Reiserute
The area known as Raja Ampat is an archipelago consisting in 4 main islands surrounded by over 1500 smaller islands and cays. This area is part of the West Papua province of Indonesia marine region with more recorded fish, coral and mollusks species than anywhere else on the planet
Some areas boost
enormous schools of fishes ; there are spots with large groups of manta
rays, other with schools of barracudas, trevallies, bump head parrot
fish, large groupers, and of course always a great variety of critters.
The reefs are varied as their inhabitants, with vertical walls,
seamounts, pinnacles, slopes, caves, lagoons, some more covered with
hard corals and other displaying colorful soft corals. Everywhere you
will find a lot of gorgonians with their resident
To put it simply, Raja Ampat is without a doubt one of the best dive spots in the world! If you do not get a kick out of diving here, you might as well find yourself a new hobby and sell your equipment.
Day 1: MV Ambai staff will welcome you at Sorong airport (morning flight). A short ride from the airport and you will be on board. Welcome drinks, Briefing, and we will be departing to Dampier Strait.
Day 2: Dampier Strait. Morning check dive followed by 2 dives in the Dampier Strait, selected according to the tides and currents among the best dives of the area : Mioskon, Sardine reef, Chicken reef, Mikes point, Arborek, Friwibonda, Blue Magic and of course Manta Sandy…(the most reliable congregation point of Manta rays)
All these dives have intense fish life on gorgious reefs. Schools of fusiliers, barracudas, trevallies, with biger predators like reef sharks, tunas and spanish mackerels running around.
Day 3: One dive in Dampier strait, then Citrus ridge and Mangrove ridge at the west point of Gam island. Night dive.
Diving Raja Ampat
The term "Frontier Diving" seems to have been invented for the Raja Ampat islands. Visibility is normally very good but can vary and is normally at its best earlier in the day so your pre-breakfast dives are not to be slept through!Over 1,200 fish species - a world record 284 on 1 single dive at Kofiau Island, the benchmark figure for an excellent dive site of 200 fish species surpassed on 51% of Raja Ampat dives (another world record), 600 coral species (a remarkable 97% of all scleratinia recorded from Indonesia are likely to occur in these islands), 699 mollusc species - again another world high. It is believed that the region will soon receive protected area status. At Mansuar it's highly likely you'll encounter large groups of manta rays and turtles. Some areas boast enormous schools of fish and regular sightings of sharks, such as wobbegongs. To gaze over the crystalline seas from onboard a liveaboard at the beehive-shaped, largely uninhabited islands is to be as far away from it all as you can imagine. To visit these waters is to feel at the edge of the earth.
Scuba diving in West Papua mostly takes the form of drift dives due to the moderate currents prevalent in the area, which provide nutrients for the myriad fish and coral. The variety of marine life can be staggering. At many places on the sea in Asia, the night sky is lit up like Piccadilly Circus by fishing boats.
Due to the sometimes strong currents, diving in Raja Ampat is not really considered a good choice for absolute beginners, rather for scuba divers with a few dives under their weightbelts looking to get away from the crowds. From the boat and often close to shore you may get the chance to don your snorkelling gear for some unforgettable interaction with resident pods of dolphins or even some passing whales.
Day 4: One morning dive in West Gam (Mayhem), a pinnacle where abounds fishes and pigmy sea horse. 2nd dive in Wofo, a ridge with an extensive black coral forest at 30 meters. We will then enter the large Aljuy bay for a macro dive on White arrow: great variety of rare nudibranches, Coleman’s shrimps on fire urchins, pigmy sea horse, along a nice wall covered with gorgonians. The night dive in the bay, under a peer, is probably the best of the area: Wobegons, walking sharks, frogfish, and much more.
Day 5: Early departure for diving on Eagle Rock, at the South of Kawe island, if the weather allows it, a great dive where mantas are often spotted. 2nd dive will be Black Rock on West Kawe, often acclaimed as the best dive of the cruise by our guests. After this dive we will directly go to the Wayag bay. Arriving there, we will climb the famous Mount Pindito, from where you can admire the fabulous landscape of Wayag and do a ride around the bay with the dinghies. A night dive inside the bay is offered.
Day 6: Morning dive in Wayag, Figure eight, followed by Changoo, (another fantastic dive East of Kawe island, wall and caves with schools of sweetlips and trevallies. Third dive on Roibe island, still East of Kawe. We will then head back to Dampier strait during the night.
Day 7: Dampier strait and Batanta island. Dayang island is a site where we often see mantas on a shallow ridge. Then we will dive 2 more site on the north side of Batanta, more critters oriented. Night dive.
Day 8: We propose a short trek in the jungle on the early morning to look for the Birds of Paradise. If it is not raining, there are very good chances that we see them having their mating parade. 2 other dives in Dampier strait and night dive.
Day 9: One or 2 dives according to your flight back departure time, then after a visit to a beach we will head back to Sorong.
Day 10: After your breakfast and the traditional crew picture and farewell, it will be time for your transfer to the airport. Our staff will help be there to help you checking in.
