Dive And Save Raja Ampat

February 14, 2013 | admin

Do you remember the movie Avatar by James Cameron? It is about a very beautiful outer space place called Pandora that has magnificent scenery, thousands of exotic animals and wise local tribes called the Na’vi that is all endangered because of greedy humans that try to mine their precious mineral without considering the consequences. Well, there are some places in this earth that is actually face the same problems as Pandora. Papua, in this case Raja Ampat, is one of them.

Raja Ampat is an archipelago that consists of more than 1.500 islands including four main islands of Misool Island, Salawati Island, Bantata Island and Waigeo Island. This place is located in West Papua Province of Indonesia. To get there, you can fly to Sorong, and then take speedboat or long boat for about one until three hours.

Just like Pandora in the movie, Raja Ampat is a very beautiful place. It is a home for 1.628 species of reef fish, 603 species of hard coral, and 57 species of mantis shrimp. It is also the natural habitat of 13 species of marine mammals and 5 species of endangered sea turtles. This amazing marine biodiversity makes Raja Ampat a sacred place that needs to be saved from all parties that try to endanger it. Around 75% of all species that exist in this earth live there and need our careful attention to stay alive.

Raja Ampat is definitely a heaven for those who love diving. Diving in Raja Ampat will certainly give you an unforgettable experience because there are so many amazing spots with different kind of view every time you move. You can start your amazing diving experience by meeting Manta Rays in Southwest of Waigeo Island. After that, you can go to Northwest of Misool Island to see the famous Blue Mangroves that crazily made beautiful labyrinths. Then, you can go straight to Wayag Islands to see hundreds of limestone islands with silver sand beach and Grey Reef Sharks that swim underwater. Last but not least, make sure you witness the amazing phenomenon that only happen in the darkest phase of the moon. Ride your boat between Bantata Island and Salawati Island and wait for the Wai’s trees to glow with million of fireflies blinking together in the same rhyme.

Done doing diving in Raja Ampat, you might want to try kayaking, exploring the islands by boat, exploring bat caves, catch a fish using traditional Papuan techniques and many more. For those who love beaches, you can go to Sawandarek to enjoy the beautiful white sand beach, home of the sea ducks and magnificent corals.

Tempted by the beauty of Raja Ampat, now write ‘visiting Raja Ampat’ in a piece of paper, frame it and put it in the first place you see when you wake up. It is an amazing place which will continually give you surprises of miraculous unexpected things and events that will always take your breath away.  Go there, dive there and do your very best to keep them save. Make sure your children and grand children can have the same opportunities to experience the beautiful Raja Ampat.

Exploring the Beauty of Raja Ampat

February 14, 2013 | admin

Words are not enough to describe the magnificent Raja Ampat (Four Kings), in West Papua, Indonesia. Known for its richness in sea biodiversity, this place has been one of the most popular diving sites in the world, let alone Indonesia. Moreover, this exotic place is dubbed as the last paradise on Earth. Read More

Labuan Bajo: The Unknown Paradise

February 14, 2013 | admin

When it comes to talking about dive destinations in Indonesia, most of us will mention Raja Ampat (Papua), Bunaken (North Sulawesi) or the tranquil group of islands known as The Gilis (especially the famous Gili Trawangan) in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. However, have you ever heard the name of  Labuan Bajo?

If you have ever heard Komodo Island, East Nusa Tenggara, so Labuan Bajo, once known as a small fishing town, is actually the most vital points for trips to the famous Komodo Island and Rinca Island, the main home to the giant Komodo dragons.  Near  Labuan Bajo, you can find Seraya Island, an island that offers a great diving and snorkeling opportunity that cannot be missed.

You can reach this place from Denpasar by plane as there are some national airlines that provide daily flights from Denpasar to Labuan Bajo. Alternatively, you can get there by bus or by boat. If you prefer reaching this diving destination by ferry, there are some operators, from private to government-owned operator PELNI (from Makassar or Lombok) There are two ships  that depart for Labuan Bajo every 2 weeks. The best thing is all the tour boats offer the same program of diving, trekking, snorkeling and komodo tour.

For divers, of course you can find some great diving centers in Labuan Bajo. Here are some of them.

• Reesfseekers Dive Center

Dubbed as the most famous diving center in Labuan Bajo. This center offers a lot to divers, from taking you to explore the great dive sites to providing further training to improve your diving skills. There are lots of tempting dive sites that suit your need in Komodo National Park, and of course, they are incredibly wonderful sites. The prices are considered affordable, Rp. 800.000,- for 2 dives. Besides its warm and personalized service, this center also gives lectures on Indonesia’s rich marine life.

 

• Dive Komodo

Another top diving center in Labuan Bajo that takes you discover the untouched dive sites in Komodo Island. There are various tour packages you can choose, ranging from a single day trip to special packages including 6 to 10 dives as well as a trip to watch the giant Komodo. One or two days is not enough to explore everything!

 

There is also dive packages that includes accommodation, thanks to the partnership with Puri Sari Resort. The five nights package is the most recommended package as it includes three days of diving, or if you want an extended package, just send them an email. Keep in mind, the more you dive, the cheaper you get. Sounds more than just good, right?

 

• Bajo Dive Club

This dive center is located in north-west coast of Flores and established in 1991. There are lots of things to do, from taking excursion trips to 50 wonderful dive spots to taking  a dive course with their PADI certified instructors. The prices are still affordable, ranging from Rp. 800.000,- for one dive day to Rp. 3.450.000,- for five days package (10 dives).

There are also packages that include ticket for Komodo National Park and safaris for divers and snorkelers (Komodo National Park ticket is excluded).

Keep in mind that most of the dive sites are located within the borders of the Komodo National Park, which are taken care by an environmental organization since 1995. You can participate in preserving this World Heritage by buying ticket for the Komodo National Park.

The Fascinating Pulisan: What to do there

February 14, 2013 | admin

Eastern part of Indonesia, such as Sulawesi, Papua and so on have been widely known as the real, unspoiled natural beauty of Indonesia. For divers, East Indonesia is somewhat the last paradise on Earth. Bunaken has been dubbed as the jewelry of Indonesia. Its wonderful marine life attracts divers from all over the world. However, if you are between Bunaken and Lembeh Straits, you will find one of the most wonderful paradises for divers (as well as non divers). The heaven is called Pulisan.

If you want to reach Pulisan, you can get there from the capital of North Sulawesi, Manado. From Manado, you can get to Pulisan by car or public transport from Manado’s Paal Dua bus terminal. It takes about 2 hours by car.

Pulisan now becomes one of diving destination besides the bustling Bunaken. The best thing is there is a diving center in Pulisan that really feeds your hunger as divers. Pulisan Jungle Beach Resort has much to offer for both divers and non divers.

This diving center in Pulisan is ready to take you to amazing 40 dive sites around the dive center. Be prepared to be stunned by its most unusual critters, sponges, coral and a variety of feather stars in Lembeh Strait. Under the water of this strait, you will find some enormous shipwrecks from World War II, which have turned into reefs. No wonder Lembeh Strait is the best spot for underwater photography.

In addition to the thrilling water of Lembeh Strait, some rarely visited dive spots are also equally beautiful, like Batu Mandi and Paradise Jetty. You will be happy exploring the beauty of these sites, accompanied by the center’s professional guide. All the sea creatures are there to attract your attention. This dive center also arranges day trips to world famous Bunaken National Park, with its richness in fish species and coral reefs.

Pulisan Jungle Beach Resort has several tour packages you can choose. From Snorkelling The Offshore Islands (the price starts from 24 Euro per night for family bungalows, double room) to Two Volcanoes Tour that takes you to the most active volcanoes in the island: Mt.Lokon and Mt.Mahawu.  In addition to the volcanoes tour, there is also land tour to Tangkoko National Park Jungle Reserve where you can see some exotic species from kuskus, Malkoha Bird and Tarsier spectrum.

For divers, the most exciting package is, of course, a tour to amazing Bunaken Marine Park. It takes two hours on the boat and this center is ready to take you explore the northernmost coast of the Minahasa peninsula. You will stop at three different location suitable for snorkelling despite being known as the best diving spot. The underwater scene is dazzling, as yo can see hanging masses of corals, angelfish, clown fish and lots of unique under sea species. There is a local restaurant that serves lunch before returning to the resort.

The price for dive starts from 10 Euro (for unguided House Reef Dive) to 520 Euro per person for 20 dives. While for snorkeling, the packages include full day snorkeling trip (25 Euro per person) and Half Day Snorkeling Trip for 20 Euro. All are for 4 persons (minimum). The Joint Snorkeling on the dive boat is 10 Euro per person.

As there are lots of activities you can do there, no wonder this place is considered as the best diving center in Pulisan. Discover the hidden beauty of Sulawesi by visiting this enchanting paradise.

Misool Island: Discovering The Exotic Raja Ampat

February 12, 2013 | admin

If there is a place you must visit before you die, make sure you include Raja Ampat on your list. There are many reasons why this place is so popular, both among divers and non-divers. Do you want to know?

Raja Ampat, in the province of West Papua, Indonesia, is a group of islands that consists of four major islands: Waigeo, Misool, Batanta and Salawati. It is known as the world’s best diving site which is also rich in marine biodiversity. Be prepared to get stunned by how many species of fish, coral reefs and other underwater creatures you can see below the ocean.

Yes, there are more than 1.300 fish species and 603 hard coral reefs, which is representing 75 percent of the total coral reefs in the world, in the beautiful waters. In addition to fish and reefs, there are other magnificent species you can see, from crayfish to snails. Besides its fascinating underwater species, its land is also home to a lot of exotic animals. Many unique species of birds and mammals are seen here, from ­bandikut (Echymipera kalubu), a spotted cuscus (Phalanger maculatus), striped opossum (Dactylopsila trivirgata), to bats and the tree rat.  No wonder this place is one of the most popular eco-tourist destinations in the world.

To reach this wonderful island, you can fly to Sorong from Jakarta or Denpasar via Makassar and Manado as there is no direct flight to Sorong (there are many airlines serving flights to Sorong from Makassar and Manado). From the city of Sorong, you can reach Raja Ampat by boat from a local port. There are some choices, from Marina Express Ferry to The Ave Maria boat or you can charter a speed boat.

Make sure you know that this group of islands is a Wildlife Reserve protected by the law of the Republic of Indonesia.  Hence, local people as well as tourists are encouraged to preserve this island, by not littering carelessly, not disturbing and taking any living things as souvenirs.

Before you go to the diving sites, you must obtain a permission from a local police. Make sure you have passport with three copies of passport page with Indonesian visa. You can ask for help from the diving organizers.

There are various tour packages to this enchanting island, from high price to budget. For non divers who want to enjoy the natural beauty of this paradise, you have nothing to worry about as there are also tour packages arranged for non-divers.

No need to say, there are a lot of things you can do here. The islands in the group are stunning. One of the most popular islands is Misool island. Diving in Misool island will really gives you the unforgettable experience as you can see so many critters and unique species such as ghost pipefish and pygmy seahorses. One of the most favorite sites in this island is the slopping wall called Kaleidoscope, ­which is completely covered in colorful soft corals and gorgonian sea fans.

No wonder, diving in Misool island is a must for you while visiting the archipelago as you can explore the natural underwater beauty and make sure you know how to take pictures underwater. There is also a resort that really gives you a relaxing atmosphere. Hope you enjoy diving in Misool island while visiting the divers’ paradise.

Where to dive in Raja Ampat

February 12, 2013 | admin

Raja Ampat (Four Kings) cannot be described by thousands words. It is more than just a beautiful dive spot as it is also home to the largest variety of marine species on this planet. Be ready to get stunned by what Raja Ampat has to offer. Imagine that this place has 600 hard coral species, 1.511 species of reef fish, 27 species of endemic fish, 57 species of Mantis shrimp, 13 species of marine mammals, 5 species of rare turtles. In addition, 75% of world’s hard coral are found in this wonderful paradise. No wonder people say that in one dive, they can see around 400 coral reefs. Therefore, Raja Ampat is also protected by the Indonesian law.

To be able to watch this amazing marine phenomenon, you can fly to Sorong from Jakarta, Bali or Surabaya with a connecting flight to Makassar or Manado. For those who do not live in Asia, transiting in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong is probably the best choice as they have more up to date facilities. From Sorong, there are two choices of boats: speed boat carrying 15 passengers (40 minutes-1 hour trip) costs Rp. 2.000.000,- and long boat (about 2-3 hours trip) carrying 10 passengers for the cost of Rp. 1.200.000,-. All the prices are subject to change without prior notice.

Most divers join dive tour and live in a dive resort during their stay in this archipelago. Here are some diving centers in Raja Ampat which you can choose:

• Raja4Divers

Located in a remote but beautiful Pef Island, this dive operator is one of the best diving centers in Raja Ampat. Run by a couple from Germany, this dive center also relies on their qualified and friendly Papuan dive guides. The facilities there are top class and safety is guaranteed there. Each dive boat is already equipped with standard safety equipment, from first aid kits to 2-way radio.

There are various packages from diving to snorkeling. Even you can take your kids join with you as there are also packages for kids (age 11-17), starting from Euro 1.500. This center offers some discounts for those who dive in group. Let us say if your group consists of 8 divers or non divers, you only pay for 7 people and 1 person is free of charge. There is also 5% discount for honeymooners.

 

• Raja Ampat Dive Resort

There are two packages, for divers (the prices start from Euro 655 to Euro 1.750) and non divers (the prices start from Euro 280 to Euro 750). This resort also actively promotes environmental protection and helps visitors participate in preserving this wonderful fish capital.

This resort as well as dive center is recommended by the leading travel site, tripadvisor.com. Just read the testimonials, you will know why this center is one of the best diving centers in Raja Ampat.

 

• Misool Eco Resort

Misool Eco Resort is an eco friendly resort with a dive center and a conservation center. There are several attractive packages including accommodation and you can choose whether you want to stay at water cottage or deluxe villa.

Missol Eco Resort also has several reef conservation projects that build awareness among local society on the importance of environmental protection. In addition, they also show support of early education by building a kindergarten in late 2011.

No matter who you are, divers or non divers, Raja Ampat has lots to make you impressed. This paradise really makes people keep coming back again and again, so be ready to come back again.