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 home page » ONrcomments & testimonials » recent commentsrecent commentsKararu Dive Voyages has been operating our latest liveaboard dive vessel, the Cheng Ho since June 2007. Read some recent trip comments below or
guest comments from the 2008 season...Guest comment from trip 12-08 from Bima to Bali...
Jane Schneider "Everything was wonderful, especially the cruise directors. The food was great, had a great time thanks to Cathy Church for all her help and encouragement. The crew worked really hard, they were great!" Manuel Magana "Great diving and wonderful crew. Crew very attentive everyday to everyone's needs. Great food too. Also very caring and concerned when I was not feeling well. Divemasters very helpful in finding things on every dive. Cruise directors very organized" Laura Priess "Exceptional diving and a dive and boat crew to match! I've never had dive guides who were both excellent and still genualy enthusiastic about what they were finding underwater on each & every dive. Boat is very large and comfortable, with all the characteristics of a wooden sail/motor vessel. Both food and dive schedule suited me well. Highly recommended!" Jerry Powell "This trip was amazing and truly life changing! I will hopefully find a way to come back and do it again. The crew, divemasters and cruise directors were awesome and were able to help you with anything you needed! I'm going to miss it here" Emilee Mowlds "This was my 6th liveaboard & by far the best!! The crew took excellent care of all our needs and were most happy to do so. Everything from meals to diving to briefings went so smoothly you'd think everyone had spent years working together. The diving was fantastic! Such a plethers of critters - the nudies were absolutely amazing & the divemasters ability to find them was incredible. All in all the best!!" Grethcen Myles "The trip onboard the Cheng Ho has set a new standard for excellence based on extreme attention to detail. Every aspect of the trip was focused on the comfort and pleasure of the guests. This included the spacious, well appointed, clean ship, delicious and varied cuisine and the availability of staff to help with every need. The diving was spectacular with regard to the flora, fauna, warm water, minimal current. The best part was the crew, especially divemasters who were very knowledgeable, helpful and always of good humor. Currently planning next trip" Jeff Buchhalter "The dive staff has an expression to describe a proposed dive as "one not to be missed" Well - The whole Cheng Ho liveaboard diving experience is "one not to be missed" Tom Wicks
Guest comment from trip 10-08 & 11-08 from Maumere to Bima...
Pia Lodberg
"Wonderful crew. Fantastic boat. Superb diving! An experience we won't forget" Mary Babcock "After 17 different Liveaboard's and 2 consecutive Maumere - Maumere and Maumere Bima voyages we are extremely happy. The boat, crew and dive masters (true spotters) are excellent and the cruise directors are the best. No other Liveaboard has achieved such a high rating from us! And after four trips to Horseshoe Bay/Komodo we will return!We are booked on Sorong-Ambon and Sorong-Sorong voyages with Kararu and we are looking forward to them also" Rob & Rosie
Jim & Pat Stayer
Guest comment from trip 09-08 from Sorong to Ambon...
Sanford Lee "Excellent service, always accommodating and with a smile. The most spacious Liveaboard I've ever dived with. Food was awesome" Ina & Richard Nordstroem "Wonderful trip. Great diving. Friendly, helpful and efficient crew. Everything is well managed. Thank you for making my holiday a most enjoyable one. Sandie Chung
Guest comment from trip 07-08 from Sorong to Ambon...
Laurence Ligon "Staff (dive staff & general dive staff) were incredibly pleasant, helpful - could not have been nicer. Boat was also gorgeous. We've had a terrific week" Marty & Jim Boughey "We appreciate the care and attention given to us regarding our special dietary requirements. The food supplied was good quality and delicious" Trevor Syrett
Guest comment from trip 06-08 from Ambon to Sorong...
Scott Hanson "Cheng Ho is probably the best boat I've been on, the crew is the best ever. Amazing experience! Dive spots are spectacular, you will be pleased with this trip" Jeannette Howard "Best diving + boat ever! We've been all over the world and would do this again in a heartbeat!" Robin & Peter Miklatek "Wonderful boat - very comfortable. The crew is great and the food is very good. The diving is very good. Unfortunately the viz was not so great. Bring your magnifying glass for Pigmy Seahorses." Ruth & Bob Lindner "Great diving, but even better service. Very professional crew & management. Made everything easy. From Pigmy Seahorses to Mantas, we saw everything." William Reedy "We enjoyed Kristine's attention to our needs & Peter's great dive briefings. Our room was very comfortable, the crew were the best we have yet to encounter. We saw it all!" Brigitte & John Graney "Fantastic trip. Diving & service exceeded my expectations. Steve's preview video's were a great feature" Ron Chau
Guest comment from trip 03-08 to Banda & Raja Ampat...
Thanks guys. Kirsten Treais "Loved the boat, loved the diving - but the crew made the trip. We could not have had a better vacation". Chris & Kathy Hooykaas "Very well run operation. Both the crew and the boat crew were incredible. They did everything in their power to ensure guests had a wonderful experience, and they always did it with a smile". Fred & Maxine Botti "For almost 30 years I searched for the blue-ringed octopus. On a night dive in Kri, I saw not one, but two of the worlds most deadliest creatures, a dive to always remember". Mary Peachin "Raja Ampat and the Cheng Ho were fantastic. Diving is a great mix of beautiful colors, amazing schooling action and unbelievable critters! The Cheng Ho, it's crew and the guides make your holiday unforgettable - were coming back". Joe Puglia "The Cheng Ho has a great staff and crew, a super resident photographer/videographer and is located in some of the most beautiful and divable waters in Indonesia and perhaps in the world". Jack Snow "The Cheng Ho has been the most incredible Liveaboard adventure of our lives. The crew and staff are top notch. The food was excellent and the diving was as good as any place in the world". Dan Davidson "Great boat - Great crew - Great country!!". Kathy Hooykaas Guest comment from trip 02-08 to Raja Ampat...
We felt like the trip was extremely well planned to maximize our positive experience. I really appreciate the crew checking out the sites before divers jump in. I never felt like we missed anything or were dropped against currents. It has been ages since we have dove on a boat that had a photo pro. It was wonderful having Steve on the boat. He was extremely helpful especially for Brad who was seriously working with digital photo files for the first time. He is truly an asset. Deb, RJ, Brad and I are planning our next trip and we're all leaning toward a Bima to Bima or Bima to Maurmiere. I was thinking of maybe doing to Ocean Rover in Sulawesi but I would rather dive the Cheng Ho, especially now that it has such a great crew. It was a pleasure being on the boat and I can't wait to plan my next trip" Lauren Greider "Near perfect weather...diving diving unsurpassed on this planet..best Liveaboard food in the business...could it get any better? Yes! This trip was topped of by the friendliest, most helfull andkind crew found anywhere! Thanks to Kararu and the crew on the Cheng Ho." Chris Newbert "Diving was fantastic, crew were great!! Cruise personell and dive crew were excellent!! A very relaxing time, Kararu made it all so easy to have fun, I haven't been this relaxed on a dive safari in a long time" Todd Essick The first trip of the 2008 season has just come to an end. Read what Chris "It was a rare privilege to be among the finest divers to visit the uncomparable reefs of Triton Bay. They set a new standard for beauty and diversity. The crew, dive masters and cruise directors of the Cheng Ho are absolutely top notch...the best ever. To top things off, the food was the finest we have ever enjoyed on a Liveaboard." Chris Newbert "The diving was out of this world, the staff and crew were exceptional in their effort and demeanor. " Raymond Gaskins "Have not been on a Liveaboard that served finer food, nor had a more friendly, helpfull and competent crew." Chris Goodwin "This was one of the best dive tours we have ever taken. The reefs in Triton Bay were pristine and the underwater photographic guidance and instruction from Chris Newbert and Deda was in a class by itself. The on-board photo specialist, Steve Fish, diagnosed and fixed a camera shutter problem, which required a level of competency that I have not seen before onboard a dive boat. Hergen lended me a BCD while repairing a leak in my own BCD. The dive guises, Nyoman and Bawa were both exceptional spotters of hard to find photographic subjects, and were unusually enthusiastic and helpfull. The Chef and his crew prepared and served diverse and delicious foods with a variety of themes. The boat crew were very helpfull, competent and enthusiastic. The Cheng Ho was large, spacious, well laid out and equipped for photographers." Gary Seawright "The second time with Kararu was unbelievable good. Triton Bay was outstanding and met all expectations. The crew and managers of the Cheng Ho are in a class by themselves, attentive, professional and intent of seeing that guests have a great trip. Cant wait to return." Paul A. Aleck "This was an exploratory trip with a few notes from a few earlier pioneers as only guide, so it was to be expected that we would choose spots that disappointed, or was even undiveable. Contrary to this expectation we quickly found not just good, but outstanding, world-class sites. The crew quickly adapted to the different photographic expectations and tolerance to current, and each was dropped into exactly the "mess" they asked for. Adrenaline-pumping rushes through forest of black coral and soft coral fields, or gentle probing for macro-delights, or ducking tuna, mackerel and other predators exploded dense clouds of bait fish. Bright toothpaste-ad smiles from the crew at every turn, Steve always ready to repair failed gear, an excess of food and fast response of cruise directors and crew to problems or requests, ensured my every expectation were widely exceeded. " Malcolm Ross " Kararu - WOW!" Len Hersh "The diving, the crew, the boat. It just does not get better...AMAZING!!!! Thank you." Jose M. d'Ornellas guest comments from the 2007 season..."We were sharing our photos of the Cheng Ho with some friends last night and reliving our great trip to Komodo July/Aug. It was our first liveaboard experience and Carrie, Hergen and the rest of the crew made it a wonderful, stress free trip. There we 24 crew for 12 passengers on our trip, so we were very papered. We were both worried that we wouldn't be able to keep up with the more experienced divers, being novice divers, and would get bored being on a ship for a week. The dive-masters/tour directors didn't pressure us to do anything that we didn't want to do or put us into any situations that made us uncomfortable. They kept showing us things that we had never seen and which made us want to dive more (We did all of the dives that were offered and wished we could do more). The week went much to quickly for both of us. I did make the crew laugh a lot, as I am 6'9". They kept watching me duck all the time, but our room was great with a bed I actually fit into. We are now saving and looking forward for another trip on the Cheng Ho to Rajah Empat." Dean and Nancy Blankinship "Overall, we enjoyed our trip very much (as we did our previous trip to Komodo with Karl and Linda) and expect to take another trip with you in the next year or so. We were met at the airport in Bali and transported to the Puri Santrian. The pick up from the Puri Santrian to the airport the next day was also fine. The group check in for the trip from Bali to Ujang Pandang was well coordinated, as was the group check in for the trip from Ujang Pandang to Ambon. The pick up at the airport in Ambon and the transfer to the boat was well done, although you should consider getting a ladder for the dock. We had to climb down to the boats (not a problem for our group, but it could be for another). Similarly, the group check in for the trip from Sorong to Ujang Pandang was well coordinated – with Hergen and the crew taking the luggage, and Keri following with the guests. We appreciated being able to stay on the boat until the afternoon departure. Despite the short turn around in Ujang Pandang (due to Merapati changing the flight time), the group check in went well and we all arrived in Bali with our luggage. The transfer from the airport to the Puri Santrian was also well done. Having a Kararu representative in Ujang Pandang made all the difference and was greatly appreciated. The captain and the crew did a great job getting our equipment on the boats and went out of their way to welcome us back after our dives. Adang did a great job on the dive deck and with the nitrox, and our boat crew Ellie and Amat did a great job at looking after us. The divemasters Gusti and Nyoman were excellent. Their ability to find critters was greatly appreciated. Samuel also showed his potential as a divemaster. Kerri and Hergen did a great job as dive guides and were responsive as hosts. Steve Fish is an extremely valuable asset. He went out of his way to assist us and other guests with our various photographic equipment problems. His assistance was greatly appreciated. His video of our trip was terrific." Patricia Chock "We had a wonderful trip on the Ambon to Sorong run, and I just wanted to mention a few things that stand out in my mind after being back home for awhile. First, the crew was delightful - they couldn't be better or more attentive. Gusti is a splendid divemaster, and the Captain is a national treasure! We liked the Cheng Ho very much (hope you can move the exhaust next refit!) And we especially appreciated the various Kararu reps helping us through the airports. Iwas last on board Sea Safari III with Lisa and Sasha in Komodo, and it's very nice to see how well the company has developed." James Cooper "Kelly and I made it back to the US yesterday; we had a marvelous trip. We can’t say enough about what a great team Kararu has put together. From Kerrie & Hergan and their entire boat crew to the back room logistical staff; kudos to all! Kararu continues to be one very buttoned down operation and we hope to be traveling with you again soon." Joe Puckett "The trip was pretty much wonderful, the food pretty much delicious and the dive sites were fabulous. In all respects, the shipboard crew truly went out of their way to make our experience enjoyable and trouble free. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the cruise and the company of Hergen and Kerri, top notch professionals all 'round." "Karlheinz and I have been on liveaboards all over the world, Galapagos, Socorro, Cocos Island, Tahiti, Red Sea, Seychelles, Maldives, Comores, PNG, Fiji and Solomon Islands and we can honestly say that we rate the Cheng Ho among the best we have ever been on. We loved the boat with all the space and charm as well as the dedication and friendliness of the crew. There was more than enough food and a fair choice, enough so that I have returned home a couple of kilos heavier. The diving was excellent and well organized. We are coming back to the Cheng Ho and hope to join on a voyage to Raja Ampat in April – special request – same boat, same crew, same cabin, same food and possibly same crowd. Thank you, Kararu team as well as friends old and new for making this such a memorable trip." Roberta & Karlheinz "It gives me great pleasure to inform you that the crew aboard the Raja Ampat trip were professional in every way. From the lowliest engineer to the Captain - all were extraordinarily kind and helpful. Kerri and Hergen are top drawer. Many thanks for a safe and comfortable trip." Stephen B. Cox Trip 28-07 Sorong/Sorong (Dec. 02-13, 2007)
The buffet style food service is offered 3 times per day with an additional pre-breakfast served at 06:30. The food quality is good and varied, but I would like to suggest less fried dishes. All in all a winner, don't hesitate, life is to short to miss this one!" Matt Wright "A wondrous well organized diving exploration. Everyone was treated generously with much laughter. For me, it's the only time in my life I got my fins taken off for me!" Rosalie Fedoruk As an inexperienced diver, I was well looked out for by the safety conscious dive team. Thank you! I have learned from the best (including my fellow guests). Love those night dives! A warm friendly atmosphere with all the crew. Helen Foster A great dive trip. The Kararu team took care of new divers and gave good guidance on each site to the experienced divers. Good food, great to have massage on board, good sitting areas, never short of hot water for showers, good A/C in the cabins. The crew of the Cheng Ho was friendly and gave us a great welcome back from every dive! I highly recommend this trip. I will support Kararu in it's efforts to stop the bombing of the reefs. David Berry Thanks so much for this wonderful trip! All kinds of divers and we were all well looked after. I personally felt very safe even on more challenging dives. The staff and crew made it all work - friendly, fun and very efficient. Terry Frewer There is nothing on this planet more beautiful than a healthy coral reef. Fishes brighter than a aloha shirt, coral that looks like phosphorescent rock under a black light. It's magic down there. And never have I experienced friendlier group of people - maholo - Joanne Frewer This has been a hell of a good ride. Really enjoyed the new people I met - a great mix of serious underwater explorers. The operation is tight from the top to the bottom - ownership, office, boat management, dive master + crew - everyone paying attention t detail, which creates a good sense of easy + safety. There ain' t no better diving than on a well run liveaboard! And keep doing your bit to keep the reefs healthy. Steven Foster This has been a wonderful re-introduction to diving again after a surface interval of 25 years! The lure of Indonesia brought me back and I have loved hanging out with the spectacular fish, coral and critters that live in Raja Ampat. The staff of Kararu and the crew of Cheng Ho have taken excellent care of us. Thanks very much for a wonderful experience. Jim Armstrong "Dear Sascha, Lisa and Bayu. Thank you for one of the best dive trips I have ever had. Your hospitality, crew and service cannot be compared. I look forward to seeing you guys again next September, and I know our gang will be as impressed with your operation as I was." Kenny Abruzzo "The whole trip was truly fabulous and the whole group loved it. The boat is truly excellent and ranks amongst some of the best diving boats I have ever been on. More space than one might ever expect from a dive boat, lovely spacious cabins with nice bathrooms, huge dive area and excellent dry camera area. With a photo workshop on board, space for 18 double strobe systems might be at a premium – but I don’t know any other boat that does it better ! The crew were outstanding – each an individual with eagerness and enthusiasm to help in anything they could do, the captain and the chef are true gems! Olga and Alberto had their work cut out with this group and they dealt with it with grace and professionalism – they are a good team." Dominick Macan "Quite spacious and different from the typical Indonesian Phinisi vessels. They have a large dive deck, camera storage and work area. All in all, a really exceptionally good trip on a welcome addition to the other dive boats operating out here." Dave Van Rooy "My opinion as a Travel Agent specialised in Diving is quite a bit positive about the Voyager facilities. The boat is very roomy, both cabins and different areas like dining & saloon area, lounge, dive deck, camera room and so on. I was astonished at the quality of her extensive and specialised library, her good food and the professional staff attention. What to say about diving in Raja Ampat, I think we can describe it as incredible and amazing. The great biodiversity, the good quality of the reefs and the small amount of divers in there makes Raja Ampat a perfect dive destination." Felipe Barrio "Mi opinión como Agencia de Viajes especializada en Diving es muy positiva sobre las prestaciones del Voyager. El barco me ha partecido muy amplio, tanto los camarotes como las diferentes zonas (salon superior, salón inferior, zona de buceo, cuarto para camaras submarinas, etc), me sorprendio gratamente la extensa y especializada biblioteca, la buena comida y la atención recibida por parte del staff. Del buceo en Raja Ampat, creo que se puede calificar de increible, la diversidad de especies, la calidad de los arrecifes y la poca cantidad de bucedores lo hacen perfecto." "The maiden voyage on Kararu's new live-aboard "Voyager" was even better than we anticipated. The vessel is huge and very comfortable with the great food we've come to expect from Kararu. The two salon areas, one interior and protected from the elements and the other outside with it's bird's eye view of the open sea, provides passengers with plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the voyage. We were overwhelmed by the two on-board masseuses. What an unexpected treat to have a massage at the end of a full day of diving. From a photographers viewpoint the vessel is very "camera friendly". The charging stations and prep areas are well conceived and provide ample space for a ship load of photographers. Electrical outlets in every cabin allow editing to be done in comfort and privacy. The cabins are even wired for Internet! The dive deck is spacious, extremely well organized, and makes gearing up a simple endeavour. Having spent many years wandering the world's oceans in questionable vessels one of our main concerns is safety. "Voyager" is a "real" ship with the proper ratings, equipment and crew trained for extended exploration. I feel comfortable and confident that "Voyager" can handle virtually any seas that Mother Nature might send her way. The service staff and dive-masters are top notch. Every request is met with a smile and a "can do" attitude. Diving "Voyager" is fun, comfortable, safe and offers more than you expect from any live-aboard. As industry standards improve most operations are constantly playing catch up; Kararu's "Voyager" has already arrived!" Burt and Marurine "With the addition of “the Voyager”, Kararu has once again provided the diving traveler with a highest level of service and comfort. Voyager is without question one of the finest live aboard dive vessels in operation in the world. Voyager was built and designed to explore remote areas of Indonesia in comfort and safety. The cabins, food and dive facilities are all first class. It is the finest dive boat I have ever journeyed on." Jim Watt "The Voyager is one of the most seaworthy and comfortable live-aboards that I have ever experienced offering access to some of the world's best diving. It is particularly well-suited for traveling through remote areas where weather and seas are less predictable. It offers more privacy in numerous public areas (both indoor and outdoor), more conveniences (laundry service, email access, massage), varied itineraries including exploratory expeditions and a well-trained and experienced crew." Ann Louise Tuke Kararu Dive Voyages would like to thank all of our guests for coming on board with us and being such great company. If you would like to include a comment about your cruise with us on this web page please write to us via the online contact form and we will add your comment here. you may also be interested in...Copyright © - Kararu Dive Voyages - All Rights Reserved |
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" I have been on many liveaboards, and this one has been the finest! The dive briefing charts were great as were the dive masters and their crew. So much service getting in and out of the water. Night dives ended with hot chocolate! Such spectacular dive sites - colorful beauty everywhere! Thanks so much. I've had a really good time"
"This is our first Liveaboard dive trip. We will surely be back. Great comfort, very knowledgeable crew, and extremely helpful. One of us even got certified in Horseshoe Bay - what a trip!"
"We really enjoyed the trip. The diving was fantastic, the crew was great, the food was the best. The erupting Volcano was a once in a lifetime. Super time"
"Our second trip on the Cheng Ho was as good as we had hoped. The crew are fantastic and each day day was a great experience with lots of variety. Thank you to Kararu and crew for making this dive holiday great. We will return!"
"Many thanks to Steve, Pete, Kristine, Kerri and the crew for a great trip. Great food & a great time, dive masters are great. Learned a lot from Steve about my underwater photography and camera set up. Hope to see you all again this October at the Banda Sea"
"Great boat, fantastic crew, beautiful dives, and I couldn't wait for the next meal!"
"Amazing trip. Hergen, Kerri, Pete & Kristine run a great ship. The dive guides were incredible. The Cheng Ho was a wonderful and spacious ship".
"We had a great trip! We loved diving with Kerri and Hergen and meeting Pete and Christine. I was also delighted to finally meet Chris Newbert. He actually gave me a private photography lesson to help me with my quest to do wide angle photos (I've been sticking with the comfort of macro). He is a great person and was a lot of fun to dive with. It was a very good group! Nyoman and Bawa are also great dive guides.
Newbert and his group of enthusiastic divers have to say about their exploratory trip to Fak Fak and Triton Bay...
"I would recommend this voyage to Raja Ampat aboard the Cheng Ho to all serious experienced divers with a sense for adventure. The team leaders and crew will assure one's needs are met efficiently and graciously. The wooden Cheng Ho offers comfort from bow to stern with areas to relax in between dives, work with personal camera equipment, as well as air conditioned cabins.
