Comments from our clients

Don't just take our word for it. Here is what we have received from our clients. If you wish to contact some for reference, please e-mail us and we put you in touch.

Please send your feedback to info@diversionOZ.com.

Feedback by destination:
Australia - Papua New Guinea - Micronesia - Fiji - Indonesia - Malaysia

  Australia

Dirk,

I am sure you can tell that I am big on the details and making sure that everything is taken care of to the last detail before the trip, so that everything on the trip goes without a problem....this is how I actually get to relax and enjoy the trip too....so far, you are the only person I have worked with that meets my standard for details and responsiveness....and that makes me feel very comfortable.

Greg, CA

Bettina,

It was one of the most fabulous trips I've had diving. The accommodations and food were ok but the diving made up for all the amenities I think I need. Your help in arranging the trip was SUPER. I couldn't believe how hot and humid it is down there. I knew it was far away but it's farther than I actually thought.

I will come back but will bring some friends along! Thank you again, you did a terrific job! I still beam when anyone asks about the trip. I think everyone is a little jealous that I would be so selfish and go by myself on a trip like that!

Have a wonderful and properous new year!

Sandi
Halstad, MN

Hi Dirk!

Just a quick mail to say thanks for your assistance with our traveling arrangements and your kind help with all my queries. Your advice really helped in putting our trip together. Unfortunately, all good things must also come to an end, and we're all back to our normal routine of work, sleep, work, sleep....

With regards to Spirit of Freedom: WOW! WOW! WOW!
Excellent service! Excellent value for money! The staff were great! We were treated like royalty! They really went out of their way to attend to our every need. The diving was great! Kindly convey our appreciation to them. We were fortunate to have had good weather conditions and the children and I have had dives that we will remember for the rest of our lives.
Well, we hope to be in contact again someday!
Best wishes
Louis

Wow Sybille,
I thought Osprey was great. The dwarf Minke whale expedition is on a different tangent of greatness. Words just can't describe. The insights from the on-board marine biologists were like having immediate on-line access to the encyclopedia of Minkes. I would highly recommemend the trip if you haven't done so before, or anyone else with marine interests. Everything else (stay, side-trips) were okay within the context of amazing encounters on the Undersea Explorer. Thanks so much Sybille.
Mike, California

Hi Bettina,
Your level of customer service is over the top!!!!!! I wish all the places and people we have dealt with would take lessons from you. I hope we get a chance to meet when we arrive in AU. I would like to thank you in person for helping us with this dream trip of ours. Until then TTTHAAAAANNKKKKKK     YYYYYYYOOOOOOUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Patrick and Janice Whitehead
Spirit of Freedom and Great White Shark excursion

Hi Dirk,
Have been meaning to write an email to say 'thank you' so much for
organising my trip with Undersea Explorer - it really was one of the best
holidays I've ever had - possibly the best. The crew were fantastic- the
diving was awesome, the research aspect was fascinating and the food was
excellent! The whole trip was so well organised.
Hope all is well with you and I will definitely be going again, hopefully
diving with minkies next time!
All the best,
Briana, Sydney

Dear Claudi

Phil
Rather belatedly let me send my thanks for all your help in fixing my visit to Cairns and particularly the dive trip aboard the Spirit of Freedom. You will definitely hear from me again when I can fix another trip out.
The standard of the boat and the care taken of us was top notch. I cannot speak highly enough of the trip. Of course my only gripe is that 2 days diving is just too short and I would look for at least 4 days next time.

It was also interesting to compare to the Red Sea out of Sharm el Sheik, my more familiar location. The boat is clearly a step up. The reef and marine life look healthier although more spread rather than being
concentrated on specific reefs. I guess the GBR has a much bigger area rather than a concentration of currents and nutrients. Of course one big difference is the lack of other boats and divers. This comment is possibly a little unfair as I guess nearer Cairns it gets busier. On many sites in the Red Sea it will be like the London rush hour.

Altogether a great experience.
Many thanks, Ian Wyatt, UK

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Hi Bettina

We arrived home safely after a fantastic holiday at Lissenung! thanks for all your help with the arrangements- we have ~900 photos (mostly underwater) and some time soon we will have them up on Kim's website :) the diving was superb, as usual and it was a great holiday.
We made all our connections (particularly the ones in Port Moresby) thanks to the assistance of your staff contact on the ground (I cant remember his name????)....but he was very friendly and very helpful (he even pushed the trolley for us!). If it wasnt for him, we would not have made our first connection to Kavieng and our departure from PM to Brisbane would have been rather stressful.
I just thought you should know that this assistance was not provided by another travel agency in the past (when we travelled to Lissenung in 2006 and we lost a day of diving!) and this time round, despite knowing what we were in for, your contact was critical in allowing us to get every day out of our holiday.........your contact is an essential part of travel arrangements when flying domestic with Air Niugini and for this reason alone, we will choose to book with you again for the next trip to PNG !
thanks again
Jen (& Kim)

Hi Bettina!

I'm just back from a FABULOUS time in Oz and PNG. My time at Tawali exceeded my already high expectations, and the trip went off without a hitch thanks in no small part to your efforts. The diving was nothing short of spectacular, the resort was incredible, the people extremely nice and helpful and the whole experience was wonderful beyond words. I do so appreciate all your help making the arrangements and in preparing me for the trip. I will sing your praises to the various scuba and travel message boards I participate in once I've had a chance to write up a trip report.
Again, I can't thank you enough. Please let me know the contact information for your supervisor so I can let him or her know how highly I think of your knowledge, skills and abilities. I will use no one else for any trips I make to your part of the world.
Thank you thank you thank you!
Rich Whiting

Hi Dirk,
Thanks for your card when we arrived back from PNG. I wanted to thank you for organising our trip and giving us good advice about where to go. The dive bag tags and sunglasses straps were much appreciated too.
We enjoyed both Jais Aben and Lissenung, but thought Lissenung was a really special place. The weather was poor there for the first couple of days, but it didn't stop us diving and when it cleared up, it was spectacular.
We also received a lot of positive feedback about Diversion from the dive shops we dived with. At both places, people said clients that had booked through Diversion were happy with their trips. In particular, I found it interesting to hear how many other operators either book people to dive too close to flying or don't give them honest information about the accommodation and diving. Apparently, a number of people have arrived at Lissenung expecting hot water and air conditioning...

Thanks again, and we look forward to diving with you in the future
regards
Sophie Dyson & Duncan

Hi Claudia
I really enjoyed my stay at the Walindi Resort. The staff were so helpful and the diving was stupendeous. I was the only diving guest so each day I had the divemaster all to myself as a personal guide. One day a few snorkellers came aboard but that was about it. I am glad I
chose to do the PNG trip you were correct to say the corals and life are abundant.

I got to know the staff well, John the Dive Centre Manager was very helpful and helped me with an equipment problem I had. The divemasters also went to locations where they knew I would be able to see a lot of macro life. I can see how this resort is a popular accomodation for divers during the season. I think I was very lucky to be so pampered. Thanks for all your help with this trip. I'll definitely keep in touch for my next adventure.

Diane Vandahl, Canada

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Hi Bettina!
Just wanted to drop you a line and let you know how our trip went. Frank and I had a SUPER time at Tawali and Lissenung! The weather wasn't the best at Tawali, but the diving was great. At Lissenung we had sun, sun, sun, and the diving was great there too. We really enjoyed meeting Ange and Dietmar. They're really fun people.

It was nice meeting you while we were in Cairns. And thanks again for the books on Pidgin and PNG. Thank you for being a super agent and helping us out so much! We'll definitely keep you in mind for future traveling!
Take care!
Lisa Scott

Hi Phil, Dirk
WOW Kavieng was awesome. It was everything I could have hoped for and much more. The diving was spectacular, great viz, warm waters and an abundant array of marine life. Thanks for the postcard. I will certainly be recommending you to all my friends and hope to use your services again.

Thanks for everything

Ken, Sydney, Australia

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Hi Ange,
The trip itself was fantastic. Tavali is a beautiful place, we found the area and the resort absolutely stunning and as for the diving...Deacon's was our favourite (although Dinah's and Michelles were great for photography) and we even got to see a couple of hammerheads! Best thing was being able to do the same sites as the liveaboards (we saw Telita and Golden Dawn in the area a lot) but with lovely comfortable accomodation..definitely the best option for a honeymoon.

Thanks for all your help in organising everything, particularly anticipating our flight cancellation and calling ahead to the resort. It made the cancellation a slight hiccup rather than a nightmare.

Thanks again,
Cheers
Jo

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MICRONESIA

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Hi Nina,
We didn't want to leave Palau. The plantation was excellent. Sam's was great. All the crew were good fun. Thankyou for all your efforts to make this trip happen.
I am already planning a return. The only problem involves the flights & the long waits at Guam. Is there another route to fly direct?
Regards,
Ernst & Madison

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Hello Nina;
Just a note to thank you for our reservations at Truk Stop Hotel in Chuuk. The diving was fantastic as well as the dive masters from Truk Stop dive center. All were top notch and willing to let us dive to our abilities and end on our computers. Dan took care of us with nitrox as well as a dive briefing on every wreck (history of the ship as well). The owner of Truk Stop Hotel, Bill, met us at the airport and Dan met us at the hotel the night we arrived/ By the 2nd day all the staff at the hotel knew us by name and we were more like family than guests.
I suggest you send all to the Truk Stop for the best of accommodations as well as diving experience.
Thanks again so much
Don

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Hi Bettina, Been meaning to give you the feedback for ages!
We all enjoyed the trip, particularly liked the Village on Pohnpei, very nice 'bush style' rooms, good menu and bar with very reasonable prices.
Staff were all good, diving was good esp. Ant , but the banana boat was very basic, no seats so had to sit on flat floor for an hour and a half each way [to Ant] A couple of cross seats would easily improve this.
Ruins and kayaking very good Nautilus on Kosrae, very nice helpful family running it and the diving, keen to get more diver business, esp. small groups Lots of dive sites, moorings, fantastic vis but not many fish due to islanders subsistence fishing and spear fishing. Boat [Poseidon!!] was more than adequate, good personalized service. Ideal for small private groups, very good coral formations, gray reef sharks, 'cuda, jacks. Accom was basic motel style, a/con. very clean, pool, reasonable food.
These people are trying very hard and deserve support.

Palau, excellent as expected, very comfortable fast boat [another Poseidon!] and Blue Corner and Blue Holes superb. Should have spent longer there. Fish and Fins very proffessional, Sams Tours looked good too, slightly cheaper.
Plantation Resort good, tho tucked away a bit, good food, exp. wine. Next time would spend the extra for the Pacific Resort, nice beach setting.
Didn't like Guam, despite shopping malls, would just take a day room next time. Overall we all enjoyed the trip, tho spent too high proportion of our limited time at airports, two islands only would have been better, or a longer visit.
Thanks again for all your assistance, a good service.
Best wishes, Peter and Barbara

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Hi Sybille,
Just a quick email to say that everything went well in Palau. The diving was
fantastic and the weather was was perfect. For people who are thinking of
going to Palau I recommend the Jellyfish Lake and the Candelier Caves. These
are an extra $30US but well worth it. I do not recommend the trip to Peleliu
however which they charge you $80US. Thanks again for a lovely trip.

Scott McCabe, Australia

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Hi Dirk.........
Thanks for the Christmas card......or the card asking if we had a nice
holiday..........
Yes, it was fantastic......Truk was really good, excellent. Yap was what we really went on this trip for and on the morning of the fourth (4) day we had not seen a Manta....;^(.....but we were not disappointed, it was magnificent to be close to those majestic and beautiful creatures......

Dave Morgan, UK

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Hi Sybille,
A quick note to thank you for organising our trip. It was amazing!
The diving in Palau is extraordinary and the islands are spectacular. Palau Pacific Resort was very nice too. Great to have the beach. We didn't eat there much becuase it was very expensive. We preferred to go into Koror and eat at a bunch of great little restaurants. Fish n Fins were great. Fast comfortable boats, good gear. One thing to note. We have only dived in places where computers have been provided as standard rental equipment. This was not the norm at either Palau or Yap but we were able to rent anyways.

Yap was a wonderful experience. The diving was not as spectacular as Palau although vis was better. The mantas were amazing. Divers need to be happy though to go to the same site every day. Weloved it becuase we had had the Palau experience beforehand (ie coral, fish etc.).

Damian, Australia

Malaysia

Hi Nina,

Just got back from our Borneo trip. All went without a hiccup save for the delayed luggage on day one. Our plane departed late from Sydney and we only had about 20 minutes to catch connecting flight to Kota Kinabalu. We managed to do that, but our luggage didn’t (would be a miracle to be honest). Bags arrived in our hotel next morning (early), so no dramas.
Borneo Eco Tours checked very well indeed, absolutely nothing to criticise, I would use them again without hesitation. Every night there was a message under the door confirming next morning’s pickup time. Altogether very professional and certainly not laid back, she’ll be right attitude that we half expected.
Mabul Water Bungalows are 100% match to what I call perfect diving. While sufficiently luxurious they are not over the top, magical setting and 15-20 minute boat ride to Sipadan. Everything is well organised with diver’s need a priority. Sipadan diving is as good as Palau and while there is probably less variety of dive sites, there is also less travel time. Reef quality varies from low to average to the best I have seen.
Will most likely go back there,
Thanks for your help with organising this trip,
Peter