Reef Encounter

I joined the 3 days / 2 nights liveaboard package and completed my Open Water Diver course during the trip. Overall, it was a very good experience, and I successfully finished the course by the end. I would especially like to recommend David, the dive instructor. He is very patient, explains both the theory and skills clearly, and has his own effective way of teaching. As a student, I felt relaxed and well supported during the whole learning process. I highly recommend him, and I hope it will be possible to request him as an instructor when booking. One small suggestion: one of the instructors whose native language is Spanish was a bit difficult to understand for students whose first language is not English. Sometimes Spanish words were mixed into the explanation, which made it harder to follow. It would be great if the English used during teaching could be a bit more standard and clear for international students. Aside from that, the food, service, and overall care on the boat were excellent. The staff were thoughtful and professional, and most parts of the trip were very well organized. I would still recommend this experience to others.

Flawless experience. My husband and I are vegans and we’re always anxious about being stuck in a boat with limited food options. There was nothing to worry about here. Reef Encounter was extremely accommodating to us, proving ample and …

We did 3D/2N Open Water Diver Certification course with Top Deck Experience and it was totally worth it. The course is fast paced but the crew is fantastic so rest assured your instructor will help you through the finish line. We were paired with Alexandra who was the best trainer that we could have asked for. She helped us at every step since the time she met us at Marina until we were dropped off at Marina. She was compassionate and helpful when we had a tough time in the water and helped us achieve our certification. She also took dozens of photos and videos of both of us and ocean life in our action camera. Food: It was surprisingly good and beyond my expectations for being in the middle of the ocean. All the meals were freshly cooked and none of the main courses were frozen meals but real food. Plus desserts were the best. Boat: Yes the condition of the boat is just ok, its old, but the rooms were not bad, just not updated to modern standards. I do see that they will be updating the boat in Feb'26 so hopefully it's as good as promised and maybe we'll come back again. Reefs: We only went to Norman and Saxon reefs but there are different sides of the reef to explore so you won't get bored of them. Saw tons of different fish like humphead parrotfish, sharks, nemo, turtles, stingray, and everything in between. This will be a trip of your lifetime if you choose to go with them. The crew works very hard from cooking to cleaning, setting up gears to coaching people and I couldn't be thankful enough to all of them. Bong bing