Accommodation in Ambon?

[Mike_Kiev]

Hello.
Reading SB a lot about Ambon)
Decided to dive Ambon this autumn with Blue Rose Divers. They located in Laha now. As I saw on the map a lot of dive sites are located in this area. Of cause, first plan was standing in Natsepa and diving with DIA. But they are to far from Laha.
Blue Rose have 3 rooms and some home stay nearby, but we need about 5-6 rooms a little bit high level. Blue Rose recommend to stay at Tirta Kencana (across of them), but I can't find nothing about this place - no website.
Can anyone tell me something about this place? Or, may be, there are another recommendations about our accommodation?
Thank you in advance!

 

[WetPup]

I stayed at Maluku Divers. Nice place 2 minutes on the boat to Laha.

 

[Luko]

What a funny idea....Tirta Kencana is located on the other side of the bay.
Laha s a place near the airport on the northern shore of Ambon bay, where Maluku divers (expensive and overrated) and Blue Motion are located.
Blue rose has moved from the southern side of Ambon island to Ambon bay for some reasons, they were initially on Santai beach. Tirta Kancana is a quite basic and not very attractive greyish hotel on the southern side of the bay past KOta Ambon (teh city of Ambon).

I dived wih Blue Rose and used to recommand them a few years ago but to be honest their best macro dive guide quit and they are a bit on the not so reliable side for organizing things (for example on my last stay, I waited 3 hours for their boat on a quay in Ambon while I had confirmed by three times the date and time of pickup, then I went back to my hotel).

i dont really see the point staying at this place and diving with Blue Rose; Why don't you ask Blue motion to find you some accomodations?

 

[Mike_Kiev]

Thank you, I know where Blue Rose and Tirta Kencaca are located.
Blue Rose told me that they have only some Guesthouses close to them. No hotels. So me and friends are looking for accommodation place in Ambon. But seems to me that choice is to stay in Guesthouses close to them or to stay in some hotel on opposite side of the bay.
Robert is going out from Blue Rose?

 

[octopus adrift]

HEy Mike,

is there some particular reason why tou wanna dive with them?
I would go straight to Maluku divers.. the palce is amazing and for sure they are the most experienced in Ambon...!
THe accommodation is nice, diving very well organized, they also have a room for dive photographers.. THe food is quite everage thi, but overall is a great place!

 

[Mike_Kiev]

Yes, Maluku Divers is good.
They have only 1 mines - their price is over our budget) That's why we are looking for alternatives.

 

[octopus adrift]

Ok.. i understand... they are the only ones i know..!
I am getting interested in Sumbawa, it is much closer to Bali or Jakarta so the flight is much cheaper..!
MIx of walls and muck diving and unspoiled, no mass tourism there.
Must be real cool!
Diving is very cheap and many options for accommodation..! Looks great!

 

[Mike_Kiev]

Thank you, I will check this place! Indonesia is so big and unknown.

 

[Luko]

Thank you, I know where Blue Rose and Tirta Kencaca are located.
Blue Rose told me that they have only some Guesthouses close to them. No hotels. So me and friends are looking for accommodation place in Ambon. But seems to me that choice is to stay in Guesthouses close to them or to stay in some hotel on opposite side of the bay.
Robert is going out from Blue Rose?

1- in that case, why do you find DIA location is far away from Laha (40 minutes drive), Tirta Kencana is even further away if you take a car (I'd say 60-80 minutes drive depending on Kota Ambon traffic jam) !!!!
Are they going to pick you up by boat every day? Being right on Laha makes sense if you're expecting to do some night dives on Laha sites, otherwise I don't see the advantage of it... Ambon has great restaurants and it's not the best starting point to dive the southern sites of Ambon or Lease islands (this is why Maluku divers hardly dive them)

2- From various reports I've had for the last year, Robert seemed out of the dive centre, somebody told me he quit, but I am only reporting : this is not my first hand experience, since I have't dived Ambon for the 2 last years. i'd pretty much like to have confirmation.

3- I am not sure that comparing Maluku Divers to other benefits/drawbacks they would still be "the best". Personally I have some problems with some misinformation they have spreadout on some occasions. Also they are very expensive in my book, and located in an uninteresting location other than for diving Laha.

 

[Luko]

Ok.. i understand... they are the only ones i know..!
I am getting interested in Sumbawa, ...
MIx of walls and muck diving and unspoiled, no mass tourism there.
...
Diving is very cheap and many options for accommodation..! Looks great!

Pls elaborate, I have not heard about land dive operations in Sumbawa, something near Bima?