From the Dampier Strait to the gorgeous Wayag, this cruise offers world class diving and some stunning landscape. This loop, compared to the Southern one, will fit to people not only focused on scuba diving, but also keen on discovering the Raja Ampat archipelago on land.
Our first stop will be in the Dampier Strait, which sits directly in the path of the Indonesian trough flow. 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 pelagic 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 highly valuable 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, Canggo with swimthrough, overhangs, pinnacles and schools of fish or Black Rock, a large plateau with massive boulders covered of 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 limestone islands 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. We will end the cruise around the island of Penemu, to end on high note in the Dampier Strait.
The day-to-day itinerary describes the dives. Snorkeling takes place at the same or close-by locations.
Day 1
From Sorong to Dampier Straight
After approximately 1 hour of navigation, we will have our first dive check in Lampu Merah. 5 hours sailing to the Raja Ampat National Park.
Day 2
DAMPIER STRAIT
CAPE KRI: The one you cannot miss from the Dampier. A real legend. Hundreds of species of fish gather here for the pleasure of the divers.
SORIDO WALL: Close from Cape Kri, this site is amazing during high tide.
SAWANDAREK JETTY: A jetty covered with purple soft coral, which attracts a lot of fish. Some pygmy seahorses can be spotted (Pontohi) also.
Navigation to Yangeffo. Mooring for the night
Day 3
YANGEFFO AND PEF
MAYHEM: A submerged reef with an abundant marine life. Yellow fins barracudas, sweetlips, grey and black tip sharks gather here. For the lucky ones a face to face with the famous wobbegong!
CITRUS RIDGE: a submerged ridge which crosses the strait, separating Gam from Yangefo. Amazingly colorful hard coral, barracudas and wobbegong.
PEF SEAMOUNT: another seamount on the western part of Pef, with an incredible marine life, a lot of black tips and schools of fish. Dinghy ride in the mangroves of Pef.
Day 4
PENEMU ISLAND
YEBEN KECIL: Underwater ridge full of fish and amazing soft and hard corals. Barracuda, seamount famous for the schools of bumphead parrot fish, surgeon fish and obviously barracudas.
Dinghy ride in the lagoon of Penemu and hike to the top of the hill to enjoy this breathtaking panorama of sublime limestones.
GALAXY: This site is located in front of the lagoon of Penemu. Easy dive in an intact coral garden. Perfect for a third dive.
Mooring in the South of the island.
Day 5
PENEMU ISLAND
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.
MY REEF: A ridge one that cannot be found on the marine maps. Located in the North of the island of Penemu. Yellow fins barracudas, jack fish, reef sharks and groupers…
HARTO’S REEF: The perfect place to search for one of the super star of the park. Indeed, numerous sea fans host the famous pygmy seahorses: Denise or Barbiganti.
Mooring on the South East of the island.
Day 6
DAMPIER STRAIT
MANTA SANDY: Cleaning station for the Manta rays.
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.
TAPOKRENG: (Night dive), the best night dive in the area. Octopus, rhinopias, ghost pipefish and numerous species of scorpion fish are spotted there. A must!
Mooring in front of the village of Tapokreng.
Day 7
DAMPIER STRAIT
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.
BATU LIMA: A beautiful sandy area with multicolor coral boomies.
BLUE MAGIC: Highlight to end up this cruise with last beautiful underwater session. Grey sharks, barracudas, wobbegong, big eye trevallies, spanish mackerel and who knows, some oceanic mantas could come to say goodbye!
5 hours sailing to Sorong.
Day 8
DEPARTURE SORONG
End of the trip and transfer to airport according to your flight schedule.
The route and dives are always organized according to the weather conditions, the currents and tides.