Frequently Asked Questions
Maldives
All guests must have a passport valid for at least six more months from the date of arrival. 30- day tourist visas are issued on arrival at the immigration desk at Maldives International Airport for all nationalities and are free of charge. All visitors must have a return/onward flight ticket. 96 hours before entry, complete the Maldives online Traveller Declaration form - https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/traveller. Photograph the QR code and show it upon request.
Upon arrival on the day of the safari start, guests will be met by an Eco Pro Divers staff member no earlier than 9.00 am in front of the arrival exit door, after baggage claim, at the international airport - easily recognizable by a sign reading "Eco Pro Divers" and boat name.
The earliest transfer to the boats is around 12 pm noon. Later arrivals will be received at the same place according to the flight time. Waiting times may occur as group transfers are prioritized. There will be another group transfer around 4 pm depending on guest arrivals.
Extra transfers are chargeable (15$US per person).
ATTENTION: For special routes with a different arrival port than Male, guests will be met at the respective domestic airport (Gan or Kooddoo) and not in Male. We ask you to independently walk to the domestic airport and check in for your onward flight.
In case of need, we can be reached at the following phone numbers:
Anna (Guestcare Manager) +960 7644995
Djoana (Reservations) +960 7533615
You can book them directly at the website https://maldivian.aero/ or email cc@iasl.aero.
We do require all divers to have valid insurance that covers diving accidents. Proof of this have to be presented to the dive guides at check-in.
We assume no liability and take over e.g. pressure chamber and transport costs.
On the day of arrival and departure, there are no dives, per week, there are about 16-17 dives (2-3 per day). On the day before departure, there will be one dive in the morning.
At approximately 12 noon that day, the boat returns to the harbour.
Divers must ensure the 24-hour interval between their last dive and their flight departure (or going to altitude). For all diving sites visited en route, our dive guides will give you a detailed and comprehensive dive briefing before you enter the water. All divers must dive in buddy teams - individual divers will be assigned a buddy on board. As qualified divers, our guests are responsible for their own safety and that of their buddy during the dive, as well as dive planning and execution. Each diver must have their own dive computer. Dives must begin, execute and end with the dive buddy. You are expected to be able to dive to a standard as per the certification and experience requirements outlined for each itinerary and, as such, able to complete the dive with your buddy or by following the dive guide.
The guides may decide, based on each diver's ability, not to enter the water for every dive and will remain onboard, providing surface support only.
The maximum depth for diving in the Maldives is 30 metres with an equally qualified buddy. Your maximum diving depth will be dependent on your certification and the experience of both buddies. It is your responsibility to check what depths your insurance policy covers you before your arrival.
Decompression diving, solo diving and technical diving are strictly prohibited.
We offer a range of courses on board, from beginner to a range of specialty courses. Courses are subject to availability and itinerary and include course materials (where required) and certification fee. If arranged on board, a 10% service tax will be added. Courses have to be requested before the trip starts.
We recommend the following diving equipment: Mask, snorkel, fins, boots, wetsuit, regulator, BCD, SMB (with a minimum of 5 metres of line to deploy during the safety stop), reef hook and a dive computer with spare batteries and a torch for any night dives.
The average water temperature is 29°C, and we recommend a 3mm wetsuit.
Rental equipment is available on a limited basis. Rental equipment must be requested before the trip, and we require information on suit size, weight, height and shoe size to prepare the correctly sized equipment for you.
All divers are required to use a dive computer and SMB and carry reef hooks for every dive and a torch for night dives throughout their safari experience for safety reasons. Please bring your own or ask us what is available on board. You are not allowed to use gloves!
We have 12l DIN tanks and INT adapters available on board. 15l Tanks are available for rent with a rental fee and only on request.
We offer Nitrox, subject to demand and availability. And it is extra charged. Nitrox cannot be guaranteed, and in case of no availability due to technical issues, it´s not refundable.
Guests can purchase Dhiraagu or Ooredoo sim cards for data/internet at Velaana International Airport. Please ask our airport representative on arrival if you wish to buy one.
All cabins accommodate two guests, either in a double-bed cabin or a twin-bed cabin. Cabins are pre-sold and allocated before arrival. All cabins are air-conditioned and have private showers/toilet. It is not necessary to bring towels, as shower and beach towels are provided.
All bathrooms are equipped with a shower, sink and toilet. Please take extra care in the bathroom not to slip, and close the shower curtain and door when using the shower. Placing toilet paper down any toilet on-board is not acceptable. This not only risks blocking the system, but it also finds its way into the delicate reef systems, causing irreparable damage. Wastepaper bins are provided in all bathrooms and are emptied regularly.
We provide ecological shampoo and shower gel. Also, you will get towels, so it is not necessary to bring them with you.
The meals on board are usually buffet style with a variety of dishes to suit everyone. Water, tea and coffee are complimentary. Soft drinks, fresh juices and alcohol (cocktails, liquors, wine and beer) are available for an additional charge.
For any special dietary requests, such as vegetarian or any allergies, please inform us before arrival.
Importing of alcoholic beverages is prohibited by law. Bottles containing alcoholic beverages will be confiscated at Customs upon arrival. Alcohol is available to purchase on board.
Guests will not be permitted to dive after consuming alcohol or under the influence of a hangover as this seriously impairs your judgment and increases your risk of decompression sickness. If the guides deem that you are unfit to dive, you will be asked to sit out the dive. Your safety and well-being are paramount, so this request by the dive guides will only be made to avoid accidents.
Whilst you may be advised where to store your luggage, you leave your belongings there at your own risk. Due to a lack of staff and logistics problems at airports, there are currently more and more delayed luggage. We therefore recommend that you take important items in your hand luggage.
The crew tips will be shared among the entire crew at the end of the trip, and a tip box will be provided. We recommend a min. of 15$US per night
All prices are in US dollars when on board, but we accept in cash €, MVR and US dollars. Please understand that we have to deduct around 0,05ct from the published online exchange rate. Credit card payment is possible and is subject to 4% bank fees. Please bring enough cash with you to be able to pay your bills.
TGST (equivalent to VAT) is included in the prices. The government charges a Green tax of 12 USD per day. This has to be paid onboard. Any equipment rental, special tank requests and onboard purchases paid locally will be subject to a 10% service charge.
The boat has 110/120V AC and 220/240V, 3 Pin Sockets UK.
We do not accept liability for any damage caused by AC voltage.
Especially we in the Maldives, where more than 90% of the products are imported, are not spared from the extremely rising prices. As the bad €/$ exchange rate has already made the holiday much more expensive, we do not want to raise the prices directly, but we are forced to charge a fuel surcharge at the moment. We will regularly adjust this to the actual fuel prices in the Maldives and hope to be able to cancel it again soon.
In the last few months, fuel prices have risen by 40%.
We are currently charging 105$ for a 7-night safari, 150$ for 10 nights, 165$ for 11 nights and 210$ for 14 nights, the surcharge can be paid on board.
We are incredibly sorry for this situation, but we ask for your understanding that we have to cap our costs here. We thank you in advance for your understanding.
If you have never been on a liveaboard before, then expect a few adjustments from normal life to enjoy your week. Please keep in mind that you are in a foreign country with a foreign culture.
If you experience any problems during the week, please ensure that these are raised with the dive guides as soon as practically possible. The guides and the boat manager will always try their best to solve them. Even with the best will in the world, unspoken difficulties cannot be solved, so please contact us with any concerns. However, if something remains unresolved, make sure you raise it with the Boat Manager at the end of your week.
The rooms must be free at 7 am on departure day. Transfer to the airport from the boat is between 7 am and 8 am. (Group transfer). The latest check out is 8 am (extra transfer of 15 USD per person)
You arrive early or even a day earlier, you have a late flight on departure day?
Here we have some tips for you on what to do: Extend your holiday - Full day in a resort Crossroads Maldives - https://crossroadsmaldives.com/, return transfers are around 20$US and worth it to spend or spend your time in Hulhumale, that´s the local island where the boats park in the lagoon.
-Personal clothing & toiletries
-Ear plugs are recommended if you are a light sleeper
-Water-proof bags to store electronic items (land camera, passports) in case of water damage whilst on board
-Note: Hard suitcases are hard to store onboard, so please use roll-up/collapsible style bags where possible
-Logbook with your most recent dives in
-Valid diving association certification proof
-Valid travel insurance
-A copy of valid diving insurance details per person, stating the start and ending date of the diving cover with the exact diving insurance covered by the policy.
-medical first aid box & prescription medicines
-Dive equipment
-Spares
KOMODO INDONESIA
All guests must have a passport valid for at least six more months from the date of arrival. 30 day tourist visas are issued on arrival at the immigration desk at any Indonesian international airport for all nationalities and have a cost of 500,000 IDR or its equivalent in USD or EUR.
Alternatively, it is possible to apply for the tourist visa online creating an account and paying in advanced using the official government website molina.imigrasi.go.id.
All visitors must be in possession of a return/onward flight ticket. 24 hours prior to entry, complete the electronic custom application at ecd.beacukai.go.id, photograph the QR code and show upon request.
Please, consider enough time in between your international flight landing in Bali or Jakarta and your domestic flight to Labuan Bajo, taking in account possible delays. Upon arrival on the day of safari start, guests will be met by an EcoPro Divers staff member at their fight arrival time in front of the arrival exit door, after baggage claim, at Komodo airport in Labuan Bajo - easily recognizable by a sign reading "EcoPro Divers" or “EcoPro Duyung Baru”. Our staff will then bring you to the boat for check in.
For guests already staying at a hotel in Labuan Bajo, the meeting point will be at the harbour KP3 jetty
at 11 am.
Please allow us to coordinate all arrivals in the best way and eventually accept a very little waiting time.
IMPORTANT: Latest check in will be 12 pm
In case of need we can be reached at the following phone numbers Office Manager +62 813 37323616
Boat / Mr. Leksi +62 812 37671156
We do require all divers to have valid insurance that covers diving accidents. Proof of this have to be presented to the dive guides at check-in.
We assume no liability and take over e.g. pressure chamber and transport costs. The closest chamber is located in Labuan Bajo at the Siloam Hospital
We do require all divers to have valid insurance that covers diving accidents. Proof of this have to be presented to the dive guides at check-in.
We assume no liability and take over e.g. pressure chamber and transport costs. The closest chamber is located in Labuan Bajo at the Siloam Hospital
On the day of arrival and departure there are no dives, and on the Marine Park days we do 3 dives. On the day before departure there will be one or two dives in the morning.
In the afternoon that day the boat returns to the harbour. Divers must ensure that they leave a minimum of 24 hours between their last dive and their flight departure (or going to altitude).
For all diving sites visited en route our dive guides will give you a detailed and comprehensive dive briefing before you enter the water.
All dives will be guided, it is not allowed anywhere in Komodo National Park to dive unguided in buddy teams.
Within the diving groups led by a diving guide, all divers will be assigned a buddy. As qualified divers, our guests are responsible for their own safety and that of their buddy during the dive, as well as following the dive planning and execution, and staying always with the group. Each diver must have their own dive computer. Dives must begin, carry out and end with the group. You are expected to be able to dive to a standard as per the certification and experience requirements outlined for each itinerary and as such able to complete the dive with your buddy and following the dive guide.
Your maximum diving depth will be dependent on your certification and experience of both buddies. It is your responsibility to check what depths your insurance policy covers you for before your arrival. Decompression diving, solo diving and technical diving is strictly prohibited.
We offer a range of courses on-board, from advanced to a wide range of specialty courses. Courses are subject to availability and itinerary and include course materials (where required) and certification fee. If arranged on-board a 10% service tax will be added.
Courses have to be requested before trip start.
We recommend the following diving equipment:
Mask, snorkel, fins, boots, wetsuit, regulator, Reefhook, BCD, SMB (with a minimum of 5 metres of line to deploy during the safety stop) and a dive computer with spare batteries and a torch for any night dives.
The average water temperature is 27°C but we can experience cold currents and we recommend a 5mm wetsuit.
Rental equipment is available on a limited basis. Rental equipment must be requested prior to the trip and we require information on suit size, weight, height and shoe size in order to prepare the correctly sized equipment for you.
All divers are required to use a dive computer, SMB and carry reef hooks for every dive and a torch for night dives throughout their safari experience for safety reasons. Please bring your own or ask us what is available on-board.
You are not allowed to use gloves!
We have 12l DIN tanks and INT adapters available on-board. 15l Tanks are available for rent with a rental fee and only on request.
We offer Nitrox, in subject to demand and availability. And is extra charged. Nitrox can not be guaranteed and in case of no availability due to technical issues, it´s not refundable.
It is possible to get a local simcard for data/internet, calls or messages at the arrival area in any airport in Indonesia showing your passport. It is inexpensive and will give you very good reception in most parts of Komodo National Park, especially in the Central area (some locations of the North and South of the park don´t have coverage). Signal strength can vary depending on the exact location and the weather, which may result in intermittent and/or slow connections.
All the cabins accommodate two guests. In the lower deck two cabins are equipped with a double bed and one with twin beds. On the maindeck we have the SeaView cabin with double or twin beds.
Cabins are pre-sold and allocated prior to arrival. All cabins are air conditioned and have private shower/toilet. It is not necessary to bring towels, as shower and beach towels are provided.
All bathrooms are equipped with a shower, sink and toilet. Please take extra care in the bathroom not to slip and close the shower curtain and door when using the shower.
Placing toilet paper in any onboard toilet is deemed unacceptable, as it poses a risk of system blockages and potential harm to delicate reef ecosystems. Waste paper bins are readily available in all bathrooms and are routinely emptied for proper disposal.
We offer environmentally friendly shampoo and shower gel, along with complimentary towels to alleviate the need for guests to bring their own.
The meals on-board are usually buffet style with a variety of dishes to suit everyone.
Water, tea and coffee are complimentary. Soft drinks, fresh juices and alcohol (cocktails, liquors, wine and beer) are available for an additional charge.
For any special dietary requests, such as vegetarian or any allergies, please inform us prior to arrival.
Alcohol is available to purchase on board.
Guests will not be permitted to dive after consuming alcohol or under the influence of a hangover as. this seriously impairs your judgment and increases your risk of decompression sickness. If the guides deem that you are unfit to dive you will be asked to skip the dive. Your safety and well-being are paramount so this request by the dive guides will only be made to avoid accidents.
The crew tips will be shared among the entire service crew at the end of the trip and a tip box will be provided. We recommend a minimum of US$15 per night.
All prices on board are quoted in US dollars; however, we also accept cash payments in EUR, Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), and US dollars.
Kindly ensure you have sufficient cash on hand to settle your expenses.
Taxes are encompassed within the prices. Any equipment rentals, special tank requests, and onboard purchases paid locally will be subject to a 10% service charge.
Additionally, Komodo National Park requires a harbor and national park fee of $36 per person per night.
Standard 230V, European sockets (type C and F)
We do not accept liability for any damage caused by AC voltage.
If you have never been on a liveaboard before, then expect a few adjustments from normal life to enjoy your week. Please keep in mind that you are in a foreign country with a foreign culture.
If you experience any problems during the week, please ensure that these are raised with the dive guides as soon as it is practically possible. The guides and the boat manager will always try their best to solve them.
Even with the best will in the world, unspoken difficulties cannot be solved - so please contact us with any concerns.
However, if something remains unresolved make sure you raise it with the Boat Manager at the end of your week.
The checkout time on the departure date is 11 am latest. Your cabins need to be free by this time.
The immediate transfers from the boat to the airport, hotel, restaurant, or spa are scheduled accordingly as a group transfer, with an additional transfer option available at a fee of 15 USD per person.
Due to revised insurance policies by DAN, it is essential to notify all divers aged 75 years or above that they are required to present a medical certification from a physician with expertise in diving.
The certificate should mention your fitness to dive – your current health conditions.
The medical certificate has to be sent to EcoPro Divers by e-mail in order to being able to clear your diving activities with DAN, so that we can clarify the insurance criteria in advance for our clients.
Please do not forget to indicate the boat and the trip date!
No diving activities will be possible until DAN has cleared the respective person for diving.
Please send the details to info@ecoprodivers.com so that we can request clearance to participate in diving activities from DAN prior to arrival.
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Personal clothing and toiletries
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Consider bringing earplugs for light sleepers
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Waterproof bags for safeguarding electronic devices (e.g., camera, passports) against water damage during the voyage
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Note: hard-top suitcases are challenging to store onboard; please use foldable bags when possible
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Logbook documenting your recent dives
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Proof of valid diving association certification
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Valid travel insurance coverage
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Each individual must possess a copy of their diving insurance details, translated into English if necessary, indicating the policy's start and end dates along with the specific diving coverage provided. Failure to present this documentation will necessitate the purchase of local diving insurance before engaging in diving activities
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Essential medical first aid kit and prescribed medications.
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