The latest studies indicate that as much as 27% of monitored reef formations have been lost globally. In the Indo-Pacific ocean, home to Komodo National Park, the reef is disappearing at twice the rate that rainforests are. Bearing in mind that we all know how fast the rainforest is disappearing, this is not acceptable. In 1980, […]
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December 4, 2019
November 22, 2019
November 7, 2019
JAYA EXPEDITION 12 Days/11 Nights
August 4th-15th 2020 – Manokwari to Nabire
Base price US$2600 (10% discount to return customers of Scuba Republic and dive professionals)
August 18th-29th 2020 – Nabire to Manokwari
Base price US$2600 (10% discount to return customers of Scuba Republic and dive professionals)
Cenderawasih Bay, in East Papua, is the largest marine park in Indonesia and home to incredible natural landscapes above and below the blue ocean surface. The various islands scattered about feature limestone cliffs, dense natural forests, and sandy-ringed atolls atop a beautiful underwater showcase of steep hard coral-rich walls teeming with our favorite Indonesian tropical reef fish as well as some endemic fish, such as various fusiliers and butterflyfish.
It is of course home to the largest fish in the sea, the whale shark. The whale sharks gather in various spots near ‘bagans’, floating platforms which target small baitfish and squid. The fishermen warmly receive the many visiting whalesharks who are thought to bring good luck. This is one of the best locations in the world for seeing several whale sharks at a time!
As the bay was once a Japanese stronghold during World War 2, several Japanese wrecks lie at depths suitable for diving including patrol boats and a large freighter. These coral-encrusted pieces of history add to the incredible underwater scenery that can be found in Cenderawasih Bay.
During our exploration expeditions, we’ll explore from Manokwari Bay down to Nabire on the first trip and return to Manokwari from Nabire for the second trip. Along our journeys, we’ll aim to dive at the following locations and more to reach at least 33 dives.
Cross Wreck: Named because of the white cross located off the beach, the point where Christian missionaries first arrived in Papua in the 19th century, this 35-meter long former coastal patrol boat sits upright on the sandy bottom at 20 meters. The top deck features impressive coral growth and is where smaller subjects such as nudibranchs and pipefish can be found.
Shinwa Maru: On November 21, 1943, the Japanese freighter Shinwa Maru was bombed on the bow and sank immediately with most of the 120-meter longboat still intact and left lying port-side up at 35 meters deep, only about 200 meters offshore near Manokwari.
Palau Purup: There are several wall dive sites around this island featuring elephant ear sponges, sea fans, whips, and hard corals with sandy patches in the shallower areas. With some current, several schools of fish can be enticed to the reefs here including aggregates of fusiliers, giant trevallies, barracudas, and reef sharks.
Palau Mioswar: The southeast corner of Mioswar is known for large schools of anthias hovering over the reef as well as Napoleon wrasse, midnight snappers, and sweetlips. Painted frogfish have also been seen here.
Palau Rippon: Known for sightings of hawksbill and green turtles and barracudas, Rippon also offers a shallow 12-meter site featuring the remaining wings and fuselage of a bombed World War II aircraft.
Kwatisore Bay or Whaleshark Bay: The bay features several bagans which attract the large whale sharks. Diving is permitted but often snorkeling offers a better vantage point for which to witness the whale sharks feeding from these fishing areas. (Please note: we will not be touching or chasing any whale sharks on this trip.)
Pulau Numfoor: This island has beautiful steep wall dives and is known for some current that can bring in larger fish like barracudas, trevallies, sharks, groupers, and tunas.
Palau Sudumpari: Located in the Numamuran Strait, dives here become ‘fishier’ as the current increases. Look for large fish such as trevallies, barracudas, sharks, and rays.
Tridacna Atoll: Located 25 kilometers east of Wandammen Peninsula, this stunning atoll features an amazing array of Acropora hard coral and humongous blue sponges. The series of caves and overhangs on the walls make it all the more impressive. Anything is possible out here so keep one eye looking into the blue also.
Tanjung Mangguar: This site sits at the top corner of Napen Peninsula and is where sharks, mantas, mobula rays, barracudas, trevallies, and rainbow runners have been seen frequently. Large blocks of rocks make this site even more interesting.
*Please remember that these are exploration expeditions. Our schedules and plans may change as needed to provide the best liveaboard experience possible. Please bring your sense of adventure, a spirit of spontaneity, and your camera!
Travel Information
Rendani Airport (MKW) – Manokwari
Bandara Udara Airport (NBX) – Nabire
Flights to and from Manokwari and Nabire are available to and from Sorong, Makassar, Jakarta and a few other smaller cities. Most of these locations offer convenient hotels just outside the airport for a convenient stopover and rest along the way.
There are several airlines that provide service to Manokwari and Nabire, however few provide very much baggage allowance. We recommend Batik Air as they allow 20kg of checked baggage or even better, Garuda Air that allow 20kg of checked baggage plus an additional 23kg of sports equipment (dive gear) allowance.
Transportation from the airport to your hotel can be done by using readily available taxis or by booking a pick-up in advance with your hotel.
Meeting Point
We will pick you up from your hotel or the airport on the morning of the trip departure. Pick ups from hotels will be between 10 and 11 am. Guests flying in on trip departure day should choose a flight that arrives before 10am.
Our schedule will be determined by conditions such as weather, waves and our best judgement regarding dive sites and suitability for our guests. Cenderawasih Bay is famous for its coral reefs, wrecks, whalesharks, and marine biodiversity so we ensure to select the best sites possible depending on various factors. We do not guarantee dive sites as we cannot guarantee conditions of each dive site. However, we ensure to meet our guests needs as much as it is in our power to do so.
On board Jaya, there are 4 twin cabins, 2 triple cabins and 3 shared bathrooms.
Maximum 4 divers per guide
Open Water Diver
We accept
Refresher 30 USD
A light review of dive theory, equipment setup, safe diving practices, and a brief skill review on the boat. This may not be a private session. Please inquire if you feel you will need more practice. We highly recommend you take a refresher dive with our land-based dive center before your liveaboard trip. This dive is mandatory if you have less than 30 dives and haven’t dived in the last 12 months.
SSI Advanced Adventurer 190 USD
Take your open water diver skills to the next level. Our instructor will help you choose 5 specialty dives to complete during the course of your liveaboard trip to make you a more informed, more experienced diver so that you can take part in night dives, deep dives, exciting current dives, and more.
Adventure Dive 30 USD
Participate in a single adventure dive such as a deep, night, or drift dive. Adventure dives count toward completing your Advanced Adventurer course (see above).
For any additional information please visit the FAQ page on our website www.scuba-republic.com/faq-2/
27 dives 1990 USD
Summary
Epica takes you on a 10-day journey through the Dampier Strait to the North of Raja Ampat– the heart of the world’s coral reef biodiversity.
With a total of 27 dives and 4 land excursions we show you the best Raja Ampat has to offer. 2 night dives give us a chance to observe the nocturnal marine life. In Wayag we trek to a spectacular viewpoint and watch the baby sharks on the beach and in central Raja Ampat we take the 341 steps to admire the breath-taking view of the Bintang Lagoon at Piaynemo.
Starting in the Dampier Strait we introduce you to the variations of dive site topographies and how the current affects them. We then move further north to Aljui Bay for some muck diving where you get to admire colourful critters like blue ringed octopus or flamboyant cuttlefish. We spend 3 days diving around the scattering of islands around Wayag and Kawe. Dive sites we visit include Magic Rock, Far Out Rock and Eagle Rock. Back south we dive around Piaynemo, where Melissa’s Garden and My Reef will take your breath away. Finally, back on our way through the Dampier Strait we explore the reefs around
Kri and Gam.
Raja Ampat lies in the middle of the Indonesian Throughflow, channelling a gigantic volume of water from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean and back. These currents carry with them millions of eggs and larvae that supply the region with both genetic diversity and food. A buffet for sea creatures of all sorts!
Almost 75% of the worlds known hard coral species, 1400 species of reef fish, 17 types of mollusc, 13 marine mammal species and five of the world’s seven sea turtle species can be found in the area.
While this is the description of a typical dive trip, actual trips may vary due to wind and sea conditions, weather or guest’s preference. We do not guarantee dive sites as we cannot guarantee conditions of that dive site. However, we ensure to meet our guest’s needs as much as it is in our power to do so.
Day 1 (1 dive): OFF TO NEW ADVENTURES
Day 2 (3 dives): ENCHANTED JETTIES
Raja Ampat is littered with tiny villages that feature rugged wooden jetties. Among the coral
encrusted pylons, you find a dazzling amount of sergeant majors, snappers and sweetlips gently
swaying in the clear water.
Day 3 (3 dives (incl. sunset dive)): FISH FRENZY
On our third day we swim side by side with massive aggregations of fish gathering around
completely submerged reefs. One of our favourite pastimes is watching them hunt.
Day 4 (3 dives): RAINBOW KALEIDOSCOPE
On day four we’d like to show you the colourful side of Raja Ampat, corals and creatures alike.
Starting at Aljui Bay and moving north into the vicinity of Wayag.
Day 5 (3 dives & Wayag Viewpoint): ROCKING THE HOUSE
From karst islands to submerged seamounts, the scenery on and around Wayag will take your
breath away.
Day 6 (4 dives (incl. night dive)): PELAGIC MAGIC
Offshore pinnacles surrounded by the current are a magnet for pelagic predators. Day six is all
about observing big fish at Pulau Kawe.
Day 7 (3 dives & Piaynemo Viewpoint): STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
Whether you climb on top of a hill to admire the stunning view of Piaynemo or plunge into the
depths of the underwater realm, it’s not just the destination, but also the journey that changes
your perspective of the world.
Day 8 (3 dives): UNDERWATER EDEN
For day eight we stay in the neighbourhood. Fam provides some awesome, fishy dives that simply cannot be missed.
Day 9 (3 dives & Beach BBQ): POSEIDON’S BOUNTY
This is the last full day to show off the biodiversity in Raja Ampat. We chose lush, healthy reefs
in the Dampier Strait, that foster a large number of species. From pygmy seahorses to mantis
shrimp to sharks – chances are we see them all.
Day 10 (1 dive): GENTLE GIANTS
Diving will be finished by 10am or earlier. If you are returning to Sorong the same day, you will be ready to board the ferry by 2pm. Expected arrival in Sorong is 4pm.
20 dives 1490 USD
Summary
Epica takes you on a 7-day journey through the Dampier Strait – the heart of the world’s coral reef biodiversity.
Starting and ending our adventure in Waisai we dive approximately 19 of the most spectacular sites Raja Ampat has to offer. On our way through the Dampier Strait we explore the reefs around Kri, Mensuar, Arborek, the Fam Islands and Yanggalo.
The Dampier Strait separates the islands of Waigeo and Batanta and is part of the Indonesian Throughflow, channelling a gigantic volume of water from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean and back. These currents carry with them millions of eggs and larvae that supply the region with both genetic diversity and food. A buffet for sea creatures of all sorts!
Almost 75% of the worlds known hard coral species, 1400 species of reef fish, 17 types of mollusc, 13 marine mammal species and five of the world’s seven sea turtle species can be found in the area.
While this is the description of a typical dive trip, actual trips may vary due to wind and sea conditions, weather or guest’s preference.
We do not guarantee dive sites as we cannot guarantee conditions of that dive site. However,
we ensure to meet our guest’s needs as much as it is in our power to do so.
Day 1 (1 dive): OFF TO NEW ADVENTURES
Day 2 (4 dives): ENCHANTED JETTIES
Raja Ampat is littered with tiny villages that feature rugged wooden jetties. Among the coral
encrusted pylons, you find a dazzling amount of sergeant majors, snappers and sweetlips gently
swaying in the clear water.
Day 3 (3 dives): STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
Whether you climb on top of a hill to admire the stunning view of Piaynemo or plunge into the
depths of the underwater realm, it’s not just the destination, but also the journey that changes
your perspective of the world.
Day 4 (3 dives): UNDERWATER EDEN
For day four we stay in the neighbourhood. Fam provides some awesome, fishy dives that
simply cannot be missed.
Day 5 (4 dives): FISH FRENZY
On our fifth day we swim side by side with massive aggregations of fish gathering around
completely submerged reefs. One of our favourite pastimes is watching them hunt.
Day 6 (3 dives): POSEIDON’S BOUNTY
This is the last full day to show off the biodiversity in Raja Ampat. We chose lush, healthy reefs
in the Dampier Strait, that foster a large number of species. From pygmy seahorses to mantis
shrimp to sharks – chances are we see them all.
Day 7 (1 dive): GENTLE GIANTS
Diving will be finished by 10am or earlier. If you are returning to Sorong the same day, you will
be ready to board the ferry by 2pm. Expected arrival in Sorong is 4pm.
