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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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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