From the Four Kings to the Spice Islands (30-34 dives)
Introduction
Jaya takes you on a 14-day journey from the wonders of Raja Ampat to the fabled Spice Islands.
We start in Raja Ampat, a Regency in Indonesia’s West Papua Province that incorporates around 600 islands off the northwestern tip of New Guinea.
The name Raja Ampat translates to Four Kings. It 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.
The seas surrounding the islands are 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 world's 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.
The second leg of our adventure takes us further south, to the Spice Islands.
The scenery is dominated by volcanic mountains covered in lush, green vegetation, framed by white sandy beaches. But the remote Banda Islands aren’t just famous for its breath-taking landscapes and its rich history, it is also one of the most popular dive destinations in Southeast Asia.
Exposed to the nutrient-rich currents of the 5000m deep Banda Sea the reefs are a meeting point for all manners of sea life. From small critters to the mighty hammerhead, with some luck, everything can be found.
The Journey
We will welcome you in Waisai aboard the Jaya at around 11 am. After an introduction to our team, our boat and our safety procedures you have plenty of time to enjoy a delicious lunch on our liveaboard and settle in before we get ready for our first dive.
Our next four days are spent marvelling at the wonders of Raja Ampat. Starting in central Raja Ampat we explore the sites in the Dampier Strait before heading south, past Batanta and Salawati to the southernmost King - Misool. In Misool we dive the hotspots from the Goa Farondi region in the east to the Fiabacet Chain in the southeast.
Over a hundred nautical miles south we visit the reefs around Pulau Mandorang and Pulau Koon. Our adventure takes us further south to the Banda islands, where we spend the next seven days exploring the rich marine life surrounding the ten islands and rocks that make up the area.
From secluded Gili Manuk in the south to remote Pulau Suanggi in the north, each day highlights a different island. We cruise to Karang Hatta in the southeast, to Pulau Run and Pulau Ai to the west and finally make our way north to distant Ambon.
The last days are spent around Pulau Nusalaut before we cross over to Tulehu Harbour where it’s time for us to say goodbye.
Our adventure ends in Ambon at Tulehu Harbour where you depart Jaya at 10 am
The Highlights
Blacktip reef sharks and whitetip reef sharks feel at home on most of the dive sites. A little rarer, but not uncommon, is the grey reef shark. But our most charismatic shark is without a doubt the tasselled wobbegong shark a well-camouflaged ambush predator that can be found under ledges or sometimes curled up on top of table corals. The endemic Raja Ampat epaulette shark is more elusive but equally popular with divers. It is also called “the walking shark” due to its ability to walk along the seafloor using an undulating, crawling motion.
What is a dive adventure without our beloved gentle giants – the manta rays. On our journey, we will visit some of the known cleaning stations, where we hope to watch reef mantas and oceanic mantas get cleaned by several species of wrasses and butterflyfish.
The volcanic Spice Islands lie on the migratory path of several large pelagic predators, among them the hammerhead shark! We dive the spots where we are most likely to cross paths with schooling hammerheads and give you the best possible chance to experience an encounter with these exhilarating creatures.
If this doesn’t give you an adrenaline rush, maybe diving around Gili Manuk will do the trick. Not only is this an active volcano where you can warm up during the dive while burying your hands in the hot black sand, but it is also home to one of the largest sea snake populations. They are inquisitive and friendly, and a close up is almost guaranteed.
For the more colourfully inclined, don’t worry. Gorgonian gardens, huge barrel sponges and healthy coral communities bustling with reef fish set the background for most of the dives. And if this is not enough, wait for the sunset dive where you can admire the fairest of them all – the mandarin fish with its bright, psychedelic patterns, performing its mating ritual.
Important Information for All Trips
Travel Information
Domine Eduard Osok Airport (SOQ) -- Sorong
Pattimura Ambon Airport (AMQ) – Ambon
Flights to/from Sorong and Ambon are available from 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. 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.
There are several airlines that provide service to/from Sorong and Ambon, 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.
Please plan a flight out of Ambon for at least a day after Jaya’s planned arrival in Ambon.
Meeting Point
We will meet you at 8am at the Meridien Hotel (across the street from the Sorong airport) on the morning of the trip departure. Guests flying in on trip departure day should choose a flight that arrives before 7:30am. We will go together to the harbor and travel by 2-hr ferry to Waisai (departing at 9am). If you are meeting with us on departure day, the ferry ticket is included with your liveaboard trip.
For guests already in Wasai, plan to meet our team at the Waisai Harbor Tourist Information Center at 11am.
Itineraries
Our schedule will be determined by conditions such as weather, waves and our best judgement regarding dive sites and suitability for our guests. 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 strive to meet our guests needs as much as it is in our power to do so.
Accommodation
On board Jaya, there are 4 twin cabins, 2 triple cabins and 3 shared bathrooms.
Dive groups
Maximum 4 divers per guide
Minimum certification level /Number of dives
Advanced Open Water Diver / 25 dives
Must have dived within 12 months prior to trip date
What's included:
3 meals per day, fruit and light snacks
Drinking water, tea, and coffee
Fresh towels and linens
Dive guide
Weights, weight belts and tanks (DIN tanks available)
Transfers between your hotel/airport and the Ambon/Banda harbors before and after the liveaboard trip
What's not included:
BCD: 5 USD
Regulator: 5 USD
Boots & Fins: 4 USD
Wetsuit: 4 USD
Mask: 2 USD
Computer: 10 USD
15 liter tank: 15 USD
Marine park fees:
for Indonesian citizens IDR 425,000Crew gratuities (recommendation: approx. 10% of trip cost / person)
Private guide (inquire for current prices and availability)
Refresher or course dives (inquire for current prices and availability)
Soft drinks & alcoholic beverages (available for purchase)
Flights
Insurance
Payments
We accept
What we need from each guest:
A filled in online check in form (www.scuba-republic.com/checkin-form/)
Diver certification level
Approximate number of dives in personal history
Any dietary requirements (we will do our best to accommodate)
Sizes of equipment needed
A copy of dive insurance policy and passport
A refresher dive is mandatory if you have less than 30 dives and haven’t dived in the last 12 months. If you have 30 dives or more, a refresher is required if you haven’t dived in the last 24 months. Refresher dives cannot be done on this trip; they must be done elsewhere BEFORE the trip.
Boat features
Leisure deck
Sun deck
Dive deck
Food & Drink
Languages Spoken
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