Putri Papua is part of the Indonesian based Grand Komodo Fleet. The boat was built from local timber in traditional Indonesian style. It is 25.7m (83ft) long and 5.7m (19ft) wide.
The Putri Papua cruises regularly from Sorong for 7-10 night cruises in Raja Ampat. During the Komodo season (May to September), she also operates in this region for 7 night trips.
Accommodation & Facilities
Putri Papua has four cabins for a maximum of nine guests. All cabins are equipped with individually adjustable air-conditioning and private ensuite with shower and toilet. There are two double bed cabins, one twin bed cabin and one triple cabin.
Guests have full use of a partially covered sun deck and a smaller dive deck. The Putri Papua has modern technical equipment and a dive tender. The power supply is 220 volts. The power outlet is European with two round pronged plug.
Meals are served in the air-conditioned salon. The meals on board are delicious and plentiful. Guests are generally impressed by the attentive crew. Their friendly and helpful manner makes it easy to overlook the occasional communication problem.
Coffee, tea and drinking water are included in the cruise cost. Guests can purchase beer and soft drinks onboard: Beer IDR 30.000, Soft drink IDR 20.000. Wine, liquor and other alcoholic beverages are not available. Divers are not allowed to bring their own alcohol onboard. Incidentals can be paid in cash only (IDR or USD).
Dive Service
There is always a local dive guide on board who is familiar with the waters of the area. The dive operation is good quality, safe and very customer focused. Putri Papua offers unlimited diving which translates to an average of 4 dives on a full day, depending on the itinerary. Daily dive schedule: 7.00am morning dive, 11.00am 2nd dive, 3.00pm 3rd dive, 7.00pm night dive. Generally the dives start from the main vessel and divers are picked up via the tender.
Divers should bring your own dive gear incl. dive computer, reef hook and dive light. Dive gear rental on board is limited and must be pre-arranged. In order to join a Grand Komodo Fleet cruise divers must have at least 50 logged dives.
Dive areas
Raja Ampat The waters surrounding Raja Ampat offer enchanting coral gardens, cliffs and an extraordinarily diverse world of fish. Macro lovers will find this region a true paradise. Pygmy seahorses, frogfish, blue ribbon eels and an incredible variety of nudibranchs are just a few creatures of this special little world. The reefs in Sorong, Waigeo and Misool are spectacular. Current diving is excellent here. Highlights include manta rays and a fascinating macro paradise.
Grand Komodo Tours
The Indonesian company is specialized in dive cruises. They offer a variety of cruises all over Indonesia on their five dive vessels. Every year they add new dive sites and cruises. Many of these cruises still display expedition character as they head for areas which are hardly ever explored. Anyone looking for adventure is in the right place. The boats Nusa Tara, Putri Papua, Raja Ampat Explorer, Tarata & Temu Kira are used as required.
We think...
Grand Komodo Tours have been offering these cruises very successfully for some years. We know of no other dive vessels who offer such outstanding diving for so little money. Customer satisfaction is very high and many divers are loyal repeat visitors. The slightly lower comfort level of the boats compared to the newer vessels is more than offset by the lovely atmosphere.
