About Scubaspa Zen
We keep the bow straight into the current rounding Loh Liang early on Day Two. The tide pushes hard through the strait, and even at 21 metres, Scubaspa Zen needs a steady hand on the wheel to maintain position while guests gear up. She’s not the longest vessel in the fleet, but her displacement hull cuts cleanly, and we’ve timed this run for slack water—just after first light. That way, the dragon trek on Komodo Island starts cool, with shadows still stretching across the savannah.
Scubaspa Zen was built in 2003 in Sulawesi using teak and ironwood, traditional materials that still serve her well. The single cabin sleeps two, and there’s no other group onboard. That changes how we run things. We adjust departure times based on guest preference, anchor closer to shore at Kalong Island to avoid long dinghy rides, and serve meals when you're ready—not on a fixed schedule. The crew of four includes a certified dive guide, and we keep the compressor running for those who want a third dive at Batu Bolong.
Day One starts with arrival in Labuan Bajo by noon. We board, stow gear, and push off by 13:30—just enough time to orient you to the dive kit lockers, the rinse tanks on deck, and the shaded lounge with fresh coconut water. By 15:00, we’re at Menjerite, where the reef slopes gently and mantas often glide past at midwater. Snorkeling here in the late light, you’ll see the sun hitting the current line where plankton gathers. We stay until dusk, then reposition overnight to anchor in Loh Liang’s lee, behind Komodo Island.
Day Three takes us to Taka Makassar—the sandbar that appears only at low tide. We time the visit for late morning, when the water’s calm and visibility peaks. After photos and a final swim, we move to Kanawa for a shallow reef drift with turtles. The boat meets us there, and we return to Labuan Bajo by 16:00. No rush, no crowded jetties. Just a clean run back with cold towels and a final debrief over spiced tea.
Our galley runs on propane, not induction, so meals have a proper flame-cooked taste. Breakfast is local: fried bananas, tempeh, eggs to order. Lunch is often a reef fish caught the day before, grilled with sambal matah. We keep hydration serious—filtered water in reusable bottles, electrolyte mix on deck during sun hours. The solar array charges the house battery bank, but we run the generator only in the early morning and evening, so quiet hours stay quiet.
This isn’t a floating hotel. There’s no gym, no steam room, no room service bell. But the dive platform is wide, the ladder has handrails on both sides, and the camera table has dedicated power for battery swaps. We carry spare regulators, backup torches, and a full DAN O2 kit. If you’re diving at Manta Point or Batu Bolong and surface away from the group, our crew in the support kayak will spot you fast.
