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:                            

• Dive equipment- full sets of equipment available for rent including computer at per trip price: 175 USD
  Or per piece, per day:

1. BCD: 5 USD

2. Regulator: 5 USD

3. Boots & Fins: 4 USD

4. Wetsuit: 4 USD

5. Mask: 2 USD

6. Computer: 10 USD

7. 15 liter tank: 15 USD

• Marine park fees:

for foreign nationals IDR 700,000 per year
for Indonesian citizens IDR 425,000

• Crew 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

• cash payments of EUR, USD, and IDR

• credit cards (plus 3%)

  
  

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

• Local food

• Western food

• Buffet Style

• Any specific dietary requirements can be added to special requests on the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.

Languages Spoken

• English

• Indonesian

The Spice Trade Route (18 dives)

Introduction

Jaya takes you on a seven day journey through the fabled Spice Islands. Volcanic mountains covered in lush, green vegetation are 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 Ambon aboard the Jaya at around 10 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.

After the check dive, we set sail from Tulehu Harbour and head east to Pulau Nusalaut where we spend our second day.

Our adventure takes us further south to the Banda islands, where we spend the next five days exploring the rich marine life surrounding the ten islands and rocks that make up the area.

From secluded Pulau Suanggi in the north to remote Gili Manuk in the far south, each day highlights a different island. We cruise to Karang Hatta in the southeast, to Pulau Run and Pulau Ai to the west and end our trip with the last dive in Karang Kapal before it’s time for us to say goodbye. 

Our adventure ends in Banda Naira where you depart Jaya at 11 am. Last dive?

The Highlights

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

Pattimura Ambon Airport (AMQ) – Ambon

Flights to/from Ambon are available 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. 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 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.

FLIGHTS FROM BANDA TO AMBON: 

Flights to/from Bandara Udara Airport (NBX) in Banda are at this time only available to/from Ambon through Susi Air. Here's the schedule for Ambon - Bandaneira (return) :

Ambon - Bandaneira

SI-6174      Dep (07.00)     Arr (08.00) Fly on Monday

Bandaneira - Ambon

SI-6175      Dep (11.20)     Arr (12.20) Fly on Monday

The price of ticket for Ambon - Bandaneira - Ambon :

Adult and Child : IDR 269.000 (exclude Vat 10%, Airport Tax, Insurance)   

Infant : IDR 26.900 (exclude Vat 10%, Insurance)

Baggage allowance is 10 kg/passenger/one way, if you'll bring more than 10

kg, you must pay excess baggage IDR. 20,000/kg/passenger/one way.

For more information/ticket reservation, please contact :

Susi Air Ambon :

Phone                     : +62 813 4412 3335      

Email                     : ambon@susiair.com  

Crew Bandaneira : +62 813 5436 7157      

Or Hotline 24 Hours Call Center

Phone           : +62 811 211 3080 / +62 811 211 3090     

Email            : callcenter@susiair.com  

FERRY FROM BANDA TO AMBON: 

As of February 2020, the plan for November 2020 is that the Express Bahari 2B fast ferry will go from Banda to Tulehu Harbor in Ambon on Wednesdays and Sundays at 9 am. The trip takes 5 to 6 hours.Tickets do not need to be booked in advance; just show up to the harbor before departure. The price for an economy ticket is IDR 415,000 and VIP is 650,000.

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 9 and 10am. Guests flying in on trip departure day should choose a flight that arrives before 9am but it is advised that you fly in to Ambon the day before your trip departure.

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:                                        

• Dive equipment- full sets of equipment available for rent including computer at per trip price: 175 USD
  Or per piece, per day:

1. BCD: 5 USD

2. Regulator: 5 USD

3. Boots & Fins: 4 USD

4. Wetsuit: 4 USD

5. Mask: 2 USD

6. Computer: 10 USD

7. 15 liter tank: 15 USD

• Crew 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

• cash payments of EUR, USD, and IDR

• credit cards (plus 3%)

  
  

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

• Local food

• Western food

• Buffet Style

• Any specific dietary requirements can be added to special requests on the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.

   

Languages Spoken

• English

• Indonesian

The Spice Trade Route (18 dives)

Introduction

Jaya takes you on a seven day journey through the fabled Spice Islands. Volcanic mountains covered in lush, green vegetation are 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 Banda Naira aboard the Jaya at around 10 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.

After the checkdive, we set sail from Banda Harbour to the neighbouring islands, where we spend the next few days exploring the rich marine life surrounding the ten islands and rocks that make up the Banda Islands.

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.

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:                            

• Dive equipment- full sets of equipment available for rent including computer at per trip price: 175 USD
  Or per piece, per day:

1. BCD: 5 USD

2. Regulator: 5 USD

3. Boots & Fins: 4 USD

4. Wetsuit: 4 USD

5. Mask: 2 USD

6. Computer: 10 USD

7. 15 liter tank: 15 USD

• Marine park fees:

for foreign nationals IDR 700,000 per year
for Indonesian citizens IDR 425,000

• Crew 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

• cash payments of EUR, USD, and IDR

• credit cards (plus 3%)

  
  

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

• Local food

• Western food

• Buffet Style

• Any specific dietary requirements can be added to special requests on the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.

Languages Spoken

• English

• Indonesian

Summary

Jaya 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, Arborek, the Fam Islands, Aljui Bay and Kawe.

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): ONCE UPON A TIME

And thus, the tale begins.

• We meet you at 08.00 in the morning at the Je Meridien Hotel in Sorong, just next to the airport. A quick car ride and a ferry ride later, we’ll have reached Waisai and are ready to board the Jaya. For guests already staying in the area, we meet up in front of the tourist information centre in Waisai at 11am.
• 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 (4 dives (incl. night dive)): SECRET SANCTUARY

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.

• We start the day with a drift dive at Sardine or Chicken Reef. Both sites are submerged 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.
• As we slowly move towards Arborek Island we explore the south side of Pulau Mensuar where two spectacular jetty dives wait for us at Yenbuba and Sawandarek village. The latter is also a cleaning station for sea turtles.
• 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. We conclude the day with a night dive at Arborek jetty.

Day 3 (4 dives (incl. night dive): HIDDEN TREASURES

Some creatures like to show off – some prefer to seek shelter in nooks and crannies. Today we have a chance to pursue the more elusive denizens of Raja Ampat. Rare nudis, crabs, octopus and the elusive walking sharks all gather in Aljui Bay – a macro photographers wet dream.

• 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.
• After all the excitement we enjoy a big breakfast and move north to yefmo area for our 2nd dive.
• Chanel No. 5 is as lovely as its namesake, the perfume. A stunning wall with undercuts and ledges, mimicking large soft coral covered steps descends into the deep.
• We conclude our day with a night dive under the Pearl Farm Pier.

Day 4 (3 dives): SIREN’S CALL

Off the southeastern coast of Kawe is a gathering of rocks frequented by majestic eagles (and possibly Sirens). Exposed to strong, nutrient-rich currents it attracts the whole food chain. Swimming side by side with massive aggregations of fish we patiently wait for the main act – the graceful oceanic mantas.

• In the hidden depths of the little rock peeking out of the surface lies a gorgeous coral garden, teeming with schools of butterflyfish, angel fish, batfish and barracudas. Black Rock is going to be the overture of today’s symphony.
• Eagle Rock is a vast dive site and 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.
• Depending on weather conditions, we take another shot at Eagle Rock. If the sea is too rough, we choose an alternative a bit further south.

Day 5 (3 dives & Piaynemo Viewpoint): HEAD IN THE CLOUDS

Whether you rush through a cloud of fish or climb a stairway to a heavenly view, shortness of breath may be a side effect of today’s activities.

• 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.
• We continue our tale at Melissa’s Garden, named after the pioneer Max Ammer’s daughter.
• Moving on to Kerou Channel we hope for current! The spectacular drift dive rushes us past a rich, coral covered reef where huge sea fans hold on for dear life feeding on the current. But don’t worry – there are also some sheltered areas where we can search for pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs and other colourful reef critters.
• 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 6 (3 dives & Beach Visit): CLASH OF THE TITANS

Majestic and elegant, mantas are our declared kings and queens of the subaquatic realm. There is never a guarantee, but we do our best to increase your chances of encountering them by visiting the most frequented dive sites. We’ll also throw a variety of sharks and other pelagic predators into the mix.

• We start the day at Mayhem where the name of the dive site says it all.
• Heading further east 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 a chance to swim eye-to-eye with one of the majestic giants.
• Next on the agenda is Blue Magic, a cleaning station for oceanic mantas. The dive site can also 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.
• Now it’s time to catch your breath and enjoy the sunset on the white sandy beach of Mioskon with a cold beer in your hand.

Day 7 (1 dive): HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Every story comes to an end. But wait – we’re not quite done yet.

• You liked Blue Magic? Good, because we are diving it again. Very early in the morning.
• 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!

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.