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Indonesia
Started by thomas at 11-09-2006 3:33 PM. Topic has 3 replies.
  
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 11-09-2006, 3:33 PM
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thomas
Joined on:11-09-2006
Posts 1
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![Angry [:@]](/CS/emoticons/emotion-12.gif)
Sangalaki Dive Lodge, The Worst Ever
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In October 2006 my wife and I stayed in the Sangalaki Dive Lodge. We have booked our holiday through “Borneo Legends, Myths & Tours Sdn Bhd”.
1. Arrival in Berau
Against prior confirmation, there was no representative of “Borneo Legends” or “Sangalaki Dive Lodge” to meet us at the airport in Berau. Other travel agents contacted “Mr. Tonton” of “Sangalaki Dive Lodge” who then passed the message that he was late. He seemed not too keen and informed us that we would have to wait anyway for other guests arriving later (they were suppose to arrive on the same flight but flight reservation was messed up).
2. Boat Trip from Berau to Sangalaki
Mr. Tonton attempted to charge 700 USD for the return trip (to be paid in advance). Upon pointing out that we had received an e-mail quote he agreed to 600USD:
“Also, for the boat charter, will arrange for you. Anyway, on that day, we have a couple and single person coming in apart of you. So, would arrange a big boat for all of you with price USD600 return. Or if you prefer to charter own small boat at USD350 return, we will arrange for you.”.
The other couple experienced the same attempt and rip-off. The “Big Boat” turned out to be a local charter (boat owner received 250 USD return) that would not meet minimum safety standards. The expected “Sangalaki Dive Lodge” boat was broken down. The price listed in the Resort office was 450 USD.
3. Resort Management
There is no Management in the Resort!!!
Friends who had arrived two days earlier greeted us on the island. They had made an effort to arrange the minimum (water, electricity, etc.). There was not a single person in the resort who would give a damn.
Sorry, there was one. The temporary dive guide hired from another resort helped as much as he could.
4. Facilities
As there was no management in existence
• guest facilities were occupied by staff (TV room, Bar)
• we ran out of fresh water
• after some hefty shouting buckets of mucky water were supplied
• we ran out of sea water (yes, it is true)
• water heating was random
• electric installations receive no maintenance and appeared life threatening
• food and drink supply was stretched
• air conditioning, never mind
5. House keeping
This place is filthy. During the entire stay the rooms received no cleaning. Dead geckos would be removed by ants or by us. Gecko droppings remained all over the place. The bar fridge is below sub-standard (only the brave could stand the fish odor from the fridge). Hygiene is unknown in this place.
6. Food and Drink
The cooking was very basic in the beginning but ok. After a few days the lack of supply started to effect quality. It looked like we had to share food with the staff. We definitely shared the drinks especially the beer.
7. Diving
The good news is that the dive sites are beyond Sangalaki Dive Lodge’s management capacities. Yet, the dive guide (not dive master as we believed but open water diver) took us into a decompression dive. The lack of maintenance and spare parts grounded the dive boats except one that had to be shared by 9 adults and 3 kids. The boat was very crowded at times and the coordination of where to go was messy. Out of the blue the diving was threatened by the lack of personnel to operate the air compressor and to refill the tanks. After guest’s uproar and an attempt to do it ourselves a former resort employee (now with the WWF turtle station) was found to operate the compressor.
8. Departure
Five of the guests had booked their return flights to Balikpapan and Singapore through the resort or its agent. Doubts initiated by varying statements received from Mr. Tonton were finally confirmed justified. There were no bookings and no tickets. All of us had enough and we decided to leave one day early. Seven guest and luggage squeezed into the “Big Boat” for which all of us had paid 1300 USD return.
The guests without flight reservation were told to go by car (3½ hours) and boat (1½ hours) to Tanakan from where they would catch a flight to Balikpapan. As there was no chance to leave from Berau they were left with no choice but to try. Against all odds they made it back home.
9. Conclusion
“Explore all other options first”
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03-21-2008, 9:23 AM
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JPS
Joined on:02-03-2008
Posts 4
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Sangalaki Dive Lodge-Revamped !!
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Hi Thomas
Your encounters at Sangalaki in 2006 are indeed deplorable. It's a shame it wasn't closed a lot earlier!
Anyway, after 2 years closure, I have become involved as the managing partner with my wife Caroline. I'm a PADI Course Director and have spent the last 12 years establishing & developing diving in Vietnam; maybe you've heard of Rainbow Divers?
As I mention in another posting, I know how difficult it is to get a good reputation and also how easy it is to lose it. I can't change what has happened in the past but can ensure that similar situations don't reoccur.
After considerable rebuilding & renovations, we have reopened the dive lodge. Satisfied guests seem to confirm that what we have done and how we now do it, is working!
If you or any other readers would like further information, please contact me directly at jeremy @ sangalaki.net
Jeremy P. Stein
Sangalaki Dive Lodge - Borneo
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06-30-2008, 1:19 AM
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stinger
Joined on:06-29-2008
Posts 1
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Re: Sangalaki Dive Lodge-Revamped !!
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Hi
We have just come back from Sangalaki lodge in a group of eight. It was a happy vacation. We have never imagined that we can charter that island. Jeremy run the resort in a very private approach and good standard, not matter in diving arrangement and accommodate.
My wife really like the room with sea breeze, lazy fan, mosquito net . Since there is only eight of us in the resort, there is no hurry! We found it much relaxing and decide all our schedule my ourselves.
When my friends saw our photos, the only comments are wow, wow, wow ... It is a very interesting island. About 10 turtles come up the island to lay eggs every day. We saw them from mating underwater, laying eggs and baby turtles crawling back to sea. It looks like a flim from discovery channel. Of course, we had a very close encounter with the Manta.
See photos in this link:
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10-11-2008, 1:00 AM
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pinklady
Joined on:10-10-2008
Posts 1
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![Big Smile [:D]](/CS/emoticons/emotion-2.gif)
Re: Sangalaki Dive Lodge, The Worst Ever
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Hey Guys,
We have just returned from a 8 day-7 night holiday at Sangalaki Dive Lodge, it was the best ever. Jeremy & Caroline could not have been better hosts.
Travel arrangements were as we had ordered, we were met at Balikpapan airport and taken right to the Berau plane by their representative. Arriving at Berau again there was the transport to take us to the boat for the trip down the river (quite an experience) and then out to sea to Sangalaki Island.
On arrival at the Island and we had our first paddle in the 28 degree water to the beach, we had been warned about this. At the lodge there was a very welcome drink first, then we were shown to our extremely clean and comfortable accommodation. We were expecting very basic facilities and were pleasantly surprised, it was all you could ask for, comfy beds, mosquito nets, aircon and a fan.!There was clean linen and towels every day and the room cleaned daily, with a bowl of clean water to wash the sand from your feet before entering your accommodation.
The food was plentiful and varied, Chef would cook anything (within reason) you could ask for. As much tea, coffee and fresh water as anyone can consume, and the bar was more than adequately stocked, we tried to drink it dry and failed.
The comfy dining room, in addition to the normal tables and chairs had sofa's to relax on with plenty of magazines on a variety of subjects to read between dives.
The dive centre itself was very spacious and the equipment first class, clean water tanks to wash off your cameras and kit and always a drink or fresh fruit waiting for you when you returned from your dive.
The diving was spectacular, Manta's every day - Leopard Sharks and friendly cuttlefish displaying, plus all the usual favourities, soft & hard corals, together with turtles coming ashore every evening to lay their eggs right under your bedroom and then the joy of watching the hatchlings take their first swim. Even the monitor lizards came to call. What more could one ask......
Our return journey to Berau was as ordered as was our hotel (booked for us by Jeremy)in Berau overnight until we could take our flight next day to Balikpapan and onto Singapore.
We have dived all over the world and this was one of the best, it all went well and we would return again and again. We left feeling relaxed and very happy. The hardest part of this holiday apart from leaving was having to put shoes on again. Dont believe the bad press that Sangalaki has received in the past - it is under new management and a wonderful holiday destination - go there and enjoy. Jeremy & Caroline look after everyone as if they were a family member. Whilst there get Jeremy to take you to Kakaban Island and swim with the jellyfish, you can only experience this in one other place in the world - very sureal.
This was a great holiday and excellent value, do it now before they realise how cheap it is and put the prices up.
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AsianDiver Foru... » Trip Report (Sh... » Indonesia » Re: Sangalaki Dive Lodge-Revamped !!
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