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THE CHENG HO LIVEABOARD OVERVIEW
  
The Cheng Ho is a modified Pinisi (Bugis) Schooner constructed in 2002. Blending in perfectly with the environment, these boats are the most impressive fleet of wooden sailing vessels still in regular commercial work.
Constructed with three decks the Cheng Ho gives you plenty of space to lose oneself; whether it is in the air-conditioned comfort of the large saloon or on the decks under the shade of one of the ship's huge sails.
Very importantly the liveaboard is comprehensively refitted during an annual dry docking at the beginning of the year plus regular maintainance is carried out throughout the year to ensure that the vessel is always seaworthy.
Facilities & services
The Cheng Ho is our newest and biggest vessel. With a length of 49 meters, a beam of 11 meters and three decks this liveaboard offers total comfort and plenty of room to lose yourself between dives.
the cabins & state rooms
All cabins and staterooms are equipped with private bathrooms, ample hot water, individual air-condition units and wireless email access. The cabins are cleaned twice a day with a turn down service at night.
There are 13 cabins and staterooms catering for a maximum of 20 divers.
On-board facilities
The main salon is fully air conditioned and features a comfortable lounge area, shop and library corner. Also equipped with sound system, TV, Video and DVD player and wireless email access. The Cheng Ho has her own cinema room featuring a wide selection of movies and comfortable seating arrangements as well as DVD projector for slide show enthusiasts.
There are equipment service areas, a private library and a lounge area with a wide selection of fish and wildlife books, novels, travel guidebooks, a music collection plus current movies and documentaries relevant to the area.
A sample of the onboard facilities:
* TV, Video Cassette, DVD and Video CD player
* Video, CD, DVD and music CD library
* Slide and digital projectors
* Wireless email access
* Camera battery charging stations, 220/110 volt
* Satellite phones and e-mail access
* Laptop power points
Dive facilities
T he Cheng Ho is expertly equipped to suit long range liveaboard scuba diving and underwater photography. Nitrox and rental equipment is available on board and all diving is from tenders.
* 24 individual tank and camera stations with lockers
* 2 x fibreglass dive tenders -10 pax - 2 x 40 Hp
* 1 x Viking dive tender - 6 pax - 1 x 60 hp
* 3 x 450 E L & W Compressors
* NITROX Membrane System
* 6-cylinder air-bank system
* On deck shower and toilet
* Camera workstations
Onboard services
Much like a luxury hotel, you can expect first class personalised service, both on the water and underneath. With a very high staff to guest ratio on board service is excellent. Languages spoken include German, French, Spanish, Italian, Indonesian and English.
main deck bunk bed cabin
* Laundry and pressing service
* Massage & Spa service
* First Class food and beverage
* Vegetarian menu upon request
* E6 slide processing
* Scuba and snorkeling equipment for hire
* Onboard equipment servicing and spare parts
* PADI/SDI/TDI & NITROX courses
A typical day on board
A typical day on one of the Cheng Ho Dive Voyages liveaboards offers a simple and relaxing lifestyle on a spacious and luxurious dive vessel while visiting and diving some of Indonesia's most interesting and beautiful locations.
the morning
The day begins at around 6:30 am with a pre dive snack of fresh croissants, tea or coffee, assorted fruits and cereals. Before the first dive the dining room steward will take your order for the main fully cooked breakfast. We gear up for the first dive of the day about 7:30.
the day
The entire day is dedicated to scuba diving unless we are steaming to a new dive site or have a shore expedition planned. There is often a chance to go ashore if the tender boats are available, just ask the live aboard crew to take you.
Daily activities on the live aboard are signaled by a bell, as a rule of thumb when the bell rings and your hair is dry it's time to dive and if your hair is wet it's time to eat.
 Lunch is usually served around 12:30 after the second dive. It usually consists of a combination of cold cuts, cheeses, fresh rolls, and warm Indonesian dishes.
About 2:30 it is time for the third dive of the day, which is followed by afternoon tea served on the rear lounge deck. Depending on our location we may have time for a fourth day dive for those with the extra energy.
Between dives you can enjoy a massage or just relax on the sundecks, the shady rear lounge deck or in the air conditioned salon.
the evening
The last dive of the day is usually a night dive and should not be missed as it offers a chance to see some of the most unusual reef critters in the world.
About 8:00 the bell rings for dinner which is served by the stewards in the main salon. Two nights during the cruise we move our tables and serve dinner under the stars on the bridge deck.
After dinner you can relax in the main salon and watch a video on the modern entertainment system, read a book from the extensive library, relax under the stars on the top teck or just retire to your cabin.
During the cruise there is a talk and slide show about the marine biodiversity of the region given by one of the knowledgeable Cheng Ho dive staff.
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