So, you have been charmed with the beauty of Komodo National Park, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature and the treasured UNESCO World Heritage. And there’s no way you can enjoy everything Komodo has to offer—both in land and under the water—without hopping on one of those Komodo liveaboard trip. A wooden phinisi boat which takes every travelers exploring the national park around. These boats come in wide range of types and budget, too, with Komodo liveaboard budget becoming the most popular among travelers. Budget liveaboard boats often offered an open-trip, where you only pay for your cabin and share the boat with dozen other people.
An open trip with budget liveaboard in Komodo can be an eye-opening experience. Many people see it as a chance to connect with new like-minded people and seek new knowledge. Before you board, here are few tips to make your Komodo sailing trip feel even more fun.
Bring Your Own Towel
There will always be this little debate on a liveaboard trip: should you burden yourself by bringing a towel?
Some people advice that towels should not be included in your backpack. Well, that advice would be reasonable if you are sailing in a luxurious liveaboard whose hospitality service is in par with at least three-starred hotel. Low-cost liveaboard, on the other hand, while they might provide some towels, the cleanliness might not be as what you expected. So in our suggestion, better bring your own towel and keep it to yourself. After all, you gonna need it frequently after each dive in Komodo’s many dive sites.
Got Any Special Request? Talk It Early
Are you allergic to specific food? Cannot eat anything but plant-based meal? Do you prefer a smaller tank to dive due certain condition? Go tell the liveaboard crews if you have a special request, especially when it concern foods. Komodo liveaboard budget usually serve their meals in buffet style, where the crew will cook big chunks of foods and everyone will take their own portion. Give the crew enough time to prepare your special request.
Dive Without Expectation
It goes beyond saying that Komodo’s water is home to many rare, exotic marine creatures. Pigmy sea horses, dugongs, manta rays, and dolphins are among the rare sight. Sea apples, rhinopias, sharks, and turtle are quite common, though the sighting cannot be guaranteed. If you have high expectations to see certain creature just because a diver told it over the internet, it’s best to leave it at the shore. Keep in mind that these awesome creatures are wild animals, and they will behave so.
Prepare Some Ice Breakers
On board Komodo liveaboard budget, you gotta meet a handful of divers and travelers from all over the world. And it’s not just for a few hours meeting—you are going to live with them for several days ahead. In times like this, prepare some short stories about your experience, anecdotes, and few non-creepy jokes for breaking the ice.
Prepare Some Tip for Komodo Liveaboard Crews
Be a respectable guests and appreciate the crews that’s been working their fingers to the bone to make sure you get a safe and memorable trip to last a lifetime. It’s safe to say that liveaboard industry don’t have the best pay rate, so a few dollar of tips will mean a lot for the crews. Set aside some cash in an envelope and give it directly to the crews—credit cards is not working so well there.