Raja Ampat Discovery

Prices from:

£4995 inc. flights*

Top 5 world class diving
Remote location
Large pelagics
Macro criters
Varied itinerary durations and liveaboards

Information
Itinerary
Media
Liveaboards
Availability

Raja Ampat may be difficult to find on a map but it is a scuba diving experience quite unlike any other and one of the all time great Indonesian dive destinations. This is a vast expanse of sea, peppered with literally hundreds of tiny islands and coves, which means the only was to truly explore Raja Amapt is on a liveabaord dving holiday. The bio diversity is off the charts with walls, reefs, pinnacles, caves, mangroves and black sands, each creating a unique eco system - and this Indonesian liveaboard itinerary visits them all in one magical diving holiday.

As the name implies, the Raja Ampat Discovery explores this vast corner of the globe. There is much still to discover but Raja Ampat lies at the heart of the coral triangle and the reefs are in pristine condition. Areas such as Fam and Kawe boast an enormous quantity of schooling fish. Regular shark sightings at Fiabacet and Uraine are an undeniable highlight. Mansuar is the place to head for mantas and turtles. Epaulette and wobegong sharks can also been seen, rushing across the seabed at Waigeo. Snorkel with the resident dolphin pod in between dives! Macro lovers will be in paradise at Bantana or Kri where muck diving is the order of the day with a myriad of bright, colourful critters - some of which have only been recently identified by science! Pygmy sea horses, mimic octopus, cockatoo wasps, coleman shrimps... there is no end to what miniature marvels await.

The Raja Ampat Discovery is the dream itinerary if you want to try something new. With so much still to be explored, you can witness new dive sites and undiscovered marine species. Photographers should make this a must see destination. Diving conditions can vary enormously from site to site so it is advisable to be advanced and comfortable with drift dive procedures. Nitrox is available on board but this is not a technical itinerary. Raja Ampat truly delivers a trip of discovery - this is an adventure into a world that few other divers will ever visit. Drop out of the rat race and let the dedicated guides and crew spoil you. Splash from the back dive deck into a marine wonderland that will leave you speachless each and every day.

Quick Facts

Average Water Temp: 27 - 28 C
Average Air Temp: 27 - 30 C
Average Visability: 5 - 30m
Good for: Macro, Pelagics, Reefs
Suitable for beginners: No

Highlights

From macro diving to big fish encounters this is a diving holiday that will be the envy of all your diving buddies and a trip to remember!

Testimonials

"We had 2 Very Good Guides, who cared. The boat was kept clean at all times. The cook was the best so far encountered. This is my 8th liveaboard. Keep it up, well done."Lee
"Absolutely fantastic week, we would definitely consider another trip. ". Steve Weller

This is a typical example of the Raja Ampat Discovery itinerary. The schedule is subject to change according to prevailing weather conditions and is only given as a example of what you would usually encounter during your holiday.

Scuba Travel works with the most exclusive liveaboards in Indonesia, all diving in and around the Raja Ampat area. However, there are several options regarding your trip duration so you can find the ideal liveaboard for your once in a lifetime trip to Raja Ampat.

Liveaboards diving Raja Ampat
WAOW, Paradise Dancer, Indo Siren and Mandarin Siren all offer itineraries to dive Raja Ampat seasonally.

Embarkation Points
All boats depart from Sorong.

Trip Durations
WAOW offers trips for 11 nights with a 25 dive minimum
Paradise Dancer offers trips for 11 nights with approx 33 dives and 14 nights
Indo Siren offers trips for 10 nights with approx 32 dives or 12 nights with approx 40 dives
Mandarin Siren offers trip for 10 nights with approx 32 dives or 12 nights with approx 40 dives

Please note the exact number of dives on a trip will depend on local weather conditions and diver experience levels etc. The above number of dives are intended as a rough guide only.

Arrival and Departure
Depending on which liveaboard you will be joining you may need to overnight in Indonesia at either end of your holiday. Most trips will also require you to catch a domestic flight to reach the boat. Common stop over points are Manado, Sorong and Jakarta.

Raja Ampat North
Some of Raja Ampat's most famous dive areas are found in the northern part where the pelagics are concentrated. Here you find Cape Kri and the Dampier Straits. If you are a photographer it is all about wide angle here, with vast sea fans. Kri is the for many divers one of the undeniable highlights of this itinerary with just everything. Around Airborei you can find huge manta rays which are feeding or being cleaned. Aluji Bay switches from big fish to macro with ghost pipefish, toad fish and bob tail squid. The area is also great for wobegongs and ribbon eels. In Wayag you have it all. The corals are out of this world, when the current runs you get pelagics and if not there are all manner of critters and scenic arches. Kawe is an area with such dense marine life you will be blown away.

You can also dive just Raja Ampat North on Mandarin Siren for 6 nights with approx 18 dives

Raja Ampat South
The best known areas of Raja Ampat in the South are Misool and nearby Fam. Misool is a tiny island surrounded by dense hard coral reefs. Surrounded by mushroom like islets, there are some good speedy drift dives which in turn bring in larger fish including sharks, mobula, barracuda and tuna. In Fiabacet you find the photogenic Boo Windows, a series of arches in the reef which make for the most photogenic image. The reef is swarmed by smaller reef fish. Daram is a soft coral reef with outstanding sea fans and vast barrel sponges. And home to the rare halimeda ghost pipefish, frogfish and flamboyant cuttlefish. Batanta is the ideal spot for some nudibranch hunting.

You can also dive just Raja Ampat South on Mandarin Siren for 6 nights with approx 18 dives

Cendrawasih Bay
On the longest 14 night itinerary there is a chance to visit Cendrawasih Bay. The main attraction here are the whalesharks which appear in March for a few weeks only.

Between dives
Between dives there are several opportunites on all over the boats to go ashore. Explore a volcanic island, visit a pearl farm, grab the canoes and go exploring... The excursions will vary from trip to trip but all are designed to help you get to see even more of this remote region.

Dismbarkation Points
All boats return to Sorong.

If you would like to add an extension, combine this with another product or tweak the itinerary give us a call so we can discuss your dream diving holiday.