Komodo Liveaboard Sail & Scuba

This trip begins on Flores Island on the Eastern end of Komodo National Park. After a couple days to explore this unique island and de-jetlag, the liveaboard portion of the trip begins. For the next nine days, trip members live on a boat travelling around the many islands of Komodo National Park. With some of the richest biodiversity of the planet, and legendary bucket list dive sites, you’ll scuba dive up to four times a day while learning about the habitat and species you encounter. The trip includes a day on Komodo Island where you can get beautiful pictures of ugly dragons. Trip leaders will instruct all trip members in relaxation and breathing techniques of freediving and your final day living on the boat will be spent practicing your new freedive skills in the water. Trips conclude back on Flores where you’ll hike to waterfalls, and explore the island before heading home.

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Komodo, Indonesia

Dates

Group Size

Tuition

2 Week Trips
April to October

10-20 Student
2-4 Trip Leaders/Chaperones
Max 8:1 Student/Adult

$4575

(Not Including Airfare)

Early Bird & Group

Discounts Available

THE TRIP AT A GLANCE

Komodo National Park

Initially established to protect its namesake dragon, it is lesser know that Komodo National Park encompasses 29 islands and is a massive protected marine sanctuary. Part of the coral triangle, Komodo boasts incredible biodiversity in electric blue clear waters. Komodo is also known for its drift dives, where currents flowing between islands allow scuba dives to effortlessly drift through the ocean passing technicolor reefs and countless species both large and small. It’s sort of like underwater slow motion squirrel suit flying but with all sorts of stuff flying all around you. The uninhabited islands of the national park offer great sunset hikes, and serene backdrops while on the boat.

What you’ll see in Komodo

Sea turtles, white and black tipped reef sharks, all sorts of rays from 1ft diameter to 18ft wide manta rays, colorful variety of nudibranchs, small fishies hanging out in corals, up to massive schools of fish big and small all make these reefs their home. There’s also all variety of corals and trip members learn about coral preservation and restoration for several days while on the boat.

Liveaboard Sail/Scuba

Spending your days living on a sailboat in the ocean, floating across crystal clear blue waters is an incredible experience. Add to this, daily scuba diving amidst astounding biodiversity while learning about the habitats you’re visiting, and you have the trip of a lifetime.

Flores Island

After your time at sea, take time to marvel at some of the wonders of Flores Island. Here, you can swim in pristine lakes and waterfalls, go kayaking among craggy coasts and mangrove shores, explore mysterious caves and be warmly welcomed by the island’s people in their rituals, dances and daily life.

Science Based Scuba

For students certified in scuba diving and passionate about the ocean, this trip provides the chance to dive to your heart's content while learning marine ecology and conservation methodology. For those interested in pursuing careers focused on marine life, nature, and conservation, this trip affords the opportunity to take science out of the classroom and into crystal clear waters of Indonesia, brimming with life.

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FAQ

We get a lot of little questions from parents and students throughout the year, especially leading up to trips. Here you can find answers to the questions we see most often. If you can't find what you need here, feel free to reach out to us by email or phone

Trip Tuition:

$4,575 (Group and early bird discounts available)

Trip Tuition Covers:

• Accommodations
• Most Meals (We occasionally encourage trip members to explore local restaurants)

• Local transportation

• Project planning, materials, and management
• Adventure Activities
• Travelers medical, emergency and evacuation insurance
• Local and International trip leaders

Trip Tuition Does not Cover:
• International airfare (trip leaders can help select and arrange airfare for groups)
• Local shopping
• Additional sightseeing activities

• Tourist visa

Passport:

If you do not have, or have not applied for your passport and are planning to join a trip, sooner than later is best. Passport delivery since 2020 has taken as long as several months to receive. You can order a passport at your local post office. Standard service (is supposed to) take 4-6 weeks, while expedited service is much faster but also more expensive. If you already have your passport it must have at least 6 months of validity from the day you arrive in Bali or it needs to be renewed. If you do not have 6 months of passport validity you will be refused entry to Indonesia.

Bali Tourist Visa:

All trip participants must bring $40 cash to purchase a one-month tourist visa on arrival in Bali.

Accommodations:
All accommodations in Bali are locally owned and clean yet modest. Upon arrival in Bali we will stay a couple of nights in Sanur. On Flores Island, students stay in the beachside, and poolside eco-resort of Seaesta (https://seaestakomodo.com). Finally, we board an incredible, pirate ship-inspired, liveaboard sailboat for several days and nights.. At all accommodations, students will sleep 2 to 8 people per room. Roommates will be arranged based on your preferences, vendor policies, and in consultation with chaperones and Padma staff.

Electronics:
There is little time for playing on screens during a Padma trip. That being said, be sure to have a camera or phone to take pictures throughout the trip. Feel free to bring GoPros and camera drones if you want. With a simple power converter (ask the omniscient Google for options) all US chargers can be used on your trip. Trip leaders will have local cellphones for your use if needed and to communicate with families back home. Smartphone apps such as WhatsApp, and WeChat offer free international voice messaging, and calling from anywhere with internet access. Trip leaders' and chaperones' primary international means of communication is through WhatsApp.

Meals & Water
Most meals are eaten together at reputable restaurants, or prepared by chefs at our accommodations. A special focus on hygienic, nutrient rich, and clean food is our goal to help avoid any gastrointestinal issue during the trip. We are careful to provide, and remind trip members to only drink, clean water. With abundant activity and the often humid and warm locations of our trips, it is important to drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration. Although we strive to provide ample food, many trip members also bring snacks from home. There are also opportunities for trip members to explore local restaurants on their own.

Alcohol & Drugs
Padma maintains a zero tolerance policy on illicit drug use, and it will not be tolerated. Depending on the severity of the incident, trip members may be immediately expelled from the trip at their family's expense. In many countries and areas we travel, trip members are legally allowed to drink alcohol. On such trips, trip members are allowed to drink alcohol responsibly unless parents/guardians inform us otherwise. No drunkenness, inappropriate, or disrespectful behavior is allowed and if it occurs, trip members may lose privileges or be sent home if Padma trip leaders conclude the situation warrants expulsion.

Disciplinary Policy:
Padma Organization reserves the right to expel any trip participant from the trip at Padma trip leaders' discretion. This trip is not a party. Padma trips are intended as an opportunity for students to serve others while representing themselves, their school, Padma, and the United States as cultural ambassadors. Any behavior that disrupts this purpose, brings danger to themselves, or other trip members, along with any illegal activity are not allowed. The family of any student expelled from the trip is responsible for all costs to bring their student home. A first warning and removal of privileges will be given for minor offences, while larger incidents may result in immediate trip expulsion.

The itinerary below is a sample. Each trip itinerary may look a little different depending on variables such as the the cost and arrival date of flights at the time of purchase. Itinerary may also change or be adjusted based on group interest and themes. Trip members will receive an itinerary specific to their trip after flights have been booked.

Day 1: Depart your stateside airport and fly to Bali, Indonesia!

Day 2-3: Arrive in Sanur to unwind, recover, and enjoy a little surfing or kite surfing.

Day 4: Fly to Flores Island. Spend the evening exploring the island, and enjoying the sunset atop the deck at Seaesta Resort.

Day 5: Board the sailboat to enter Komodo National Park. The group will have their first scuba dive this day to assess individual skills.

Day 6-11: Sail across the many islands of the 1,700 square mile protected seas of the park. You will learn about and dive in some of the most biodiverse and clear waters on the planet. This area is famous for its drift dives, where you flow with underwater currents amidst technicolor reef systems. Like flying through an other worldly dreamscape, you’re sure to remember these experiences forever. While aboard the ship, you’ll witness the evening migration of tens of thousands of fruit bats, spend a day on Komodo Island hanging out with the dragons, and hike atop peaks on uninhabited islands to catch incredible sunsets.
Day 11: Disembark back on Flores Island to decompress from your adventure back at Seaesta Resort. Swim in the pool, eat great food with fun music, and have a bit of R&R.

Day 12: Head into the jungles of the island to hike to waterfalls, get to know the locals, and swim in pristine rainforest pools.

Day 13: Head back to the airport to board the flight back home.

Day 14: Arrive home, parting ways with all your new friends, but carrying with you a lifetime of memories, incredible stories, and pictures to share with family.

Medical Considerations

Medical staff are part of every trip. Based on the medical forms submitted as part of each trip member's application, a Padma medical staff member will contact every participant who may require an individualized medical plan. Each student is provided travelers medical, emergency, and evacuation insurance. Any medical, psychological or physical conditions that might impact a student's trip participation must be communicated to your Padma trip leadership before your trip. Prescription medications must be brought with you as availability is not guaranteed during trips. Trip members must be capable of administering their own prescriptions/medication without the help or supervision of Padma staff or other adults. If you wish to purchase international medical insurance to cover any additional costs in the event of an emergency, contact your Padma trip leader for recommendations. Here are a few:

World Nomads
Allianz
AIG Travel Guard

Vaccinations:

There are currently no required vaccines to travel to Bali and it is up to parents and students to decide what vaccines to get. We recommend consulting the CDC website for suggestions on vaccines and details on additional travel information on Bali. Here is a link to the CDC's Indonesia travel information: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/indonesia

Recommended for all trip members:

To be up-to-date on COVID vaccinations and routine vaccines such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.

Trip members can cancel for any reason up to sixty (60) days before their trip, and receive a 50% refund of all paid tuition, less the $200 non-refundable deposit. Cancellations made less than 60 days prior to the trip cannot be guaranteed a refund. In case trip members are unable to join a trip due to medical or emergency related reasons, a full refund may be considered at the discretion of Padma staff. If trips must be canceled due to unexpected travel restrictions, or for any reason such as a natural disaster, social unrest, etc., full refunds will be offered, pending refunds from trip partner companies and organizations, contractors, and third party vendors.

Water Safety:

During your trip, there will be opportunities to swim, snorkel, scuba dive, and surf in the ocean, or swim in rivers and lakes. Currents, sudden depth changes, riptides, large waves, sharp reefs, stings and bites are some of the inherent risks we will face. Trip participants are never to swim alone and careful consideration of individual swimming ability and experience must always be considered.

Minimum Eligibility Criteria:

This includes outdoor and/or physically strenuous activities in various environments including extensive dive times and boat time. Trip members must be SCUBA certified prior to this trip, and be able to tolerate long periods of time on a boat without severe motion sickness. Under instruction, trip members must also be cable of carrying and handling not only their own SCUBA equipment, but equipment required for the specific certification/trainings, and be capable of completing or participating in the specific activities of this trip.