By: Torben Lonne
A proud member of the Sea Safari cruises fleet, the Sea Safari VI, a luxurious liveaboard offers a variety of diving activities within the Indonesian Archipelago. The Sea Safari VI is the smallest among its sister ships and is an ideal option for guests who seek an Indonesian liveaboard trip of not more than a week as most of its trips are for six days and six nights. The boat, built in 2000 takes divers and non-divers to Indonesia’s best dive sites which includes Raja Ampat, Komodo, the Lembeh Strait, Wakatobi, and the Forgotten Islands.
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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Some divers reported that each dive was unique and exposed the biodiversity of Indonesia. -
Many people were happy seeing huge manta rays and massive schools of jack fish.
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Divers commemorated the crew on being friendly and hospitable.
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One diver expressed he was 70 years old and the diving experience was spectacular to him and he says he will be back next year.
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The sails of the boat was opened up and it added another layer to an awesome trip.
Things we don't like:
Some people noted that the cabins were cramped.- The amount of young people on the boat exceeded that of the old, perhaps they should work on their ratio one diver recommended.
Some people noted that the cabins were cramped.Where to book:
Where to book:
Diving on the Sea Safari VI in Indonesia
Built to offer space and comfort, the 35 meter/115 feet long Sea Safari VI caters for 20 guests and offers year-round dives to Komodo, Raja Ampat, the Lembeh Strait, Ambon, Ternate, Wakatobi, and the Forgotten Islands. The boat is Indonesian-owned, features Indonesian carvings and cuisine and Balinese art in the cabins and offers a more authentic phinisi experience compared to most liveaboards.
Boat features
The Sea Safari VI has ten fully-airconditioned cabins with en-suite bathrooms. There are three double and one twin bed cabins on the upper deck. All the cabins have a bathroom with hot water shower, hand basin, toiletries and towels, windows/portholes, reading lights, cabinet and dressing table. There are two double cabins on the middle deck. There are four standard twin and double bed cabins on the lower deck.
There is enough room for guests to relax at the air-conditioned restaurant or at the lounge or they can also relax outside the bar area. Divers can also chill at the spacious sun deck after the dives. The large diving station offers plenty of room for your dive gear, and there is a separate rinse tank for underwater cameras, as well as a dedicated camera table. The boat is equipped with amenities such as camera workstations, camera battery charging stations, separate rinse tank for cameras, on-deck hot water shower, DIN/INT adapters and fish ID and diving books.
The boat’s crew members are available to ensure that guests enjoy a safe and pleasant experience. Meals prepared by the onboard chef are served buffet style and are a mix of Indonesian, Asian and Western cuisine. They are cooked fresh every day with locally sourced ingredients, to suit every taste.
While the Sea Safari VI may be a traditional-looking phinisi, it is equipped with top-quality navigation and safety equipment. Diving on this luxurious liveaboard is done on the watchful eyes of professional guides as safety is always a priority as in most liveaboards.
Onboard the Sea Safari VI, divers are offered the opportunity to increase their level of certification during the dive vacation as different dive courses such as PADI Discover Scuba Diving, PADI Open Water Referral, PADI Open Water, PADI Adventure Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water and PADI Specialty Courses are all available.
With the safety of guests a priority, the boat is equipped with life vests, first aid kits, and emergency rafts.
Best time to go
While diving is ideal at any time of the year, the best time to go on a trip aboard the Sea Safari VI in Raja Ampat is from October until April ending as the weather can be bad for diving between mid-June and September.
Logistics
Sea Safari 6 itineraries are great not only for divers but for their non-diving fellow travelers as well. They include mount trekking and snorkeling too. The Sea Safari VI goes to the following dive sites: Raja Ampat (7days/6 nights or 11days/10 nights), Halmahera (12days/11nights), Sangeta Laut (8days/7nighyts), Komodo(7days/6nights), and the Banda Sea (12days/11nights).
Itinerary
Guests are picked from hotels at various points on the departure date and transferred to the boat where they are briefed on safety and other important things before they are checked into their cabins. There are up to 4 dives per day depending on sea and weather conditions. There are two dives on the day before departure. There are no dives on the arrival and departure day.
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