Located in remote Raja Ampat, Indonesia, Misool resort island is a true tropical hideaway. This is eco diving in the heart of Raja at one of the world's most exclusive resorts. This hand built resort island is fringed with powder-white beaches and pristine coral reefs. With a maximum capacity of just 40 guests and a staff-to-guest ratio of 4 to 1, Misool offers exclusive adventure holidays and transformative experiences in pristine nature. Misool was built entirely of reclaimed tropical hardwoods, milled on site. There are simply 3 room grades, but each option has been meticulously designed for comfort, privacy, and sustainability. All of the rooms feature Balinese-style open air bathrooms, air-conditioning, fresh hot and cold showers, mini-bars stocked with treats from around the archipelago, and handcrafted furniture and fittings. The eight rustically luxurious Water Cottages are built on stilts over the North Lagoon, just steps from the Dive Centre and restaurant. Fancy an upgrade? Pick from one of the our larger North Lagoon Villas. Each is indivually named and crafted to fit into the island's environment. On a powder-white beach, you'll find seven South Beach Villas overlooking a blue water swimming hole. This beach is reached by a short but steep walk over the hill. Alternatively, a Water Taxi is reachable by radio and available at all times except very low tide. Enjoy your meals at the restaurant on the beach overlooking the North Lagoon. The airy, round-roofed structure is tucked under the coconut palms, offering a perfect respite from the mid-day heat. The restaurant's terrace is the ideal place to enjoy a sunset cocktail or a bottle of wine while watching the baby sharks. The menu offers a broad range of Asian and Western cuisine, with a focus on fresh, local, and organic fare. As standard your package includes four meals per day, plus afternoon tea on the terrace, with freshly baked treats like lemon and cardamom biscotti or island-fresh banana fritters with shaved white chocolate. There is also a selection of imported beer, imported wine, and champagne available. Raja Ampat is a mecca for divers, famed and one of a handful of wishlist destinations that truly deserves its hallowed name. But if you are just taking some time out of the water, or don't dive, there is plenty to do at Misool resort. The on land experiences are as much a part of the resort's ethos as the diving. The Spa boasts a range of massage and beauty treatments and feature Misool's signature range of natural products, most of which are created fresh each morning in their kitchen. Spend time with a loved one on a romantic beach castaway experience, or visit a local village. Try stand up paddle boarding, release baby Turtles or try your hand at an Indonesian cooking class. Misool is much more than just diving! Misool is a child friendly resort. Ask your travel consultant about travelling with children to this special location.
The Water Cottages are built on stilts over the water. For lazy afternoons with a good book, there is a hammock built right into the veranda. The view from your veranda is framed by a traditional grass roof, offering a high degree of privacy as well as shade. Stairs lead down from your veranda to the North Lagoon, and the House Reef is just a few fin kicks away.
The south beach villas have direct beach front access, nestled in the jungle gardens. Each has its own distinctive layout and decor, reflecting a truly unique build. Ask for more detail about either Villa Tenang, Villa Santai, Villa Waya Biru, Villa Moro Laiyn and Villa Kalanme (a complex of three separate en suite bedroom units).
There are 4 villas on the north lagoon, each stylishly crafted, with additional privacy and space. Villas Nasnoos and Wakachom each feature a master bedroom and an indoor living area with sofa.Villa Tabisasu features an en-suite bedroom and adjoining living area. The outdoor living-area face east and enjoys glorious sunrise views, all your own. Villa Utara overlooks the House Reef and the spectacular dive sites of Fiabacet beyond.
View entry requirements here To enter Indonesia, all international travellers must fill out an electronic self-declaration form called SATUSEHAT Health Pass. It is recommended that you complete this form prior to departure to avoid delays when arriving in Indonesia. British Citizens who are entering Indonesia for the following purposes can apply for a visa on arrival at a cost of IDR 500,000: Tourism; Official visit or government duties; Business meeting; Procurement of goods; Official meeting; Transit. This visa is valid for 30 days, and can be extended once (for a maximum of 30 days) by making an application to an immigration office within Indonesia. Ensure that you extend your visa within the initial 30 days to avoid an overstay fine. Visa on arrival is now available at the following airports: Soekarno Hatta DKI Jakarta Ngurah Rai Bali Kualanamu North Sumatra Juanda East Java Hasanuddin South Sulawesi Sam Ratulangi North Sulawesi Yogyakarta Yogyakarta Hang Nadim Batam, Riau Islands Zainuddin Abdul Majid West Nusa Tenggara Updated 5 SEPT 2024
Indonesia is around 15-20 hours flight from the UK and is made up of around 19 000 islands. It is the largest archipelago in the world straddling the Equator, between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Most travellers will enter Indonesia through Jakarta (CGK), Bali (DPS) or Manado (MDC) airports.
This is the stuff of divers' dreams. This exotic nation is the very definition of bio diversity. Find the big fish in Komodo, Raja Ampat or Kalimantan. Drift lazily along the walls of Bunaken and Wakatobi, watching turtles on coral drenched walls. While away the hours hunting for miniscule macro in Bali, Lembeh or Ambon. Cannot decide? Why not combine two locations into a single trip!
View entry requirements here To enter Indonesia, all international travellers must fill out an electronic self-declaration form called SATUSEHAT Health Pass. It is recommended that you complete this form prior to departure to avoid delays when arriving in Indonesia. British Citizens who are entering Indonesia for the following purposes can apply for a visa on arrival at a cost of IDR 500,000: Tourism; Official visit or government duties; Business meeting; Procurement of goods; Official meeting; Transit. This visa is valid for 30 days, and can be extended once (for a maximum of 30 days) by making an application to an immigration office within Indonesia. Ensure that you extend your visa within the initial 30 days to avoid an overstay fine. Visa on arrival is now available at the following airports: Soekarno Hatta DKI Jakarta Ngurah Rai Bali Kualanamu North Sumatra Juanda East Java Hasanuddin South Sulawesi Sam Ratulangi North Sulawesi Yogyakarta Yogyakarta Hang Nadim Batam, Riau Islands Zainuddin Abdul Majid West Nusa Tenggara Updated 5 SEPT 2024
Indonesia is a vast country, and the weather can be hugely variable. The topography means that weather patterns can be very localised. This is the tropics! For Bali, Komodo & Wakatobi the weather is usually best from April - November, with July and August being some of the best months to visit. Between December and March the conditions can be a bit stormy. November to April is also the wettest month to visit Bunaken, Lembeh and Kalimantan but to a lesser degree than in other locations. October to April is historically the most popular time to dive in Raja Ampat.
Our holidays to Indonesia can be quoted with most major airlines. We are however able to book most major airlines. Popular options for Indonesia include Cathay Pacific, Singapore airlines, Qatar, Emirates, Malaysian, KLM and Gaurda. If you would like to depart from a different UK airport (eg. Glasgow/Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham or Gatwick) or have a specific airline you prefer to fly with, simply let us know in your booking request. A supplement may apply for regional departures. Times and any applicable supplements will be confirmed by your travel consultant before you finalise your holiday. If you wish to make your own flight arrangements to Indonesia, let us know and we can remove the cost of the international flights from your quote. We are unfortunately not able to redeem airmiles on your behalf. Please do not confirm any flight arrangements yourself before your holiday is confirmed by us.
With a huge range of airlines to fly with, you can easily build in a stop over either on your way to or on your way back from Indonesia. Simply talk to your travel consultant about adding a stop over into your itinerary.
UK Passport holders landing in Jakarta, Bali or Manado are able to obtain a visa on arrival in Jakarta 5000 000 IDR cash. Do ensure your passport has 6 months validity from your return date to prevent any issues with immigration. It is your responsibility to ensure your passport is valid and you fulfil entry requirements. Regulations can change: please review current FCO advice: click here to review
Scuba Travel requires all of our customers to have diving insurance. Please make sure that you have appropriate cover for your diving activities. We also strongly recommend you have travel insurance. It's worth taking out travel insurance once you have paid your deposit to ensure you are covered for unforeseen events and cancellation.
Your covid proof of vaccination must match your passport name and flight ticket name. Please speak to your local GP or check out the latest NHS advice on updating your NHS details or for other travel immunisations: click here to go to the NHS
You will also be able to manage your booking online once you have been ticketed (after you have paid your holiday balance). Most airlines will now enable you to select your seating at this point. There may be a small charge for prebookable seating before online check in opens. Please speak to the airline for more information about charges.
As you are flying with a scheduled airline, you will be able to check in online with your airline. Please visit their website for more information about when online check in opens.
An airport lounge is a great way to start your holiday or to while away flight connections in comfort. Scuba Travel works with Lounge Pass to offer a huge range of affordable airport lounges around the world. click here for more info on Lounge Pass
Prebook your airport parking to save money! If you have a long way to travel, why not also look at booking an airport hotel. These aren't as expensive as you might think. click here for holiday extras
On arrival in your Indonesia destination, you will need to clear immigration and collect your baggage. You will then be met outside of arrivals by a representative from your liveaboard or resort. Some reps are able to meet you airside. They will be holding a board with either your destination or your name on it. If you have any issues at all locating your rep, please contact us. We have an emergency contact, manned by a member of the team here in the UK. Please call 0044 7747 488 002. We will be able to help your rep locate you in the airport.
If you have a hotel en route please follow any specific instructions in your travel documents. Where possible, you will be met by a representative who will assist in taking you to your hotel. If using a shuttle service, please arrange your return shuttle time back to the airport at the hotel check in. Domestic flights are common in Indonesia and run frequently. The major hubs of Jakarta, Bali and Manado all have separate terminals for domestic and international departures. Just follow the signs to move between international and domestic terminals. The service has improved vastly, but there can still be last minute schedule changes. Please ensure you leave plenty of time for check in or transit between flights (usually 4 hours min). Domestic flights can typically only be booked with a 20kgs hold allowance as standard. Excess baggage must be paid for in Indonesian rupiah and costs around $2-$5 per kg per way. Due to local traffic and road conditions, land journey times can be difficult to predict. We recommend you take water with you and keep any essentials in your hand baggage to make your journey as comfortable as possible.
At the end of your holiday, your return transfer details will be advised locally. As of Feb 2015, the departure tax for all domestic and international flights is built into your flight ticket price.
Tipping is entirely at your discretion. We do not make recommendations as to how much to tip. Should you wish to leave a tip for the staff and crew, it should reflect the level of service you have enjoyed.
Incidental charges such as spa services, excursions, internet, souvenirs, etc can be paid by Visa, Mastercard, or cash (Rupiah, USD, or Euros) before your departure. Our bank will charge you 2% for this service. If you'd like to pay in cash, please note that foreign notes must be in perfect condition - otherwise Indonesian banks will not accept them
Satellite internet connection available in the Dive Centre - but it is very slow. You are well outside phone range. We advise you switch off all together!
220 volts, 24 hours a day
This is a remote location! Please request and prebook before you go!
This is a remote location! Please request and prebook before you go!
The dive centre has a small, limited shop on site
Free Nitrox available for certified Enriched Air Divers. PADI Nitrox courses are available at the resort
A typical deposit for a holiday to Misool is around 30% of your holiday costs per person, although this will depend on your exact flight option and travel class. Larger deposits may be required for some flight options (eg premium economy/business class).
We accept mastercard and visa debit or credit cards. If you would like a pay by link to complete check out via email please let us know and it can be set up for you. We do not take AMEX. All non sterling card payments and UK business debit cards will be subject to the 3% surcharge. Alternatively, you are welcome to pay via bank transfer. Overseas bank transfers must add £8 to the sterling total to cover international handling fees. We are not able to accept PayPal transactions or personal cheques.
If you have booked as part of a group, you can still call and pay directly without needing to go via your group leader. Please have your trip reference number to hand to help us locate your holiday as quickly as possible. You will receive a transaction receipt - your group leader will forward your ATOL certificate and booking confirmation
Are you one of Scuba Travel's repeat customers? Over 60% of our customers trust Scuba Travel to book their next diving holiday, time after time.
And we believe you deserve a huge thanks for your ongoing support over the years, which is what our repeater discount is all about! Travel with us again in either 12 months or 24 months and you will qualify for a discount. That's all you have to do. No forms, no numbers to remember, no fuss, just a good honest price reduction.
7 nights accommodation in a water cottage/south beach villa double/twin share (2 people sharing) plus 1 night B&B in their preferred Sorong hotel at the end of your stay 7 days of full board meal package and include four meals per day plus afternoon tea time, most non-alcoholic beverages 1 check dive on arrival day, plus up to 4 dives per day on each of the following 6 days, free Nitrox for certified divers, 12lt tank and weights Fixed day boat transfer Sorong to Misool return
To pay locally are extras such as the Raja Ampat marine park fees. Currently this is 1 000 000 IDR and is valid for 12 months. You will need a copy of your passport and 1 passport photo for the park pass. All additional tours, excursions, spa services, laundry, alcohol and tipping are booked/paid for in resort. Tipping is entirely at your discretion. We do not make recommendations as to how much to tip. Should you wish to leave a tip for the staff and crew, it should reflect the level of service you have enjoyed. Please ask for a quote to add international flights from the UK to Jakarta, or domestic flights to Sorong. We can book most major scheduled airlines including regional UK departures.
Famous reef sites and a world class house reef - Misool is a diver's paradise where you can mix and match boat and shore diving as you wish! The custom built dive boats go out 3 times a day, for single, double or full day dive excursions.
It's time to dive the Misool Private Marine Reserve. All of the sites are protected by their own 300,00 acre/1,220 sq km Misool Marine Reserve. That means that an area twice the of Singapore is a dedicated conservation area, and free from all fishing.
You can expect a diverse selection of underwater experiences, including a busy manta cleaning station, coral covered walls, reef flats, swim throughs, gentle sea mounts, drift dives, vast hard-coral gardens, placid lagoons, and current-raked pinnacles. Visibility is variable but generally 25+ meters, with temperatures around 26-28 degrees Celsius (78-82 degrees Fahrenheit).
If you haven't seen it already, we recommend the 'Shallow Seas' episode of the BBC series 'Life.' Peter Schoons and his team spent 6 weeks filming on the House Reef to capture the sequence of Anemone fish tending their brood!
The 3D underwater footage of the recent IMAX film 'Journey to the South Pacific' was filmed on Misool Eco Resort's incredible dive sites.
A small island in the Fiabacet chain, which looks an awful lot like a nudibranch from a distance. Just a quick 5-minute speed boat ride from the jetty, this site is a must for critter enthusiasts and macro photographers. True to its name, you'll find a wide range of flamboyant nudibranchs lurking among the abundant soft corals. The sea fans are well populated with pygmy seahorses and cowries. Be sure to inspect the abundant crinoids for their colour-coordinated arrowhead shrimp and cling fish. When currents allow, this site is also popular for its pinnacles crowded with larger pelagics like Barracuda, Big Eyed Travelly, and the odd mature Grey Reef Shark. The sloping shallows of Nudi Rock are stunning for wide angle shots with exquisite colours and hard coral gardens.
This sea mount is located about 20 minutes from the resort, and is a busy Manta ray cleaning station. The submerged pinnacle reaches up to about 7 meters, and you have a very good chance of seeing not one by TWO species of manta rays here - both the giant Oceanic birostris as well as the smaller reef manta, alfredi. Magic Mountain is also a nursery for White Tip Reef Sharks and a love nest for Napoleon Wrasse. Because this site is completely exposed to oceanic currents, you can expect to see large schools of pelagics in the blue.
One of our most famous dive sites, named for its unique topography. The site is a small island about 15 minutes from the resort, with 2 swim-through 'windows' carved into it. The South West face of this site is quite steep and exposed to current, so you are likely to see patrolling sharks as well as the elusive Wobbegong Shark - be sure to look under the massive table corals! When the currents are right, we'll move off towards a large pinnacle in the blue. The pinnacle is often surrounded by pulsating schools of fusiliers and gangs of plate-sized Batfish. Heading back towards the Windows, notice how the sunlight filters through - it's like nothing else on earth! We'll follow the plateau of hard plate corals and look for Sweetlips hiding underneath. Be sure to investigate the huge Barrel Sponges - their crevices often conceal Hairy Squat Lobsters.
The huge island of Yillet stretches east to west about 15 minutes north of our resort island. This island used to be home to an itinerant shark finning camp, and we are pleased by the stunning resurgence of life on its surrounding reefs, including sharks. One of Yillet's tiny satellite islands is particularly rich and topographically weird. The tiny island has been undercut by untold millenia of wave action, forming an umbrella over a sloping underwater plateau with numerous spooky overhangs and cavelets. Diving with a torch is highly recommended for this site - you'll want to illuminate the dark corners of this site to see all the critters, as well as the wild colours. Barramundi cod and Hawksbill Turtles frequent this site. We also suggest you keep a sharp eye on the blue, as huge schools of barracuda hover in formation.
Our restaurant is located on the beach overlooking the North Lagoon. The airy, round-roofed structure is tucked under the coconut palms, offering a perfect respite from the mid-day heat. The restaurant's spacious terrace is the ideal place to enjoy a sunset cocktail or a bottle of wine while watching the baby sharks and long-toms hunt schools of circling sardines. The dining areas offer ample seating for couples and travel groups
Breakfast is a buffet. Pick from an array of homemade granola, freshly baked breads and cakes, fresh local fruits and lots of other yummy delights. We offer a mini-breakfast before the first dive, and a hearty cooked breakfast after the first dive. Lunch is served as a selection of dishes to share, reflecting the Indonesian style of enjoying a meal together. Afternoon teatime features homemade treats and savoury snacks. Dinner service is plated. We also have an all-day a la carte menu available.
We believe that what we eat matters, not just for us but for our planet and our future. We work hard to strike the right balance between tasty, healthy, indulgent, and sustainable fare. Guests often comment on the surprising variety of food our kitchen produces using locally available ingredients. Rather than trying (and failing) to produce what our guests have access to at home, we focus our creative energy on high quality local products with a minimal carbon footprint:
Escape to the luxury Misool resort for pristine corals, walls and manta in South Raja Ampat Indoensia
Call us or email to book
We are more than happy to help you, with any question you may have. Our travel advisors are waiting for your call or you can send us a message
Click here to MESSAGE us 01483 411590Tour Operator of the Year 12 times - Voted by you!
For 100% financial protection and peace of mind
Before during and after your holiday. 24hr contact support
The House Reef
Skill level: All levels | Ave Depth: 15m | Max Depth: 30mOur House Reef is a shore dive, easily accessed at any time from either the end of the jetty, the Dive Centre, or the steps leading down from your Water Cottage accommodation. On a rising tide, jump off the end of the jetty and enjoy an easy drift North through the channel, which is exposed to variable current. Schooling horse-eyed jacks congregate under the pier, joined by massive schools of fusiliers and shoals of passing anchovies. Several very large groupers make their home in the depths under the jetty, and they often appear to inspect visitors to their reef. We regularly see large black tip reef sharks patrolling the deeper areas, as well as the occasional grey reef shark.