Carpe Diem Review (Komodo)

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!