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Misool Eco Resort - Revisited

Raja Ampat

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#1 ScubaTex

ScubaTex

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Posted 14 November 2018 - 10:47 AM

   I first visited Misool Eco Resort (MER), soon after it's opening, October 2008 (Please see previous Trip Report post). Then, there were 8 water cottages (on the lagoon), 2 bungalows, (up the hill over looking what today is called South Beach), and a villa in the final stage of completion (occupied by the owners). Today, there are; two additional water cottages (on the north shore), 3 villas, and 4 bungalows with ocean view of South Beach (the original bungalows are now housing for management). The bungalows at S. Beach may be reached by water taxi, unless it's low tide, then you must walk the path over the hill, exiting next to the dining area. The all water cottages, and ocean front villas have steps leading from the lanai directly into the lagoon or ocean, for snorkeling or diving (except for low tide). The lagoon is full of marine life; turtles, octopus, eels, black tip sharks, even walking sharks at night.

   Here's the daily schedule:

     0630 'mini' breakfast - continental - homemade (all food is prepared onsite) muslix, yogurt, fruit, toast          (no fancy electric toaster, but an Indo style, charcoal fired hibachi)

     0800 first dive

     0830 first snorkel

     1000 big breakfast

     1100 second dive

     1300 lunch

     1500 second snorkel

     1700 tea time

     1745 dusk dive (on North Shore)

     1845 night dive

     1900 dinner

   Additional activities include; stand up paddle boards, kayaks, excursions to a village on Misool, private beach time, and a possible fish feed, where the remains of fileted fish are fed at the pier (do not miss this). The complete list of activities and the schedule is posted on a white board, on the door to the dive center.

   Dives are limited to 60 minutes!!! At dinner, a dive guide will visit with each table, with a white board with the next days dive/snorkel schedule, will describe the sites and ask what dives you wish to make. 8 divers are assigned to each boat, along with 2 dive guides. Dive briefings are made in the dive center, on one of 2 whiteboards, or a color monitor. Transit to dive sites are generally not longer than 20-25 minutes, dive boats are equipped w/200hp outboards. There are morning 2 tank dives, which are longer, but you will be well fed on your surface interval. Dive packages are sold separately from accommodations, dependent upon your length of stay, 7, 10, 12 days.

   For me, the water cottages #1-8 are the place to stay, located on the lagoon. Cottages #1-5 face WNW, and receive the afternoon sun, #3 shaded from 1630, #4 shaded from 1700, #2 shaded from 1730. Cottage #1 receives sun almost until sunset, but doesn't have a view of sunset. Water cottages #6-8 face NNE (toward Whale & Nudi Rocks), cannot view sunrise, but have the best view of it. Water cottages #9 & 10 are on the north shore, with access to the house reef. The resort has 24 hour power, provided by a solar system and diesel generator. The generator has been relocated away from the resort, along with compressor, for filling tanks. The facility that previously housed these operations is currently being remodeled, to expand the dive center. No need to worry about hot water, each accommodation has its own 48 gallon solar water heater, which delivers hot water morning, noon, and night, to your 'Bali' shower.

   Meals are served in the open air dining room and the veranda just outside. The dining room has tables (made from drift wood, as is the resort) for 6 & 8. Outside, there's one table for 6, several 4's & 2's. For special occasions, you can arrange to have dinner served in your cottage. The dinner menu for the following evening will be presented after dinner by a server, who will record your preference of 1 of 2 options, or order from a limited alternative menu. All meals are Indo style meals. 'Big' breakfast is a challenge, return from the first dive around 0930, wash off, order & eat breakfast, the next dive is 1100. Lunch is served family style, but the alternative menu is available for order.

   The peaceful serenity of the resort, and its ambience of intimacy, is what makes it special. In my opinion, a crowd of WOO-HOO/HOO-RAH types would be out of place at MER. I didn't go here to be pumped up - I came to relax and dive, which you can enjoy in abundance. If you're interested, here's the link to Misool Eco Resort.

 

Bill aka ScubaTex


  • Resqdew and jesterdiver like this

Time on earth is precious, time underwater even more so. Live life one day at a time. Dive your @$$ off!!!






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