Red Whale Review: What it’s like on a day trip around Komodo National Park

SUMMARY

Pre-Tour Communication

We contacted Red Whale Dive Center before we even arrived in Labuan Bajo. They were responsive to our queries (via WhatsApp and email) and provided a very detailed communication pack (as pdf) upfront.

Itinerary

Our tour largely adhered to the itinerary in the information pack. On the day, Manta Point and Taka Makassar were swapped around, which meant we went to the former one first (apparently to jump at the opportunity that there were fewer boats at Manta Point at the time). Unfortunately, we spent (way) too long at Pink Beach and left Turtle Bay earlier than scheduled, arriving back in Labuan Bajo at 16:40.

While we acknowledge that schedules can change based on the weather and other unforeseen circumstances, there are improvement opportunities that would (significantly) improve the customer experience. Here are our suggestions:

Start time
Upon arrival at Padar Island at around 7:55, there were already several (day) tour groups on the way up to or down from the viewpoint. The Red Whale Day Tour could start its day tour an hour earlier (the sun rises around 6:00), which would also provide additional time for a less rushed experience later in the day (more on that below).

Order of stops/activities
The order of our day excursion was: Hike, Snorkelling off the beach in calm water, Hike, Snorkelling off the boat in strong current, Snorkelling off the boat/at a sandbank (with some current) and Snorkelling off the boat (with some current). I skipped the snorkelling option at Pink Beach (our second stop), as I didn’t want to hike around Komodo Island (our third stop) wearing a wet bikini under my hiking clothes (an option to change between stops was not provided).

A better order for our tour would have been Padang Island, Komodo Island, Pink Beach, Taka Makassar, Manta Point, and Turtle Bay. That would have meant doing the two land activities first and then starting the snorkelling (from the calmest waters to the strongest current – to allow customers to get (re)acquainted with snorkelling in calmer waters before doing the drift snorkel at Manta Point). Getting the land activities out of the way first would have also meant avoiding hiking in the heat of the day.

Time at each location
The length of the stops at each location can also be adjusted:

• 1h 15min at Pink Beach was (way) too long (30 minutes are sufficient).
• 40 minutes at Manta Point was too rushed (1 hour is more appropriate).
• 45 minutes at Turtle Bay was also too short (again, 1 hour would have been more appropriate).

Equipment

Our day trip was conducted on the Red Whale II. The boat was clean, modern and comfortable. The snorkelling equipment was also in good shape. I was even able to fit my mask upon booking (as I tend to have trouble finding one that fits) – it was marked with my name and on the boat the next day ready for me to use.

Communication during the tour

Red Whale Staff
Our guide André and the crew were fun to be around and talk to, and communication during the tour was adequate until we left Komodo Island.

When we reached Manta Point, André jumped in with a lifebuoy (and disappeared in the distance because of the strong current/the boat continued to move forward). The crew then shouted jump/jump to get all guests into the water as quickly as possible. It was never clear how long we were going to be at this particular spot, how many crew members with lifebuoys would be in the water etc.

It seemed the crew realised that we had much more time when everybody was back on board, and they shouted jump/jump again to get everyone back into the water for a second round (or if this was intended all along, it would have also been good to share that information with the tour guests upfront).

Given the strong current at Manta Point, a more upfront explanation would have been great to make it 100% clear that it is a drift snorkel with a strong current, the water depth is about 10 metres, crew members will be in the water and stay with the lifebuoys (this was only mentioned at the second “jump/jump”) and how long/how often we’ll be in the water. This information could have even been included in the information pack.

Likewise at Taka Makassar, a more upfront explanation would have been great, for example, where best to snorkel (there was also a current). The same holds for Turtle Bay. More information should be provided including: Is there a current (or not)? What is the water depth? Where is the coral garden? We only learned about the latter from others in the water.

National Park Staff
The National Park rules (at the time of our visit) stipulated one ranger per five visitors. Our group of 16 people though had (only) two rangers. The lead guide/ranger was a trainee and hardly ever spoke (at all). The English of the other (more experienced) guide/ranger was difficult to understand. Explanations during the hike were limited and basic (even when responding to very specific questions), thus we didn’t learn anything we didn’t know before. The National Park entrance fee is not cheap (and further increases are in the pipeline) – a better service should be provided in return.

We acknowledge that this is not in the control of Red Whale. But as the provider of the tour, Red Whale might be able to pass on feedback to the National Park Administration.

Food/Drinks

Food and drinks on our day tour were adequate and made sure we were well hydrated and had the energy needed on a busy day of outdoor activities:

• Our tour didn’t include breakfast, but biscuits (in single-use plastic wrapping) and bananas were available (all day).
• After our hike on Padang Island, we were served morning tea: delicious fresh fruit salad served in glass jars.
• Lunch was served after our hike on Komodo Island. We were asked about our meal choice – fish or chicken (with a selection of cooked veggies, plain rice and fried noodles) – upon booking and received our (cold) meals in (reusable) lunch boxes. The meals tasted nice and were substantial. Specific dietary requirements can be taken into account with advance notice.
• Drinks available during the tour included tepid water, hot water for coffee/tea and soft drinks in cans.

Apart from the cans and the biscuits, all food and drinks were served in/with reusable crockery and cutlery.

Safety

The safety on board was (sadly) a mixed bag:

• We received brief (yet sufficient) safety instructions as we set off from Labuan Bajo, and instructions about (safety) rules above and below water were good.
• Also appreciated was the crew considering the amount of boats at Manta Point.
• Lifejackets were provided below deck in the small room at the front of the boat (only accessible through a small door), making it impossible to access the lifejackets if the boat were to sink suddenly. For that reason, the US Coast Guard advises that lifejackets be readily accessible and […] not be stowed […] in locked or closed compartments.
• The crew needs to cater better for differences in customers’ abilities/confidence when it comes to snorkelling. At Manta Point for example, instead of providing clear instructions and/or tying lifebuoys to the boat so that (less confident) snorkellers could drift with the boat, the crew made scornful comments about customers who weren’t as confident in the water (a Chinese couple in this instance).

As mentioned above, we paid for one guide/ranger per five people but ended up walking with only two guides/rangers for our group of 16. The more experienced guide talked about the park rules at the beginning, but his English was very hard to understand. A big board at the entrance to Komodo Island with the park rules in different languages would be beneficial, as would be a greater emphasis on language training for the guides.

While not in the control of Red Whale, it would be great if they could provide this feedback to the National Park Administration.

Sustainability

Google reviews talked about the company’s sustainability approach, which was one of our key criteria. Upon speaking to staff, we learned that Red Whale Dive Center was owned by a Russian who’d been living in Indonesia for 15 years and that he employed only local staff. The staff we spoke to said they were treated well, paid fairly and enjoyed working for the company.

Our only improvement suggestions:

• Instead of serving biscuits in single-use plastic wrapping, freshly baked goods (without wrapping) could be purchased from the bakery/market the day before or in the morning (as with the bananas) and kept in a Tupperware container.
• And instead of soft drink cans, juice (freshly made that morning) could be served (in reusable jugs).