Review Author: DiveDoc0001, Germany

Review Date: 13 Sep. 2015

Review Body: We were a group of 8 people (2 families, with kids aged 13, 14, 16, 17). Six of which were Scuba Divers (2 of which themselves instructors), 2 snorkelers (1 adult, 1 kid). We chose Bajo Dive Club in advance to our arrival, but did book directly with them. Our interface was Anke via Email, who was very responsive and answered all our questions to our satisfaction. The offer was well priced and our expectations completely met. Why did we decide for BD. 1.) We got our own boat (Bajo Dive 1 sleeps six and two of us slept on deck). 2.) Price 3.) Trip Advisor Reviews While we may have set expectations a little lower initially, just to be on the safe side, we were completely satisfied, when we disembarked. We had a crew of 4, with Frank (the owner) being our Dive Master and Cook! All the dives were kept to a high level of standard, within safe limits and always sufficient time for safety stops. Equipment is completely ok. Yes, some of the dive suits were older, but you get what you pay for. BCDs were completely intact, safety valves all functioning, each BCD with its own buoy, we had no bubbles coming out at any point. Regulators were of different kinds, some Sherwood, some Aqualung, but all well functioning. Yes, we had now and then some bubbles coming out of 1st stage connection to the INT valve, but if you are aware that this boils down in total to just to a few breaths, then all of that is ok. Also, Sherwood 1st stages always emit a small stream of bubbles, so please take that into account in your reviews. Diving itself was spectacular, on our 4 day trip we saw it all (except for MolaMola and Anglerfish, Seahorse). Manta, Sharks (Black Tip, White Tip, ...), Turtles, ... and some of the most beautiful corrals I have seen in more than 600 dives. Excellent drift dives, ... On Frank: While some previous reviews give the impression he does not pay enough attention, we soon noticed that he 'constantly' has his group in sight! He will know whom to look out for, who consumes more air than others, ... Briefings were to a minimal, but sufficient level. Don't expect him to repeat each and every sign before a dive, don't expect a significant briefing after each dive. But on our request, for example during one of the more stressful dives in currents, he would sit down with us and we would review what each of us could have done better, also as a team. And, if you are a very recent into diving, then you should consider such a dive trip in the first place. Alternatively, just stay close to Frank, and all will be good!!! Frank is also a great cook, we started off with classical Indonesian Food and were positively surprised on the Szegediner Gulasch and the Spaghetti Bolognese! The crew, including Frank, kept a very professional distance to their customers. Initially, we were actually of the impression, Frank was somewhat distant. But he would spend time with you to the level you were keen on interacting and leave you alone thereafter. This is a very positive attitude that I personally prefer a lot over the DiveMaster, who at the same time wants to be an entertainer. On BD1, we had the front of the boat all to ourselves. The crew stays in the rear of the boat. Also, while BD1 sleeps 6, the front cabin has wider beds, which can each take a couple or two children, so if it gets uncomfortable, 8 people can sleed below deck. Last but not least, our team of two snorkelers (mother and son) always felt well observed by the remaining boat crew, while we were under water.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: David S, Canada

Review Date: 17 März 2016

Review Body: I first went diving with Bajo Dive back in 2005. Amongst other sites, we dove sites that had no name but what is now known as Manta Point. Back then, there was a few dive shops, no atm's and just a few basic accomodations. I had an absolutely phenomenal time both above ground and diving below - I stopped counting at 500+ dives and have dove all over the world (Austratlia, South East Asia, Americas, Africa, Red Sea, Galapagos etc etc etc). Lubuan Bajo/Komodo still ranks in my top 5 diving destinations anywhere in the world. From Mantas, sharks and turtles, to scorpion leaf and frogfish you have it all, all surrounded by beautiful scenery and pleasant gracious locals. Many dive sites are not for the 'faint of heart' (the current can be strong), but most come for the excitement of what the converging seas and ever changing currents means for great diving. I cant praise Bajo Dive, Anke, Franke and their staff enough, From the moment you enter the office and are welcomed with knowledgeable friendly faces you are in good hands, This trip, I dove about 8 days with Bajo dive and found that their love for diving and care for their customers to continue to be top notch, I have dove from expensive livaboards to budget shore diving and Bajo Dive runs a great operation. They hite local staff who know not only the seas and places to dive but also local information as well. The dive ship is well equiped and confortable for the long hauls out to the futher sites. Unlike many dive companies, they make an effort to group more experience and less experienced divers in groups, allowing the more experiences drivers to continue diving a llittle longer while the less experiences ones who run out of air more quickly, surface. Frank and his staff are also quite adept and finding not only the fun stuff (sharks and mantas) but the stuff divers with many many many dives (like me) do not get to see often like the very hard to find Frog Fish and Leaf Fish. I also found that Bajo Dive, for whatever reason (advertissing or word of mouth) tended to attract more serious, mature (not age, but attitude) divers, who, while knew how to have fun on boat and above water, were serious and professionals below. And of course.....having been operating for over 15 years or so...Bajo dive knows the ins and outs of all the dive spots and surrounding areas so congrats to Bajo Dive - I havent taken the time out to say thanks or review a dive company before, but with so many dive shops to choose from, I thought I would give Tripadvisor readers my perspective and some insight - good luck and happy diving!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: MoDac18, Canada

Review Date: 16 März 2015

Review Body: I walked into Bajo Dive and immediately felt like a friend of the shop. I took my Open Water course with Luke, and I am glad I did. He was so friendly, patient, understanding, knowledgeable and funny. After completing my certification I continued to do fun dives with Bajo Dive. The staff were great with detailed dive (great maps of the dive sites) and had great attention to detail, they would point out all sorts of creatures such as dolphins, manta rays, lion fish, scorpion fish, white tip reef sharks and sea turtles to name a few. I always felt safe with Luke checking in, and continuing to guide me through the dive sites even after my course was over. During my time with BDC the staff continuously monitored dive sites and conditions (as well as my abilities) to ensure that I had the best experience as a new diver. The staff in the shop always greeted me with a smile, the boat staff were more then helpful with gear. The team also helped me to arrange a day boat to go to Rinca to see the Komodo Dragons and a snorkel adventure in Kanawa. Since diving with Bajo Dive I traveled to a different island and did not have the same pleasant experience I had there, I would recommend them to divers of all abilities, I can't wait to come back and do a three day live aboard! I most excited about having a toilet on board, and they had a kitchen which was able to provide all day hot refreshments. The lunch was tasty and ecologically packaged in reusable containers, which I greatly appreciated. Also, they provided a get momento souvenir of my course by having the Divemaster Trainee accompany the dives and get personalized photos of me with Manta Rays and sea turtles. It was a great add on that made all my friends at home wanting to come experience what I had. Thank you so much for making my first dive experience an unforgettable one!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: patw767, USA

Review Date: 24 Jan. 2019

Review Body: We were thrilled to get to tag along with divers being avid snorklers ourselves. They were kind to include us and then fitted us with wet suite, Fins, booties, everything we needed and explained everything like we were the only ones in the world...seriously....so kind. Well.....the weather next day did not cooperate they offered immediately a full discount and we asked if we could just stay on hold we had one more day to spare so the next day weather was still not good and we all could not go out which is understandable with safety always first with this company. And so they not only gave us a full refund they actually apologized for the weather! I cannot tell you how important this is to be so professional as we almost went out with another company down the street and they were not even close to professional. We will return someday to snorkel these incredible islands and when we do we will choose Bajo Dive Club for sure. We were able to get out on a private boat twice while here and the snorkeling is unbelievable! The coral gardens here are exquisite and many never seen before fish. We were not in the most desirable waters due to weather and it was still fabulous. So make the right and comfortable choice with Bajo Dive you will be happy and comfortable and safe! Enjoy!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: RoamingGirlV

Review Date: 21 Juni 2016

Review Body: We spent 3 days 2 nights in June 2016 on the liveaboard and loved every minute! Diving in the Komodos is world class, and as beginners (7 dives prior to Indonesia) we really improved tremendously with our 9 dives. Frank was a good dive guide and instructor, and the boat is comfortable and makes for easy sailing! Highlights included the Manta drift dive, seeing 2.5 m white tip sharks, turtles, and incredible and healthy corals all around! The crew provided us with delicous meals and in between dives and treks, we enjoyed the incredible scenery and being at sea. My only critique would be that there wasn't a single map or book related to the dive sites or animals we were to see on the boat, and that would have been a very big help since so much was new for us! I really look foward to going back and doing the same trip again, possibly longer! On a related note: Bajo dive club also has a beach resort on an island nearby to Labuan Bajo harbor called the Coconut Resort - we spent an evening there after our liveaboard and loved the tranquility, comfortable bungalows, and panoramic views! Since it was our honeymoon, the staff pulled out all the stops and we had a sunset, candle light, 3 course menu on the dock. Absolutely incredible!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Sarah R, New York

Review Date: 26 Juni 2017

Review Body: I'm glad I didn't see the recent reviews before I booked my dive trip here, because then I would've missed out. I had an amazing experience through Bajo dive! Ariane was my instructor and she was sooooo fun, passionate, helpful and reassuring. I signed up to complete the 4 open water dives for my certification, and a lot of other dive shops wouldn't take me either because I was alone or because I was not taking an official PADI course (I was taking SDI which is similar and legitimate, but you know..politics gets into everything, even diving!). Ariane took me in and even happened to have another student in a similar situation, so we became dive buddies! We had an incredible time and saw the most beautiful underwater life. I was very nervous, but the guides helped me feel more comfortable. Regarding equipment: The BCDs were very new and in great condition. The regulators also in great condition. There were minor issues with a couple fins and wetsuits, but nothing major. This is not as fancy or expensive a dive shop as others in the area, so I did not expect everything to be perfect. It was overall a fantastic experience. I would highly recommend them!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Patrik108, China

Review Date: 11 März 2019

Review Body: I couldn't have started my diving life at a better place and with a better dive club. I really appreciate if people spend time in helping me prepare my trip online and Bajo Dive Club was always responsive and helpful in letting me know about what to expect and how to prepare for my week in Labuan Bajo. My OW course with Lydia was great. She is thorough, professional and fun. At the end of your course, you will feel ready for diving at the challenging sites of the Komodo National Park. After the course, I stayed 3-4 extra days to dive and I went every day with the Bajo Dive Club divemaster, Damas. With having around 5000 dives at Komodo, you can be sure you are in good hands. Damas knows the sites inside out and he always makes sure you are safe and having a good time. We spotted many special species and only now after a few weeks I realize how lucky I am to be able to learn diving in Komodo and with Bajo Dive Club. I will surely return to Komodo to explore the Nothern areas on a liveaboard and I will definitely do it with Bajo Dive Club.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: apbp2019

Review Date: 08 Juni 2019

Review Body: Highly recommend booking with Bajo Dive!! We were going for a Discover Scuba Dive and were pretty nervous as it was our first time diving but Lydia made us feel super comfortable from the very beginning. She talked us through the whole process, gave a great safety briefing and allowed us to take our time under the water. She is good at reading how you are feeling and will do everything she can to make sure that you are comfortable and have the best experience possible. She also has so much patience which is what you need when it is your first time diving! The food on the boat is great and they cater for vegetarians too. They took us to the best dive sites and the crew on board were amazing. Leonard who was training to become a dive master was also great too and very professional throughout. The prices are slightly cheaper than the other dive shops in town but it is not lacking in any way so don't let that stop you. Thank you Bajo Dive for the best day - looking forward to coming back to Komodo again! :)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: K5039RBjamesb, UK

Review Date: 04 Okt. 2014

Review Body: If you are looking to go diving in the Komodo national park don't look any further. Bajo diving club is the place for you! They are the first diving club to open in Labuan Bajo and have the most amazing knowledge of the sites and things to see in the area. Stefan who co-runs the place with Frank is an absolute gem of a guy! He will me you feel at ease, confident and in security and all this with a lot of humour and kindness! A real legend. The rest of the team are a fantastic bunch too! We did our open water and within days they where more friends than instructors! Added to that they have the cheapest prices in town and offer the same if not more than any other diving school there. They have 3 great boats so can be flexible on where you want to go on your outings. I've heard their 'liveaboard'/safari trips are great and as for the day trips offer delicious food. I cannot say how much this place enhanced my holiday. Don't hesitate: go to Bajo diving school!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Mattraveller22

Review Date: 26 Okt. 2019

Review Body: We had an unforgettable 3 night liveaboard snorkeling experience with Bajo Dive Club. Much of that was down to Sander's expert planning and coordination onboard - which meant we were lucky enough to enjoy many of the wonders of the park without being surrounded by boatloads of other snorkelers and divers. He also gave clear safety briefs before each dive. Sander's recently introduced sunset cruise was also another memorable moment! Our guide, Akbar, was very knowledgeable about the wildlife and coral we encountered and ensured that we saw manta ray, turtles and shark during almost every trip into the water. Other highlights included an eagle ray, scorpion fish, baby mantas and a walk to see the Komodo dragons on Rincha island. Food onboard was plentiful and tasty - we had veggie with a fish option. Donuts, pancakes or fried banana were also out ready after each dive. Overall a great experience.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: 994willemr, Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands

Review Date: 08 Dez. 2019

Review Body: I went diving for 5 days with Bajo Dive Club and had the best dives of my life. Its the oldest diveshop in town and they surely knew what they were doing. They planned the dives away from other boats. Also they knew well to plan and explain the current dives we have done. The briefings were on point and with hardly any other boat at the same sites it gave me a real secure feeling diving with this guys. Ive seen Imanta rays, pygmy seahorses, mandarin fish, sharks, frogfishes, real big napoleon fish and much more then i dare to hope for. The food on the boat is also very good! And all of that for the cheapest i could find in town!!! Komodo has impressed me and although i normally i like to see new places, i will come back to Komodo, and Bajo Dive Club for sure Thanks to Sander, Antonius, Akbar and the rest of the crew for making my stay here unforgettable!! See you next year!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: herosky23, Hungary

Review Date: 17 Aug. 2017

Review Body: I thank Katja, Arian and all the boat crew for this lovely and crazy-funny full-day trip. We had 2 dives+ Komodo dragon trekking with them. Katja is the funniest person I know with a great sense of humour and she is quite professional when it comes to diving. I had some equalizing problems, she solvedit underwater, thank you for the help and for the patience. One of the boat staff members, a 16yrs old guy was the cook and he cooked us the food fresh. Great job, and I wish him all the bests reaching his goals (he wantsto be a diving master). We also gave tips, lets hope this will be help for the crew also. Komodo dragon island Rinca was beautiful also, good way to see tha dragons from closer Anyways I could write this review for days, and only positive things. Im grateful and happy to meet these people. Thanks for everything again. All the bests from Gergo and Gyorgy (Gyuri)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Karina L

Review Date: 09 Juli 2018

Review Body: I’ve been in Komodo twice and both times I dove with Bajo Dive Club. Boat was more than accomodative with beanbags on the sun deck for that full sailing experience, food on the boat was great and the diving was amazing ! Most of all, boat crew, Dive Masters and even admin staff at the office were like a family (treated us like family too) and super friendly. They helped us with literally everything (even if it doesn’t have anything to do with diving). One admin staff (Mrs. Erina) she was very lovely and helpful. On of the days I got sick and she offered to send us to the local hospital on her personal motorbike. The Dive Masters (Katja and Daniel) were one of the most friendly and fun DMs I have ever dove with! They made the whole experience better and most of all, they brought us back alive and kicking =P Keep up the great work and would def come back again!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: anne_travels90, Netherlands

Review Date: 05 Jan. 2019

Review Body: Me and my partner have been to Labuan Bajo 3 times now, and keep going back to Bajo Dive Club! The instructors and guides on the boat are so passionate about what they're doing and really know their way around the waters of Komodo National Park (because of strong currents so this is important to us as we always feel very safe with Bajo Dive). I believe they are currently the longest operating dive school in Labuan Bajo (30 years!). This also means they know the exacts spots where the Manta's clean so even in "low manta season" not a day went by that we didn't spot a manta!!!! The boat is small, so the crew with their jokes brings all the customers quickly together as one group. Every day on the boat was a lot of laughs and exchanging dive and travel stories! On top of all this they have Irtho... THE BEST COOK of Komodo National Park! We'll definitely come back :)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Noemi S

Review Date: 12 Juli 2018

Review Body: We dived with Bajo and stayed at their Coconut Beach Resort. Everybody working there was lovely and extremely helpful. They went above and beyond to make sure we have a pleasant experience. The dive guides are all very well prepared and friendly. Our dives were excellent, and their boat is very comfortable, has a sundeck and bean bags. Erlina at the office arranged not only our dives, but also a driver and accommodation in the next town. She treated us like family, and even surprised us with a gift of apples when we were already in Ruteng! We also had a great time at their resort at a quieter area of Labuan Bajo, where they have beautiful bungalows. They have speedboat shuttle to the center of Labuan Bajo, check in and check out is free, all other times are 70,000 rupees per boat before 9 pm and 100,000 after 9 pm.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Nigel K, New Zealand

Review Date: 06 Jan. 2016

Review Body: It was my very first dive but Stefan, the dive master, was very friendly and made me feel very relaxed. If I give my life in hands of someone else for something like this, I like to get to know that person and we did. He explained us the all the exercises on land so once in the water it was very easy to follow. Took us only a few minutes before we started the real dive. Water very clear and beautiful reefs with lots of fish. He pointed out all the nice fish we missed and we're lucky to see a shark and 5 turtles. We rented a camera and we switched the camera between the 3 of us and the photos were very nice. There was plenty of fresh water on board, some local snacks, coffer and tea and for lunch nasi goreng which was nice too. Can't complain about anything from this trip!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Penhalley, Laguna Niguel, California

Review Date: 13 Dez. 2019

Review Body: We absolutely recommend Bajo Dive Club. They are on the main road, and a five-minute walk to the harbor. We were on a large wooden boat. The boat crew did a great job, we're very helpful with gear; on and off...and they were excellent cooks, too! We had the pleasure of being guided by a local Master Diver, who's been diving these waters for quite awhile. In addition, another diver, who hails from Germany; living here, and working at the dive shop to earn his Master Diver certification, was a joy to visit with. Best part of all, was being approved for the whole day out on the boat, diving, with only the two of us; three is usually the minimum. No complaints from us, on a private dive trip! Come dive the beautiful waters of Komodo Island Park and contact Bajo Dive Club

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Criscasla

Review Date: 30 Apr. 2019

Review Body: I took several fun dives during 3 days with Bajo Dive Club and it was awesome. Sander, Lydia and Damas are very nice and professional!! They also know a lot about the Komodo National Park and about the dive sites, so you will learn a lot about this amazing area and also get very fun and interesting dives. They choose perfectly the dive sites and the time to go there, they were looking for lots of stuff under the water and we saw many pelagics and macro. The staff in the boat was also super nice and the food they prepared was delicious. Moreover, they helped us with everything we needed to get ready (equipment...) I would strongly recommend to dive with them. Thank you all again for the amazing days there!!! I hope we can come back in the future!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: sienaelise

Review Date: 09 Sep. 2019

Review Body: We had the most wonderful diving experience with Bajo Dive Club back in June and I could not recommend them more. Not only did we find that they offered some of the most reasonable prices in Labuan Bajo, Lydia clearly knew the sites around Komodo and made us feel like we were in safe hands from the get-go. Sander and Leonard were fantastic - we couldn't have asked for better dive instructors especially as we're not the most experienced divers, but, we felt completely safe at all times. Thanks to Sander's insights we always managed to narrowly avoid the crowds and had the sites pretty much to ourselves! The food was also super tasty :) Very thankful we found Bajo Dive Club as it was one of the best days of my life and I am desperate to go again!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: kalilaeckstein, Indonesia

Review Date: 02 Juli 2019

Review Body: Our two day boat trip with Bajo Dive Club couldn’t have been any better! The first day consisted of going to three main tourist attractions: the first one being Pulau Padar, second destination being Komodo National Park, and our last and final stop, Pink Beach. Our second day consisted of going diving in three beautiful spots; Siaba, Manta Point, and Batu Bolong. These two amazing days wouldn’t have been possible without the excellent staff of the Bajo Dive Club! Their staff made sure that we felt safe and comfortable throughout our trip. The staff on the boat are expert in their fields and demonstrated a lot of professionalism. We would highly recommend Bajo Dive Club for your holiday in Flores!

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Heute lernst du die Tauchtheorie und machst einen Tauchgang im begrenzten Freiwasser

Itinerary Description: 8:30 Uhr Abfahrt zum Wacicu Beach 9:30 Uhr Theorie durchgehen 11:30 Uhr Tauchgang im begrenzten Freiwasser 13:00 Uhr Theorie durchgehen

Itinerary Day 2

Itinerary Summary: Heute startest du mit deinen ersten Open-Water-Tauchgängen im Komodo-Nationalpark!

Itinerary Description: 7:00 Uhr Treffen im Büro 7:30 Uhr Abfahrt zum Nationalpark 9:00 Uhr Erster Tauchgang 10:00 Uhr Oberflächenpause 11:00 Uhr Zweiter Tauchgang 12:00 Uhr Mittagessen 13:00 Uhr Entspannen 17:00 Uhr Rückkehr nach Labuan Bajo

Itinerary Day 3

Itinerary Summary: Heute tauchst du in den unglaublich klaren Gewässern des Komodo-Nationalparks

Itinerary Description: 7:00 Uhr Treffen im Büro 7:30 Uhr Abfahrt zum Nationalpark 9:00 Uhr Dritter Tauchgang 10:00 Uhr Oberflächenpause 11:00 Uhr Vierter Tauchgang 12:00 Uhr Mittagessen 13:00 Uhr Entspannen 17:00 Uhr Rückkehr nach Labuan Bajo