Mikumba Diving
Mikumba Diving
5
Multi-day Tours • Scuba & Snorkelling • Boat Tours
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9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
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About
Welcome to Mikumba Diving! We have a PADI dive centre in Labuan Bajo offering daily diving trips and liveaboard trips in Komodo, as well as mid-range liveaboard trips in Raja Ampat.
We have 2 boats - our budget safari boat Nusantara in Komodo which was completely renovated in 2021 and our luxurious mid range boat Jelajahi Laut which was finished in December 2021.
We operate all year round in Komodo with Nusantara where we encounter stunningly healthy coral reefs, ridiculous amounts of colourful fish, graceful sharks and majestic mantas. Jelajahi Laut is in Komodo from June until September.
From October to April Mikumba Diving takes adventurous divers to spectacular scuba diving paradises with our liveaboard Jelajahi Laut in Raja Ampat, Ambon, Alor and other locations in the Banda Sea.
Labuan Bajo, Indonesia
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Travelers' Choice
2023
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
196 reviews
Excellent
183
Very good
9
Average
2
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Charlotte B
52 contributions
Jul 2023
My family (myself, my partner, daughter 16 and son 20 ) did a 3 day 2 night trip to dive in the Komodo National Park with Mikumba Diving, on board Nusantara.
As a group of four, we opted to stay on the top deck sleeping area of the boat
where there is space for four basic mattresses, a medium-sized locker each and a bit of floor space. It's roofed with open sides but blinds that can be brought down if there's wind or rain. It was comfortable enough. When the wind picked up during the night and the blinds weren't down, it slightly disturbed our sleep but nothing too bad, and at least we weren't too hot. The other options to book are some dormitory style beds, separated by curtains, down below.
Onshore staff, boat crew, guides and fellow divers were a very friendly and helpful bunch of people and we felt extremely well looked after throughout.
The rental kit available was in good condition and the crew did all the hard work of sorting everything out between dives eg changing cylinders etc so there was very little for us to do other than relax, eat the fantastic meals and enjoy the fabulous diving!
We did 9 dives in total, 3 each day including a night dive on day 1 plus a visit to Rinca when the park opened at 7am on day 2 to see the dragons.
The best dives for me were Batu Bolong, Castle Rock and the Cauldron. These three certainly rated up there with my best dives of all time. We were a bit unlucky not to see any mantas underwater (we did see one on the surface) but we did see lots of reef sharks, turtles, morays, mobula rays, a marbled sting ray, tuna, barracudas, giant and blue trevally and many other beautiful fish, coral and marine critters!
We were allocated Irland as our family's guide and felt very safe in his hands. The other guides on board, Hans and the overall leader, Salla from Finland, were very knowledgeable and organized too.
I was a little disappointed we didn't do Crystal Rock as our 2nd dive on day 2 as originally planned but the staff obviously made this decision based on the experience and capabilities of all the divers on board and the conditions. Maybe they wanted to give us more experience of a strong current before doing our final dive of the trip 'the Cauldron' which involves a 'shotgun' channel.
I would recommend having a few dives under one's belt before doing one of these trips if possible as you do encounter strong currents in places and you will probably feel a lot happier about encountering this if you've had some previous experience.
I'm hard pushed to find any improvements to suggest...maybe some biscuits (though the food was tremendous but sometimes it's nice to have a little sugar hit after a dive!) and a shelf in the toilet/shower for toiletry bags etc!
We take away wonderful memories from the trip and would like to thank Mikumba Diving for working so hard to give us this great experience
As a group of four, we opted to stay on the top deck sleeping area of the boat
where there is space for four basic mattresses, a medium-sized locker each and a bit of floor space. It's roofed with open sides but blinds that can be brought down if there's wind or rain. It was comfortable enough. When the wind picked up during the night and the blinds weren't down, it slightly disturbed our sleep but nothing too bad, and at least we weren't too hot. The other options to book are some dormitory style beds, separated by curtains, down below.
Onshore staff, boat crew, guides and fellow divers were a very friendly and helpful bunch of people and we felt extremely well looked after throughout.
The rental kit available was in good condition and the crew did all the hard work of sorting everything out between dives eg changing cylinders etc so there was very little for us to do other than relax, eat the fantastic meals and enjoy the fabulous diving!
We did 9 dives in total, 3 each day including a night dive on day 1 plus a visit to Rinca when the park opened at 7am on day 2 to see the dragons.
The best dives for me were Batu Bolong, Castle Rock and the Cauldron. These three certainly rated up there with my best dives of all time. We were a bit unlucky not to see any mantas underwater (we did see one on the surface) but we did see lots of reef sharks, turtles, morays, mobula rays, a marbled sting ray, tuna, barracudas, giant and blue trevally and many other beautiful fish, coral and marine critters!
We were allocated Irland as our family's guide and felt very safe in his hands. The other guides on board, Hans and the overall leader, Salla from Finland, were very knowledgeable and organized too.
I was a little disappointed we didn't do Crystal Rock as our 2nd dive on day 2 as originally planned but the staff obviously made this decision based on the experience and capabilities of all the divers on board and the conditions. Maybe they wanted to give us more experience of a strong current before doing our final dive of the trip 'the Cauldron' which involves a 'shotgun' channel.
I would recommend having a few dives under one's belt before doing one of these trips if possible as you do encounter strong currents in places and you will probably feel a lot happier about encountering this if you've had some previous experience.
I'm hard pushed to find any improvements to suggest...maybe some biscuits (though the food was tremendous but sometimes it's nice to have a little sugar hit after a dive!) and a shelf in the toilet/shower for toiletry bags etc!
We take away wonderful memories from the trip and would like to thank Mikumba Diving for working so hard to give us this great experience
Written August 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your lovely review Charlotte, we're delighted you had such a good time :). We've noted your suggestion improvements too so thanks for that. We hope to see you again soon and will find some mantas for you.
Written August 7, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tifney S
6 contributions
Nov 2022
We had an incredible week on this dive boat. The crew was amazing, the boat was impeccable, great food and extremely attentive and knowledge dive masters. The rental gear was brand new. The dives were long and always made sure we had them to ourselves. The itinerary was perfect. Great vibe. I could not have asked for more. If you can spend the money, the top deck rooms are the way to go. For a moderate price boat, I felt like we got top notch service on all levels. J, Solomon, Anda and Edo made sure we saw every little creature that was hiding from plain sight. They made this spectacular underwater world come even more alive. J was a fantastic CD. So organized and on top of all things we needed to make this a great adventure.Thank you Mikumba!
Written November 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Tifney, thanks so much for your amazing review and we're really happy you enjoyed your trip. It was great to have you on the boat and hopefully we will see you again on another trip.
Written December 22, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stu
Auckland, New Zealand22 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
We are first time livaboard divers and we had a fabulous 3 days on Jelajahi Laut. Just wished we opted for the 4 day trip. I’m a diver and my wife snorkelled and she loved it also, exceeded her expectations (and of course mine) which was important as it was more about my interests than hers…
It’s expensive, but there were 15 crew and 8 guests (max 14 guests) and that’s the price you pay for heath & safety firstly, then that was backed up by such friendly crew plus great meals often 3 courses. The days were structured and we always knew the next days plan via a briefing at the end of the day, plus good dive briefings before each dive.
The overall experience was professional and fun, the dives built up in intensity to blow the cobwebs off as we all grew in confidence to challenge ourselves, but risks were well managed. We felt safe with the dive masters, well fed by the Chef and looked after and supported by all the crew.
Outstanding team Mikumba Diving, we’ll be back, have told a number of friends and family about you and have already started planning the next trip with you.
Many thanks and take care and safe travels!
Kindest regards
Stu & Sal
It’s expensive, but there were 15 crew and 8 guests (max 14 guests) and that’s the price you pay for heath & safety firstly, then that was backed up by such friendly crew plus great meals often 3 courses. The days were structured and we always knew the next days plan via a briefing at the end of the day, plus good dive briefings before each dive.
The overall experience was professional and fun, the dives built up in intensity to blow the cobwebs off as we all grew in confidence to challenge ourselves, but risks were well managed. We felt safe with the dive masters, well fed by the Chef and looked after and supported by all the crew.
Outstanding team Mikumba Diving, we’ll be back, have told a number of friends and family about you and have already started planning the next trip with you.
Many thanks and take care and safe travels!
Kindest regards
Stu & Sal
Written June 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Stu, thanks for taking the time to leave us such a great review! We're delighted that we exceeded your expectations and that you both loved the trip. We look forward to seeing you in Raja Ampat for the next trip...
Written June 29, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Erin B
3 contributions
Jul 2023
Great experience, especially for the price (3 dives a day, meals/coffee/tea/water included). All of the crew were friendly/helpful. Dives were beautiful and unique, Irland was an amazing guide with an impressive eye for spotting marine life (especially mantas), equipment was in good condition, and safety was clearly a priority- we received a detailed brief before each dive. I also really appreciated that we were grouped according to experience level with no more than 4 people per dive guide. Food was very good and there was plenty of it. Beer and soda available for purchase after diving. Boat was comfortable with bean bags for lounging; however, there are only a limited number of sleeping spots available on the upper deck and the below-deck sleeping quarters were a bit stuffy/hot without much air flow- I'd recommend booking early enough to secure a spot under the stars. If you are looking for luxury/privacy, this may not be the live aboard for you, but I would highly recommend for any adventurous travelers looking for a reasonably priced live aboard dive holiday.
Written July 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thanks for the nice review. We're really happy you enjoyed the trip :)
Written July 12, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stewart R
Denpasar, Indonesia6 contributions
Jan 2020
I booked a trip with Mikumba diving couple years ago and it was great.
I had contact with Fred (the founder of Mikumba diving)
And the booking went very smoothly, I received all important information about the company and about the trip.
the price was very affordable and if you looking for luxury liveaboards then Mikumba is not the right option for you.
I have seen some changes in Mikumba and Fred the founder of Mikumba sold the company to someone else. Fred are now running a new company called Kalabia diving Indonesia.
However the boat was basic but nice and cleaned and you had everything you needed .
The food was incredible good, small breakfast before the first dive then big breakfast afterwards then we had lunch and dinner. Mostly Indonesian dishes and it was great.
the cruise director was great, and the other staff onboard was very nice. George,Hugo,Fernando and the owner Fred was a great & funny guy and we had a very good time together. Fred made us all feel like we was a part of the Mikumba family , actually the crew made us feel the same way.
I will definitely go back to Mikumba diving and Kalabia diving in the future.
Obviously the diving was great and we had people from a conservation who came onboard and did manta ray presentation before we dove with manta rays.
Thank you so much.
I had contact with Fred (the founder of Mikumba diving)
And the booking went very smoothly, I received all important information about the company and about the trip.
the price was very affordable and if you looking for luxury liveaboards then Mikumba is not the right option for you.
I have seen some changes in Mikumba and Fred the founder of Mikumba sold the company to someone else. Fred are now running a new company called Kalabia diving Indonesia.
However the boat was basic but nice and cleaned and you had everything you needed .
The food was incredible good, small breakfast before the first dive then big breakfast afterwards then we had lunch and dinner. Mostly Indonesian dishes and it was great.
the cruise director was great, and the other staff onboard was very nice. George,Hugo,Fernando and the owner Fred was a great & funny guy and we had a very good time together. Fred made us all feel like we was a part of the Mikumba family , actually the crew made us feel the same way.
I will definitely go back to Mikumba diving and Kalabia diving in the future.
Obviously the diving was great and we had people from a conservation who came onboard and did manta ray presentation before we dove with manta rays.
Thank you so much.
Written December 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victoremanuel1965
Bournemouth, UK143 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
The diving in Komodo is world class, it reminded me a lot of the Brothers, over twenty years ago. We were a little unlucky not to see the Manta while diving, but some times that’s how it pans out. Castle Rock is an outstanding dive!
We did the three day trip. The rental kit was fairly new and in good condition. Our dive guide Irlam was very good and helped at every opportunity. As a family we are all relatively experienced divers and he accommodated our diving practices, letting my son deploy the DSMB at the end of the dives.
The boat is fairly basic, but we knew that before we started, so that was fine. Space is fairly limited, so if the boat is full it may be a squeeze if you bring a professional camera set up.
I think the low cost attracts more of the backpacking type, so it was a pretty young low key atmosphere on the boat.
Saua, the trip leader ran a fairly tight ship, so everything ran smoothly. Her Finnish head massage sorted my sinuses on the last day🤣🤣🤣. The crew were very helpful and the food was good.
To get the most out of the trip I would suggest having around 40-50 dives under your belt, with some experience of diving in currents, my 16 year old daughter with PADI advanced and ~ 40 dives was fine.
Overall I have nothing negative to say about the trip, the guides and crew did everything possible to make the trip enjoyable.
We did the three day trip. The rental kit was fairly new and in good condition. Our dive guide Irlam was very good and helped at every opportunity. As a family we are all relatively experienced divers and he accommodated our diving practices, letting my son deploy the DSMB at the end of the dives.
The boat is fairly basic, but we knew that before we started, so that was fine. Space is fairly limited, so if the boat is full it may be a squeeze if you bring a professional camera set up.
I think the low cost attracts more of the backpacking type, so it was a pretty young low key atmosphere on the boat.
Saua, the trip leader ran a fairly tight ship, so everything ran smoothly. Her Finnish head massage sorted my sinuses on the last day🤣🤣🤣. The crew were very helpful and the food was good.
To get the most out of the trip I would suggest having around 40-50 dives under your belt, with some experience of diving in currents, my 16 year old daughter with PADI advanced and ~ 40 dives was fine.
Overall I have nothing negative to say about the trip, the guides and crew did everything possible to make the trip enjoyable.
Written July 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Vic, thanks for your lovely review and we're really glad you all enjoyed the trip. We don't offer those massages to everyone :). You should come and visit us in Raja Ampat :)
Written August 2, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Svetlana
9 contributions
Apr 2021 • Friends
We had a diving trip around Komodo National Park with Mikumba diving and it was awesome!!
The whole process starting from the registration was handled super smooth and professional. Dive equipment, the boat, all sheets/towels etc were brand new.
Very professional and fun crew as well: from the captain to the chef, both local and expat pet of the crew was a ton of fun, friendly and helpful.
We felt well taken care of and super safe when it came to diving as well.
And the route was stunning: we were able to visit the most beatiful places, both on land and underwater. Saw Komodo dragons, mantas, sharks, turtles, dolphins, and everything you can imagine!
Everything was catered to our needs and wants. If we wanted to change the route slightly or do the same dive site twice the team found ways to change plans and do it for us.
Thank you so much guys! We are SO coming back.
Next boat trip will be with you 100%
Honestly, one of the best experiences in my life. ❤️
The whole process starting from the registration was handled super smooth and professional. Dive equipment, the boat, all sheets/towels etc were brand new.
Very professional and fun crew as well: from the captain to the chef, both local and expat pet of the crew was a ton of fun, friendly and helpful.
We felt well taken care of and super safe when it came to diving as well.
And the route was stunning: we were able to visit the most beatiful places, both on land and underwater. Saw Komodo dragons, mantas, sharks, turtles, dolphins, and everything you can imagine!
Everything was catered to our needs and wants. If we wanted to change the route slightly or do the same dive site twice the team found ways to change plans and do it for us.
Thank you so much guys! We are SO coming back.
Next boat trip will be with you 100%
Honestly, one of the best experiences in my life. ❤️
Written May 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael and Jenny
48 contributions
Nov 2022
This was a trip of a lifetime, the team at Mikumba Diving were outstanding. From booking the trip to the first meeting at Sarong with our cruise director Jay then his whole liveaboard team and the magnificent "Jelajahi Laut". If you are looking for a Diving/Snorkelling experience the trip to Raja Ampat with these guys will blow your mind we can't recommend this company and team highly enough. Cheers Mick and Jenny.
Written December 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Mick & Jenny, thanks for such a great review, we're really happy you enjoyed your trip and hope to see you again soon :)
Written March 10, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ruby S
Philadelphia, PA4 contributions
Sep 2022 • Solo
I did a 3 day diving liveaboard through Komodo National Park- an increíble experience! The dive director was on point, even with weather and logistical challenges. The crew was cheerful and kind, and the food was delicious. And the diving was one of the best I’ve done- we saw so many sharks, mantas and other large (and small) creatures! Also the dive manager is so sweet- she was concerned about my travels afterwards and made me check in with her! Great time diving with this team!
Written October 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Ruby - thanks for such a nice review, we're really happy you enjoyed the trip. Hopefully we will see you again soon.
Written November 16, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JEAN L
3 contributions
Apr 2022 • Friends
It’s my first liveaboard boat trip with discover scuba diving and snorkeling. The boat is beautiful and brand new. I love it’s cleanliness, space and organised. The ensuite bedroom is good size for two with comfy bed.
Both my husband and I had a most delightful time with our friends on the beautiful Jelajahi Laut. We enjoyed the food and dinning experience. The boat trip for five days and four nights were well planned. The diving gear and equipment are ready available.
I simply love it when I saw the beautiful corals, fishes and turtle in sea. And, there was one dolphin swimming with our boat when cruising the islands. One of my best time was enjoying drinks with my husband and friends on comfy bean couches, music, sea breeze, beautiful mountains and sea views as well as gazing at the stars at nights, watching the sunrise and sunsets on the sun decks. We had fun and laughters when we played games at the sun deck and dining room. We also visited Komodo island, Padar island, the sandbank and cruise to see the flying foxes.
Thank you to Robert, Steve and the boat crew for an unforgettable trip. Highly recommended for dive trip with Mikumba Diving.
Both my husband and I had a most delightful time with our friends on the beautiful Jelajahi Laut. We enjoyed the food and dinning experience. The boat trip for five days and four nights were well planned. The diving gear and equipment are ready available.
I simply love it when I saw the beautiful corals, fishes and turtle in sea. And, there was one dolphin swimming with our boat when cruising the islands. One of my best time was enjoying drinks with my husband and friends on comfy bean couches, music, sea breeze, beautiful mountains and sea views as well as gazing at the stars at nights, watching the sunrise and sunsets on the sun decks. We had fun and laughters when we played games at the sun deck and dining room. We also visited Komodo island, Padar island, the sandbank and cruise to see the flying foxes.
Thank you to Robert, Steve and the boat crew for an unforgettable trip. Highly recommended for dive trip with Mikumba Diving.
Written April 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thank you for this amazing review. We are all glad that you enjoyed the trip and the adventures.
hopefully we see us again in the future for another trip in paradise
Robert and Jelajahi Laut Crew
Written April 27, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sam G
1 contribution
Hi! Do English-speaking guides accompany divers on their dives?
Robert m.alf.i
Labuan Bajo, Indonesia8 contributions
hi.
Yes usually all our guides speak English.
If their english is not so good, then there is the Cruisedirector, whos is usually Westerner to help for any Question =)
almuzelaa
1 contribution
Hi how long u advice me to get trip to labuan bajo and all other island and can u arrange for it
Cindy C
Pickering, Canada104 contributions
Hi I am not a diver but love nature and scenery. Is it worth to go to Raja Ampat it you are not a diver?
Mikumba Diving
Labuan Bajo, Indonesia1 contribution
Hi, you could always join our trips and snorkel if you like. It's just as amazing.
Thanks
Mikumba Diving - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
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