What is the best time of the year for diving in Raja Ampat?

Scuba Republic is open all year round. Diving and snorkeling conditions are good year round, with water temperatures constantly between 28°-30°C (82°-28°F) and visibility averaging 10-25m. However, the time from September to May is less windy and from June to August the sea can be choppy for a few hours a day.

The climate in Papua has diffuse seasons with no particular dry or rainy season. It could rain any day. One of those will be lovely heavy tropical rain showers with warm water that usually last up to half an hour.

What is the best time of the year for diving in Bira, South Sulawesi?

Bira Dive Camp is open all year round. Diving and snorkeling conditions are good year round, with water temperatures constantly between 28°-30°C (82°-28°F). Visibility is always good sometimes even 50m+.

Bira is most famous for its great variety of sharks and other pelagic which visit throughout June – November.

September in Bira is on average the month with most sunshine. The wet season has a rainfall peak around January and the dry season is around the month of September.

What is the weather in Komodo like?

The climate here is tropical, averaging 25°C to 30°C. Water temperatures range from 25°-29°C in the North and 22°-28°C in the South and can change rapidly due to tidal movements and currents.

The region has a dry and wet season that alternates each year. Generally, the wet season is from November to March and the dry season from April to October. Heaviest rainfalls are usually recorded in December, January and into February, with high humidity conditions. Even in the height of the rainy season, the rain rarely falls all day.

What kind of electricity supply do you have?

220V/50Hz with round two prong plug. An adapter should be brought with you since it is not possible to buy on the Island.

What valves do you have on your tanks?

We have tanks with either DIN or A-clamp (INT) valves.

Is Nitrox available?

Unfortunately not yet.

What safety equipment you have on the dive boats?

First aid kit, an oxygen kit, tools, compass, 2 way radio and a chart plotter with GPS.

What can I do at the Raja Ampat Beach Bungalows if I don’t dive?

There is fantastic snorkeling around our resort or by joining the dive-boat on the scheduled excursions, you might find there are beach/ island/ mangrove interludes in between diving and snorkeling activities.

Explore the beaches close by or join a bird-watching tour in the jungle, a trek through the jungle with a stop at the refreshing waterfall or take a Kayak and go exploring. In a nutshell: spectacular bays, beaches, coconut palms, dramatic cliffs, birds, amazing nature and flowers, hidden lakes, blue lagoons.

There are amazing photographic opportunities from several viewpoints. Bird lovers will be in (bird) heaven with just the incredible early morning cacophony of bird sounds. You can find quiet spots to do some bird watching.

Hot and steamy jungle treks will reveal enormous ancient hard-wood trees, strange brightly colored wild mushrooms, thick bamboo forests reaching for the sky, mangroves with their bright red crabs, snails, and mudskippers. Insect lovers will find a great variety of beautiful and strange critters if they care to take a closer look.

And of course, there is always the urge to relax, particularly on the inviting private patio of your bungalow, where you can read or relax in your hammock or just enjoy the balmy tropical island.

What can I do at the South Sulawesi Beach Bungalows if I don’t dive?

There is fantastic snorkeling around our resort you may also join the diving excursions.

Bira is well known for its traditional boat building by the Bugis people. And it’s very interesting to see and learn about the centuries old handicraft skills.

Or why not just take it easy. Bira is situated “off the beaten track” with not many tourists with pristine white sand beaches so relax in a hammock and let the gentle sea breeze sing its lullaby.

What sort of food can I expect at the bungalows?

Meals are served at our sea view Restaurant. We offer a tasty, nutritious, and whenever possible, organic menu with an emphasis on fresh local food.

Breakfast will be served before the dive trip. Lunch is provided by our kitchen and usually between the second and third dive on the boat. Afternoon teatime features homemade treats and snacks. Dinner service is plated, so your meal is always prepared fresh even if you’re planning a night dive.

What if I get sick or hurt while I’m there?

As previously mentioned, we are in a very remote location and a long way from the nearest doctor, hospital, or decompression chamber. Your health and safety are of paramount importance to us, so we advise all guests to take utmost care.

All of our dive staff are certified Emergency First Aid Responders, and Oxygen is available. In the event of a general medical emergency, you will be evacuated to the nearest hospital, which is in Sorong. In the event of a diving emergency, your diving insurance provider will advise us on the appropriate course of action. Therefore, it is mandatory to have a dive insurance that covers emergency evacuation and decompression chamber treatment if you plan on diving with us. We recommend Dive Master, a UK based company who specializes in this sort of thing. We also STRONGLY recommend health and travel insurance.

Should I take precautions against malaria?

We recommend that you always sleep under a mosquito net, wear light-colored clothing, cover up during evening and early morning hours, and use an insect repellent between dusk and dawn.

Is there Wi-Fi in the bungalows area?

A Wi-Fi connection is available in Bira, South Sulawesi. Meanwhile, in Raja Ampat we provide a mobile hotspot connection. These connections are not in a high-speed international standard due to our remote location, but it’s the most we could offer in the area. You can buy an Indonesian SIM card in the resort that would provide 3G and then in combination with a hotspot you will be able to check your mails.

How much is the Raja Ampat Marine Park permit fee?

As of 2007, it is mandatory for each visitor, divers or non-divers, to purchase a Marine Park tag, which is valid for a whole year. The cost is 1,000,000 Rupiah (approx. 70 € or $75 US) for foreign nationals. Children 12 years and younger are exempt from paying the fee. You could either buy them yourself in Sorong on your way to the ferry, or ask our friendly dive staff in assisting you to find the Marine Park office in Waisai.

What do I need to bring along?

*Please keep in mind that we are in a remote area.

1. Dive Certification card (mandatory for all divers).

2. Dive insurance (mandatory for all divers). Annual dive insurance policies can be purchased before your arrival. We recommend you consider the Dive Master Insurance, as they are specialists in Diver safety and only cost $5 US per day.

3. Insect repellent & light coloured clothes.

4. Good walking shoes & binoculars (for Raja Ampat, especially if you want to join the Birds of paradise treks)

5. A warm pullover or jacket. Evenings can occasionally be brisk, and the domestic flights are often freezing and do not provide blankets in the plane.

6. 1 passport photo and 1 copy of your passport for your travel permit which we will arrange for you (see above).

7. Passport valid for 6 months from the time of entry into Indonesia. Nationals of most countries will be granted a free 30-day Visa on Arrival. We recommend you check with the Indonesian Embassy in your home country to confirm.

8. One complete empty page in your passport in which to put the Visa on Arrival sticker Sometimes travelers are asked by Indonesian Immigration officials to show a copy of their airline ticket out of Indonesia within the 30-day period. Happens rarely but is possible.

9. Essentials such as hat, sunglasses, sunblock, insect repellent, extra batteries, a towel, and tampons! You can’t find them in here. Our dress code is extremely casual.

10. It is recommended that all travelers bring their own set of medicine (ibuprofen, cortisone, antihistamine, fever, colds, diarrhea, etc) as it is really difficult to get here. You should include antibiotic ointment and band-aids to treat all skin irritations as soon as possible to prevent infections.

What should I NOT bring with me?

Please plan carefully to minimize your rubbish. Whenever possible, choose rechargeable batteries and avoid bringing things like disposable razors, excessive plastic bags, plastic water bottles, etc. Any non-biodegradable and non-recyclable rubbish will have to be returned to Sorong. We are operating in a pristine environment, and we’d like to keep it that way.

Dive gloves are not permitted on our dives

Fishing/spearfishing equipment. All fishing is strictly forbidden.

What is the time difference in Indonesia?

Indonesia has three Time Zones (Please beware of these when taking domestic flights):

• Central Indonesian Time: GMT +8 (Manado / Makassar / Bira)

• Western Indonesian Time: GMT +7 (Jakarta)

• Eastern Indonesian Time: GMT +9 (Raja Ampat)

How do I get to Sorong, Raja Ampat?

The easiest way to get to Sorong is to fly via Jakarta or Singapore. Domestic travelers can also fly via Makassar or Manado.

From Jakarta: Garuda Indonesia, Express Air, Sriwijaya Air, and Lion/Wings operate daily flights from Jakarta to Sorong (with stopovers in Makassar or Manado)

From Singapore: Silkair operates regular flights from Singapore to Manado. From Manado to Sorong regular flights are offered by Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, and Express Air. Please note the flight times are subject to change without prior notification.

*Trying to book through most local airline websites from overseas can be difficult because they only accept Indonesian credit/debit cards. Therefore we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance and using a booking agent. However, Garuda Indonesia offers online sales through their website and accepts International credit cards.

Ferry Schedules:

• Sunday – Saturday : Sorong to Waisai (9.00 AM – 11.00 AM)

• Sunday – Saturday : Sorong to Waisai (2.00 PM – 4.00 PM)

• Sunday – Saturday : Waisai to Sorong (9.00 AM – 11.00 AM)

• Sunday – Saturday : Waisai to Sorong (2.00 PM – 4.00 PM)

How do I get to Komodo?

Current Junkies Liveaboard operates from Labuan Bajo, Flores. Labuan Bajo has a domestic airport with several connections to multiple destinations around Indonesia. Regular local ferry is also available departing from Benoa Harbour (Bali) to Labuan Bajo. Alternatively, you can come through land transportation from island to island. From Bali you would have to cross through 2 islands, namely Lombok and Sumbawa.

Scuba Republic team is also happy to recommend airlines, fast boat companies, other activities and accommodation before and after your trip.

How do I get to Bira, South Sulawesi?

The easiest way to get to Bira is via Makassar. Makassar is the third-largest city in Indonesia and several domestic and international airlines fly there.

We can arrange an airport pick up. The price for the journey is 700.000IDR per car (up to 4 people) and takes about 5 hours. Fuel and fees are included in the price. Or you may take a taxi but be sure to negotiate the price carefully before starting the journey.

There is a bus from Mellengkeri Bus Terminal in Makassar, price of around 70.000 IDR. Public Transport departures are from 7 am until 6 pm.

An alternative way to reach us is by a direct ferry to Bira from Flores, Labuan Bajo. The ferry leaves once a week and takes around 24 hours. Labuan Bajo to Bira Tuesday 2 pm. Bira to Labuan Bajo Sunday midnight. One way is 125.000 IDR. There is sometimes a cabin available (ask for it once on the ferry) for a small “fee”.

What are the baggage limitations?

Some international carriers provide baggage allowances for Scuba equipment, however domestic airlines do not provide a dive gear allowance.

The exception is Garuda Indonesia. They are a member of the Sky Team alliance, such as Air France, Alitalia, Air Europa, Delta, KLM and Korean Air. If you arrive with any of those carries, you may be able to check your baggage all the way through to Sorong.

There is bus from Mellengkeri Bus Terminal in Makassar, price around 70.000 IDR. Public Transport departures are from 7am until 6pm.

Any excess luggage has to be paid in Indonesian Rupiah at the airport on check-in. Rates for excess baggage are subject to change without notice and vary depend on the airline, aircraft type and location.

Can I see Komodo Dragons?

Depending on which itinerary, our Liveaboard visits the Komodo Dragons on Rinca Island.

What methods of payment can I use on-site in Bira, South Sulawesi?

We don’t take any deposit or down payment to secure your booking. Full payment is due at the camp in CASH only IDR (Indonesian rupiah). ATM (BNI and BRI) are found in the harbor which is either 10min drive or 45min walk away. BNI and BRI take most credit and debit cards with VISA but it’s good to do a withdrawal before coming to Bira to be sure the ATM’s except your card. There is no money exchange facilities so make sure to change your money before or latest in Makassar if needed.

What’s NOT included in the packages you offer for Bira, South Sulawesi?

• Evening meals, only breakfast and lunch.

• Transfer from Makassar to Bira. There is no local airport in Bira so all flights arrive in Makassar.

• Dive equipment rental. To avoid disappointment, please advise us when booking if you require any rentals.

• All other excursions

• Laundry (not included but available at a reasonable rate in the dive camp)

• Soft drinks and beer

• Private dive guides

• Long distance specialty dive trips

• Gratuities