diediealsomustdive
Senior Member
Anyone dived with these outfits before? Comments most welcome. Going in 10 days and have no resort booking yet.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Manado - SDQ and Bastiano
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Stayed with SDQ in Lembeh twice in 2 years. Once in their "jungle hut" (US10 per room per person); there's enough space for your bed ... and a shelf. Shared bathroom toilet. The 2nd time in their bungalow, with attached bathroom (US30 per room per person).
As staad3 said ... very basic. Only one power point per room, and no power during the day (usually). Mossie coils supplied, but best bring your own, and lighters / matches, too. Food is three meals a day ... they are on an island, so no grocery store - bring your own tidbits.
Strangely enough, there is mobile phone reception, despite being on Lembeh Island. The place was a bit run down from the first time I stayed there.
Guides are quite good - be kind to them and let them come up after 45 mins ... it gets bloody cold diving three times a day in 24degC (or less) water.
Bastiano was still being built when I was there last, but it looked nice (well, it's new, of course it looked nice!). If you stay there, please report back
Have a good trip
Jeff
As staad3 said ... very basic. Only one power point per room, and no power during the day (usually). Mossie coils supplied, but best bring your own, and lighters / matches, too. Food is three meals a day ... they are on an island, so no grocery store - bring your own tidbits.
Strangely enough, there is mobile phone reception, despite being on Lembeh Island. The place was a bit run down from the first time I stayed there.
Guides are quite good - be kind to them and let them come up after 45 mins ... it gets bloody cold diving three times a day in 24degC (or less) water.
Bastiano was still being built when I was there last, but it looked nice (well, it's new, of course it looked nice!). If you stay there, please report back
Have a good trip
Jeff
diediealsomustdive
Senior Member
Oooo... Is mozzie a problem on these islands? Thinking of doing Bunaken and Lembeh in one trip.
I was at Froggies last month, basic but sounds like it might be Shangri-la compared to SDQ. Any comments to confirm or deny this?
1 power point and no power during day, tricky. Let's see, dive torch, laptop, cameras (one each for myself and my daughter), strobe come to mind.
Appreciate the speedy comments! Thanks.
I was at Froggies last month, basic but sounds like it might be Shangri-la compared to SDQ. Any comments to confirm or deny this?
1 power point and no power during day, tricky. Let's see, dive torch, laptop, cameras (one each for myself and my daughter), strobe come to mind.
Appreciate the speedy comments! Thanks.
diediealsomustdive
Senior Member
45min? While at Froggies we regularly did 60+ min dives. And the French man on my boat sometimes managed to stretch to 90 min.
ya, cat64fish is right, there are LOTS of mossies in lembeh, insect repellent is a must at least for me. the bunaken resort for SDQ is more basic than lembeh, but i thought food wise is better /more to my liking. as mentioned, they are all on the island, so not much or no entertainment provided, and no shops to visit too...
think there is a new one on the main land side, charging about USD 100-120 , all in with 3 dives.....just can't recall the name.
i hv no problems with SDQ, although my last visit was last year and this year, i skipped it to go diving in Southern Leyte , Philippines. Just remind yrself it's USD 25 per day for room, FULL BOARD, and you will be fine. If u can spend more, than Lembeh Resort is the best there.
these are what i saw in 10 dives:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erichan/
i hv no problems with SDQ, although my last visit was last year and this year, i skipped it to go diving in Southern Leyte , Philippines. Just remind yrself it's USD 25 per day for room, FULL BOARD, and you will be fine. If u can spend more, than Lembeh Resort is the best there.
these are what i saw in 10 dives:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erichan/
Luv4nature
Senior Member
Sorry to disturb, but thought such dive location discussion topics are more relevant to be discussed under Fins instead of CS?
When the discussion is on amenities for a photographer - it's hard to draw the line, no?
The mossies were not much in evidence when I was there, due mainly to a sea breeze that blew almost every evening. However, worse than mossies, as with many Indonesian places, are sandflies. Mossie coils, insect repellent, and coconut oil (great for the skin, too) are a must-have for your maximum comfort.
Froggies is very nice, as the owners have a pretty good idea about amenities for a photographer. I think they have a generator specially for charging stuff (but I can't be sure). Water is a problem on Bunaken, so your equipment may suffer a bit, but on the whole, yeah, Froggies is better than SDQ. It is also more expensive, if I recall correctly.
As for diving ... Manado has warmer waters than Lembeh, and I've done 90 min dives there. In Lembeh, without adequate protection, you'd probably be shaking a lot by 60min. The guides wear 2-3 layers and hood, and dive almost everyday.
If you keep focussed on the fact that you'll be taking great pictures and seeing wonderfully strange creatures, the problems you face on land will be minor.
The mossies were not much in evidence when I was there, due mainly to a sea breeze that blew almost every evening. However, worse than mossies, as with many Indonesian places, are sandflies. Mossie coils, insect repellent, and coconut oil (great for the skin, too) are a must-have for your maximum comfort.
Froggies is very nice, as the owners have a pretty good idea about amenities for a photographer. I think they have a generator specially for charging stuff (but I can't be sure). Water is a problem on Bunaken, so your equipment may suffer a bit, but on the whole, yeah, Froggies is better than SDQ. It is also more expensive, if I recall correctly.
As for diving ... Manado has warmer waters than Lembeh, and I've done 90 min dives there. In Lembeh, without adequate protection, you'd probably be shaking a lot by 60min. The guides wear 2-3 layers and hood, and dive almost everyday.
If you keep focussed on the fact that you'll be taking great pictures and seeing wonderfully strange creatures, the problems you face on land will be minor.
Back from Bastiano in Oct. Highly recommended. Did Bunaken and Lembeh in one trip. Was well organised. Dive masters knowledgeable about dive sites and fish ID. People are friendly. Can always depend on the DM to locate the creatures you like to see....hehe...we request to see pygmy and viola..there they are...
Bastino Lembeh very new. Swimming pool still under construction. Anyway we don't need pool. we have the sea.
All in all, Bastiano highly recommended...oh...one more thing...reasonably priced too...:thumbsup:
Bastino Lembeh very new. Swimming pool still under construction. Anyway we don't need pool. we have the sea.
All in all, Bastiano highly recommended...oh...one more thing...reasonably priced too...:thumbsup:
diediealsomustdive
Senior Member
Hi guys, typically how many divers per dive guide at SDQ or Bastiano?
Hello!
I just came back from Bakri Cono resort in Lembeh in Oct. New resort too, opened about same time as Bastianos & Two Fish. they have some promo for 2006 which I should think it's still on. Food was fantastic, dive guides were formerly from SDQ. The resort makes boats as well, hence have advt on their boats and small group diving.. I heard the most of the dive guides from SDQ left SDQ..some went Kawasari Villa (that expensive resort)..
Can check it out if you want. www.bakricono.com
I just came back from Bakri Cono resort in Lembeh in Oct. New resort too, opened about same time as Bastianos & Two Fish. they have some promo for 2006 which I should think it's still on. Food was fantastic, dive guides were formerly from SDQ. The resort makes boats as well, hence have advt on their boats and small group diving.. I heard the most of the dive guides from SDQ left SDQ..some went Kawasari Villa (that expensive resort)..
Can check it out if you want. www.bakricono.com
diediealsomustdive
Senior Member
What coincidence! I have just booked Bakri Cono like 2 hours ago! Thanks for the feedback, my present quest is complete - 3 nights at Froggies, 4 nights at Bakri Cono. Within budget and should be all systems go! Manado here we come (again).
Tell you guys about it when I come back, and when I have time.
Yup, enjoy your diving! The lady boss is from Poland while chef used to work for some chinese family so food wise is always international. They also know this one unknown site where there are tons and tons of mandarin fishes.
All the best!
diediealsomustdive
Senior Member
Wa must lub it in, ha?
Thanks for the advise. Now got more to lose, UCL165AD and strobe.
Yopi & Guzyos, both from SDQ.
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