Tender Operations and Procedures
Very nearly all of our dives from the Komodo Dancer are carried out with the use of our tenders. Below is some information about them and some procedures to make your diving easier during your dive trip.
The Boats:
Our twin tenders were made in Bali by Bali Fiberglass close to the port of Benoa to our own design. They are 6 meters long and 2.5 meters wide and are each powered by two 40 hp Yamaha outboards. They have electric starters and are driven from the front leaving most of the interior free for divers. Each craft has its own Oxygen Unit, VHF Radio, Camera Area, Shot Line, Stern Line, Electric Bilge Pumps etc etc. There will be one Divemaster per tender as well as a driver and an assistant.
Tender Boarding Procedures:
Guests board the tenders from the main boat wearing wetsuits. A stairway extends from the port (left) side of the Komodo Dancer down to the tenders. Masks, fins and other peripheral equipment are loaded first and our guests are then asked to make their way to these stairs where crew members will be on hand to assist the boarding of the tender.
Once on board please sit down so as to avoid any unnecessary movement which can cause problems for other guests boarding.
Dive Entry Procedures:
Due to the nature of diving in the Komodo area, with strong currents at some dive sites, it is often necessary to get all of the guests in a tender into the water quickly staying as little time as possible on the surface. This is why we are re-designing the interior of the craft but we can get people into the water easily as they are at the moment. A backward roll entry is the preferred method. Please take your cues from the tender divemaster and staff.
Dive Exit Procedures:
After signaling to a crewmember that you are OK, please wait to be picked up. When it is your turn to enter the tender please use the following sequence.
1. Hand up an cameras, video or other peripheral equipment.
2. Take off and hand up your weight belt to the crew.
3. Take off and hand your scuba unit to the crew - please try and make sure there is no dangling equipment.
4. There is a ladder that can be moved to either side of the boat. Hold onto this while taking off your fins. Hand your fins up to the crew.
5. Carefully ascend the ladder into the boat.
Please do not linger too close to the tender when another guest is exiting. Please do not exit with scuba unit and weight belts on - there are several reasons for this.
1. The extra weight puts unnecessary pressure on the ladder and the boat hull.
2. The extra weight on one side can make the boat unstable for a few seconds.
3. A diver in full equipment can easily injure other guests already in the tender.
4. A diver in full equipment can easily become unbalanced once in the tender.
5. Dive equipment initially retains a lot of water before it can be drained properly. This tends to drain into the tender.
Tender Exit Procedures:
Now comes the easy part. With all equipment stowed, when the tender comes alongside the main boat guests closest to the stairway should exit first onto the platform and then proceed up to the main deck. Crew members will be on hand to help. All equipment will be handled by the crew.
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