Summary
The name Raja Ampat translates to Four Kings and originates in local
mythology where four kings hatched from dragon eggs and went on to rule
the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo.
Epica takes you on a 10-day journey through the Dampier Strait – the heart of the world’s coral reef biodiversity.
Navigating the waters of the Four Kings we take you to 27 dive sites and
4 land excursions. 3 night dives – one in each area we visit – give us a
chance to observe the nocturnal marine life. In Batanta we trek to a
spectacular waterfall and in central Raja Ampat we take the 341 steps to
be wowed by 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 south to Batanta for some muck diving where you get to admire
colourful critters like blue ringed octopus or flamboyant cuttlefish.
Moving slowly north we dive around the Fam Islands, Aljui Bay and Kawe
with famous sites such as Eagle Rock, the Pearl Farm and Melissa’s
Garden.
On our way back south, we get some action at Yanggefo. At Citrus Ridge
and Mayhem, visibility is often limited by the number of fish in your
field of vision. Back in the centre of the Dampier Strait we explore the
reefs around Kri and Mansuar.
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
- We meet up in front of the tourist information centre in Waisai at
11am where we will board the Epica. If you would like to be picked up in
Sorong (VIP transfer), we meet you between 7.30 and 8.00 in the morning
at the Je Meridien Hotel just next to the airport.
- Once on board, we make sure all the necessary paperwork is in order,
allocate your cabins, set up dive equipment and brief you on boat and
dive safety procedures.
- After lunch we depart to our first dive site in central Raja Ampat.
The check dive is usually at Friwen Bonda, a beautiful reef teeming with
colourful fish.
Day 2 (3 dives (incl. sunset dive) & land visit): SOUTHERN FRONTIER
Batanta, one of the four kings and southern border of the Dampier Strait is a lush jungle paradise. Surrounded by mangroves and black sandy bottoms crawling with macro life, this makes for fantastic muck diving.
- We start the day with a drift dive at Sardine or Chicken Reef. Both
sites are seamounts with a shallow top that gently slopes down to about
30m. Schools of snappers, fusiliers and surgeonfish provide a snack for
pelagic predators such as barracuda, giant trevallies or reef sharks.
- On the way to Batanta we have something special in store. On the
southern side of Pulau Wai is the last resting place of a U.S. Air Force
P47. This Fighter Aircraft from WW2 is overgrown with beautiful coral
and a joy to dive.
- After lunch we go on a little hike to admire a stunning waterfall embedded in the lush jungle near Arefi Village.
- Now that we have dispensed of our energy, we are ready for some calm
muck diving! On the southwestern side of Batanta are several bays and
inlets crawling with alien critters like blue ringed and mimic octopus,
ornate ghost pipe fish and flamboyant cuttlefish. We like to do a day
dive and a sunset dive in this area to give all creatures an equal
chance to show off. Some of our favourite sites are Black Beauty and
Happy Ending.
Day 3 (4 dives (incl. night dive)): GARDEN OF EDEN
Gentle slopes and endless fields of soft coral accompany us on our
way north. Play with blue spotted stingrays and stick your head through
glassfish clouds in search of resting wobbegongs.
- Today’s wakeup call is a gentle one. We dip in to get a last glimpse
at all the odd, colourful bottom dwellers and blow them a kiss goodbye.
- Moving to the northern side of Batanta, Palau Dayang features
several possible dive sites. A colourful array of soft corals is waiting
to be explored, step-towns and overhangs hiding the charismatic
tasselled wobbegong shark.
- On our way north to Piaynemo we visit Karang bata for some gentle slopes littered with coral bommies.
- Before dinner we whet our appetite with a night dive at Piaynemo.
Day 4 (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.
- We start our day at My Reef where we play with massive aggregations
of schooling fishes like fusiliers, jacks and snappers. The top of the
seamount lies at 12m and is a popular chillout place for the tasselled
Wobbegong shark.
- Next on the agenda is Melissa’s Garden, a famous dive site named after the pioneer Max Ammer’s daughter.
- Batu Rufas – dive site number three – is on the east side of Piaynemo and features a very photogenic submerged arch.
- We conclude our day with a trip to the iconic viewpoint at Piaynemo.
341 steps lead to a platform where we can observe one of nature’s most
artistic designs. The spectacular view is composed of turquoise sea
framed by jungle where a handful of karst islets jut dramatically out
from the calm surface of the lagoon.
Day 5 (3 dives): SENSORY OVERLOAD
This day has it all. Currents, walls, big fish, small fish, odd fish.
- On the northside of Piaynemo lies Barracuda Point, where we stop for
our first dive of the day. After a delicious breakfast we start our 3h
crossing north to Aljui Bay.
- Chanel No. 5 is as lovely as its namesake, the perfume. A stunning
wall with undercuts and ledges mimicking large soft coral covered steps
descending into the deep.
- We conclude our day at Eagle Rock just south of Pulau Kawe where we
will spend the night. It is home to a manta cleaning station, where the
graceful giants have their parasites removed by eager butterflyfish and
moon wrasses. But this site doesn’t need to rely on mantas, it also
supports some amazing macro life like winged pipefish, several species
of dragonets and countless rare nudis.
Day 6 (3 dives): 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.
- The opening dive of the day is Black Rock featuring schools of butterflyfish, angel fish, batfish and barracudas.
- And because Eagle Rock consists of more than one dive site, we’ll go take our chances again to find mantas.
- Moving back to Aljui Bay, we conclude our day with a sunset dive under the Pearl Farm Pier.
Day 7 (3 dives & Arborek visit): FISH FRENZY
On our seventh 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.
- A morning dive at Citrus Ridge is a sure way to put a smile on your
face. Teeming with fish the reef is coated in yellow and orange soft
coral creating a fresh and happy backdrop for large schools of
barracudas, playful sharks and hungry tunas.
- We follow up with Mayhem where the name of the dive site says it all.
- Heading towards Arborek we stop at Lalosi for dive number three.
- A land visit at Arborek gives you a chance to meander through the
picturesque village and watch a fiery sunset on the white sandy beach.
Day 8 (3 dives & Beach BBQ): POSEIDON’S BOUNTY
This day is spent in search of the local manta population. Although
they can make an appearance anywhere in the park, some dive sites have a
higher probability of encountering them than others.
- For the first dive we visit well known Manta Sandy, a cleaning station for reef mantas.
- Close by we stop for an adrenaline rush. Manta Ridge is prone to
very strong currents, but it is also a cleaning station for reef mantas
where you have another chance to swim eye-to-eye with one of the
majestic giants.
- Depending on the tide we follow up with Sardine or Chicken Reef.
- The sunset can be enjoyed on the white sandy beach of Mioskon with a
cold beer in your hand. If weather permits – there will be a beach BBQ
later on!
Day 9 (4 dives (incl. night dive)): ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Plunge down the rabbit hole with us! On your last full day of diving
we would like to take you on a tour through the magical wonderland that
is the Dampier Strait. From enchanted jetties to dramatic walls and
world record holding reefs – we make sure you go out on a high.
- Mistaking Mike’s Point for a camouflaged Japanese ship, this island
was repeatedly bombed by the US air forces during WWII, creating a
spectacular topography.
- Raja Ampat is littered with tiny villages like Yenbuba, 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.
- On the eastern tip of Pulau Kri lies the famous Cape Kri, record holder for the most fish species found in one dive.
- We will one last time spend our evening browsing through seagrass
and sand looking for small creatures. The muck dive at Saporkren is full
of surprises. From seahorses, to flamboyant cuttlefish, to swimming
wobbegongs – a spectacular dive is almost guaranteed.
Day 10 (1 dive): GENTLE GIANTS
- The last day starts early. Really. But it’s worth it, trust us. We
try to be the first to jump at Blue Magic, a cleaning station for
oceanic mantas. The dive site can be a wee bit ‘currenty’. But while you
cling to a rock and your jaw is locked tightly around your regs and you
leave a horizontal stream of bubbles behind you, hundreds of schooling
jacks, grey reef sharks, spanish mackerel and hopefully a few graceful
mantas will make it all worthwhile.
- Back on board, we gently prepare you for your departure. This
includes a debriefing, delicious food, a group photo and plenty of time
to gather your items while pondering how your belongings ever fit in
your backpack when you left home.
- After lunch we say our tearful goodbyes and drop you off at the harbour – hoping the goodbye is not forever!
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.