No drugs allowed. • Always use proper surf etiquette.
• Conserve as much water as possible – please take short showers.
• Always look out for other people.
• Put trash where it belongs.
• Housecleaning is everyday unless you request otherwise.
• There is a laundry service on a few of the boats, please put dirty clothes in the provided hamper and leave outside your cabin.
• Please use sunscreen, nothing can ruin your vacation more than a sunburn.
• Please share waves with the guests from the charter boats.
• We suggest covering up in evenings, long pants and long sleeves and taking malaria preventative medicine if available.
• Donations are welcome for the local people, extra medicine etc...
• Guests are welcome to tip their favorite staff member, or you can give to the captain to be distributed evenly among all employees.
5. Can I make a phone calls at the on the boats? Our boats currently use a variety of ways to stay in touch with the outside world. We offer a shared e-mail account onboard as well as two satellite phones and a fax machine. We do not have an internet connection.
6. What should we do in case of an earthquake or tsunami?
We only anchor in area we deem to be safe in case of a significant earthquake. If you feel an earthquake please alert the members of our staff onboard.
7. What are the boats we use for transport and surfing? We primarily use center console tenders with engines capable of exploring the regions we visit instead of having a limited range.
8. What is the dining experience like onboard? We offer full meals ranging from local Indonesian dishes to pasta plates, pizza, chicken and of course fresh fish. We consider every meal extremely important to give you the energy you need to surf all day. Indies Trader trips are famous for their food which is prepared by professional chefs!
There is a set schedule for meals so you don't have to wonder what time you eat. We will also have as many barbeques as possible; nothing is tastier or more satisfying than having a bbq with your close friends
9. What time are meals served? For early-birds, there is cereal, fruit salad, and toasts available in the galley
Breakfast - 6:00am - 8:00am -
Lunch - 12:30pm - 2:30pm
Dinner - 7:30pm - 8:30 pm
10. What types of alcoholic beverages are available?Beer is available for all of our guests, Bintang and Heineken in general. We also offer an assortment of Australian wines on some of the boats as well as a fairly decent selection of hard liquor. For an extra charge we can get a custom wine selection on your trip as well.
11. Can I be contacted while I'm on the boat? Yes, telephone and fax services are available for everyone. Incoming communications are not charged. However, be warned, calls to the boat are unbelievably expensive from the United States, to the tune of up to $12/minute - use only in case of dire emergency. Outgoing call charges are quite expensive as well but are a better idea if you don't want to get a surprise on your phone bill when you get home. You are required to pay for your phone call charges before the trip ends,
The best advice is to send e-mails, a service available on all of the boats for free. Internet is not available. Telephone numbers on for each boat can be found on our "Contact Information" page..
12. Can I check my e-mails while on the boat? Each boat is equipped with a shared e-mail account but the internet is not available onboard:
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M.V. Indies Trader I
+870 761 342 257
Fax: +870 761 342 258
Iridium : + 8816 214 11011
Indies.trader1@astmail.net
M.V. Indies Trader II 14. Can I bring my own dvds? Of course.
15. How much should I tip the staff when my trip finishes? This is entirely up to you. The average tip starts at around $50US and goes up from there; if you've had a great time, the staff did a wonderful job and were accommodating, let them know how you feel.
16. Can I celebrate a special occasion on the boat? Hopefully with enough advanced notice we can accommodate any and all requests.
17. What is your policy on illegal substances?Our operation is drug free. We have already been searched by Indonesian authorities upon the basis of an unfounded allegation. If drugs had of been found in passengers cabins or baggage we could have lost the vessel and faced imprisonment, along with the passenger. It's just not worth it!
18. What happens when the trip ends? Lamentably, when your trip ends you take a boat back to Rokot to catch your flight back to Padang. Click here to view our typical itinerary.
Helpful Hints
Surf Etiquette
Your trip to the Mentawai's should be the best experience possible. The very nature of the way in which waves break in the Mentawai's lends itself to an even higher degree of order and cooperation. Follow these rules and everyone will have a better session, especially you. Remember, you're on vacation!
1. Don't think you own the place.
When you arrive at a new spot and there is already a group surfing the worst thing you can do is to send out every surfer on your boat in an all out assault. It's just not cool. A good surf guide will show you how to strike a perfect balance by sending out a few surfers at a time and making the transition as subtle as possible.
2. Take your turn.
The majority of waves in the Mentawai's break like a classic point break. The most discouraging thing in the world is to have some clown paddling past you after every wave. For this rule, think assembly line, take your turn, go in order, and everyone will get their fair share of waves.
3. Hands up if you don't want it.
When it's your turn and you're waiting for the set of the day it always helps to let other people know your intentions. Most people will expect that you're going to be going on the next decent wave that comes through but by no means does that mean you have to go. When a wave is approaching that you are not interested in all you have to do is hold both of your hands up and out of the water to send a clear message to everyone that you're not going. This will eliminate any ambiguity and there will definitely be more waves to go around and a clear line of communication in the water.
4. Let it go.
It sucks to get burned on a small, weak day so you can imagine how much worse it is on a big, scary day. If you see someone paddling for a wave, even if they look like they aren't going to catch it, let it go. Getting stuffed on a double overhead grinder with the reef lurking a few feet below the surface and the possibility of getting stuck inside isn't worth the potential conflict.
5. Pick me up.
When you're ready to get picked up all you have to do is wave your board in the air from the channel. If there is someone injured, everyone in the line-up should wave their boards at the same time.
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The most important thing to remember on any surf vacation is to simply share waves!
Indies Trader Photo Galleries: What is the experience like on an Indies Trader boat trip? For most people it consists of three things, surfing, eating, and sleeping! (18 Questions)1. What are the waves like near in the Mentawai Islands? The Mentawai Islands are blessed with some of the most consistent, user friendly surf in the world. Waves range from friendly and rippable to downright scary. For an in-depth look at a few of the waves you will surf on your next expedition please visit our special "Waves" section by clicking here.
2. Where will we be surfing? We've covered a few of the more common spots, the rest you'll have to find out about on your own. Click here to see where you'll be surfing.
3. Any tips on proper surfing etiquette? Proper surf etiquette is crucial anywhere in the world. In the Mentawai Islands it's even more important - so important that we've developed a short list of suggestions that we hope all of our guests will consider during their vacation. You can find this information on the bottom of our "Waves" page.
4. Is there a general code of conduct I should follow during my stay? We work hard to give you the best experience possible. There really isn't a strict code of conduct on the boats, but in the next column and starting below are a few helpful tips for adjusting to life in paradise. The following list offers a quick glance at the do's and don'ts of boat living in the Mentawais.
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We work hard to give you the best experience possible, here are a few helpful tips for adjusting to life in paradise. The following list offers a quick glance at the do's and don'ts of resort living in the Mentawais.
• Feel free to ask our staff any questions at anytime or for anything you need.
• If you're hungry tell someone.
• Please smoke in designated areas only – outside only.
• Do your best to keep wet clothes outside.
• Point out problems or potential problems to the staff.
Indies Trader Contact Information: