The "Cheng Ho" and Kararu Dive Voyages

About Kararu Dive Voyages
.... our objectives, company history, our vessel and the people behind Kararu

Our Objectives
Kararu Dive Voyages was started with the objective of bringing Indonesia's scarcely seen underwater treasures to a broader base of divers under the
belief that first hand experience is the key to education and therefore conservation. Actively assisting in raising funds and awareness for
conservation is the cornerstone of the company. Bringing tourism to rarely visited areas of Indonesia and educating the local population in the benefits
of reef and fish conservation is the key to preserving the fragile seas of Indonesia.

Kararu Dive Voyages recognizes that it is at the forefront in being able to
make a long term difference and help to ensure that Indonesia's treasure
and its local cultures are preserved for the benefit of all.

Our Peoples
Experience on board and behind the scenes is essential to any successful
scuba diving liveaboard operation.
Kararu Dive Voyages has carefully selected and trained a team of 19
Indonesian crew members from al over the Indonesia archipelago. The combination of these different island cultures, combined with the crew’s
natural and sincere kindness towards others makes for a special team of
gifted seamen and friendly personalities.
Experienced and professional dive staff are also important, Karl Klingeler and Linda Johnston are Kararu's 2 dynamic dive masters. They are fully qualified PADI, NAUI, BSAC & TDI/SDI instructors with thousands of dives logged. Their local experience and knowledge of marine life habitat will lead you to the
secret places only those intimately familiar with the area can.

Our Vessel - The "Cheng Ho"

Home Port: Kararu Dive Voyages and offices and the Cheng Ho's home port is Benoa Harbour in the south of Bali. Port of embarkation/disembarkation will change according to the cruise itenary. Port of embarkation/disembarkation is listet on the iternary page. If embarkation/disembarkation is listet as anything other than Bali a domestic flight will be required from Ngurah Rai Airport in
south Bali.

Climate: Tropical, ranges between 25 C (77 F) and 33 C (91 F)

Average Water Temperatur: Ranges between 20 C (72 F) and 30 C (84 F)

Photographer Facilities: Digital rental and course, digital camera and stills editing suite with 10 computer work staions fire wired to CD and DVD burner, slide scanner, 110/220 Volt battery charging station, camera work stations,
light tables and loopes, E6 slide film processing and mounting, digital and slide projector, projection screen.

Diving: Dives are conducted from the Voyager's two 24 foot skiffs. Expect to dive a variety of sites including pinnacles, drift dives, sea mounts, piers, walls, slopes, muck and sand.

Max. Number of Divers: 18 - 20 (possible for full boat charter)

Crew on Board: 20 boat crew, 2 western cruise directors/dive guides, 2 indonesian dive guides.

Alternate activities during the cruise: National park walks, unlimited shore excursions, beach barbecues, remote village tour, fishing, ocean kayaking,
water skiing, jungle trecks hill hiking, snorkelling.

Conservation: Active member of the NMTA, TNC, Komodo Foundation,
mooring buoy project, beach clean ups, local village support.

The "Cheng Ho" Schedule 2008 Cruise Code Cruise Start Cruise End Cruise Nights Cruise Destination Cruise Ports 01-08 02 Feb 23 Feb 21 Raja Ampat Ambon : Sorong 02-08 24 Feb 06 Mar 11 Raja Ampat Sorong : Ambon 03-08 07 Mar 19 Mar 12 Banda Raja Ampat Ambon : Sorong 05-08 21 Mar 02 Apr 12 Banda Raja Ampat Ambon Sorong : Ambon 06-08 04 Apr 16 Apr 12 Raja Ampat Banda Ambon Ambon : Sorong 07-08 18 Apr 28 Apr 10 Raja Ampat Sorong : Ambon 08-08 29 Apr 11 May 12 Raja Ampat Ambon : Sorong 09-08 12 May 23 May 11 Raja Ampat Sorong : Ambon 10-08 27 May 07 Jun 11 Alor Maumere : Maumere 11-08 08 Jun 17 Jun 9 Komodo Maumere : Bima 12-08 18 Jun 29 Jun 11 Komodo Bima : Bali 15-08 20 Jul 27 Jul 7 Komodo Bima : Bima 16-08 28 Jul 08 Aug 11 Komodo Bali : Bima 17-08 09 Aug 20 Aug 11 Komodo Bima : Bima 18-08 21 Aug 01 Sep 11 Komodo Bima : Bima 19-08 02 Sep 09 Sep 7 Komodo Bima : Bali 20-08 10 Sep 21 Sep 11 Komodo Bali : Bima 22-08 23 Sep 04 Oct 11 Alor Bima : Maumere 23-08 05 Oct 16 Oct 11 Alor Banda Sea Maumere : Ambon 24-08 17 Oct 27 Oct 10 Banda Sea Ambon : Ambon 25-08 28 Oct 08 Nov 11 Misool Ambon : Sorong 26-08 08 Nov 20 Nov 12 Fak Fak Sorong : Ambon 27-08 21 Nov 04 Dec 13 Fak Fak Ambon : Sorong 28-08 05 Dec 16 Dec 11 Raja Ampat Sorong : Sorong 29-08 17 Dec 28 Dec 11 Raja Ampat Sorong : Sorong 30-08 29 Dec 07 Jan 9 Raja Ampat Sorong : Sorong The "Cheng Ho" Schedule 2009 Cruise Code Cruise Start Cruise End Cruise Nights Cruise Destination Cruise Ports 01-09 08 Jan 20 Jan 12 Raja Ampat Sorong : Ambon 02-09 25 Feb 08 Mar 11 Komodo Bali : Bima 03-09 09 Mar 21 Mar 12 Komodo Bima : Maumere 05-09 22 Mar 03 Apr 12 Alor Banda Sea Maumere : Ambon 06-09 04 Apr 17 Apr 13 Fak Fak Ambon : Sorong 07-09 18 Apr 29 Apr 11 Raja Ampat Sorong : Sorong 08-09 30 Apr 11 May 11 Raja Ampat Sorong : Sorong 09-09 12 May 25 May 13 Fak Fak Sorong : Ambon 10-09 29 May 09 Jun 11 Alor Maumere : Maumere 11-09 10 Jun 20 Jun 10 Komodo Maumere : Bima 12-09 21 Jun 02 Jul 11 Komodo Bima : Bali 14-09 01 Aug 12 Aug 11 Komodo Bali : Maumere 15-09 13 Aug 24 Aug 11 Alor Maumere : Maumere 16-09 25 Aug 05 Sep 11 Komodo Maumere : Bima 17-09 05 Sep 16 Sep 11 Komodo Bima : Bali 18-09 19 Sep 01 Oct 12 Komodo Bali : Maumere 19-09 07 Oct 19 Oct 12 Raja Ampat Ambon : Sorong 20-09 20 Oct 31 Oct 11 Raja Ampat Sorong : Sorong 21-09 01 Nov 12 Nov 11 Misool Sorong : Sorong 22-09 13 Nov 25 Nov 12 Misool Sorong : Ambon 23-09 26 Nov 07 Dec 11 Misool Ambon : Sorong 24-09 08 Dec 21 Dec 13 Fak Fak Misool Sorong : Sorong 25-09 23 Dec 03 Jan 11 Raja Ampat Sorong : Sorong

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Please check also the "Cheng Ho" dive site descriptions