Maumere - Raja Ampat

Volcanoes & Paradise Birds: Maumere – Sorong

• Embarking port and Closest airport: Maumere in Flores.
• Disembarking port and Closest airport: Sorong in Papua.

Itinerary:

from Maumere Bay to the straits of Alor from there to the Banda islands through the string of islands in the Banda sea, then Koon island, Misool and Dampier straits in Rajah Ampat.

Main dive sites:

Bay of Maumere: It is extremely interesting to dive in waters that once were considered exceptional, the headquarters of the most reputed World Championship of Underwater Photography, until in 1992 an earthquake followed by a tsunami wave hit with anger all the area. Ten years later the walls that surround these islands have managed to recover their full beauty  from that natural disaster to the scientists surprise and they actually offer excellent dives in mild currents, with a healthy population of gorgonias and sponges, with big groupers lurking in crevices, antias and butterfly fish. In the blue big tuna and carangids patrol the depths seeking for their prey.
Karang Hatta, a strategic point where the current splits, with frequent sightings of pelagics. Too Many Fish, offers some of the best diving in the archipelago, a plateau of sand surronded by covered walls, good coral and many school of fish. Fiabacet and Sardine Reef among many others in Rajah Ampat.

Type of diving:

Awesome walls, submerged hills facing the current and ridges full of coral. Currents that promote the presence of colorful soft corals and large gorgonians, schools of fish and big fish.

Land tours:

• Visit to the fortifications of the old colony of Banda and its nutmeg plantations.
• Boat rides through the labyrinths of islands and lagoons in Papua.

Recommendations:

Bring light clothing. Use sunscreen during the day. Water temperature is 26º-28º C.  3-to 5mm wetsuit is reccommneded. Visibility is variable and averages 15m. This destination is ideal for shooting wide angle, but there are very interesting macro subjects too. Presents like used clothing, school supplies and ballons for the children of the village are always welcome.

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Lembeh - Wakatobi

Critters Galore & Krisses: Bitung- Kendari o BauBau.
The wild east of Sulawesi

This route starts in Bitung right in fornnt of the Lembeh island just 90 minutes drive from Manado. After embarking and diving the best sites in Lembeh we will sail down south along the east coast of Sulawesi passing Gorontalo, the Banggai archipelago and Buton island. Depending on weather conditions and the scheduled length of the cruise we may continue towards Wakatobi and finish in Baubau, the capital of Buton island or else in Kendari.

• Embarking port: Bitung. Closest airport: Manado.
• Disembarking port and Closest airport: BauBau or Kendari.

Itinerary:

We sail down the east coast of Sulawesi, the island with the weirdest shape in Indonesia. The north of the island with Bunaken Marine National Park is well known and heavily visited but the east coast is a real haven full of diving gems. from Lembeh to Buyat Bay, Tanjung Flesko, Gorontalo, Banggai islands and Wakatobi.

Lembeh Strait:

Known worldwide as the “Muck diving” paradise: Frogfish, Rhinopia, Mimics, Wonderpus, Nudis,….you name it! Every single critter in the book seems to be here together with some wrecks and with very easy diving conditions for photographers and UW Video.

Gorontalo:

Probably some of the most beautiful walls in Indonesia, school of fish, pelagics, coral gardens and a beautiful coastline. Still to be fully discovered.

 Banggai Archipelago:

Mostly unexplored for commercial diving is home of some isolated sites with beautiful drops, drift dives and many surprises.

Wakatobi or Tukangbesi Archipelago:

It owns the reputation of having the nicest ”Home Reef” in Indonesia, this together with being far from any turistic area is the guarantee for enjoying some of the richests marine life despite the lack of big fish and pelagicss. A unique destination.

Main dive sites:

In Lembeh, Hairball and Jahir, are two black sandy slopes well known by its variety of critters. The island of Pulau Racun in Buyat Bay is a beautiful coral garden with schools of fish and reef sharks. Batu Gong, is a hill covered with deep black coral and full of fish. Blue Corner in Wakatobi, is a hill formed by a reef of hard corals and barrel sponges with schools of fish and the occasional visiting of pelagics. Batu, Tetek, Vesuvius Reef and Outer Pinnacle are also some of the common dive sites in this itinerary.

Type of diving:

This route combines muck diving on black-sanded slopes with underwater hills and coral ridges swiped by currents. Very good coral reefs, sharks, turttles and good macro. The rare sponges named “Salvador Dali” are found in Gorontalo.

Land tours:

• Local conservation project in Gorontalo reef.
• Bajo villages where the sea gypsies live in Banggai and Wakatobi.

Recommendations:

Bring light clothing. Use sunscreen during the day. Water temperature is 26º-28º C.  3-to 5mm wetsuit is reccommneded. Visibility is variable and averages 15m. This destination is ideal for shooting wide angle, but there are very interesting macro subjects too. Presents like used clothing, school supplies and ballons for the children of the village are always welcome.

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Maumere - Ambon

Volcanoes and Sultans: Maumere – Ambon

• Embarking port: Maumere. Closest airport: Maumere in Flores.
• Disembarking port and closest airport: Ambon in Ambon island, Maluku.

Itinerary:

From Maumere Bay to the straits of Alor from there sail north to the Banda islands through a string of isolated islands in the mysterious Banda sea and then Ambon island to explore its walls and the Ambon Bay, a real treasure for critter spotting, for some even better than Lembeh Strait.

Main dive sites:

The Bay of Maumere: it is extremely interesting to dive in waters that once were considered exceptional, the headquarters of the most reputed World Championship of Underwater Photography, until in 1992 an earthquake followed by a tsunami wave hit with anger all the area. Ten years later the walls that surround these islands have managed to recover in their totality from that natural disaster to the scientists surprise and they actually offer excellent dives in mild currents, with a healthy population of gorgonias and sponges, with big groupers lurking in crevices, antias and butterfly fish. In the blue big tuna and carangids patrol the depths seeking for their prey.
Gunung Api and Manuk island with the possibility of assiting to a nature wonder of seasnakes concentration. The reputed Banda Islands with the volcanic slopes and the deep waters surroung it where pelagics sightings are frequent. Ameth’s Knoll, is a scenic submerged hill near Ambón, with excellent coral, macro and schools of fish. Karang Hatta, a strategic point where the current splits, with frequent sightings of pelagics, Cave Point, South Ai and Pintu Kota. To end up the cruise with the unforgetable dives in the Twilight Zone where most of the most seeked for critters can be found.

Type of diving:

Awesome walls, submerged hills facing the current and ridges full of coral. Currents that promote the presence of colorful soft corals and large gorgonians, schools of fish and big fish and outstanding muck diving in Maumere and Ambon.

Land tours:

• Visit to the fortifications of the old colony of Banda and its nutmeg plantations.
• Trek to the Gunung Api volcan.

Recommendations:

Bring light clothing. Use sunscreen during the day. Water temperature is 26º-28º C.  3-to 5mm wetsuit is reccommneded. Visibility is variable and averages 15m. This destination is ideal for shooting wide angle, but there are very interesting macro subjects too specially in the first and last day of the cruise: Maumere Bay and Ambon harbour. Presents like used clothing, school supplies and ballons for the children of the village are always welcome.
 

 

 

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Bali - Komodo

Dragons and Gods:Bali – Bima

• Embarking port: Bali. Closest airport: Denpasar in Bali
• Disembarking port: Bima. Closest airport: Bima in Sumbawa.

Itinerary:

After diving in the best dive sites in the Lomok strait and Moyo island and the volcanic island of Sangiang we head to Sabolan-Sebayor, then to Rinca, Padar and Nusa Kode in south of Komodo, Red Beach and some unique sites in the fast waters of the straits like Gili Lawa and Banta island.

Main dive sites:

Batu Bolong, a pinnacle in the middle of the strait covered with coral and abundance of fish. In Nusa Kode, Cannibal Rock is a submerged mountain literally covered with marine life and invertebrates. Castle Rock is an underwater pinnacle  where sharks and schools of carangidae can be seen frequently. Bubbe Reef, a beautiful coral garden on the slopes of a volcano with bubbles owing out from the black sand. Crystal Bommie, Yellow Wall and Manta Alley are some of the other dive sites we visit.

Type of diving:

Walls and slopes, mountains and submerged pinnacles, muck diving in the black sand. Pelagics, but also scenic and good macro.

Land tours:

• The visit to the Komodo National Park to see the famous dragons is a unique experience.
• Walk through the Bajo village where the gypsies of the sea live.
• Traditional construction of wooden boats by hand in the village of Wera.

Recommendations:

Bring light clothing. Use sunscreen during the day. Water temperature varies between 27/28º to nord and 22/23 º in the south of the straits, so 3-to 5mm wetsuit is reccommneded. Visibility also varies between 20 m + in the north and 10-15 m in the south. This destination is ideal for shooting wide angle, but there are very interesting macro subjects too. Presents like used clothing, school supplies and ballons for the children of the village are always welcome.

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Rajah Ampat- Lembeh Strait

Paradise Birds and Critters Galore: Sorong – Bitung

• Embarking port: Sorong in Papua. Closest airport: Sorong.
• Disembarking port: Bitung in Sulawesi. Closest airport: Manado. We take care of the transfer.

Itinerary:

From Rajah Ampat to Lembeh, through Pulau Pisang, the Patintie Straits, the Goraici Group and the island of Tifore in Halmahera.

Main dive sites:

In Raja Ampat Sardine Reef , an underwater hill in the middle of the straits with schools of fish, and Fiabacet, two little inlets joined by a ridge underwater. In Halmahera Ric’s Rocks, a tiny inlet in the middle of the straits, exposed to the current and populated by blacktip reef sharks. In Lembeh Straits Hairball and Jahir are two of the most productive black sand slopes in the area.

General characteristics of the dives:

This route really enjoys the entire range of environments, from the best coral in Raja Ampat (ideal for wide-angle), schools, turtles and sharks in Halmahera (medium zoom) and muck diving in Lembeh, the best macro in the archipelago.

Land tours:

Tender boat tours through the labyrinth of inlets and lagoons in Fam and Misool. Walk through one of the traditional villages in Papua or Maluku, and visit a small private museum in Lembeh, with Tarsios, Babirusa and salt-water crocodiles.

Recommendations:

Bring light clothing. Use sunscreen during the day. Water temperature is 26º-28º C.  3-to 5mm wetsuit is reccommneded. Visibility is variable and averages 15/20m. This destination is ideal for shooting wide angle in the first part of the cruise, but the macro paradise in the last days in Lembeh Strait. Presents like used clothes, school materials or balloons for the village kids are welcome.

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Cenderawasih Bay

 

Whale Sharks and Wrecks:
Biak – Biak, Biak – Manokwari, Manokwari – Biak.

Cenderawasih bay…..

……is a marine park located in the north coast of Irian Jaya, east of Birds Head peninsula. This marine park covers an area of approximately 80 square kilometres, which has become the largest national marine park throughout Southeast Asia. The most important city in the area is Manokwari. For this route we fly from Sorong to Manokwari or Biak where we will start sialing to explore the remote Cenderawasih Bay dive sites.
Because of its isolated location this bay is protected from the Pacific currents which promote the gathering of certain endemic species. In Cenderawasih Bay we can encounter in the shallows species that normally live in deeper waters. We will also find a wide variety of corals. The good muck diving will keep the lovers of the tiny and strange critters busy, they will enjoy searching for pigmy seahorses, tiger prawns and frog fish among other species.
Those who like wrecks, in Cenderawasih Bay will be able to dive in several famous ships and planes, sunk durink Word War II. A great opportunity for easy wreck diving.
But the bay popularity comes from being one of the very few areas in the world where there can be found a resident colony of  whale sharks, the largest fish in the Oceans. Actually the whale shark is the star in this bay. Whale sharks come here in large numbers to feed on anchovies which congregate near the fishing platforms.

 

Recommendations:

Bring light clothing. Use sunscreen during the day. Water temperature is 26º-28º C, cooler in the north.  3-to 5mm wetsuit is reccommneded. Visibility is variable and averages 15m. This destination is ideal for shooting wide angle, but there are very interesting macro subjects too. Presents like used clothing, school supplies and ballons for the children of the village are always welcome.

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Raja Ampat

Rajah Ampat

 

Paradise Birds: Sorong – Sorong

In this route we use Sorong in Papua as embarking/disembarking port and its airport for incoming and outgoing flights.

The Rajah Ampat archipelago…

…owns the worldwide record of the greatest number of different species found in one single dive. What else do we need to say?…….ok, just add the most pristine and colourfull coral gardens, outstanding landscapes, primitive fishing villages and of course, Paradise Birds !

Itinerary:

Leaving from the port of Sorong, in the “Bird’ s head peninsula”, we will travel through the archipelago from the island of Waigeo in the north to Misool in the south. The area where we will sail holds the record of the biggest number of different species counted in a single dive. National Geographic compares the species found here with the ones that can be seen in Palau. The reefs of Rajah Empat enjoy a healthy marine biodiversity with more than 400 species of coral having been discovered here. Besides the abundance of fauna, this region contains numerous wrecks of Japanese ships and aeroplanes from the terrible battles held during the Second World War in this area. All the ingredients for a perfect adventure!
In brief: From Sorong to the Dampier Straits and from there to Aljui Bay, West Waigeo. Next to Kawe-Wayag, on the Northern end of the group, and down to Fam. Way  South to Misool and back to Dampier and Sorong.

Main dive sites:

Waterlogged, a wall with caves and crevices rich in invertebrate life and critters is one of the highlights in the North. Sardine Reef is an underwater hill in the middle of the straits with schools of fish. In the South, Fiabacet, two little inlets joined by a ridge underwater, and muck diving in the jetties in front of the village of Yenbeser and Airborei. Also Jamur Boo, Manta Mantra and Black Beauty.

General characteristics of the dives:

Diving in fringing reefs around karst “mushroom” islands that combine walls and slopes with plenty of passages, canyons and caves. Also underwater ridges and muck diving in jetties and black sand slopes. Wreck of a WWII P-47 plane.

Land Tours:

Early morning walk through the canopy outside a village to see the birds of paradise on a display tree. Visit to a pearl farm in Waigeo. Tender boat tours through the labyrinth of inlets and lagoons in Fam and Misool. Climb to the top for breathtaking views in Wayag Island.

Recommendations:

Bring light clothes. Sun protection during the day. Temperature of the water 26-28°C, slightly colder in the North. 3 or 5 mm suit. Visibility variable, average 15/20 m. Ideal for wide-angle photography, but macro also good. Presents like used clothes, school materials or balloons for the village kids are welcome.

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