SMY Ondina

SMY Ondina is a classic style Phinisi schooner that is in fact a 21st century motor yacht. Its design is similar to most other Phinisi boats, hand-made in Sulawesi by experts with centuries of experience. Named after mythical water nymphs, Ondina was launched in 2001 with a complete set of safety and navigation equipment and by a team of experienced divers who live for the exploration of Indonesia’s best diving areas. Much of the diving is enjoyed around Komodo & Papua, but there are cruises to all the hidden corners of this remarkable archipelago. Experience in Raja Ampat & Komodo diving is just part of what makes this boat and crew so special.

With the vast amount of experience of the whole team, each trip is unique and the itinerary tailored to suit the needs and requests of the guests on board. Each cruise is a new adventure, sometimes visiting villages whose members may never have seen westerners before, guests helping with the sails, or undiscovered species being seen or even photographed.

The boat has 8 passenger cabins, all of which are normally shared by two guests, but if a child or non-diving guest needs to be a 3rd person in a cabin, that is usually possible. Each cabin has air-conditioning and its own private bathroom with freshwater showers and a hand basin. Communal areas include a large sundeck and outdoor dining area, as well as an air-conditioned dining room / saloon lounge.

The team of staff and crew is experienced and service minded, and can sometimes number as many as there are guests on a trip. Everyone is there to ensure that each moment of the cruise is one to remember. This includes kitchen staff & boat boys, as well as Divemasters and the captain. On some routes there is even a masseuse offering local massages to lucky guests.

The boat was designed by divers, for divers. Using local teak and ironwood, the Sulawesi craftsmen created a well-thought-out vessel that has a large equipment room with personal space for every diver, and rinse tanks, large workbenches & 24-hour electricity for photographers. There are two staircases which lead down to the dinghies, and guests just step in and go diving. The crew will have already transported the heavy gear to the three diving tenders which can effortlessly drop divers off directly above the reef and collect them immediately as soon as they surface. SMY Ondina also has a Nitrox blending membrane for certified divers.

The food served on SMY Ondina is a delicious blend of local and western cuisine, and beer & soft drinks are available for reasonable rates. Guests who want to bring their own wine or liquor on board are welcome to do so.

Prices & Schedule

The itinerary of each SMY Ondina trip is unique, and ever-changing. However, this is far from saying that no planning is involved. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Each trip is set for a particular number of days and nights, and the number of dives is usually 3 per day. That doesn’t mean that each day has three dives, because some have two and others have four. The cruise leader and captain also have a plan for each trip, well in advance. Factors that may cause changes in their planned itinerary are as follows: sea conditions, weather conditions, recent special marine life sightings, dive certification level & experience of the guests, other boats being at a dive site, local government and/or cultural activities.

A typical diving day includes 3 to 4 dives at locations chosen to offer the maximum safety, enjoyment and time underwater for each Ondina guest. Sometimes the boat sails through the night, and at other times through parts of the day. The first day of each cruise is for joining Ondina at lunchtime and taking part in a check dive or two. The final full day aboard usually only has morning dives so that guests can fly soon after they leave the boat the following day.

Below is a list of planned itineraries, and you can also click on 'Show itinerary' on each trip on the schedule.