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.