Kira Kira Liveaboard, Indonesia

Fantastic introduction to one of the wonders of the world - Raja Ampat

There were many highlights! Our dives on sites like Magic Mountain, Four Kings, and Blue Magic were probably the greatest of my life. I will never forget the sense of action and energy at these sites as tens of thousands of fish surrounded us, sometimes obscuring our view, sometimes producing a noise like underwater thunder when massed schools (silversides, fusiliers) would react as one to the predatory sallies by trevallies and jacks. Nearly as amazing were the numbers and colors of the sea fans, soft corals, and sponges (especially at the Misool sites). The topside scenery of jagged, rainforest covered, limestone islands was nearly as awesome as the diving, especially when we took sidetrips into the winding channels and shallow lagoons separating some of the islands. It was incredible to wake up in the morning in a sparsely inhabited wild place with the only sound being the dawn chorus of the birds! The Kira Kira itself was nothing fancy - no air conditioned cabins, and no frills. But there were plenty of comfortable bean bags on the shaded upper deck to lie down on while waiting for the next dive - or to sleep on during clear starlight nights. The meals cooked for us by culinary genius Muly were some of the finest I have ever eaten in Indonesia. The 8 guests, 5 crew, and 2 divemasters quickly established an easy rapport as we moved from one amazing site to another. Alex and Claire were wonderful underwater guides, showing us pygmy seahorses, mushroom coral pipefish and other macro wonders, while keeping an eye out on the blue for passing tunas and sharks and always making our safety their highest priority.

Recommended for

1) The friendliness and hard work of the crew, cruise director and divemaster 2) The diving! 3) The incredible homecooked Indonesian meals that we ate!

A Great Crew, Fantastic Boat, Great Sights, Even Better Price

This is my second liveaboard for scuba diving. I booked through Liveaboard.com several months in advance. The booking process was quite smooth, to a degree (more on that in a moment). When I was looking for liveaboards in Indonesia, I had rough date range, price, and things I wanted to see. The Kira Kira had exactly what I wanted. The photos of the boat are accurate (and it looks even better in person). The itinerary hit all the points. I was all set. There is a document to fill out once your booking is accepted. The main issue that happened was I hadn't been told by the booking agency exactly what time and where to meet the crew! Luckily it was sorted in the end (as I had my phone on roaming and they called me while I was in the taxi in Labuan Bajo), but Liveaboard.com was pretty bad (that should be read as non-existent) at responding to emails leading up to the trip. Let's chat more about the Kira Kira. During times of strong currents and wake from other boats, she was super steady. The designer/builder was truly a craftsman and took great pride in his work. The intricate details will amaze you. The views were stunning! With a speed boat in tow, they can get anywhere around the islands as needed. Your advanced certification will come in handy, as you enter the water from the speed boat, dive in drifts constantly (it's a strong ocean after all), and see some amazing species up close and personal. You won't be disappointed at all. I had zero complaints about the food, except that I wanted them to cook for me after I had left the boat! The chefs have some incredible recipes. With their Indonesian heritage and knowledge of Western cooking, they can create some delectable dishes that will leave you wanting more. Be sure to try the coconut spread. I had to purchase some jars of it to take home because it was that good. The other crew do a fantastic job of ensuring the Kira Kira is operated safely. Paul (the owner) and Alex (the dive master) are great lads and do the very best to take care of you. They know these areas inside and out. Alex goes over the dive in depth before each dive (and be prepared to be impressed at his whiteboard drawing skills). Together, and with the crew, they do an amazing job of scouting out the areas, understanding the currents and weather patterns, and adjusting the dive schedule so that you get the most out of your diving experience. Being flexible with the schedule is a must! Things change, so go with the flow, and you will come away with a great experience, if you catch my drift. Overall, this is a ship, crew, and group who know what they are doing. They are masters at their craft and will make sure you have an amazing liveaboard and diving trip. The cost is super-effective, and don't be fooled into thinking you would be getting a substandard product. You won't. Enjoy the experience, and, as they say, Kira Kira.

Recommended for

Food, crew, price