By: Torben Lonne
KLM Sunshine was built by hand in a traditional shipyard in South Sulawesi. The hull is made entirely of ironwood, with other structures and the interior fitting made of teak and other hard woods. The ship offers space for a maximum of eight divers, which guarantees ample space and an individual service at a length of around 30 meters. The spacious salon with seating areas is located on the middle deck and also serves as a restaurant where the delicious food is served buffet style. In the bow of the middle deck you can enjoy the Indonesian sun between dives. On the upper deck there is a covered chill-out area with sitting areas and stunning views of the sea.
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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Many people were happy with the hike up Pula Dua and they encounter a lot of wild life. -
Several divers noted that they saw a lot of macro species like frog fish, nudibranci, ghost pipefish, cuttlefish fish, seahorses, pigmy seahorses, crabs, bubble shrimps and many other things.
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Some people noted that they had a lot of fun on the beach when they had a BBQ.
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Many people said it was a intimate boat close with only 10 divers on board.
Things we don't like:
Some divers said they expected more sea life on their dives.- A couple of people noted that the gas smell lingered in the hallways of the Sunshine.
Some divers said they expected more sea life on their dives.
Diving on the KLM Sunshine in Indonesia
The KLM Sunshine is a traditional safari ship built to the specifications of the owners and directors of the Blue Bay Divers Resort on the small island on the North Sea coast. The concept was simple and ingenious: to let the resort’s guests dive in the exciting and diverse waters of North Sulawesi.
Traditional Indonesian Phinisi
The KLM has a total of four well-kept double chairs. Two cabins are located on the lower deck and two on the upper deck. All cabins have their own bathroom with shower and plenty of luggage storage space. The lower deck cabins have individually controlled air-conditioning, while the upper deck cabins have a fan and large windows. Also a charging station is set up in the salon. The spacious diving platform is located on the middle deck. The divers will find plenty of storage space for the equipment and will reach the diving platform in a few steps. The amenities included are: rinse tanks, Nitrox and dive guides.
Guests are given three dives each day in Halmahera, North Sulawesi (Lembeh and Bunaken), Sangihe Islands and Buyat bay in the Indonesian archipelago. The pristine waters of Indonesia are home to a thriving ecosystem of over 600 species of coral and 3000 species of fish. You can also set sail to completely untouched and rarely visited areas. The KLM Sunshine is exclusively for Nitrox Dive Charter. Divers who have not yet obtained a Nitrox certification can take the course at the Blue Bay Divers resort for 100 EUR
Food and Beverage
Guests are provided a wide variety of dishes, food served varying from western to vegetarian dishes. There are selections of breakfast items and fruit for breakfast. You will be surprised with the diversity of the lunch and dinner from the gourmet restaurant. The chef and crew on board are experts on preparing delicious curries and freshly caught seafood, moreover, dietary requirements are carefully observed too. Guests need to inform the crew before departure to give the services that you need. All food, snacks, soft drinks, coffee and tea are inclusive while beer and wine are available for a fee.
Non-diving Relaxation Hours
Divers can also enjoy the sunset on the deck or they can enjoy watching a film in the air-conditioned restaurant. Savvy readers can visit the small library to enjoy fish identification books. Furthermore, there are plenty of diving experiences to talk about as well as sharing photos with friends.
The crew of the KLM Sunshine often offers island hopping. You might as well have the opportunity to snorkel along school of fish or sunbathe on a perfect, black-sand beach. There are different ways to enjoy water activates as much as you enjoy daily surface activities.
Travel Itinerary
The destination includes: Bunaken, Lembeh, Buyat Bay, Togian Islands, Tompotika, Sangihe Islands SITARO, and Halmahera. The journey starts at 8:00 am from Blue Bay and returns on the last day in the late afternoon/early evening. The divers are looked after the same guides with whom they dive before or after Sahaung if possible. This is how the well-rehearsed diving team stays. You will enjoy these fun and exciting activities if you register early, because our tours are often fully booked.
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