点评:This review is long overdue. We were there in August, and we’re still thinking about it.
I’d been following how the Alor dive scene is developing, and while researching it I got curious about the newly opened and absolutely tiny (just 4 rooms) Dive In Alor. I asked about dates, got a quick and friendly reply, and the booking was done without any hassle. Booking a dive resort has become a Byzantine task these days, with endless forms to fill out, so it was a promising first sign that Dive In Alor bucks the trend.
Airport pickup and drop-off are included in the price, and when we arrived, we got a very nice welcome from the hardworking and friendly staff. The owners, Georgia and Dimas are extremely experienced dive guides, but what really stood out was how attentive and empathetic they are. They have a real talent for reading people, because my girlfriend was a little anxious at the start, and without any fuss they gave her the extra time and attention she needed. They made sure everyone felt comfortable, so the dives were enjoyable for all of us. They’re also clearly keen to give their guests the best experience possible. While we were all having lunch together, they would be on the Alor dive-site booking system, trying to be first to grab the best sites for the next day.
The diving was some of the most effortless I’ve ever done. All the equipment was new and very well maintained, and everything felt lighter than at most other resorts, even the tanks (literally: I think they’re aluminium rather than steel). After my first morning dive I was asked whether I preferred tea or coffee, and for the rest of my stay a nice cup of coffee was waiting for me after every morning dive.
You can really feel how much thought and real diving experience went into designing both the resort and the boat. The rooms have an extra side door straight into the bathroom, so you can walk in wearing wet clothes without dripping through the room. The gear and rinse area is right by the entrance where you come back from diving. At many dive centres it’s tucked away at the back, which is a hassle.
And the diving itself? Absolutely spectacular. Top marks for visibility, topography and healthy reefs. We saw bamboo sharks, wobbegongs, octopuses, and loads of eels and shrimps. Muck-diving fanatics will find an insane amount of critters. We also saw a decent amount of big-ish stuff, but the elusive hammerheads and the like take luck, with conditions as well as timing. Alor diving can be wild! We even heard whales underwater, though they never showed themselves.
Outside of diving, Georgia and Dimas help organise land tours. We went to visit a very lonely and rather randy dugong, followed by sunset viewing. Highly recommended.
The local food, served three times a day, is varied and delicious. They make some very nice variations on Indonesian warung staples, and their fried chicken easily beats KFC and the like. The fridge is stocked with very reasonably priced soft drinks and beer. The beer is best enjoyed on their airy terrace with the jaw-dropping sunset over the Pantar Strait.
Apart from that, the dive centre follows the rhythm of the sun. Breakfast is usually around 6:30, and the place is quiet by 8 pm. I wouldn’t recommend DiveInAlor if you’re after an epic party holiday, but if that’s your priority, I have no idea why you’re reading a review of an Alor dive centre...
My only real concerns are whether the place can stay profitable, since it’s ridiculously good value for money, and whether Georgia and Dimas can keep hosting people without getting socially exhausted. I guess one way to cope with the latter is to turn your guests into regulars. It worked on us: we’re already planning to go back next summer.
翻译:这篇评论早就该写了。我们八月份去的,至今仍对那里念念不忘。
我一直在关注阿洛岛潜水业的发展情况,在了解过程中,我对新开张的、规模极小的“Dive In Alor”度假村产生了兴趣——它只有4间客房而已。我询问了入住日期,很快便得到了热情友善的回复,预订过程也毫无波折。如今预订一家潜水度假村简直像走迷宫一般繁琐,需要填写无数表格。因此,这无疑是一个积极的信号,表明“Dive In Alor”能够逆势而上。
费用中已包含机场接送服务。我们抵达后,热情友善且勤奋的员工给予了我们热情的接待。店主乔治亚和迪马斯都是经验极其丰富的潜水向导,但最让人印象深刻的是他们的细心与同理心。他们极具洞察人心的能力——因为一开始我的女朋友还有些紧张。他们毫不费事地给予了她所需的额外时间及关照。他们确保每个人都感到自在,因此这次潜水对我们所有人来说都乐趣无穷。显然,他们也一心想为客人提供最完美的体验。当我们一起用午餐时,他们还在阿洛尔的潜水点预订系统上忙碌着,试图抢先预定到第二天最好的潜水点。
这次潜水是我经历过的最轻松自在的一次。所有的设备都是新的且维护得非常好,整个体验感觉比大多数其他度假村都要轻松,就连潜水气瓶也如此(说实话,我觉得它们是铝制的而非钢制的)。第一次晨潜结束后,工作人员问我喜欢茶还是咖啡;在接下来的住宿期间,每次晨潜结束后都有一杯香浓的咖啡等着我。
从度假村和游船的设计中,你真能感受到设计者倾注了多少心血以及他们自身丰富的潜水经验。每个房间都设有一扇侧门,可直接通往浴室,这样即使穿着湿衣服也能直接进去,而不会把水弄得到处都是。冲洗装备的区域就在潜水归来后的入口处;而在很多潜水中心,这个区域往往设在较偏僻的角落,使用起来颇为不便。
至于潜水体验呢?绝对精彩至极。水质清澈度、海底地形以及珊瑚礁的繁茂程度都堪称一流。我们看到了竹鲨、地毯鲨、章鱼,还有大量的海鳗和虾类。热衷于泥潜的爱好者们定会发现这里有数量惊人的海洋生物。我们也看到了不少体型较大的海洋生物,不过那些难得一见的锤头鲨之类的则需要运气、合适的环境以及恰当的时机才能遇见。在阿洛尔潜水真是刺激至极!我们甚至在水下听到了鲸鱼的叫声,只是它们始终没有现身。
除了潜水,Georgia和Dimas还会协助安排陆上观光项目。我们去探访了一只独居且性欲旺盛的海牛,之后还欣赏了日落美景。强烈推荐这些活动。
当地美食一天供应三次。食物种类丰富且美味。他们把印尼传统的街头小吃做出了很多不错的变式料理,而他们的炸鸡更是远胜肯德基之类的连锁店。冰箱里备有价格十分实惠的软饮料和啤酒。在通风良好的露台上,伴着潘塔尔海峡令人惊叹的日落美景,品饮啤酒最为惬意。
除此之外,潜水中心的活动也随太阳的作息而变化。早餐通常在6点半左右供应,到了晚上8点,这里便一片寂静了。如果你追求的是一场热闹疯狂的派对式度假,那我并不推荐DiveInAlor;不过既然这是你的首要目标,我也不明白你为何还要阅读一家阿罗尔潜水中心的评论呢……
我真正担心的只有两点:其一,这家店能否持续盈利?因为它的性价比实在高得离谱;其二,Georgia和Dimas能否在热情接待客人的同时不至于精疲力尽。我想应对后一种情况的一个办法,就是把客人变成常客吧。它对我们很有效:我们已经计划明年夏天再去。