[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_inset=”0px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_inset=”0px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px 0px 15px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]From the Dampier Strait to the gorgeous Wayag, this cruise offers worldclass diving and some stunning landscapes. This loop, compared to the Southern one, will fit to people not only focused on scubadiving, but also keen on discovering the Raja Ampat archipelago on land.
As for the divers, we can reorganize the route to Misool where the best spots are waiting for you!
Our first stop will be in the Dampier Strait, that sits directly in the path of the Indonesian throughflow. On most of the dive sites of the area, the sweet spot is where the current hits the reef, bringing some high concentrated nutrients waters. Schools of fish, cruising pelagics and sharks are all concentrated on that strategic point. Famous also for its birds of Paradise, labyrinthine mangroves, lush forests, white sand beaches and traditional Papuan villages, The Dampier Strait is full of surface interval activities.
In the rich waters of Aljui Bay, chosen by the Atlas farm to grow its high value pearls, you will dive steep walls covered with soft coral, sponges and invertebrates. Kawe has great dives to offer. Eagle Rock and its cleaning station for Manta rays surrounded with swimthrough, overhangs, pinnacles and schools of fish or Black Rock, a large plateau with massive boulders covered with black coral bushes.
The visit of the inner lagoon of Wayag is the highlight of the cruise and definitely the most spectacular landscape of the Raja Ampat archipelago. You will climb the Mount Pindito and explore this last Eden on earth. Numerous karst rock formations with white sand beaches and crystal clear waters are standing in the middle of nowhere and create a perfect protected area to moor up. We will also dive around those mushroom-shaped rocks.
The end of the cruise will be split between the underwater exploration of Penemu island and the North of Batanta with a final walk to its splendid waterfall.
[/cs_text][x_custom_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”false”]Itinerary[/x_custom_headline][x_slider animation=”slide” slide_time=”7000″ slide_speed=”1000″ slideshow=”false” random=”false” control_nav=”false” prev_next_nav=”true” no_container=”false” ][x_slide]
Day 1:
From Sorong to Dampier Channel
Upon arrival in Sorong, you will be picked up at airport by our team to join the boat. Welcome drink, boat briefing including safety rules on board and introduction of the crew members
5 hours sailing to reach Raja Ampat
Dive 1: Myoskon, maximum depth 25m, Wobbegong or carpet sharks, sweetlips, black tip sharks, snappers
Dive 2: Blue Magic, submerged reef, grey reef sharks, barracudas, tazars, sometimes manta rays
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Day 2
Dampier Channel to Kabul Bay
For the most motivated ones, a trekking at dawn to observe the famous Birds of Paradise will be organized. Please note that people willing to do it could not join for the morning dive.
Dive 1: Cape Kri, one of the Dampier Straight highlight. An impressive marine life. Large school of barracudas, big eyes trevallies, sweatlips, snappers, Encounter with grey reef and blacktip sharks, spanish mackerel, turtles… Intense!
Dive 2: Sardine, THE seamount of the strait. Another site which cannot be missed!
Sailing 3 hours to Kabul Bay, beautiful scenery with limestones, anchoring between 2 rocks and dinghy ride after the 3rd dive.
Dive 3: Passage, between river and sea. Encounter with turtles, sharks and especially nudibranchs.
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Day 3
Arborek
Dive 1: Mike’s Point, exposed to strong currents, this site offers a beautiful topography with overhangs and swimthrough. Sweatlips, batfishes and groupers love to congregate there.
Dive 2: Manta Sandy, cleaning station for manta rays.
Visit of Arborek, papu village supported by many international organizations.
Dive 3: Arborek, sublime corals fixed under a pontoon.
Sailing to Yangefo to enjoy a stunning sunset in the Blue Mangrove.
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Day 4
Wofoh Archipelago
Sailing to Wofoh Island, white sandy beaches, corals well preserved and crystal clear water.
Dive 1: Batu Dalam, plenty of pelagics
Dive 2: Edi’s Black Forest, Wall, Caves and Canyons, beautiful topography and macro.
Dive 3: Red Patch Wall, shallow dive and coral garden.
Sailing to Alejui Bay.
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Day 5
Alejui Bay
Dive 1: Channel Island, deep dive up to 40m, perfect macro.
Visit of the ATLAS pearl farm
Dive 2: White Arrow, wall full of coral, nudibranchs.
Dive 3: Night dive in Solar Jetty, frogfish, nudibranchs, piperfish, stonefish, indian walkman, pegasus, leaffish and possible encounter with the “walking shark”.
Don’t miss it!
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Day 6
Kawe
Dive 1: Pulau Roibe, groupers, sweetlips, sharks, etc.
Dive 2: Canggo, strong currents, pinnacles, wobbegong, pygmy seahorse.
Sailing to Wayag, the lost paradise.
Dive 3: Figure eight rock, two walls and coral slope.
Arrival in Wayag end of afternoon.
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Day 7
Wayag
The fabulous archipelago of Mushroom Islands with the fabulous limestones, green turquoise water surrounded by stunning sandy beaches
Dive 1: Cathedral Rock, superb topography with a huge arch of 15 meters length, rising from 25 to 15 meters depth. Grey reef, marble ray, eagles ray etc…
Dive 2: Magic Rock, surprising topography. Beach time and dinghy in the Wayag Lagoon. Lambo brings you to the heart of the lagoon where only few boats go
Dive 3: Figure Eight Rock & Mushroom Rock, beautiful dive.
Trekking on Mount Pendito to see the sublime panorama
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Day 8
Back to Kawe
Dive 1: Black Rock, huge playground for divers. Known for the rainbow trevallies
Dive 2: Eagle Rock, superb dive, black coral, caves. Possible encounter with manta rays
Sailing to Penemu
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Day 9
Penemu
Dive 1: Melissa’s Garden, famous dive site in Raja Ampat. It is absolutely stunning and full of life!
Field of unharmed staghorn coral in the safety stop area. So uplifting to find such an preserved coral nowadays! Some underwater ridges from each part of the site guarantee the sight of pelagic and sharks coming from the deep.
Dive 2: Denise Eden, this site named after the seahorse. Dinghy ride in the lagoon, again limestones scenery and sublime pictures to make.
Dive 3: Galaxy, this site is located in front of the lagoon of Penemu. Easy dive in an intact coral garden. Perfect for a third dive!
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Day 10
Batanta
Dive 1: North Pulau Dayang, Macro and sometimes Manta
Dive 2: South Pulau Dayang, Macro.
Walk along a beautiful trail to the waterfall
Back to Sorong, overnight sailing
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Day 11
Sorong
End of the trip and transfer to the airport according to your flight schedules
[/x_slide][/x_slider][cs_text]The route and dives are always organized according to the weather conditions, the currents and tides.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]