Raja Ampat is located in Papua, one of the furthest places you can get to in Indonesia, may give you a head shake but it’s a diver’s mecca that relatively divers should not miss. The location of the islands, most of which are remote from the nearest towns, makes the reef pure and seemingly untouched. The wide area of pristine blue water contains millions of reefs and fishes, many that you will never find anywhere else. Above the ground, small but soaring islands invite you to climb their peaks, while in between your excursions the friendly locals or your crew will have fun with you.
Day 1
SORONG
Pick up at Sorong airport, transfer to the boat, welcome drink and check in cabins. Check dive in the afternoon at one of the reefs surrounding Sorong. Overnight sailing to Misool.
Day 2 & 3
SAGOF
Two dives in Sagof, afternoon in Baby Rock and night dive in Nudi City (Gamfi).
Two dives in Jamur Boo (Boo Rocks) and night dive in Yilliet.
Day 4 & 5
PULAU KOON
Dive the fabulous reefs of the Fiabacet group, such as Nudi Rock, Tank Rock, Whale Rock and Shadow Reef (aka Manta Mountain). Optional visit to Misool Eco Resort and overnight sailing to Pulau Koon.
Three day dives around the very strategic eastern point of Pulau Koon, where the walls on both sides of the island converge into a sandy plateau facing a deep trench, congregating large masses of fish and the added excitement of some pelagic sightings.
Day 6 & 7
BANDA NEIRA
Dive around Karang Hatta and other sites in the Banda group. Night in Bandaneira, the most beautiful natural anchorage of Indonesia. Dusk dive at the mandarinfish site.
Dive the famous sites in Ai and Run Islands, with sheer walls offering excellent drift dives along massive barrel sponges, giant fans and schools of fish, and the eventual presence of larger fish. Afternoon dive in the Lava Flows, a stunning hard coral garden that grew at a astounding speed after Gunung Api’s last eruption in 1988.
Day 8 & 9
PULAU KOON – YILLIET
Cultural visit around Bandaneira, the heart of the Spice Islands : Fort Rotterdam, the Governors House and the nutmeg plantation. Dive Batu Kapal around noon and Pulau Soanggi in the afternoon. Overnight to Nusa Laut.
Two dives at the famous site Ameth’s Knoll, a reef parallel to the coast that the local villagers have protected since the old times, to allow fish to spawn and spill over to adjacent areas. Afternoon and night dives at the next village to the south.
Day 9 – 11
AMBON
Two muck dives around the jetty at the Twilight Zone, with a vast array of critters and oddities to be found. Preparation for departure the morning after.
Our tenders will take you ashore for your transfer to the airport for your onward travel.
The route and dives are always organized according to the weather conditions, the currents and tides.