Real Time Blue Manta Review: Banda Sea 9 – 19 Sept 2019

[scubaNYC16]

Strange. He was my DM for the week and I was the least experienced of the group of 4, the 3 others had over 2,000 dives each and one is an instructor. We had a great experience and he was pointing out all the cool little critters for my friend who is a serious photographer.

 

[scubaNYC16]

FYI I was in Komodo, not Banda Sea. Sorry to hear about your ear Dan.

 

[Dan]

Houston, we have a problem.

 

[outofofficebrb]

Please tell me that is not one of the dive dinghies from the Blue Manta and that it belongs to another boat in a remote region of Indonesia. What happened????

You guys are not really selling the Blue Manta trip right now

 

[Dan]

Strange. He was my DM for the week and I was the least experienced of the group of 4, the 3 others had over 2,000 dives each and one is an instructor. We had a great experience and he was pointing out all the cool little critters for my friend who is a serious photographer.

He now is guiding 3 experienced divers & Egoi guiding 5 less experienced divers. This seems to work much better. My less experienced buddy started to enjoy the diving.

Batman learned the lesson. He’d jump into the water with fins & mask to check the current & location. He would direct the zodiac driver to a better location for us to backroll Into.

 

[AlMitch]

Houston, we have a problem.

Oh NO!! That sucks!!! Especially out in the middle of no-where.
Loving this real-time trip report!!
Hope the diving conditions clear up for you guys and that you get luck with some hammers!!

 

[Dan]

Please tell me that is not one of the dive dinghies from the Blue Manta and that it belongs to another boat in a remote region of Indonesia. What happened????

You guys are not really selling the Blue Manta trip right now

When it rains, it pours. They have 2 skiffs & 2 zodiacs. Now it’s down to 2 working zodiacs & 1 skiff. Water entry would be a bit slower for 21 divers. No morning, before breakfast diving for today. We go directly to the full breakfast. It’ll be a bit helpful for my nagging ear.

 

[outofofficebrb]

When it rains, it pours. They have 2 skiffs & 2 zodiacs. Now it’s down to 1 working zodiac & 2 skiff. Water entry would be a bit slower for 21 divers. No morning, before breakfast diving for today. We go directly to the full breakfast. It’ll be a bit helpful for my nagging ear.

They should give you guys a credit for basically not being able to do that morning dive - either credited towards payment for nitrox or on-board accounting from beer/wine/purchases. It wasn't due to weather or anything and it was a call they made due to something of theirs malfunctioning aka sinking........Considering how much that sailing is, missing a dive is significant. Also, maybe you can ask if you guys can make that dive up on another day when you guys don't have to do a longer crossing. I would push for it if I were you. You have to be your own advocate!

 

[Dan]

I’m back! My ear is equalizing nicely after taking a good rest, a couple Clarinase pills last night & full breakfast before the morning dive. Best Dive so fat in NW Nyata.

 

[outofofficebrb]

I’m back! My ear is equalizing nicely after taking a good rest, a couple Clarinase pills last night & full breakfast before the morning dive. Best Dive so fat in NW Nyata.

Glad to hear it. Anyone have photos? I need an indo fix badly.