Fenides Liveaboard

★ 5 · Nicolle Holm · 2019-11-25

From the moment we pulled up to the Fenides ship to an entire crew cheering for our arrival (something they continued to do all trip), I knew it would be a great trip...and it truly was. From the luxurious mid-deck table where we ate all of our absolutely delicious meals, to the spacious rooms with comfortable beds and the cozy common space to play games and relax, the new Fenides boat is stunning. And the boat was only the icing on top. The diving was top notch. The cruise director, dive guides and entire crew clearly know what they are doing. With day-to-day variability to meet our needs, diving in Raja Ampat was more that we had hoped for. We found frog fish, pygmy squid, denise seahorse and ninja mantas...well our guides did and were quick to point them out to all of us, ha. The guides are well-known local Indonesian dive guides who can truly find whatever you are looking for..and would never be able to find on your own. They cater to divers of all levels (including a beginner diver like myself and my dive master of a sister) and are great at navigating current, night dives and mangroves. With great senses of humour and impressive diving talent, Stoner and Jack made us look forward to each and every dive. The food was so good. With meals that cater to all diets and a chef who is willing to change things up on command and still deliver fine dining worthy meals, we ate like kings. It made a big difference when we were doing up to 4 dives a day and had insatiable appetites. What made this trip so different from others were all the small things that I hope Fenides knows did not go unnoticed. The hot chocolate that was awaiting us with Agun after every night dive, the Cassava chips that Ewan refilled as soon as we made a dent, the nightly bed turn down and the remembering of all of our preferences. It got to the point were Ewan knew exactly how much cream and sugar I liked in my coffee and that I liked to have it before I said my first words. The crew were all kind, approachable, fun and hardworking. They did a perfect job dividing the dive groups, the dive briefings were succinct yet thorough and the gear was immaculate. When I didn't think I could handle the heat of a wetsuit, Dom the cruise director lent me his tights (both a blessing and a curse once you see the kind of tights this guy wears), and when I told him that I wanted to see a full moon, he almost delivered. Dom (cruise director) is something special. Really. With a sense of humour that rivals most, he kept things light and fun. He was quick to pick up on what kind of diving needs people had, and catered to make sure all people's needs were being met. He even tolerated my incessant need for board games and pretended to enjoy my company most of the time - he deserves a medal for that. The cruise director can make or break a liveaboard and Dom being at the heart of the crew, the operations and the diving is a huge part of the Fenides amazing experience. It was clear to us all that Dom and Moritz, the boat owners, have put their many years of experience into addressing all the small details that made this trip a trip of a lifetime. Thank you for everything!