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Carpe Diem Review (Komodo)

Diving Squad Rating:

9.5/10

9.5 / 10

Carpe Diem is a beautiful traditional Phinisi, with luxurious cabins and two incredible diving itineraries that also include trekking, watersports and naturalist guides. 

Taking just 8 guests, she is a perfect option for those who are looking for a more intimate setting.

Great for: Couples, Exploring all of Komodo, Alternative Diving Routes, Small Groups, Families, Groups of Friends. 

Trip Lengths: 7 – 8 days

Max Group Size: 8

Operates: July – September (tours other parts of Indonesia for rest of year). 

Review:

Carpe Diem runs two quite different diving trips through Komodo:

  • “Komodo National Park” Route – 7 days long and features the north, central and southern regions of Komodo; making it a great way to discover the national park in it’s entirety. If you’re heart is truly set on exploring as much of Komodo as possible, then go for this option as you’ll be spending the entire time within the national park. Nataraja and Tanaka are the only other options with which to explore all Komodo’s regions.
  • 8 day “Komodo North, Bima, Sangeang and Banta” Route – 8 days, takes you through north Komodo and then northwestwards to Banta with it’s pristine fringing reefs, then west to Sangeang; a stunning volcanic island and finally Bima; a muck divers paradise. This is an interesting route as you get to visit some quite alternative and seldom visited dive sites, but it does mean that less time is spent in Komodo and you don’t visit the central or southern parts! No other liveaboard offers a trip that is half Komodo, half other Indonesian destinations!

At the end of the day, both these routes are of very highly quality and more alternative than most other Komodo liveaboards, so you really can’t go wrong with either. It all comes down to personal preference!

There are 4 immaculate Cabins, which all feature ac and ensuite bathrooms. Of these, the nutmeg cabin spans almost the entire width of the boat and has large, skylight & ocean view windows.  Triple cabin options are available. 

Because Carpe Diem takes only 8 guests, she is ideal for those who want to enjoy a more intimate setting. The only other option to have such a small group size is Yoshi

In between dives , guests can unravel on the sundeck, enjoying the beautiful panoramic views. Or head inside to relax in the AC saloon; decked out with comfortable furniture and an audio and video entertainment system. 

For no extra cost, you can also enjoy kayaking, stand up paddleboarding and snorkelling as well as trekking to see Komodo Dragons .

The knowledgeable and friendly staff include a naturalist guide and they really do exceed stellar briefing and creating a warm and relaxed, yet safe atmosphere. 

In my opinion; if you’re a couple or small group of close friends and you’re looking for a tranquil and intimate setting, Carpe Diem is the absolute best option to go for due to the low number of guests, luxury cabin options and relaxed vibe. 

From a diving perspective, this is certainly one of the best options for exploring all the regions of Komodo or combining north Komodo with some alternative Indonesian dive sites. 

The only real frustration is the fact that Carpe Diem is only available to tour Komodo from the months of July – September, due to the fact that this liveaboard operates in other parts of Indonesia like Raja Ampat for the rest of the year!

Shutterstock / SergeUWPhoto
Shutterstock / Kjersti Joergensen

Guest Reviews:

Angela TUnited States
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"World class diving, clean and comfortable boat with hard working crew and good food".
Elizabeth PUnited States
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"Boat is incredibly comfortable - cabins are spacious and beautiful, food is excellent (and available for 5 meals/snacks per day), top deck lounge area is perfect, and staff are friendly and accommodating."
Kevin LSwitzerland
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"They whole crew is amazing, the food is great, the cabins are very nice and cosy. We had so many awesome dives. I had such a good time on board and didn't had to care about anything. From pick up till drop off on the airport, everything was well organized. I highly recommend this cruise".
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Other Features:

  • Daily Housekeeping

  • Non- Smoking Rooms

  • Charging Stations

  • Separate Rinse for U/W Camera

  • Family Cabins

  • Observation Deck

  • Nearly 1:1 Crew to Guest Ratio

  • Non-Smoking Rooms

  • Outside Showers

Kieran from the United Kingdom said:

“Carpe Diem boat is well maintained and the crew is very warm and professional. Service and food was excellent. Dive Masters were extremely responsible and highly knowledgeable of the different dive sites that suit the capacity of the divers. 

They were also very informative and took the time to get to know us and make sure we were comfortable and enjoyed our trip. Food and lodgings were extremely good. All dive equipments were well maintained and catered to all our needs. The sites around Komodo were great and the crew matched it”!!!

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Written by:
Alex
Alex
Scuba fanatic, travel ecstatic and loveable rogue. A rootless divemaster and perpetual adrenaline-junky, Alex holds the esteemed rank of Grand Admiral of the Diving Squad; a title he most nobly awarded to himself. A scuba-junky since 2014, he's dived much of the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, Red Sea, Ireland, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. It's hard to say where he'll pop up next for he never settles; forever a leaf on the wind... or perhaps a lone bubble blasted along on the current.