Dive All Raja Ampat With a Small Group of Reef-Friendly Divers!

Why We Love It

Join a small group of SeaCrush reef-friendly divers for Thanksgiving 2023 and dive in stunning Raja Ampat, Indonesia! This fantastic boat will take us to the best dive sites of Raja Ampat North and South (Misool) over nine nights. We'll get to see plenty of pelagic life, an incredibly rich macro life, and healthy coral reefs! We'll sail through breathtaking landscapes such as Penemu in the North (one of Raja Ampat's iconic island formations), or Teluk Cinta in the Misool area (an amazingly beautiful heart-shaped lagoon). We love the spacious diving deck, the relaxing upper deck lounge, and the master cabin's panoramic windows. With only sixteen guests and a one-to-one guest-to-staff ratio, you'll be well tended-to aboard this boat!

Conservation

This beautiful phinisi ("Indonesian-style ship") has been custom-built in Sulawesi by the Konjo tribe, who have been building ships for centuries. This partner hires and trains locals on as many jobs as possible and is a supporter of Raja Ampat SEA center. The team avoids single-use plastic and only uses reef-friendly detergents and bathroom amenities as well as biodegradable garbage bags. They're setting the bar for sustainability!

Who Is It For?

This is premium "bucket-list diving," so if you've seen it all, you'll appreciate the natural beauty. Besides diving, there will be several activities such as hiking to viewpoints with spectacular panoramas, kayaking, snorkeling, Stand Up Paddling, and massages.

Prices and Dates

Dive Briefing!

Marine Life

• At the heart of the Coral Triangle, Raja Ampat is one of the most biodiverse underwater ecosystems on our planet!
• 1427 reef fish, over 600 coral species, 75% of the world's coral species with vivid colors
• Abundant pelagic life: many species of reef sharks, white and black tip, wobbegong sharks, bamboo sharks, reef mantas at nearby cleaning stations, and majestic oceanic mantas in open water.
• Large schools of tuna, trevally, mackerel, batfish, surgeonfish, angel and butterflyfish, napoleon wrasse, bumpheads, giant sweetlips, damsels, fusiliers, anthias, etc., and also magnificent macro with the rare pygmy seahorses.

Dive Conditions

• Season: November is in high season, with oceanic and reef mantas around!
• Currents: can be strong in some dive sites
• Visibility: 15 to 20 m (50 to 66 ft)
• Water Temperature: 28° to 29°C (82° to 84°F)
• Depth: both deep and shallow dives

Dive Sites

• We'll do up to 4 dives a day in the action-packed dive sites of Dampier Strait in the North, and gorgeous Misool Marine Protected Area in the South:

• The Dampier Strait in the North hosts some of the best diving in the area with well-known sites such as Manta Point, Cape Kri, Mioskon, Odtima, Mike's Point, Sardines Reef, Blue Magic, Chicken Reef, Melissa's Garden, Keruo Wall, Hidden Bay, Manta Sandy, Arborek Jetty

• Misool Marine Protected Area, has amazing dive sites such as Sagof, Daraam, Boo, Candystore, Magic Mountain, Fiabecet, Wayilbatan, Wedding Cake, Barracuda Rock, etc.

• We'll dive on a busy manta cleaning station, reef flats, coral-covered walls, swim-throughs, gentle sea mounts, drift dives, vast hard coral gardens, sea fan forests, placid lagoons, current-raked pinnacles...

• On the night dive we'll be doing in Misool, we'll search for the Epaulette, or Walking shark

• Finally, in between dives, we'll have time to explore some stunning landscapes, with short hikes leading to breathtaking views of Love Lagoon and Penemu

The Team

• Winner of the 2021 and 2019 Dive Travel Awards by Dive Magazine UK in the "Best Liveaboard" category
• Cruise directors with over 10 years of experience in Indonesia
• Courses available onboard
• Languages spoken: English, Spanish, French, and Indonesian
• Maximum divers per guide: 4

Safety Information

• Equipment Recommended: dive computer, safety buoy, whistle, 'reef hook' (to use on rocks only!), and a 3 mm wetsuit
• Insurance: both dive insurance and travel insurance are mandatory. We recommend DAN Europe that has plans to cover both - ask us for a quote.
• Nearest Hyperbaric Chamber: Darwin, Australia or Manado, Sulawesi - note that there is a chamber in Raja Ampat, but it is not certified or compliant with international standards.

Visas, Flights, and More!

Visa Requirements

• Many nationalities are eligible to enter and remain in Indonesia without a visa for 30 days. Others need to obtain a Visa on Arrival for 30 days at the major entry points to Indonesia. Visa on Arrival costs $37 (about ... EUR) and usually can be extended for another 30 days.
• Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival and have one full blank page
• Must be able to show an onward ticket that departs before your visa expires
• For official entry requirements for your nationality, consult Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration

How to Get There

• Take an international flight to Jakarta (CGK), Indonesia, and then a direct flight to Sorong (SOQ). Ask SeaCrush for advice on flights

• Plan arriving before 2 pm on the first day. We'll do two dives on the second-last day, so plan to take a flight leaving after 11 am on January 12th

• Airport transfers are taken care of in Sorong (SOQ) on the days of embarkation and disembarkation

More...

• Raja Ampat is subject to malaria. Take necessary precautions to avoid it (cover yourself, have mosquito repellent and consult with your doctor if you can take malarone tablets )
• Bring sunscreen, a hat, a rash guard, and some walking shoes