NEWS
UPDATES
Ocean
Rover on Global “TOP TEN” Liveaboard List
Unterwasser,
a major European dive publication, listed Ocean Rover in their
April 2006 issue’s “The 10 Best Dive Safaris
in the World”. The magazine, which focuses on exotic
dive travel and underwater photography, listed their ten favourite
liveaboards in a colourful 18-page lay-out that included vessels
such as the esteemed Bilikiki and Canada’s Nautilus Explorer.
We are proud to be recognized as a world leader in the luxury liveaboard
industry and inspired to raise our cruises to ever higher standards.
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| Global
TOP TEN list |
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| Ocean
Rover listed |
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Ocean Rover Awarded Top Honours
Ocean Rover Cruises was named “Benchmark for a World
Class Liveaboard operation” in a recent Liveaboard
Survey conducted by Australasia
ScubaDiver Magazine, the official publication of the PADI
Diving Society in the Asia-Pacific region. The results were published
in the April issue and coincided with the ADEX dive show in Bangkok.
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| Ocean
Rover awarded Top Honours |
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Besides the quality of the diving, the extensive survey looked at
many aspects of liveaboard diving such as vessel safety and seaworthiness,
the crew-guest ratio, the level of service, the food and beverages
as well as the on board accommodation.
The Liveaboard Survey was conducted by an experienced team led
by well-known underwater photographer Michael Aw, who has personally
travelled on board most of the vessels listed in the survey. A
few quotes from the publisher:
“… After nearly twenty years of live-aboard diving
I found the operational standard and quality of the Ocean Rover
in Phuket to be one that can be used as the model, a benchmark
for rating the live-aboard boat operation. While the decor of the
boat [is not opulent] the quality of the service, operational standards
and diving is certainly world class.
[On a scale of] 1 to 10, I would score Ocean Rover as an overall
9, up there with the best of the best. After more then 15 years
competing for patronage of discerning divers from the USA and Europe,
the operational standard of the Ocean Rover can be used as a template
for others to emulate if they are serious in offering a world class
live-aboard service…” Read
actual comments from Ocean Rover guests
IMO Certification For Ocean Rover
ITS OFFICIAL: Ocean Rover is a safe passenger
vessel. Of course we knew this all along but it is rewarding
to see that Lloyd’s agrees with us.
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| Ocean
Rover, the safest dive vessel in Thailand |
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When we built Ocean Rover in 2000 we wanted a Thai flagged boat that
complied with International
Maritime Organization safety standards. Since Thailand is somewhat
behind in enforcing IMO regulations, we did our own research and
tried to comply as best we could. Finally, in June 2004, Lloyd’s
Register assigned Ocean Rover an IMO number and a Safety Management
Certificate.
To achieve this rating we had to purchase a fortune worth of
state-of-the-art (read post 9/11) electronic equipment to add
to our already well-stocked wheelhouse. We also had to send our
crewmembers to a new series of STWC training courses. The entire
process was a very educational experience, not in the least for
the Thai maritime authorities.
Sadly, Ocean Rover is one of the only liveaboards in
Southeast Asia that is IMO certified. The shocking truth
is that most (dive) boats plying Asia’s waters are
woefully unsafe and would never be allowed to take commercial passengers
to sea, had they been operating from western ports. This may
well explain the significant difference in price between liveaboards;
operating an IMO-certified vessel is far from cheap.
Next time you are shopping around for a liveaboard vacation;
ask the boat operator if his vessel has an IMO number and a Safety
Management Certificate. Otherwise that inexpensive dive cruise
could well turn out to be your costliest trip ever. Learn
more about Ocean Rover's IMO Certification.
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