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Indonesia - Raja Ampat & The Banda Sea

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Raja Ampat & The Banda Sea

West Papua, formerly know as Irian Jaya and part of the massive island of New Guinea, is an area of outstanding beauty and diving. Known as the Coral Triangle, this area lies at the heart of the world’s coral reef biodiversity and possibly holds the richest variety of marine species in the world.

 

Raja Ampat comprises of over 600 islands, stretching west from Irian Jaya out into the Banda Sea and offers some of the finest diving to be found anywhere in Indonesia.

 

Raja Ampat is a remote wilderness and it takes time to get there but the rewards are exhilerating for those taking on the adventure. Several iveaboards operate in this region, including the excellent Pindito, S/Y Siren and Paradise Dancer, and there are two wonderful land-based resorts; the Kri-Eco Resort and Sorido Bay Resort.

Pindito Liveaboard

The Pindito is a beautiful and elegant 124ft wooden Pinisi with a cruising speed of 8-9 knots and a range of 1300 nautical miles. The ship is superbly equipped and can accommodate a maximum of 16 guests. Accommodation on board is in 6 double cabins and 2 twin cabins. The cabins are elegantly designed and all are en-suite, with shower, washbasin and toilet, and have individually controlled air-conditioning. The cabins are tended daily and fresh towels are supplied as necessary.

 

On board there is a dedicated camera room for charging and preparing cameras and a flatscreen TV and computer system to view the shots of the day. There is a seperate freshwater rinse tank for cleaning all the camera equipment. In the saloon there is an entertainment system, complete with a DVD and CD player, and the liveaboard also has a library.

 

Typically, four dives per day are scheduled during the cruise and the diving takes place from three Zodiacs. All dives are lead by experienced Dive Masters and preceeded by a thorough safety briefing. The crew are experienced in handling camera equipment safely and divers are free underwater to do their own thing if they do not want to keep with the guides. There is 32% Nitrox available on board and full Nitrox courses can be taken on any cruise.

S/Y Siren Liveaboard

The 34 metre S/Y Siren is a traditional Indonesian ‘gaft-rigged Phinisi’ beautifully handcrafted from ironwood and teak and has been custom-made with all the luxury facilities for the modern diver. The Siren can take 16 guests in 8 large air-conditioned cabins each with their own personal computer, audio-visual entertainment system and ensuite bathrooms with hot water. All rooms are lavished with luxury extra’s including bathrobes, hair dryers, towels, individually controlled mood lighting and individual controls for your air-conditioning unit.

 

There are spacious sundecks for relaxing between dives and on board facilities include a laundry service and massage service. There is a spacious air-conditioned saloon with cocktail bar, 42 inch flatscreen & computer server supporting the inter-cabin computer network. There are large workstations for the preparation and maintenance of cameras including prep and storage areas and large rinsing tanks with fresh water changed three times daily.

 

2 high-powered Zodiacs accompany the S/Y Siren for diving and enriched Air Nitrox is free for all certified Nirox divers and Nitrox courses are available. Typically, four dives per day are scheduled during the cruise with optional night dives.

Sample itinerary

Raja Ampat is a very remote and wild wilderness and it takes time to get there. The recommended routing is through Bali or Manado, with stop-overs required in each direction. Itineraries vary for each type of cruise so please call us for an itinerary according to your choice of liveaboard and cruise. The following is a sample itinerary for the Pindito 11nts Raja Ampat cruise travelling on scheduled Singapore Airlines from London Heathrow to Manado:

Day 1 – Midday departure from London Heathrow for flight to Manado, travelling on Singapore Airlines via Singapore.
Day 2 – Arrive Manado at 1305hrs and transfer to hotel for 2 nights accommodation.
Day 4 – Depart Manado at 1420hrs for flight to Sorong, arriving 1720hrs. Transfer to Pindito liveaboard for 11 nights great diving.
Day 15 – Depart Sorong at 0815hrs for flight to Manado. Arrive Manado at 1005hrs and transfer to hotel for 1 night's accommodation.
Day 16 – Depart Manado at 1345hrs for flight back to UK via Singapore.
Day 17 – Arrive London Heathrow at 0550hrs.