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.
Itinerary
Day 1:
From Sorong to Dampier Channel
Pick up at Sorong airport and transfer to the boat. 5 hours sailing to reach Raja Ampat.
– 1st dive in Myoskon:
Maximum depth 25m: Wobbegong or carpet sharks, sweetlips, black tip sharks, snappers.– 2nd dive in Blue Magic:
Submerged reef, grey reef sharks, barracudas, tazars, sometimes manta rays.
Day 2
Dampier Channel to Kabul Bay
– 1st dive in Cape Kri:
One of the highlight dives in Raja Ampat. There are lots of fish to observe such as sweetlips, red snappers, barracudas, surgeon, reef shaks, manta rays, turtles, etc.– 2nd dive in Sardine:
Also one of the best. Sailing 3 hour to Kabul Bay, beautiful scenery with limestones, anchoring between 2 rocks and hanging around with speedboat after the 3rd dive.– 3rd dive in Passage:
Between river and sea. Encounter with turtles, sharks and especially nudibranchs.
Day 3
Arborek
– 1st dive in Mike’s Point:
A dive site that a bit exposed to the currents. Sublime topography and “swimthrough”, schools of sweetlips, batfish and groupers.– 2nd dive in Manta Sandy:
Cleaning station for manta rays.– 3rd dive in Arborek:
Sublime corals fixed on pontoon. Sailing to Yangefo to enjoy a stunning sunset in the Blue Mangrove.
Day 4
Wofoh Archipelago
– 1st dive in Batu Dalam:
Plenty of pelagics, sailing to Wofoh Island, white sandy beaches, corals well preserved and crystal clear water.– 2nd dive in Edi’s Black Forest, Wall, Caves and Canyons:
Beautiful topography and macro.– 3rd dive in Red Patch Wall:
Shallow dive and coral garden. Sailing to Alejui Bay.
Day 5
Alejui Bay
– 1st dive in Channel Island:
Deep dive up to 40m, perfect macro.– 2nd dive in White Arrow:
Wall full of coral, nudibranchs.– 3rd dive is a Night Dive in Solar Jetty:
Frogfish, nudibranchs, piperfish, stonefish, indian walkman, pegasus, leaffish and possible encounter with the “walking shark”.Don’t miss it!
Day 6
Kawe
– 1st dive in Channel #5:
Superb topography, rocks and broken walls.– 2nd dive in Pulau Roibe:
Groupers, sweetlips, sharks, etc.– 3rd dive in Canggo:
Strong currents, pinnacles, wobbegong, pygmy seahorse.Sailing to Wayag the lost paradise.
Day 7
Wayag
The fabulous archipelago of Mushroom Islands with the fabulous limestones, green turquoise water surrounded by stunning sandy beaches.
– 1st dive in Cathedral Rock: Well named.
– 2nd dive in Magic Rock: Surprising topography.
Beach time and hanging around with speedboat in the Wayag Lagoon. Lambo brings you to the heart of the lagoon where really few boats go in.
– 3rd dive in Figure Eight Rock & Mushroom Rock: Beautiful dive then trekking on Mount Pendito to see the sublime panorama.
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Day 8
Back to Kawe
– 1st dive in Black Rock:
Huge playground for divers. Known for the Rainbow trevalies.– 2nd dive in Eagle Rock:
Superb dive, black coral, caves. Known for the manta rays.Sailing to Penemu.
Day 9
Penemu
– 1st dive in Melissa’s Garden:
Amazing dive site with full of fishes, sharks and macro. One of the most beautiful coral garden in Raja Ampat.– 2nd dive in Denise Eden:
This site named after the sea horse. Ride the dinghy in the lagoon, again limestones scenery and sublime pictures to make.– 3rd dive in Galaxy: More Macro.
Day 10
Batanta
– 1st dive in North Pulau Dayang:
Macro and sometimes Manta.– 2nd dive in South Pulau Dayang:
Macro.Back to Sorong (overnightsailing).
The route and dives are always organized according to the weather conditions, the currents and tides.