Review Author: indie_dive, Indonesia

Review Date: 22 Dec 2012

Review Body: My partner and I choose Orca Dive Club Flores for diving holiday in December 2012 because we had good experience with Orca Dive Club Candi Dasa Bali last year. Orca Dive Club staff ensured the safety of their clients, which is very important for diving activities. Before we started the diving, Marc and Liza visited us in our hotel (we stayed at La Prima at that time) for introduction and explanation on the diving trip plans. On our first day, as suggested by Marc, we had a try-out diving day at house reef to check our diving gear since the last time we used it was in March 2012. It appears that our BCD jackets' valves took too much air. Marc took care of the valves. On the next day, we had no problems with our BCD jackets. I took SSI Advance Adventurer course with Marc Crane as instructor. Marc combined my diving experiences (I did numerous night dives, drift dives and deep dives already as an open water diver) with new knowledge on drift diving such as how to use reef hook and anticipating the current from the surface, prepare a deep diving (measurement on SAC, RMV, FGV - calculation of air to use for deep diving and no deco limit time), PPB (buoyancy when using my camera), navigation and later on the coolest specialty ever: manta's ray identification. I found out that in Manta's Point there are two regular mantas and being named as Ghost and Priest. Marc also saw a pregnant manta there. In SSi card, this specialty called as Manta Ray Diver ;) Awesome! Additionally Marc taught me how to use SMB (Surface Marker Buoy) after the dive. During the course I had to deploy the SMB to call our boat. Sincerely, it was not as easy as when Marc does it ;) We were diving in several dive sites within Komodo Marine Park - which cost us additionally of 35 Euros but worth of values. The dives sites where we visited were fantastic and beautiful. My favorites are Batu Bolong, Castle Rock and Mauan. After the dives (usually two or three dives), we got fresh cooked and warm lunch in the boat. Toilets also available in the boat. Besides Marc, Liza, dive master of Orca, also joined us. She has very good eyes in finding small sea-life creatures such as nudis, small/see-through shrimps, clamps. Last dive with Marc was at Mauan and Manta's Point when my partner and I had our breaking record for the longest dive we have ever made: 78 minutes underwater in both dive sites! It was amazing dives, we saw mantas swimming around and feedings. Overall we really enjoyed the diving with Liza and Marc from Orca Dive Club. We will return to Orca as we visit Labuan Bajo on our next diving holidays.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Nanuk01, Canada

Review Date: 16 Sep 2015

Review Body: I spent time in Labuan Bajo, (Flores Island, east Indonesia) in August and booked two days of diving with Orca Dive Club Flores. I was staying at the Jayakarta Hotel, (a five minute drive outside the town) and the dive shop is situated on the ground floor of the hotel. There are numerous dive shops in the city of Labuan Bajo and do offer competitive prices for day trips to surrounding islands. Yes, I paid a tad more than what was offered in town, but for me, it was very well worth it. On my first day, it was JUST ME and the dive master and boat attendants. I had the whole day to myself and the diving was amazing. We travelled for an hour, north of Labuan Bajo (which was not inside Komodo National Park and so I did not have to pay park entrance fees). The sites where I dove, seem to be not all that popular with divers and they prefer to travel further out in the National Park to Mantra Point etc. Did I care? Not in the least!!! I had the dive sites all to myself. It was an amazing day of diving. The dive-master was amazing and very patient with me. I'm a relatively beginner diver and she restored my confidence and skills. Amazing coral gardens, massive sea turtles and such a wide variety of fish were all mine ;-) My second day of diving was equally amazing. A young guy from the USA came along with us and he was completing his Open Water certification with Orca Dive. I had two great days of personalized attention and Orca Dive helped fine-tune my Open Water skills. I competed a third day of diving with a dive shop from the city. It too was a great experience, (and yes Manta Point is not to be missed!) ....but I did not get the personal attention I experienced with Orca Dive. I would most certainly recommend this dive shop and the professional service they provided. Thank you LIsa! ;-) The dive equipment I rented was top quality and in excellent working condition. If you take an Open Water course with Orca Dive, they use the beautiful swimming pool at the hotel for lessons prior to heading out to the sea. What a beautiful place to build confidence prior to heading out for a novice's fist time diving ;-) Safety .....was their number one concern. Fun and enjoyment of diving, in my opinion came in second! Thanks Orca Dive for a tremendous two days of diving off Labuan Bajo. (Kevin, Canada)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: adcdiving, Belgium

Review Date: 18 Nov 2018

Review Body: Good, helpful and friendly employees of the diving school Orca Divers in Flores - Komodo. They will pick you up at the hotel and bring you back later. If you ask to stop at the supermarket, they do this without any problems. They take care of all your diving equipment. The diving bottles are well filled. The food is tasty on the boat. There are enough biscuits, water, tea and coffee on board. On the upper deck are mattresses available for about 10 divers. Very nice diving in Komodo National Park. They also visit the Komodo Dragon with you once. On the last day they clean all your diving equipment and bring it clean and dry to your hotel the next day. Excellent service from Orca Divers in Flores - Komodo The disadvantage of diving by government is expensive and there is no government protection available. Unfortunately, because this very beautiful piece of nature must absolutely be protected and the government failed. The government all receive the money and do nothing. The diving school on the other hand, protect it as much as they can. Complain, for example, to a skipper who is anchoring, which is actually forbidden on the beautiful coral. Take waste as they find it in the sea on board. Good institution of Orca Divers Flores - Komodo.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jason R

Review Date: 11 Feb 2018

Review Body: My wife has been diving many times with Liza and recommended her as an instructor for me to get my Open Water Certificate. She was an excellent teacher, very knowledgable and explained things clearly. I felt very comfortable and confident under water with her. The boat and crew were friendly, and the lunches were delicious! Each dive was planned thoroughly and communicated well with drawings of the reef, and alerting us to possible hazards. After getting my certificate, we dived twice in Komodo National Park, which was a truly unforgettable experience! For our first dive we ventured through a coral garden. The array of different corals and tropical fish was breathtaking. For our second dive, we saw Manta Rays! To see these graceful creatures up close was unbelievable and something I will treasure forever. Liza also took photos and videos of us diving, providing us with copies afterwards. Her photography skills were excellent and the photos are stunning. Thank you to Liza and her crew! We hope to see you again :)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: MarcelHeiniger, Lovina Beach, Indonesia

Review Date: 29 Apr 2019

Review Body: One more dream came true. Since I started to dive the Komodo National Park was on my bucket list. After the first day with the great and professional Team of Lisa, I booked directly for a second excursion to south Rinca 2 days later.my only regret is that planed my time in Fores to short and only had two days time for diving.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: 844nikag, Munich, Germany

Review Date: 03 Nov 2017

Review Body: I was diving with Francis ( instructor ) and my buddy Uwe and had an unforgettable experience. Everything was excellent : the boat is lovely, the stuff is adorable, the organisation is perfect, wonderful dives. Now I blame myself for having not enough time for more day with you. Thanks to Lisa and Rihanna too !!!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Harrkan, Oslo

Review Date: 10 Jul 2017

Review Body: Good crew with a nice boat and nice equipment. The food was great! We were the first to book for that day so we could decide where we wanted to dive. It was perfect! :) Liza was very kind and informative about the whole process! Would dive with them again if I got back! :)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: ja ques

Review Date: 04 Apr 2019

Review Body: We had very nice days diving with this diveclub. The staff was friendly and professional, the dives was more than beautiful and we will return as soon as possible for a much longer stay. Thank you Liza to make all dives possible and thank you to the staff who helped alot!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Carolin Cocofer

Review Date: 22 Jul 2017

Review Body: Great organization and support from the base manager Liza, underwater world breathtakingly beautiful, price-performance ratio from the recommended accommodation very good. Overall, a wonderful holiday. Thank you for that Liza!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: carolin0104

Review Date: 11 Sep 2018

Review Body: We had such a great time! The stuff was really helpful and friendly. The boot is nice and big and the cook has prepared fresh food every day. Tasty :) The underwater world was so beautiful! The holiday was perfect!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Gereon Huppertz

Review Date: 13 Mar 2018

Review Body: Superb dive center, flexible and caring personell and a good attitude all abroad. They do their very best to make moments memorable on Flores... Would recommend them any time.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Manuela Hagner

Review Date: 18 Mar 2018

Review Body: We can only recommend the OWD! We were very well taken care of and have gained unforgettable diving experiences. Many thanks to Liza and her team

Review rating: 5

Review Author: 563_scarc

Review Date: 08 Sep 2017

Review Body: I did three dives with Liza and was a very nice experience. Very professional and friendly staff. I really recommend this dive centre for Komodo.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Boleslav, Colorado

Review Date: 24 Dec 2017

Review Body: We were communicating with Liz prior the trip and then just kept missing her in town. Finally we met and told her that we are interested in a day trip to Batu Bolong and Mawan island. We are snorkelers and she was able to organize a trip with only 2 other divers for the following day to go to the desired sites! It was quite relaxed snorkeling at Batu Bolong South and Batu Bolong North, both sites are quite nice and we were very happy to be able to check them out. We were not very lucky at Mawan as the mantas were not there, but still had enjoyable stop there. We really appreciated that Liz was very flexible and able to organize a trip to our desired sites! The boat was spacious, the meal was tasty.

Review rating: 4

Review Author: mrsiagian, Indonesia

Review Date: 05 Jun 2017

Review Body: I lived in labuan bajo and from time to time i go scuba diving i like to tried different company i must say i almost tried all dive companies in bajo. Yesterday was a strong reminder day for me, i was of my guard and careless i must say. As you can see in my dive computer what happen. The story was first dive was in castle rock strong current was nice me and my friend have a good time , the dive master go with the two other guest and we were much on our own. Its ok other dive company do that to because I am a regular guest and i did hundreds and hundreds of dive in this region, i dove here before this dive company existed. My first dive in labuan bajo was in 1992 that was 25 years ago. And because of that i was sloppy and careless we were rushing for the second dive the dive master keep on asking let get ready. Although our divecom tell us that we did not have enough intervals. Any way i put reg on my mouth and jump. Current was strong we do not have time to think i was using all the strength i got to go down there. Once i am down there the horror happened i run out of air, i was suffocate. I try my octopus and it was the same. I hold my breath and rush to my friend which was 20-30 m away from me grab him and got his second stage and try to calm down. I literally almost die today. If my friend was against the current, i die. If i do not have the experience and panic i die. If god was not with me today i die. So me and my friend we go up try as slow as possible but it was not possible current was strong and there are no where to hold on to. We went on the boat, i was dizzy i asked for the oxygen tank they have it but they do not have the pipe and the rest to operate it so it was useless. The boat crew cannot read a dive gauge , he told me i still got air and pointed on my depth meters. As if this experience still not enough i went to the office just to share my experience. I know its partly my mistake but please you put and empty tank on your guest and all your crew didn't check it? The owner lisa laughs and say with all that experience 3000 plus dive you don't check. I was so upset , i am human i gorget something especially that dive we were rushing. I trust wrong company. She offer me 100.000 rph or 7 dollar for missing one dive , let me do the math so 3 dive should cost 21 dollar? The math is wrong, i refuse it and hand it to my friend. I will not recommend this company to anyone even if the whole town was shut down and they are the only one that open skip this place. Save your live chose wisely.

Review rating: 1

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Dive and explore Labuan Bajo

Itinerary Description: 7am: Meet at dive centre 8am: Depart from Labuan Bajo 9:30am: First Dive 11:30am: Second Dive 12:30pm: Lunch 1pm: Arrive in Labuan Bajo