UPDATES
Domestic Flights and Excess Luggage
Would you believe those pesky domestic flight times have changed yet again! Schedule is now:
15th September: depart Denpasar @ 9:00am, arrive Labuan Bajo @ 10.35am
25th September: depart Bima @ 9.40am, arrive Denpasar @ 10.30am
On the 15th we should all meet at 7:30am at the Starbuck’s coffee shop at Denpasar’s Domestic terminal. Starbuck’s is located right in front of the taxi drop-off zone. Graham will be there. If your driver gets delayed or anything, Graham's cell phone number +62 813 38673026.
Diving4Images will now arrange airport transfers for everyone, on both the 15th and the 25th. Your pick up times for the 15th are:
1. Ubud – Alam Shanti = PICK UP 06.15 AM
John & Jules
Josh & Liz
2. Ubud - Alam Jiwa = PICK UP 06.15 AM
Mark
3. Jimbaran - Villa Balquisse = PICK UP 07.00 AM
Andrew & Susan
4. Nusa Dua - Westin = PICK UP 06.45 AM
Doug & Gayle
Chard & Jan
5. Sanur - Puri Santrian = PICK UP 06.45 AM
Heather & Matt
Sharon
Mary
** Please be on time, ready and waiting in your hotel’s reception. **
Also, just a reminder that the baggage limit on is 20kg (44 pounds) per person, after that excess charges apply. I think it’s safe to say most of us will all be over the 20kg allowance.
Graham is arranging with Merpati Airlines to prioritize our luggage. He will need to do a group check-in for everyone and then work out what each overweight person owes based on how much their luggage weighs, then you pay your portion of the excess fee (if any). To help Graham sort all of this out, please be sure to label your checked bags clearly.
Camera Gear
Customs officials have recently become even more pernickety over camera gear coming into Indonesia. Here is the latest from Diving4Images:
”There is new regulation from custom on camera tourist bringing in to Indonesia, recently the custom make a big fuss over tourist carrying big camera as they always think it’s for commercial use, so the real regulation will be for the person to leave deposit in the custom as proof that tourist will carry back the same camera. This deposit could be collected when tourist leaving Indonesia. This will mean, tourist need to enter and leave from the same port if they do not want to loose this deposit.
So maybe best not to show custom officer that you carry too much of cash, so in case you have to leave deposit, which later on your way of Indonesia you could collect it back. The custom will give you receipt of deposit left with them.
Divers may need to show the custom your diving certification to show the officer that you will not use the camera for any commercial use, but only for your hobby diving and taking any picture or movie underwater for your private entertainment.
The best way to avoid the custom to open your luggage, by watch your luggage and when there is CROSS MARK WITH WHITE CHALK, please erase it with wet tissue (of course erase it in your private space, without the customs aware that you erase this white cross mark..;-)), so your luggage will be safe from being opened by custom officer.
And if you have more than one camera please split your cameras into different bags, so if one bag opened only shows one camera and not several cameras all together.”
Onboard Payments (fuel surcharge, Nitrox, gratuities, etc)
Seven Seas happily accept cash (Indonesian Rupiah or US$) or traveller’s cheques. If you pay by credit card the Seven Seas add a 2.5% bank fee, which is fairly common with liveaboards. There’s also the option to pre-pay direct to the Seven Seas office; contact Candra at info@thesevenseas.net, she will help you out.
Diving4Images T-shirts
Last call for those freebie t-shirts...
Bali Restaurants
Diving4Images have giving us some of their Bali recommendations – mostly relating to restaurants, but there’s also a little bit about spas, bars, beaches, etc.
USD cash
Counterfeiting problems have forced Indonesian banks to be very fussy about USD bills, and as a result the local merchants won't accept some bills. New, clean bills are your safest bet.
Special Requests:
Is there a particular critter you’re gagging to see? A shot you’re desperate to get? A Komodo dive site you don’t want to miss? Graham from Diving4Images is really keen to hear about anything that will help you enjoy this trip even more, so please let us know if there’s anything important on your wish list.
Malaria:
According to the CDC there is “no risk in Jakarta, resort areas of Bali and the island of Java”, refer to
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBookCh5-MalariaYellowFeverTable-Indonesia.aspx
We won’t be taking anti-malarials, but talk to your doctor and decide for yourself what’s best for you.
Safety Sausages:
Please bring your own safety sausage (the bigger the better) because it’s unclear how many Bali Scuba and Seven Seas have available. If you have trouble sourcing them where you live, Graham can get them at cost in Bali, and you can pay him back when onboard; if you need him to buy you one please let us know as soon as possible.
Fuel Surcharge:
No need to send us any money as the US$250 can be paid directly to Seven Seas when we’re onboard.
Seven Seas Liability Release:
The wording is being changed for the better. Previously it read ”I understand and agree that neither the owners of The Seven Seas, nor its employees, agents, or assigns may be held liable or responsible in any way for any injury, death, or damage...” This will change to something like ”I understand and agree that neither the owners of The Seven Seas, nor its employees, agents, passengers, or assigns may be held liable or responsible in any way for any injury, death, or damage...” This means that the passengers will be protected from litigation as well. The revised waiver will be ready any time now, so we’ll have to sign it again when we board.
Overview
This is a special charter led by Graham Abbott, an expert local dive guide and owner of his Bali-based company, Diving 4 Images. Graham is very good at what he does and is regularly hired by the likes of National Geographic, the BBC, Gerry Allen, etc. You can find out more about Graham on his website: www.diving4images.com
Graham knows and works with all the Indonesia liveaboards. For our trip he has booked Seven Seas – the same boat his will be using for the upcoming IMAX filming trip with Howard Hall – so it should be good. The Seven Seas is a 108’ traditional ironwood Buginese Schooner with 8 ensuite cabins. Learn more about Seven Seas on the boat’s website: www.thesevenseas.net
The charter starts in Labuan Bajo and ends in Bima. Flying into the region, rather than taking the ship, allows us to get to the best diving right away – much better than sailing for 1-2 days to Komodo from Bali and stopping for so-so diving along the way. |
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The Damage
Dive trip price is US$3365.
Inclusions:
* Domestic flights: Bali > Labuan Bajo, and Bima > Bali
* Return transfers between ship and airport
* Meals while onboard: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks
* Non-alcoholic drinks while onboard: soft drinks, coffee, tea
* Air Tanks, weight belt and weights
* Government taxes
* Port / harbour / fuel fee
* Komodo National Park entry fee
* Land excursions during the charter
Exclusions:
* Travel insurance
* Dive insurance (DAN)
* Dive Equipment rental, and any dive courses taken on board
* Onboard telecommunication
* Nitrox US$20/day
* Alcoholic beverages; they won’t mind if you bring the odd bottle (you can import 2 bottles duty-free)
* Laundry on board
* Crew gratuities
* Onboard spa treatments / massages
* Excess luggage on domestic flights (allowance is 20kg and excess weight is charged at about US$2.50/kg)
* Stand alone fuel surcharge $25/day
