Dive Operations

Equipment If you don’t feel like carrying all of your own diving equipment around the world or don’t actually own any at all, don’t worry, the Ombak Biru is equipped with top quality rental equipment. The Ombak Biru is a preferred user of Aqualung dive equipment and we have a range of regulators, BCD’s, wetsuits, computers, fins and masks for our guests use, for rental or in an emergency. If you need something special for a trip and don’t already have it, just drop us an e-mail and we will find it for you. The Dancer Fleet mandatory diver safety equipment is available too is you don’t own your own: SMB (safety sausage), surface air horn (dive alert) and strobes.
Nitrox The Ombak Biru was the first vessel in the region to offer nitrox and runs a Nitrox Technologies membrane system to produce our diving gas. This is the latest, safest and most accurate method of production. We have several separate O2 analysers on board to enable our divers to analyse and log their own cylinder mix with every new fill. The NT system differs from other production methods in that we subtract nitrogen from the mix rather than adding oxygen, hence minus the need for heavy O2 cylinders on board. Production limit is 40% for SCUBA or rebreather use.
Tenders Our two twin tenders were made in Bali by Bali Fibreglass, close to our home port of Benoa to our own design. They are 6 metres long and 2.5 metres wide and are each powered by two 40 hp Yamaha outboards. Driven from the front to leave most of the interior free for divers and camera equipment, each craft is equipped with a VHF radio, shot line, stern line, dry area and easy to use boarding ladder. They are each crewed by at least one Divemaster as well as a driver and an assistant. Personal scuba units are secured in special slots in the seats. This enables us to refill your cylinders in position so there is no need to carry heavy equipment up and down the tender entry staircase.
Briefing and Dive Crew At some time during the first day of your cruise our dive staff will introduce themselves and give an involved vessel orientation and safety briefing as well as a diving and photo procedures outline to acquaint you with the Ombak Biru and how we work. Before every dive a detailed briefing is given regarding the specific site to be visited to give you an idea of what to expect in the way of currents, depth, visibility, water temperature and underwater geography/architecture. Briefings are always backed up with maps of the area or site and heads up of what marine life we expect to encounter on the dive with photo/video recommendations. There are plenty of identification books on board too to confirm special sightings