Raja Ampat National Park Central (10 Days / 9 Nights - 22 Dives)
Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat: Frewin, Dampier Strait: Mioskon, Blue Magic, Chicken Reef, Yanbuba, Airborek Jetty, Lalosi, Penemu, Melissa’s Garden, My Reef, Mayhem, Citrus, Way Pretty Shallow, Wofo, Black Forest, Eagle Rock, Mike’s Point and Cape Kri
Day 1
You can join an early morning car transfer from Sorong or the express ferry (both take 90 minutes). You are advised to arrive in Sorong no later than 8 am in time for the 9 am ferry. Akomo Isseki will be waiting for you in Waisai harbour in Raja Ampat where you will meet the liveaboard crew. After refreshments and a short tour and explanation about the boat, safety on board, and intended plans for the trip, you will set up your scuba gear and check in to your cabin. Around lunch time at 12 noon, Akomo Isseki will set off in the direction of the famous Dampier Strait area of Raja Ampat, the first of many areas you will visit during the trip. Here you will do the check dive then you can relax while you travel and enjoy dinner and the first night of hospitality aboard Akomo Isseki.
Days 2-9
The first morning starts with a light breakfast followed by the first dive at Mioskon to get a feel for the week ahead. After this you will dive at the famous Blue Magic, well known for biodiversity and beautifully coloured soft and hard corals. After lunch, the third dive then, after a substantial supper, there is the possibility of a night dive. Dive 3 times per day (except the final full day) at some of the most famous spots in Raja Ampat, where you will observe circling giant manta rays. Find anglerfish hidden amongst the corals, sponges and sands, and search for wobbegongs and the wonderful walking shark. Raja Ampat is great for barracuda, trevally, bumphead parrotfish, fusiliers, surgeonfish, rainbow runners, sweetlips, and huge schools of bannerfish.
Between dives you can visit a small village, meet with the locals and see some of the manta ray conservation projects based here. Visit a pearl farm and learn how they are harvested. Take a kayak and explore the natural lagoons of crystal clear water and small islands overgrown with tropical vegetation. Ascend a ridge to take amazing pictures or just relax and enjoy the view. Trek into the jungle for a bird watching adventure to find the famous red bird of paradise.
The Indonesian cook is excellent, preparing a variety of Indonesian and Western dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, fresh baked breads, cakes, interval snacks, fruit juice, hot coffee, and treats in the open-air social area. Spend an evening under the stars enjoying a beach BBQ. He will happily cater for vegetarians and vegans.
Day 10
Akomo Isseki will end the trip in Waisai harbour and, after a final breakfast and the last exchange of photos and lifetime memories, the boat crew of Akomo Isseki will say their farewells. You can disembark at noon and then join the 2 pm ferry to Sorong or the 4 pm car transfer to your Sorong hotel.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].