Queenesia 1 | Komodo

Boat

Queenesia 1, also listed simply as Queenesia, is the smaller vessel in the Queenesia Fleet and is purposefully scaled for close-knit Komodo journeys. Built in traditional Indonesian wooden-phinisi style in 2014 and reported as renovated in 2022, she measures 22 metres long with a 6-metre beam. Her maximum complement is only eight guests, so the experience feels closer to travelling with a small dive club or private group than joining a large expedition ship.

The red-and-white hull supports an enclosed timber dining room, a shaded open-air dining area, a relaxed main-deck space and an upper sun deck. The interior is practical and warm rather than hotel-like: polished wood, simple bench seating and broad windows set the tone. Outside, guests can eat under cover, watch Komodo's dry island ridges pass by or move upstairs for an unobstructed sunset. Queenesia 1 accepts shared departures and private charters, making the layout especially attractive to a family or group of friends that can occupy all three cabins.

Two Mitsubishi 6D16 engines provide a published cruising speed of 8 knots and maximum speed of 12 knots. Fuel capacity is stated as 2,000 litres and freshwater capacity as 8,000 litres. The operator advertises continuous electrical power from two generators, although its published generator rating appears technically inconsistent and should be confirmed before using it in a formal specification sheet. Charging ports are available in all cabins, but high-draw appliances should be discussed with the crew.

Meals are served around the diving schedule. Current descriptions refer to breakfast, lunch, dinner, refreshments, snacks, mineral water, tea and coffee, with local produce, fish and a mixture of Indonesian and Western-style dishes. Dietary restrictions should be supplied at booking, especially allergies and religious requirements, because provisioning takes place before the boat leaves Labuan Bajo. Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks are normally separate purchases rather than part of the base package.

The vessel carries a detailed navigation and safety inventory for its size: radar, GPS, depth sounder, fish finder, searchlights, satellite telephone and VHF/DSC/SSB radio; EPIRB distress beacon, emergency life rafts, life jackets, fire alarm and extinguishers, flares, bilge alarm, engine-room CCTV, medical oxygen and first-aid kits. Public seller records also state that crew members receive first-aid training.

Cabin

Queenesia 1 accommodates exactly eight guests in exactly three lower-deck cabin units. The bed and bathroom arithmetic is unusually clear:

• 1 Double Cabin — lower deck: one double bed for a maximum of 2 guests; one private ensuite toilet-and-shower room; one individually controlled air-conditioning unit; charging ports; sold as a non-sharing cabin
• 1 Twin Cabin — lower deck: two separate single beds for a maximum of 2 guests; one private ensuite toilet-and-shower room; one individually controlled air-conditioning unit; charging ports; sold as a non-sharing cabin
• 1 Quad Bunk Cabin — lower deck: four separate single bunk beds for a maximum of 4 guests; two private ensuite bathrooms and two individual air-conditioning units; charging ports; expressly shareable and suitable for a family, group of friends or individually sold berths when the departure permits

This reconciles to 3 cabins, 8 beds and 4 private bathrooms. There are no upper-deck sea-view cabins, no triple rooms and no convertible double/twin category on the published Queenesia 1 plan. The Double and Twin Cabins each fill as one private unit; booking one berth does not automatically entitle another traveller to share it. The Quad is the only category publicly identified as shareable.

Cabins use varnished timber walls and compact floor plans typical of a small traditional phinisi. The Double has one mattress sized for two; the Twin provides two adjacent but separate single mattresses; the Quad arranges four singles as two bunk sets. Photos show limited open floor space, so soft luggage is more practical than rigid suitcases. Towels and complimentary toiletries are currently listed as included, but guests should confirm exact linen changes and bathroom amenities on the departure document.

The two bathrooms and two air-conditioning units in the Quad are important operational details, not two extra cabin categories. They reduce congestion for four occupants but the room remains one shared sleeping space. Families should confirm minimum ages and upper-bunk suitability; individual travellers should confirm gender-sharing arrangements and whether a specific lower or upper berth can be requested.

All three cabin types are below deck and air-conditioned. Natural light and ventilation are therefore more limited than in a main-deck cabin, and machinery or compressor noise may be noticeable at certain times. Guests who need step-free access, unusually large beds, private single occupancy or medical equipment storage should request written confirmation before paying—the boat is not currently advertised as wheelchair accessible.

Diving

Queenesia 1 is built around a compact Komodo program rather than long inter-island crossings. The published 6-day / 5-night itinerary numbers up to 16 dives, including several possible night dives, while shorter 4-day / 3-night programs and private charters may carry a different total. Actual diving depends on tides, current, weather, park permission, guest experience and travel time. A current detailed seller record asks for Advanced Open Water or equivalent and at least 50 logged dives on the five-night Komodo safari.

The operator lists 24 aluminium 12-litre cylinders, an Alkin W32 compressor, DIN adaptors, underwater dive lights, assorted equipment and a diving tender. A current package description includes tanks and weights in the diving price and advertises a guide ratio of approximately one guide for four divers. Rental BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, fins, masks and computers remain chargeable and should be reserved with sizes before arrival.

Published sources disagree about whether the boat operates one or two tenders: the operator equipment page and DiveBooker describe a diving tender, while LiveAboard.com's technical table states two. The safest commercial wording is therefore “tender-supported diving” without promising a particular number until the final voucher confirms it. The selected photo set shows Queenesia-branded small craft and the stern boarding area.

Nitrox is not currently advertised by the detailed booking record, so standard planning should assume compressed air. Wi-Fi is likewise listed as unavailable. Divers should bring a computer, surface marker buoy, exposure protection suitable for both warm northern water and cooler southern upwelling, and any personally fitted mask or prescription equipment.

Komodo diving ranges from gentle coral slopes to fast channels and exposed pinnacles. Castle Rock, Crystal Rock, Shotgun and Siaba Kecil can produce strong or rapidly changing current; Batu Bolong requires disciplined depth and reef positioning; Manta Point and Mawan are usually planned around cleaning or feeding activity. Southern areas may fall below 24°C, while northern and central sites are often approximately 26–29°C. Visibility and current vary markedly across the park.

The boat manager and dive guides can relocate a dive, reduce the group, require a check dive or prevent a guest entering conditions beyond their demonstrated ability. Wildlife—including manta rays, reef sharks, turtles, dolphins and schooling fish—is possible but never guaranteed. Night dives and land activities are conditional, not automatic entitlements.

Other Information

• Destination: Komodo National Park, Indonesia
• Home port: Labuan Bajo, Flores
• Airport: Komodo Airport (LBJ)
• Vessel: Wooden Indonesian phinisi, built 2014 and reported renovated 2022
• Dimensions: 22 m × 6 m
• Capacity: 8 guests in 3 lower-deck ensuite cabins
• Bathrooms: 4 private cabin bathrooms in total
• Engines: 2 × Mitsubishi 6D16
• Speed: 8 knots cruising; 12 knots published maximum
• Fuel / freshwater: 2,000 L fuel; 8,000 L freshwater capacity
• Standard tanks: 12 L aluminium; 24 cylinders published
• Nitrox: Not currently advertised
• Wi-Fi: Not currently available
• Languages: English is listed for the crew
• Trip styles: Shared departures and whole-boat charter

Included in the current detailed diving package: accommodation in the booked cabin or berth; scheduled guided dives; standard tank and weights; airport and hotel transfers within the stated Labuan Bajo service window; breakfast, lunch and dinner; snacks or refreshments; mineral/drinking water, tea and coffee; eligible night dives; listed land excursions; naturalist and snorkelling guide services; cabin, beach and deck towels; and basic complimentary toiletries. A reseller also offers short-term DAN diving cover on request, but this is seller- and departure-specific and should not replace comprehensive personal insurance.

Normally excluded or separately charged: Komodo National Park admission; Padar trekking ticket; Komodo-dragon trek and ranger fees; complete scuba equipment and individual rental pieces; dive computer; underwater camera; soft drinks and alcoholic beverages; domestic airport tax where applicable; personal purchases; crew gratuities; flights, hotels outside the package and travel/diving insurance. Nitrox should be treated as unavailable unless the operator confirms otherwise in writing.

Queenesia 1 concentrates on Komodo National Park from Labuan Bajo. Its published long program is 6 days / 5 nights with up to 16 numbered dives, while a 4-day / 3-night version and custom charters compress the route. The following schedule is newly written from the operator's site sequence. It explains the rhythm and character of each day but does not guarantee a dive site, animal or land visit. Tides are decisive in Komodo, so the cruise director may reverse the route or replace a site even in calm weather.

Komodo National Park — Representative 6-Day / 5-Night Safari

Day 1 — Labuan Bajo, Bidadari and Wanilu
Guests are collected within the confirmed local transfer window and board in Labuan Bajo. After cabin allocation, equipment assembly, safety orientation and a briefing on Komodo currents, Queenesia 1 moves to a sheltered area. Bidadari is used as the first check dive in the published plan, allowing guides to assess weighting, buoyancy, air consumption and SMB handling. Around sunset, the route may pause near Kalong to watch flying foxes leave the mangroves. A second, night dive at Wanilu can reveal decorator crabs, nudibranchs, shrimp and other small animals. Arrival time, daylight and ability determine whether both dives operate.

Day 2 — Padar sunrise and southern reefs
An early tender ride and climb can lead to Padar's famous ridge before the heat builds. The trekking ticket is separate, the path includes steep sections and footwear is preferable to sandals. Back aboard, breakfast is followed by diving around the Padar area. Three Sisters presents submerged pinnacles where current can concentrate fish; Secret Garden may reward slower observation of coral and macro subjects. A third dive or night dive near Small Padar is possible. Cooler southern water and swell can make this day feel very different from central Komodo.

Day 3 — Pink Beach, dragons and the channels
The morning may combine beach time or snorkelling at Pink Beach with a regulated land visit on Komodo Island. Rangers lead the dragon walk; sightings, trail choice and duration remain under park control. After the land program, Queenesia 1 repositions toward current-fed channels. Shotgun—also called the Cauldron—is famous for accelerated water through a narrow pass, reef hooks or negative entries in some conditions and a fast exit when the tide runs. Golden Passage offers another drift option. The published sequence proposes a night dive, but guides move it to a protected site or cancel it if the current remains unsuitable.

Day 4 — Crystal Rock, Castle Rock and Gili Lawa
This is the most overtly pelagic day in the published plan. Crystal Rock and Castle Rock rise into current north of Komodo and may hold trevally, barracuda, tuna, reef sharks and dense clouds of smaller fish. Entries can be negative and down-currents or blue-water ascents are possible, which explains the advanced experience requirement. Shotgun may be repeated at a more favourable tide, or an alternate northern site can replace it. The fourth immersion is planned as a night dive near Gili Lawa when mooring, weather and park rules permit.

Day 5 — Manta Point, Takamakassar and Batu Bolong
Karang Makassar, widely called Manta Point, is a shallow drift across rubble, coral heads and cleaning areas. Mantas may circle close to the bottom, pass overhead or not appear at all; divers must avoid chasing or blocking them. Takamakassar offers a pale sandbar for beach time or kayaking when tide permits. Batu Bolong then changes the mood completely: this isolated rock supports extraordinary coral and fish density but is exposed to powerful flow on its sides. Guides select the protected face and turn the dive before anyone is swept around the point. Siaba Besar may finish the day with turtles and a gentler reef profile.

Day 6 — Siaba Kecil, Mawan and return
The final morning normally offers two dives. Siaba Kecil can run as a lively drift through a channel, while Mawan combines sloping reef, sandy patches and another possibility of manta activity. The guides adjust the order to the tide and the vessel begins its return to Labuan Bajo after dive 16. Equipment is rinsed and accounts are settled before disembarkation within the stated afternoon window. Travellers must leave a suitable no-fly interval; a same-day flight is inappropriate when the final dives operate as scheduled.

What the Six-Day Route Is Designed to Combine

The route deliberately mixes underwater and land experiences. Northern pinnacles provide current, schooling fish and reef-shark potential; central channels create energetic drift dives; manta cleaning areas reward patient observation; sheltered bays provide night and macro diving. Padar, Pink Beach, flying foxes and the ranger-led dragon walk add a terrestrial understanding of the national park. These components are complementary, but none overrides safety or park instruction.

A full diving day can include three day dives and one night dive. Trekking or long repositioning may reduce that number. The final morning is deliberately shorter. The advertised total therefore means “up to 16,” not a refund-bearing guarantee of 16 entries. A diver who elects to skip a dive, fails a safety check or cannot meet the conditions should not expect a substitute private dive.

Because the boat carries only eight guests, the daily plan can feel flexible, but tide tables still set the real timetable. Briefings may be brought forward, meals delayed or a land stop moved so that a current-sensitive site is entered during its safer window. The cruise director normally groups divers by demonstrated control and gas use; the small capacity does not remove the need to stay with the assigned guide.

The land portions require their own preparation. Padar is an exposed climb with steps and little shade, while the dragon walk takes place under ranger authority on uneven ground. Closed footwear, sun protection and drinking water are sensible. Beach, kayak and snorkelling time only operates where the tender, sea state and guide coverage permit it. Guests who do not dive should ask before booking how transfers and supervision will work on each day, since the diving tender may be occupied with the underwater group.

Short Komodo and Charter Variations

The published 4-day / 3-night Komodo itinerary is a condensed program, not the six-day route at double speed. It typically prioritises central or northern highlights that fit the tides and available sailing time. Possible combinations include a check dive, one manta area, Batu Bolong or another coral-rich pinnacle, a protected night dive and a dragon or Padar land visit. Every component must be confirmed for the chosen departure.

Private charters allow the eight guests to discuss preferences with the cruise director, but the route is not unrestricted. Park zones, ranger availability, vessel range, weather, dive qualifications and safe tidal windows still govern the plan. Families combining divers and snorkellers should identify who needs a dedicated snorkelling or land guide and which current-sensitive locations are unsuitable for non-divers.

Conditions, Experience and Wildlife

Komodo sits where large bodies of water exchange through narrow island passages. Current can reverse between dives, create surface turbulence or carry cold, nutrient-rich water into the south. The operator's own area guide describes northern current as medium to very strong with roughly 15–40 metres visibility; central conditions from mild to strong with approximately 7–30 metres; and southern current from medium to strong with approximately 7–20 metres visibility and cooler 24–26°C water. These are broad tendencies rather than forecasts.

Advanced certification and 50 logged dives are currently listed for the full safari. Recent experience in current, controlled negative entries, DSMB deployment and open-water ascent is more important than the raw number alone. Guests returning after a long break should complete refresher training before the trip rather than relying on the first check dive to rebuild every skill.

Careful preparation preserves more time for the sites themselves.

Possible marine life includes reef manta rays, whitetip and grey reef sharks, eagle rays, turtles, Napoleon wrasse, giant trevally, barracuda, tuna and huge schools of fusiliers or jacks. Macro subjects can include nudibranchs, frogfish, seahorses, crustaceans and octopus. On land, Komodo dragons and flying foxes remain wild and their presence or proximity cannot be staged.

• Carry certification, logbook, computer and DSMB.
• Reserve rental sizes and any requested guide service before arrival.
• Follow ranger instructions during dragon walks and do not separate from the group.
• Use reef-safe practices and never touch, pursue or block manta rays.
• Keep the final voucher as the authority for transfer times, fees, included excursions and exact dive count.