TABARI DIVE LODGE

We spent two weeks in November with Brigitte and Jeff. It was an unforgettable stay in a homestay run with love. Accommodation and food were excellent, the personal care and commitment of the owners are exemplary. The team at the diving school and in the kitchen were very motivated and they read our every wish from our eyes. Good and varied food offer. The location is paradisiacal, and thanks to the limited number of accommodations, a family atmosphere sets in. Incomparable nature and dive spots like we have never seen before - manta rays, whales, etc. Definitely recommended and worth the long journey. Günther and Diana

Unfortunately, there are always guests you can never satisfy, especially from Europe. Selfishness and excessive demands are also present in this paradisiacal place. Jeff and Brigitte handle this too with professional hospitality.

Ive been in RA for 20 days at 3 Hstays. Tabari Location - Great for snorkel and diving sites, with fair priced dive and snorkel tours. T, on south coat of teeny tiny island Merpati, has Stunning ocean vista (with Batanta in distance). T is 15 min from southwest Gam, Arborek, Manta Sandy/Ridge and south Mansuar. Narrow but good beach (can walk almost whole circumference of island at low tide), not too hot at night (but bring usb charged fan). Best of all Lovely breeze, negating huge mozzie or slight dampness issues I had at other places Facilities- 7 cosy, well designed huts, private shower,seated toilet, sink, small veranda with ladder to beach and. Comfy queen bed, great netting but no mozzie worries unlike at bigger islands. Great long pier to snorkel off and view gorgeous sunsets Tours-Owner Jeff has 2 boats, runs mixed snorkel/dive morning and afternoon tours. Onsite dive shop superconveniet, well outfitted (I had own mask,fins). Ave prices with all dives works out less than pricey resorts w similar onsite dives on offer. Jeff and 2 super local dive guides (sighted pygmy seahorse) plus Jeff and 1 amazing snorkel guide Esron (sighted walking shark,scorpion, lion, stone fish all within 20 min on one tour) All work VERY hard to please clients and spot animals. Chat w Jeff when you arrive, what dives on schedule as changes with weather, currents. Homereef- Best of my 3 homestays, 2nd longest and healthiest, good variety of small reef fish, small blacktip sharks and a dugong sighting by a neighbor Food-Best of my 3 Hstays,tasty lasagna or pizza twice of 6 nights I stayed, sometimes fries on side, mostly rice and some veg with easily best quality fish I ate at Hstays. Fruit or cake (after dinner) for dessert, unlimited beverages available at canteen Staff-Super despite limited English. French owner Jeff always smiling, helpful (I fell ill and he was so caring) and nice to guests and staff alike. Cleanest of all my Hstays, staff freshens bathroom daily.

Gosh Nothing to dislike after SUPERB 6-day stay (T was not available for longer) and seeing such hard work and dedication from all to run this place in middle of nowhere, with onsite diveshop needing equipment and boat care. Worth to stay at least 6 nights. Just observations - bring meds for anything, even if just aspirin or over counter meds and first aid kit, as closest Dr is 1hr boat ride away. Shower pressure low but works. Pre-book w Jeff for any transfers way ahead of time. Note - T is a little farther away than than if you stayed Mansuar, from Cape Kri dives to northeast but not by too much - maybe a 35 min boat ride instead of 15. Bring charging banks as electricity only on in all RA Hstays, on late evening to about midnight

Very nice place to by... Friendly stuff and owner from french.. Happy with the diveteam ❤️🧜‍♂️

The location is absolutely marvellous just you and a few others on your own desert island. The rooms were basic but clean and comfortable with the sea lapping under your beachfront cabin at high tide. The staff only spoke a little English but were all wonderful so very helpful and very friendly. It was full board and the food was delicious. There is alot of different fish served in many very tasty ways but also chicken and lasagna and they really do try and vary the food every day. The owners are wonderful and the dive and snorkel team are brilliant. We only snorkel which is phenomenal and our guide Esron never left our sides and he spotted so much we would have missed.. We would go back again tomorrow without hesitation

Nothing.

Beautiful location, staff we're lovely, friendly and helpful. Brigitte, the owner and host was fabulous! We had our vegan diet catered for and the food was great and plentiful. We went out snorkelling and sightseeing with the dive crew, who were great. We made lots of new friends who shared this great experience with us.We can't recommend this place enough, we will definitely be back! Fiona & Trevor 😊❤️

We had an amazing stay at Tabari. The island is very beautiful and the coral reefs in front of the rooms are great for snorkeling. We saw many turtles, black tip sharks and rays just in front of our rooms. The food was good with lots of variety. My friend doesn't eat meat and gluten and she was accommodated every meal. Jeff and Brigitte were very helpful arranging all our (diving) excursions.

Nothing! Some of our group would get very hot at night (no electricity) so if you get easily hot I would recommend bringing a small fan (battery or usb charged) that you can clip on your mosquito net.

Amazing location, really lovely hosts Brigette and Jeff. The diving and snorkelling was just amazing, super remote tiny island paradise.

Very best service, diamond in the ruff. Bridget and Jeff were amazing hosts and just genuinely nice and caring people. Far exceeded what I thought for a dive lodge on the edge of the world.

Tabari Dive Lodge is exceptional. Not only is the location breath taking, the snorkeling, straight in front of the lodge, outstanding, the food plentiful and very tasty, the sunsets mesmerizing and the bungalows authentic, quaint and private with hammocks and deck chairs to laze about on while soaking up the turquoise water and white, white sand, it is the owners Brigette and Jeff who really make this place special. They are so very passionate about the biodiversity of the area and go out of their way to make sure you can engage with it in a way that allows you to get the most from your experience. They truly care about the wellbeing of all their guests and Brigette make a mean cocktail while Jeff exudes excitement for every dive! Daily dive trips are arranged to a vast range of locations, many of which are excellent for snorkelers so don't worry of you are not a diver, I am not and had some unique experiences seeing a vast array of marine life I have never seen before. The lodge itself has resident black reef sharks- they talk about them as though they are pets and although I am desperately afraid of them, by the end of the holiday I was enthusiastic to see them while snorkeling and I did to my delight. There is also a number of turtles, vast living coral, fans, squirts and clearly tropical fish but most importantly they have a resident Dugong. These beautiful mammals are highly endangered and it is a very special experience to swim along side these graceful and gentle animals- we were so blessed to have this experience twice. Late afternoon is the best time to have an encounter with the Dugong. I actually think there are two as the first we saw seemed bigger and they do mate for life but are quite a solitary animal.. At low tide there is a beautiful deep swimming hole directly across the island accessible by a short walk through the coconut trees. It is 2-3 meters in depth and very refreshing.