Raja Ampat 2013
Date: 23 - 31 March 2013
Duration: 9 days
Highlights:
We keep going to Raja Ampat every year and still, we never get tired. It has the world's biggest marine biodiversity, ranking number one in the world. Indeed we shall be visiting Raja Ampat, the world's richest marine ecosystem hopefully for many more years to come. Its a magical and pristine region of 1,500 islands over a huge area. For this trip we will be visiting the northern region (see itinerary below). We will be going north through the Dampier Straits and right up to the picturesque Wayag Group.
Then stopping at the Cendana Pearl Farm, and see some Birds of Paradise at Batanta Island. Wide angle, macro, and birds.
About Sea Safari 6 (www.seasafaricruises.com):
SS6 is a luxury LOB boat with a capacity of 20 guests. But for this trip we will try to limit the number to fewer divers for a better diving experience.
NITROX : Available (for extra charge)
CABINS: 10 Air conditioned cabins with private bathroom, basin, toilet, hot and cold shower. Toiletries pack in each cabins.
RESTAURANT: Air conditioned, TV, VCD, one chiller showcase for soft drinks.
SPEED BOATS: 2 units of aluminium, complete with the out-board engines.
SPACIOUS DIVING DECK.
EMERGENCY: Inflatable Life rafts, life vests, reading buoys. Smoke detector in each rooms. Fire extinguishers, fire hoses, fire hydrant.
Link for Diving Sea Safari website: www.divingseasafari.com
Included:
Full board accommodation & meals
Tea, coffee, bottled water, tea time snacks.
Dive masters, tanks and weights.
Harbor and anchor fees.
Excluded:
Domestic/International airfare and airport tax
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
Personal Travel Insurance
Gratuities to Dive masters and crews
Personal items & needs
Then stopping at the Cendana Pearl Farm, and see some Birds of Paradise at Batanta Island. Wide angle, macro, and birds.
About Sea Safari 6 (www.seasafaricruises.com):
SS6 is a luxury LOB boat with a capacity of 20 guests. But for this trip we will try to limit the number to fewer divers for a better diving experience.
NITROX : Available (for extra charge)
CABINS: 10 Air conditioned cabins with private bathroom, basin, toilet, hot and cold shower. Toiletries pack in each cabins.
RESTAURANT: Air conditioned, TV, VCD, one chiller showcase for soft drinks.
SPEED BOATS: 2 units of aluminium, complete with the out-board engines.
SPACIOUS DIVING DECK.
EMERGENCY: Inflatable Life rafts, life vests, reading buoys. Smoke detector in each rooms. Fire extinguishers, fire hoses, fire hydrant.
Link for Diving Sea Safari website: www.divingseasafari.com
Included:
Full board accommodation & meals
Tea, coffee, bottled water, tea time snacks.
Dive masters, tanks and weights.
Harbor and anchor fees.
Excluded:
Domestic/International airfare and airport tax
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
Personal Travel Insurance
Gratuities to Dive masters and crews
Personal items & needs
Requirements:
Advanced Open Water. 50 dives and above. If less/unsure please contact Trip Organizer to clarify
Itinerary:
Day 0 : Friday - Arrive at Makassar (Ujungpandang) flight and hotel
We will help arrange bookings for flights Jakarta or Bali to Makassar. Or you may arrange your own flights.
From Makassar we are all on one flight so that everyone arrives Sorong at the same time. We are all booked on Sriwijaya 0430 flight to Sorong.
Short hotels stay and dinner at Losari beachfront and its famous seafood restaurants. Propose Aryaduta hotel. You may book direct with the hotel on its website (pay later) or book online eg Agoda (pay now).
Day 1 : Saturday - Sorong
Flight Makassar to Sorong On 0430 Sriwijaya flight. Pick up and transfer to Sea Safari 6 boat. Welcome drink will be offered. Cabin allocation and deck briefing will take place as you settle in. The boat will depart for Dampier Strait (40 nautical miles – nm). We are going straight for the big stuff! We will reach Dampier by evening and a night dive is an option for those eager to start.
Day 2 & 3 : Dampier Strait (8 dives)
Starting with Batu Lima near the entrance to Kabui Bay. Famous for its large colourful sea fans. Good chance of seeing Mantas. Mioskon and Friwinbonda offers good fish life and as well as pygmy seahorses. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served onboard in between the dives. Diving sites and timing will depend on the tide situation and currents. The boat will then depart to the north west, the Yanggefo group.
Day 4 : Yanggefo (4 dives)
The Yanggefo dive sites offers a variety of dives including current drifts at Mayhem, and shallower diving at Way Pretty Shallows. Citrus Ridge and Gam Ridge also gives big schools of fish, frequently described as “aquarium diving” by divers who experience masses of fish swirling over their heads. We then head north to the magical Wayag Group.
Day 5 : Wayag (4 dives)
Part of the 155,000 hectare Kawe Marine Protected Area, There will be a hill climb to overlook Wayag’s beautiful lagoon. The dive sites here have interesting names like Two Hump Rock, and Far Out Rock. Expect to see masses of fish, and some currents depending on the tides. There may be a chance of seeing Tuna out in the blue. We will also do the more interesting sites like Figure 8 Rock, Channel Island, and Cathedral Rock, if currents are mild.
Day 6 : Kawe Group (4 dives)
We now sit right on the equator at Kawe Island. Weka’s Wow is a drift dive, offering both wide angle and macro photographic opportunities. A nearby site called One Tree Island also offers pygmy seahorses and with several species present. Changgo offers swim thru’s and boulders while Black Rock has schooling Butterfly fish, Angels and Octopus.
Day 7 : Alyui Bay and Cendana Pearl Farm (4 dives)
White Arrow and Channel Island offers interesting macro opportunities, with fire urchins housing Zebra crabs and Coleman shrimps. We will also visit the Cendana Pearl Farm for a tour of the facility and those of you interested in purchasing pearls direct from the farm!
Day 8 : Batanta Island (Dive or BoP watching)
Choice of Muck Diving or Bird of Paradise watching. Batanta has Wilson and Red BoP.
We have to depart to Sorong by 5 pm so that we can arrive in port early.
Day 9 (31st March 2013) : Sunday - Sorong Harbour
No dive. Depart for Home!
We will help arrange bookings for flights Jakarta or Bali to Makassar. Or you may arrange your own flights.
From Makassar we are all on one flight so that everyone arrives Sorong at the same time. We are all booked on Sriwijaya 0430 flight to Sorong.
Short hotels stay and dinner at Losari beachfront and its famous seafood restaurants. Propose Aryaduta hotel. You may book direct with the hotel on its website (pay later) or book online eg Agoda (pay now).
Day 1 : Saturday - Sorong
Flight Makassar to Sorong On 0430 Sriwijaya flight. Pick up and transfer to Sea Safari 6 boat. Welcome drink will be offered. Cabin allocation and deck briefing will take place as you settle in. The boat will depart for Dampier Strait (40 nautical miles – nm). We are going straight for the big stuff! We will reach Dampier by evening and a night dive is an option for those eager to start.
Day 2 & 3 : Dampier Strait (8 dives)
Starting with Batu Lima near the entrance to Kabui Bay. Famous for its large colourful sea fans. Good chance of seeing Mantas. Mioskon and Friwinbonda offers good fish life and as well as pygmy seahorses. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served onboard in between the dives. Diving sites and timing will depend on the tide situation and currents. The boat will then depart to the north west, the Yanggefo group.
Day 4 : Yanggefo (4 dives)
The Yanggefo dive sites offers a variety of dives including current drifts at Mayhem, and shallower diving at Way Pretty Shallows. Citrus Ridge and Gam Ridge also gives big schools of fish, frequently described as “aquarium diving” by divers who experience masses of fish swirling over their heads. We then head north to the magical Wayag Group.
Day 5 : Wayag (4 dives)
Part of the 155,000 hectare Kawe Marine Protected Area, There will be a hill climb to overlook Wayag’s beautiful lagoon. The dive sites here have interesting names like Two Hump Rock, and Far Out Rock. Expect to see masses of fish, and some currents depending on the tides. There may be a chance of seeing Tuna out in the blue. We will also do the more interesting sites like Figure 8 Rock, Channel Island, and Cathedral Rock, if currents are mild.
Day 6 : Kawe Group (4 dives)
We now sit right on the equator at Kawe Island. Weka’s Wow is a drift dive, offering both wide angle and macro photographic opportunities. A nearby site called One Tree Island also offers pygmy seahorses and with several species present. Changgo offers swim thru’s and boulders while Black Rock has schooling Butterfly fish, Angels and Octopus.
Day 7 : Alyui Bay and Cendana Pearl Farm (4 dives)
White Arrow and Channel Island offers interesting macro opportunities, with fire urchins housing Zebra crabs and Coleman shrimps. We will also visit the Cendana Pearl Farm for a tour of the facility and those of you interested in purchasing pearls direct from the farm!
Day 8 : Batanta Island (Dive or BoP watching)
Choice of Muck Diving or Bird of Paradise watching. Batanta has Wilson and Red BoP.
We have to depart to Sorong by 5 pm so that we can arrive in port early.
Day 9 (31st March 2013) : Sunday - Sorong Harbour
No dive. Depart for Home!
Dive Sites:
Coordinators:
Ahmad Zaki EmbiParticipants (10):
Low Huoi Seong
Kenny Yeoh
Pierre Rebufat
Henry Wasserman
Kristy Chai
Trudy Ganendra
Mohd Ismail Mohd Noor
Butt Wai Choon
Danny Yeap Yau Yee