Taking the first step into becoming a diver is an exciting yet daunting task! It opens up your mind to a whole world that you have never explored before. You experience incredible things that some people may not in their entire lifetime. If you want to really blow your mind, come diving with NEREN in Komodo!

Have you mastered all your underwater skills yet? Some people are able to learn these skills quickly, while others take time to feel comfortable. One of the more difficult skills to master is your mask skills. If you can master these you are one step ahead of most people.

Should you buy all your equipment? Should you feel comfortable underwater? Will it take time to learn all the skills? All these pressing questions answered below!

Don't Expect to be 100% Confident in the Water
Your open water certificate is the first step to becoming a mermaid. With this, keep in mind that this is the very first step. You are constantly learning new things each time you take the plunge into the sea.You may dive with other open water divers that have more logged dives than you. These people have been able to practice their skills and master them one dive at a time. Don't compare yourself to anyone else. Your skills will progress the more dives you have. Being a diver takes a lot of time and patience as you move through your dives.

Speaking of patience…
          

Patience is Key

It may take 20 dives for you to master your underwater skills, it may also take 45. Everyone is completely different in the way they learn. Trust the process and enjoy it while you're moving through. You will make mistakes, which are essential to progress. As a beginner diver, you'll have good dives but you'll also have bad dives. Use the good to keep progressing forward, and the bad to improve your skills and learn what you can do better.

Don't get too down on yourself when you don't have the best dive. Think about the positives and all the amazing sea life you witnessed down below!

Practice Good Buoyancy on Every Dive
To become a great beginner diver, buoyancy is one of the key components that you must master. Work on using your BCD less and your breath more. Make sure you are neutrally buoyant on each dive you embark on. This means that you are properly weighted and you are able to control your buoyancy with only your breath. If you struggle with this, get an instructor to watch you perform the buoyancy test before you go on your dive and ask for their advice.

A tip that helps most beginner divers is to count their inhales and exhales ensuring they are keeping them consistent throughout the dive.

Expect to Dive With Rental Equipment From Dive Shops
When you're a beginner diver, more often than not, you will be borrowing from shops until you are ready to invest in your own equipment.

Buy a Mask!

It's not necessary to buy anything else other than a mask. Having your own as a beginner diver will make fun dives more comfortable. Make sure you clean it a few times to avoid having it fog up during a dive. You will need to break it in like a new pair of shoes. We recommend using toothpaste and smearing it on the front and inside with your fingers. Rinse with freshwater and repeat a few times before diving. (You may need to repeat this a few times, depending how the mask performs during your dives.)

Once you've done all of this you won't need to play around with your mask underwater, allowing you to enjoy the dive and admire the sea life around you. You’ll especially enjoy the underwater life that Komodo National Park offers!

Practice Practice Practice

Diving is like a fine wine, it gets better with age (for divers, it gets better the more dives you log). It's important to consistently dive after you complete your certification. This way you'll remember everything you learned and be able to advance to new diving heights! Eventually, the skills you learned as a beginner diver will come easily, and you'll be able to enjoy the dive sites and amazing underwater life!

Take Your Advanced Course
After your Open Water certification, the next journey is your Advanced course. During your Open Water certification, the beginner diver skills dominate the whole course. Confined and open water skills take up the majority of course time. Fun diving is left until the end and incorporates a minimal amount of the time.

The Advanced Open Water certification focuses on more technical aspects of diving. Your course will be packed in with 5 adventure dives, which are similar to regular fun dives. You have to do the deep and navigation dives, and then three more of your choice! For example: drift dive, underwater photography, fish identification or peak performance buoyancy. NEREN diving offers advanced open water courses where you learn in beautiful Komodo National Park.

Moving from a beginner to advanced diver, your confidence underwater will improve immensely. Which brings us to our most important expectation of beginner diving….

Have Fun
Diving is such an incredible activity, but it is so easy to get lost into the technical side of things. The most important reminder for beginner divers is to have fun while learning new skills. The best place to enjoy some incredible diving is in this beautiful country of Indonesia. Some of the amazing sea creatures around the world are only seen by divers, and those that don't dive will never get to see them. Check out our gallery to see what you may find diving with NEREN.

Enjoy every moment under water and bask in the underwater experience. Take in every moment and be fully present while you explore the underwater world.

Indonesia is on every traveler's bucket list of countries to explore. The country is home to friendly locals and beautiful landscapes. Pristine beaches line the coasts, and many islands are easily explored by a short boat ride from Bali. When the sun sets for the evening, everyone is in for an absolute treat. Colors of the rainbow line the sky in a beautiful dance that paints a picture over the city. If you're here during the rainy season, prepare yourself for the prime sunsets that appear.

In Labuan Bajo, due to the many hilly landscapes it boasts, watching the sunset can be a beautiful sight. Many locations overlook the harbor and the small islands surfacing in the distance from Komodo National Park. Get lost in the beautiful scenery of crystal blue waters and lush green mountains. These locations are perfect for a post-adventure dive with NEREN Diving, and post-work Bintang with friends.

Read on to discover the places the locals and expats alike love to relax and watch the day pass into night. We should mention that a scooter is recommended for the time you're here. Usually they range between 50,000 -70,000 IDR / day. That averages to about $5-$7 AUD / day.

Navigate up a steep rocky hill and arrive at a beautiful sunset destination. If you need a place to sleep, a bonus is being able to get a room on a budget. The first floor has a great view of the harbor, and a bar to grab that coveted sunset cocktail or Bintang. Climb up one more flight of stairs, and you'll find yourself overlooking the entire town. You can see the harbor and all the boats coming back in from a day of diving, hanging with dragons, and exploring the surrounding islands.

Tre360 Bar
This lovely place is a hostel called One Tree Hill, as well as a beautiful sunset destination in Komodo. The location is a bit of a drive from Labuan Bajo. (When we do say a drive, it's a whole 15 minutes by scooter.) The drive itself to this destination has incredible views along the way. Rolling hills to the right with views of the ocean on the left provide a sight that any traveller longs to see.
 
You can see it from a far distance, inviting you to explore the inside. You’ll feel a sense of your childhood coming back to you since it resembles a colourful children’s treehouse. Climb up a few flights and you arrive at a panoramic view of the ocean and hills. Honorable mention that the sun disappears into the hills, but don't let that stop you. Watching the colors unfold above the sea and in front of the mountains is an incredible sight.

Paradise Bar
If you've ever been to Labuan Bajo you know that when the drinks are flowing, Paradise bar is the meeting point. If you didn't go to Paradise, did you really get the full Komodo experience? Most likely not! If this is the case, speak with our NEREN team - we have locals and long term expats that can give you some Paradise advice.

What some people don't know is the late-night club is actually a great place to catch the sunset. This time you'll actually remember your time at Paradise. Grab a drink and enjoy the panoramic view this bar has to offer.

La Cecile
A 15 minute drive outside of town and up a steep hill will bring you right outside La Cecile. There’s not much else going on where it’s located, but this is what makes it more special. Coming up to the location, it doesn’t seem like a high end resort would exist in the hills of Labuan Bajo. However, once you step onto their rooftop deck, the view of all the islands in the distance is quite the sight. 

Keep in mind, with the beautiful views of Komodo, come steep prices at the bar. Be prepared to spend your hard earned cash on tasty food and boozy cocktails. If you want to treat yourself to some self-care with sunset views, enjoy the sunset yoga they offer. Check out their schedule online for dates and times.

Escape Bajo
If you're looking for a literal escape from the hustle and bustle of Labuan Bajo, Escape Bajo is your friend. With views of the docks and the surrounding harbour, you're in for a treat when sunset comes around. It's more of a cafe vibe with western and Indonesian favourites served throughout the day. Grab an iced coffee to wake your senses and sight in time for golden hour.

Catch their live music once a week in the evenings to serenade you and your Komodo mates.

Seasta Komodo Hostel
Right off the main road, on the top of the hill you'll find Seasta Komodo hostel.
If you want to stay in a slightly higher end hostel this is the place to be. Popular among the divers in Indonesia and backpackers alike, you're sure to meet some new Komodo friends here.

The place has a pool, bar and full service restaurant, as well as a huge area to drink, eat, do yoga or just simply hang with your new Komodo mates. The 360 view over the railings is a nice bonus to enjoy while you eat your tasty meal and enjoy the sun falling into the ocean.

Bajo Taco
Fancy some Mexican food while you watch the sun set behind the boats and islands off of Labuan Bajo? This will be the perfect place for you.Climb up the stairs to the top floor and enjoy the view of the harbour as well as the bustling city behind you. The food is reasonably priced and you can order some drinks before the sun goes down over Komodo.

If you’re not feeling Mexican, Bajo bakery will suffice for some tasty treats, coffee and the best smoothie bowls in town. You can still enjoy the view with the shared seating area between the two tasty restaurants.

There you have it, a full week of sunset hunting throughout the island. Be sure to check out all these places and enjoy your time in this amazing paradise! Don’t forget to explore the underwater world of Komodo National Park by stopping into NEREN Diving and inquiring about our daily dive excursions! We have friendly staff and a comfortable boat to suit all your adventurous needs.

If you’re a diver, you’ve definitely heard the rumors of the beauty Komodo National Park holds. The ride alone into the National Park is a sight in itself, can you imagine the underwater world?! Picture incredible landscapes lining turquoise ocean waters on either side of the boat as you approach this natural wonder. Lush green islands (during rainy season) poking out from every corner holding the beauty that lays underneath them. If you can’t picture it, take a look at our gallery to give you a good idea. 

It's no secret that Komodo has some of the largest biodiversity in the world. Reefs are overwhelmed with hundreds of fish species and marine life darting back and forth from soft to hard coral. Move closer to the coral and look between the soft coral blowing in the waves to find some amazing macro life. Keep your eyes peeled for the massive reef mantas that may cross your path while you’re admiring that rare nudi in its home!

Not to mention, Komodo holds some of the healthiest corals in the world. We're not sure why you wouldn't want to visit after being stuck at home for this prolonged period.

Komodo is Part of the Coral Triangle
The coral triangle is an area in the ocean located in the pacific between southeast Asia and Oceania. The water hits Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor. Six countries!

When diving in Indonesia, sometimes the coral triangle spoils us for the best marine life possible. It’s no wonder Komodo boasts healthy reefs that line the coast! Which brings us to our next point.

Healthy, Bright, Soft and Hard Coral

A growing number of reefs around the world are completely damaged from coral bleaching, climate change, over-tourism, and several other factors. Yearly, the number of reefs affected by this are rapidly increasing.

Being in the most diverse waters in the world, Komodo boasts a palette of healthy, colorful hard and soft coral. If the coral was this healthy before COVID-19 shut down the world, we think we’ll be in for an absolute treat after this much needed pause!

Currents in Komodo
The currents in Komodo are a direct result of the tidal flows between the Pacific and Indian ocean. They’re at their strongest when the earth’s gravitational pull is at its height. This happens after a full and new moon.

These strong currents are not only exciting for divers to flow alongside, they also bring an array of diverse marine life along with them.Turtles line up at Siaba Besar taking turns gliding through the underwater world, while mantas flock to the cleaning stations for an afternoon polish up. Some days, if you're lucky, you can see a school of mobula rays in perfect formation passing through.

Mantas, Mantas, Mantas

Have you ever encountered this magical sea animal, the manta ray? Your first experience diving with them is nothing short of magical. They are much larger than you expect, with a wingspan of up to 3 to 3.5 meters for reef mantas.

Mantas are highly intelligent and curious creatures. They possess the largest brains of all species of fish. It's not uncommon for them to swim right up to you, as they love to play amongst divers’ bubbles. Remain floating in one spot and the mantas will come directly to you. It is vital to ensure the mantas come to you and not vice versa. They can out-swim you by a mile, and they'll vanish into the blue rather than towards you.

         When is the Best Time to See Mantas?

In short, the best time with the highest number of mantas swimming about runs from December to March. During this time you'll experience mantas by the masses passing through.

This is the time of year when their main food source, plankton, is in full bloom. The water temperature drops significantly during this time, so we recommend coming prepared with a thick 5 mm wetsuit. No one likes to end a dive because they are too cold.

Full Day Diving in Komodo Trips
If you're going on a dive holiday, you'll want to get the most amount of diving possible out of the short period of time you have allotted for your trip. Here in Komodo, the boats leave early in the morning and return to the harbor late in the afternoon.

This gives you the chance to accomplish three dives in one day. If you're staying for four days, that's already 12 dives! While you’re here you might as well broaden your dive knowledge and take a course with NEREN. We offer a variety of certifications from open water to divemaster, to help you take your diving to the next level!

Diving in Komodo is a full-day affair. You'll meet at your designated dive shop around 7:00 AM. Once every guest arrives, you'll embark on a short walk to the harbor to meet your crew and boat for the day. We'll set off from the harbor and make our way towards Komodo National Park. Usually around a 1.5-hour-long journey, you can bask in the beauty that Komodo holds before jumping into the underwater world.

Before the first dive, the crew will go over safety and emergency procedures. They'll explain the sea life you'll encounter, and how to behave while underwater. They'll also go through the dive site in full detail while ensuring you're comfortable before you jump in.

Between dives, you'll enjoy some fresh snacks. Our onboard chef will prepare a delicious meal for you on your second surface interval. Before you know it, dive three will be over and we'll be cruising back to Labuan Bajo to enjoy the sunset!

Labuan Bajo for Dry Days
So, what can you do if you're not exploring the underwater realm of Komodo National Park? There are plenty of places around the city to grab a bite to eat and admire the harbor from above. Some of our favorites that you can catch the sunset from are, Bajo Taco and Ciao Hostel!

But I'm a Mermaid and I Need Some Sea Water in My Life

         Not to worry! Rent a scooter, and make your way over to Waecicu Beach. Beautiful views await you, and you can 

         work on your tan from the sand, rather than the dive boat this time.      

Friendly Locals

Labuan Bajo is a beautiful island full of local Indonesians that are some of the friendliest faces. The crew on our boat is all Indonesian and you'll always be greeted with a smile. They are constantly excited to meet new faces, and will go out of  their way to make your stay memorable. Don't be afraid to say hello to them - they're always curious about us divers!

Learn a few phrases in Indonesian, and they'll be even more excited to interact with you. Not to mention the local food that you'll be able to indulge in. Pop into one of the tables set up on the side of the road, and for a whole $2 USD you'll be able to indulge on some tasty local fare.

Come Dive in Komodo After the Borders Open Up!
Our boat, crew and fish friends are waiting for you to explore once the pandemic settles down. Stay safe at home and enjoy time with family. Once the world re-opens we would love to see your happy diving faces!

Now is a time to move your focus from everyone else's lives to your own. What makes you happy? What have you been meaning to do for a while but haven't had the chance to tackle yet? It is not the time to compare yourself to other people and the activities that are keeping them busy. Focus on yourself and what you enjoy, rather than what other people are doing. Some people will be more productive than others. Some love to stick to a schedule while others thrive on living day by day. 

Stick To a Home Schedule

Move Your Body One Hour a Day Outside the Home

Keep Your Mental Health in Check

Organize Your Photos

Learn How to Edit Photos 

All those pictures you took while visiting Komodo National Park were perfect in your eyes, but can you adjust the brightness, contrast and luminance to make them pop?! Adobe Lightroom is an amazing editing tool to make your photos go from a six to a ten in no time! There are a ton of tutorials on YouTube that can assist you in the learning process. We would suggest testing out Lightroom with the 7-day trial to see if you enjoy it or not before purchasing. 

If you're tight on a budget, there are more than a few apps that you can download on your phone and get some quality editing in.  We suggest browsing around and seeing what programs you enjoy the best. This should take up some more time in isolation at home

Brush Up on Your Dive Knowledge

Dive courses are full on. Usually between 3-6 days of textbook studying, knowledge reviews, and practical open and confined water tests. Remember that course you took with NEREN ages ago and all the underwater sea life you encountered? Many of you may have gone through the course materials, and never looked at them again. Now it's been three years and the topics you covered in your rescue course are far from your memory. How does one rescue another human?

Dust off that PADI e-Library and start going through the topics. Test yourself before reading through the material by taking the knowledge reviews. You've probably forgotten more than you expected!

Learn About All the Fish That Crossed Your Path Underwater 

Remember the 8 different species of fish that you ran into underwater? Now, do you remember the names of all of them? It's time to open the interwebs and start learning the names of all your favorite fish! If you're feeling bored, you can always make yourself some fish flashcards and test yourself throughout the week. 

NEREN will be waiting for you in Komodo once the pandemic is over!