makes a great website?" You as the readers will be the best one to answer that question. So, here is your chance to provide us with input on how you would like the new Kararu website to look!

Please give us your thoughts and ideas on what is needed...have a look and browse through the existing website. Some of the content is great, some definitely in need of improvement...some information might be missing. Let us know how to improve the website and we will do our very best of incorporating your suggestions into the new website.

Please direct all your creative thoughts, suggestions and ideas to: webdesign@kararu.com

U.S. Travel Warning Lifted

U.S. Travel Warning Had Been in Place since November 2000.

The long standing travel warning issued by the U.S. Government urging American travelers to avoid non-essential travel to the Republic of Indonesia has been lifted.

The warnings were first introduced by the U.S. State Department in November 2000 following a series of bombing attacks in Jakarta and prior to two deadly terrorist bombing attacks in Bali in October 2002 and October 2005 that claimed over 240 lives.

In lifting the ban, U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron Hume issued a statement "the government ... has disrupted, arrested and prosecuted numerous terrorist elements." In his emailed statement to the press Hume said, "the U.S. has lifted the warning due to objective improvements made by Indonesia in its current security situation."

Indonesian authorities have a record second to none for tracking down terrorists and bringing them to trial, having convicted hundreds of Islamic terrorists.

Ambassador Hume said the Embassy would not modify its security precautions and, like most public places in Indonesia, would continue to practice a high level of diligence.

Win a 11 night trip for 2 persons with Kararu

Kararu Dive Voyages are proud sponsors of the main prize in the "World of underwater images competition - Best humoristic image" Sign up for the competition and send of your images - who knows -you might be the winner of this great prize. For more details on the competition and singing up, please click this link: www.sandiskredsea.com

Recent Guest Comments

Renowned photographer and long-time friend of Kararu, Berkley White has just returned from his latest trip to Komodo - have a look at what he thought about his trip....

"Komodo was better than ever, loaded with fish and new critters. After five years of diving Komodo I thought I had seen it all. But the new sites and life was simply amazing. I'll be back next year! The Kararu crew are simply the best in the business. Kerri, Hergen and Steve kept us pumped up every day and caters to all our special photo pursuit requests. The Indonesian crew were so happy, fun and professional. This trip was hands down my favourite dive in Indonesia. Thanks go to the awesome crew who took our group of 16 photographers to an all new Komodo."

Berkley White
www.backscatter.com

Please Click Here For More Recent Guest Comments

Special Deals in 2008

There are also a few spots left on some upcoming trips to great diving destinations so if you can travel on a whim, book fast and receive attractive discounts! We have selected a few trips below where we still have limited availability.

23-08 Maumere -Ambon (OCT. 05-16, 2008)

Dive the best of Flores, Alor and Ambon, all in one cruise! This Banda Sea crossing trip delivers not only fantastic diving with literally hundreds of sea-snakes at the famous Gunung Api dive site, but also some spectacular and dramatic scenery like erupting volcano's. (Picture on the right is from our last Banda Sea crossing cruise) Contact us directly for great deals on this trip.

26-08 Sorong -Ambon (NOV. 08 - 20, 2008)

Try to imagine diving Raja Ampat, Misool, Fak Fak and Ambon all on the same cruise! Definitely possible - this cruise will take you to all of these fantastic dive areas. For more information on diving the last frontier please contact us directly.

Please contact us for more information about these special deals

Next Issue

We will be featuring Aaron & Vicki Fink from Reef & Rainforest on their trip to Komodo in the next issue. Don't forget to check out some of the amazing guest comments on our dedicated guest comment pages

The Kararu team and management looks forward to welcoming you on board our vessels for the liveaboard scuba diving expedition of a lifetime. Please feel free to contact any of us at any time or see the 2008 and 2009 cruise schedules at our web site. www.kararu.com/schedules