The Amazing Arenui
Komodo, as a seasoned diver, traveler, and photographer, I expect any liveaboard I book to provide delicious food and the opportunity to dive into the best diving a destination has to offer. With Arenui, my experience far exceeded any imaginable expectations in the amazing adventure on the Komodo Islands.
The excitement was palpable as we transferred from the harbor dock to Arenui. All the guests were excited, as no one could have known how incredible the Arenui experience (Gallery link) would be. From the moment we boarded, everything felt so easy and accommodating.
A gallery on the ocean
Our cabins were ready and waiting for us to settle in and relax. A private tour of Arenui was offered and available on our individual schedule (See video). Walking around her, guests are surrounded by authentic works of art representing the wide and diverse styles from all over Indonesia.
While detailed and stylish wood carvings are found everywhere, be sure not to miss the amazing carvings in the staircase leading to the lower cabins. Many of these hand-carved wood wall panels feature intricate details and depict important stories from the Hindu faith.
The Arenui was built from 7 different types of wood (70% of which was recycled), and its natural beauty makes one feel relaxed and calm. No detail was spared, and splendor can be found in everything from the large handmade dining tables to the custom hinges and handles throughout. In the Sky Lounge area (upper deck), there is a stunning handmade support that resembles a typical Balinese entryway you might see in front of a home.
Each room is spacious and appointed with unique art representing the different provinces of Indonesia. In addition to unique storyboard wood carvings, each room is also adorned with elegant textiles and handicrafts. Each cabin has its own theme, which is reflected in the woven artwork and style of this magnificent private space for guests to relax. Whether in the dining room, the upper deck, or your stateroom, relaxation comes naturally as you drift away amid the Indonesian dreamscape.
Crew outnumber the guests
A decadent ship deserves an even more impeccable crew, and team Arenui does not disappoint. To start with, the 22 serving crew members outnumber the 16 guests. If assistance is needed, whether in the dining room or on the dive deck, someone is always standing by. The crew consistently goes out of their way to ensure the guests are completely pampered and satisfied. All the crew feels like mind-readers, anticipating your needs and desires before you even realize them yourself.
Along with an excellent crew, there is a world-class kitchen ready to accommodate any dietary needs and lifestyle choices. Epic three- and four-course meals are served every day, accommodating all diets, including gluten-free, pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan, and other restrictions. Each meal is custom-made as servers and chefs quickly come to understand each guest’s wishes. In line with their tradition of indulgence, the Arenui serves Michelin-grade meals that far exceed the most demanding culinary desires.
The best diving ever
Everyone knows Indonesia is among the most biologically diverse places on the planet to dive. Diving from Arenui reflects that superbly during the Komodo trip. As each guest came back from each dive to claim, “it was their best dive ever.” The itinerary contained everything from large schools of fish, huge mantas, a variety of sharks, the most vibrant corals, and crazy critters in the muck. The diversity of fish and coral is mind-bending, with sites like Crystal Rock and Castle Rock overwhelming even the most experienced diver. In addition, the dive guides are so in tune with the environment that they can predict animal behavior, ensuring manta ray sightings. The guides also seem to have “bionic eyes” as their ability to spot super small critters is uncanny. It’s not uncommon for each dive to easily include a hundred or more different types of corals, fish, and nudibranchs.
Dive pangas go out with a guide and a group of just four divers at a time, giving everyone plenty of room on the boat and in the water. On the short ride out, guests relax in comfort while a staff member dons their fins. Before getting into the Komodo water, the team helps each diver don their dive kit. After the dive, the team assists divers by removing their weights and gear. They remove your fins underwater, so an easy climb into the boat is all that is required.
The staff never quits serving
When you return from a dive, the boat crew helps you remove your wetsuit and wash your gear while you drink tea or hot chocolate. The gear is then hung to dry and “magically” reappears at your station when it’s time to suit up again.
As with everything on the Arenui, it seems the staff has thought of everything, creating an unparalleled diving experience. In my opinion, this is 5 Diamond service, as Margo and Tom Peyton say. A dive trip on the Arenui is an experience like no other. The food, staff, diving, and boats far exceed the most discerning dive traveler. The quality and authenticity of the experience will undoubtedly satisfy all divers.
I believe that before departing on this trip, each guest contacted Margo and Tom, the owners of Kids Sea Camp, and booked multiple return flights. Arenui was Tom’s find, and it was an amazing one. This was Arenui’s first Kids Sea Camp, and, for obvious reasons, it was for kids aged 14 and up who are certified divers. The coming itinerary with Family Dive Adventures includes Alor, Komodo, Raja Ampat, and the Forgotten Islands. Both empty-nest adult trips and more KSC trips are available.
Arenui is a sure-to-please experience like no other. It’s no wonder these trips are often booked up to two years in advance. I look forward to sharing another incredible Arenui Adventures with families soon.
By Josh Comay
Please go to the photo gallery to see more of the infinite critters and seascapes captured.
This is my third time in Indonesia, and I am impressed again. The reefs are absolutely immaculate. The amount of fish life is tremendous, from pygmy seahorses, Mantas, and sharks to vast schools of fish. The dives are all incredible! The dive briefings were also executed with perfection. The dive maps, dive descriptions, and current checks were spot on. They would send a tender out from the dive site 15 minutes before the briefing to check the current conditions and disability. And that was rechecking on-site immediately before we dove.