An A+++ experience I've just returned from a 10 day cruise on the... もっと見るI've just returned from a 10 day cruise on the Banda Sea, my second trip on board The Adelaar. I had hopes and expectations for this trip to the deepest sea on the planet they were blown out of the water!
Lorine and Reto, the two cruise directors, have a fantastic team, from the boat captain through to the chefs and engineers. They ensured that the cruise was perfect in every detail, from the cleanliness of the cabins to the quality of food, from the care taken with camera gear to the quality of dive briefings, complete with artwork! 'Thank you' seems wholly insufficient.
Attention to detail, a dry sense of humour and a keenness to share a deep love of Indonesia and it's many hidden treasures, are at the heart of The Adelaar. Prior to every dive, everyone's gear was checked (they discovered a tiny high pressure hose leak that I'd missed and replaced it!), the dive site was visited for a current check, buoy dropped in place where necessary, and great care was taken to ensure the safety of all. The dive boats maintained their station above us at all times to ensure that they were readily available should a problem arise, as well as being close to hand at the dive's end.
The diving? What did we see? It's probably easier to go down a list of what we didn't on this trip! So varied were the dive sites and deep the knowledge of our dive guides, that if there was something to be seen, we saw it:- hammerheads on numerous dives, whalesharks on two occasions, Threshers, silver tips, black tips and white tips; schools of barracuda; huge tuna; oceanic manta; eagle rays and mobula; there were frogfish, leaf fish and Ornate Ghost Pipefish; and nudis of every shape and size. Sights on the surface were memorable too:- blue whales and pilots; sailfish and barracuda; and it wouldn't be a trip without dolphins.
Yes, the currents did prove entertaining at times, as well as being unpredictable, and the diving was deep in order to encounter the thermoclines, cold water, amazing visibility and the wildlife. The water did get a little chilly at times, but nothing that a 3mm suit and 1.5mm hooded vest couldn't cope with.
The food was great - normally I lose about 7 pounds on a dive trip, but the chefs' efforts added 3 pounds to my waistline oh dear, my doctor will not be happy! The cabins were beautifully fitted, with plenty of storage, as well as TVs with a host of films available for those who weren't shattered at the end of the diving day.
Would I go to the Banda Sea again? Yes. Would I join The Adelaar, Lorine and Reto and their team? Definitely as Arnie says: 'I'll be back!' 表示を減らす
