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/ Pelagian
The Pelagian
- one of South East Asia's primrary deluxe liveaboards visiting
the remote Southern Sulawesi, Komodo & Alor Island region
!
Previously
known as the Fantasea II, the
world-renowned Pelagian liveaboard is now under Wakatobi
management and is mainly based at the Wakatobi Dive Resort
in South Sulawesi. This combination brings together the
Pelagian's sought-after luxury and spaciousness with the
quality and assurance of Wakatobi Dive Resort, one of Indonesia's
most reputable dive operations.
For many years, the Pelagian has widely been regarded as
one of the premier dive liveaboards in the Southeast Asia
/ South Pacific region. During this time, it’s earned
an unparalleled reputation for quality operations and unique
itineraries. Pelagian credits include numerous documentaries,
features and stories in National Geographic, diving and
travel magazines, and television productions around the
world.
Dive
Destinations
For divers, Pelagian’s new home at Wakatobi means offering
new and exciting diving opportunities in the extended Wakatobi
region and the Banda Sea, all within easy reach. This much-researched
area is home to some of the most prolific coral reefs in
all of Indonesia. Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic
state, spans like a wide arc, (12% of the world's circumference)
more than 5000 km of the equator, from mainland Southeast
Asia to Papua New Guinea. It has more than 80,000 km of
coastline with 3.1 million square kilometers of tropical
seas much of which, has never been explored by scuba divers.
From Bali, the Pelagian visits the exciting dive destination,
Komodo, regularly throughout the year. However, to avoid
the rainy season in the Komodo region, the liveaboard cruises
other islands of the Indonesian archelago from the month
of February through April. Following is an overview on each
region:
 The
Wakatobi Islands
The
reefs of the Wakatobi region provide a habitat for the tiniest
to the largest and the most beautiful to the weirdest of
marine creatures. Many of the sites are remote pinnacles
and steep ridges where the currents attract a huge variety
of species.
There
will be opportunity to explore the outer reefs of the Wakatobi
islands including the smaller eastern and southern islands
of Moromaho and Runuma, the big reefs of Karang Kaledupa,
and the fascinating (but so far almost unknown) 'critter
diving haven' of Buton island, as well as the best of the
reefs around Wakatobi Dive Resort.
The dive sites at Binongko Island are very dramatic
with shear walls filled with black coral overhangs populated
with schools of fish and coral-covered reef tops with swim-throughs
draped in colorful soft corals. Within these soft coral
overhangs divers can find some fascinating small critters
such as peeping blennies, dottybacks, gobys and some very
photogenic sea spiders.
The
Eastern Islands are the most remote islands of the
Wakatobi islands group and are consequently the least dived.
Some of these small, palm-covered, low lying islands still
have sea gypsy villages on stilts. Giant overhangs, dramatic
canyons and fabulous drop-offs combined with very clear
water, superb diversity, profuse and healthy coral and rich
fish life make for some wonderful diving.
Karang
Koromaha is an atoll of around 6 kilometers in diameter,
from where it is possible to see Tomia island (where Wakatobi
Dive Resort is located). Deep walls and steep slopes, overhangs
with huge cracks, delicate hanging soft corals and cracks
and crevices rich in invertebrate life make these dives
a delight for photographers and videographers as well as
those who dive armed only with a magnifying glass. Reef
corners in this area attract huge schools of fish. Searchunder
table corals for sweetlips lurking below.
The
large island of Buton , southeast of Sulawesi, has
some very special dive sites with some amazing inhabitants.
Shallow dives of no more than 7 meters hold such marine
‘treasures' as flying gurnards (often in pairs), throngs
of pipefish, ghost pipefish, frogfish in a variety of colors,
juvenile black snappers, marbled snake eels, ‘piles'
of octopus, crabs in every shape, size and color and anemones
galore. Devil scorpionfish, stonefish, cockatoo waspfish,
blue-ringed octopus, are also found in this area. If you
are a macro photographer and can't find inspiring subjects
here, then you maybe should look at another hobby.
 Komodo
Island & Marine Park
Officially
declared a World Heritage Site in 1991, the Komoda Marine
Park encompasses 132,000 hectares of marine waters making
it one of the largest protected zones on the planet. The
number and variety of islands which include Rinca, Padar,
Komodo and several smaller isles, combined with current,
wave action and wind exposure, result in an incredible variety
of coastal and marine habitats, On land there's also the
chance to view and learn more about the legendary Komodo
Dragon !
Alor
Island
The
Alor Island regency, in the far East of Indonesia, comprises
of two main islands Pantar and Alor, as well as a number
of smaller isles. The undeveloped Alor regency is home to
just 2 percent of Indonesia's population. The Alor Straight
is one Indonesia's best kept secrets and a first class,
undiscovered scuba diving region.
The
water's surrounding the Alor regency are extremely rich
with varied reef profiles; walls, seamounts, rocky outcrops,
and pristine coral-reefs. The secret dive site in the Kalibahi
Bay is home to harliquin shrimp, sea horses, ghostpipe fish,
wonderpus, mimic octupus and hairy frogfish.
Sustainable
fishing practices and eco tourism are prevelent in the Alor
Island region and there are no signs of reef destruction.
Opportunities abound to interact with the locals on the
various island who are a traditional seafaring people. Visiblity
is clear, waters warm and the density of divers is minimal,
Alor is perfect tropical scuba diving.
Itinerary
Pelagian
now explores remote destinations throughout Indonesia including
South Sulawesi, Komodo and the Banda Sea. For more information
on the various trip itineraries & prices:
The
Vessel
 The
world class M/Y Pelagian offers top class live-aboard diving
in great style. Originally built as a 115' world ranging
motor yacht, she accommodates twelve guests very comfortably
with tremendous range and sea-keeping abilities. With only
twelve guests on a vessel of this size, and with between
eight and ten crew, there is plenty of room to spread out
and plenty of staff on hand to ensure that your holiday
goes smoothly. Pelagian is air-conditioned throughout and
offers en-suite accommodation (private bathrooms) for twelve
guests in six cabins, ranging from our standard cabin up
to the master stateroom. The comfortable salon has stereo
and video facilities, as well as a comprehensive library,
and there is a separate dining area and a dedicated photo
room for underwater photographic equipment. A large sun
deck offers both sunny and shaded areas for lounging, and
the aft deck serves both as a pleasant place to see the
sun down and as the staging area for our diving activities.
Accommodation
Sun
Deck
Main
Deck with lounge, saloon, galley, cabin 1
Lower
Deck, all other cabins
Standard
Cabins (#4 & 6) Lower deck. Ideal for twin occupancy
and single divers sharing. Private bathroom & port hole.
The smallest of the cabins on board.
Deluxe Cabins (#3 and 5) Lower deck. One double &
one single bed above, iIdeal for double or twin occupancy.
Private bathroom. More spacious than the standard cabin
with plenty of storage space.
Superlux
cabin (#2). Lower Deck. Located at the stern with it's
own staircase access from the saloon. One double and one
single bed. Large private bathroom. Plenty of floor space,
very quiet.
 Master
Suite (#1). Main Deck. A very large cabin with same
level access from saloon. Spacious private bathroom with
separate shower cabin, a long vanity with double mirrors
and a WC. One king size bed. Sofa, lounge chair entertainment
centre with stereo, DVD player and TV. Separate little beauty
room in the front of the cabin.
Diving Services
Pelagian
sports a convenient platform at the stern, with a large,
diver- friendly ladder, though usually it's easier to zip
over to the dive site in one of our two custom designed
5.7 meter (18 foot) rigid-bottomed inflatable tenders. These
boats have centre consoles with attached tank racks, onboard
oxygen, radio communications and terrific rigid ladders.
Nitrox fills are available on board for an additional fee
as are Nitrox certification courses..
Getting
there
Getting
to the Pelagian is easier than ever. For Wakatobi region
cruises, you simply book your flight in to the convenient
international hub of Bali.
Guests booked on cruises departing from Wakatobi can then
board the private charter flight that takes them directly
to Wakatobi Resort's own airport.
For Komodo or other select voyages, a local flight may be
necessary. Some trips departing from Bali require no additional
flights.
Either way, Wakatobi's expertise within Indonesia will help
make your journey a pleasant experience.
Schedules
and prices
|
Independent
