Details:

16 guests in 8 en-suite cabins (double & twin share)
2,900 USD per person sharing
2 guests in 1 budget cabin not en-suite
2,400 USD per person sharing

8 days 7 nights onboard with 6 dive days 22 dives total
Includes Marine Park and Harbour Fee 180 USD per person
Trip starts and ends Sorong, West Papua

Raja Ampat is recognised world wide as offering outstanding diving and is particularly noted for its amazing variety of marine species.  Blue-ringed octopus, colorful mantis shrimp, sea fans big enough for two divers to hide behind, pygmy seahorses, barrel sponges as large as washing machines, turtles, mantas, rays, and glorious coral terraces sparkling with color and life.  Plenty of schoolng fish also including barracuda, jacks, and sharks.

Our chartered vessel for this trip will be the Black Manta a solid 32m steel long range diving vessel. She is very stable, strong, and runs on twin 500hp Cummins engine. The ship underwent a complete makeover in July 2011 and can comfortably take 18 divers in total:- 16 divers in 8 en-suite cabins and 2 divers budget cabin not en-suite.

Price includes many extras:- Marine Park and Harbour Fee 180 USD per person, Free NITROX 2x per day (if certified), Free equipment rental (except dive computer & torch), plus the usual land transfer from local hotel / airport on trip start & end days, accommodation, all meals (Western & Indonesian) snacks, hot beverages, coffee, tea, towel, toiletries, cabin services, tanks, weight belt, 4 dive guides (1 Instructor, 3 Dive Master)

Price excludes:- all flights, pickups outside trip start & end dates, dive insurance, massage services (US$25 /per hour), soft drinks (US$2), beer (US$4), Nespresso coffee (US$2), 15L tank rental (US$12/day), dive computer (US$10/day), torch (US$8/day), nitrox refills outside Free Nitrox (US$12 per refill)

Make the most of your journey to Indonesia by spending a few days before and after the liveaboard.  Before Raja Ampat we will be exploring Jakarta and the world fasmous botanical gardens at Bogor.  Event Calendar Jakarta & Bogor.  After Raja Ampat we fly direct to Jogyakarta to explore the famous tempes of Borobudur. Event Calendar Yogjakarta and Borobodur

Day	Date in March	Dives	Schedule subjected to changes according to weather and sea conditions
1	20	0/1	Transfer to ship from Sonong airport or nearby hotels. Welcome briefing, dinner, and set sail to Raja Ampat at 5pm or earlier is everyone is on board. Possible check dive if everyone arrives early
2	21	4	Misool:- Boo Corner, Nudi Rock, Majoc Mountain, No Contest. Amazing soft corals, sea fans and teeming marine life
3	22	3	Misool:- Goa Farondi, Tank Rock, 2Tree Island, Caves, swim throughts and pinacles full of life.  Sail overnight north to Raja Ampat
4	23	4	Yanggefo Island, Citrus ridge, Mayhem ridge, Manta Sandy, & night dive.  Reef, mangrove and manta cleaning station
5	24	4	Mansuar Corner, Cape Kri. Sardine Reef, plus night dive
6	25	4	Dampier Strait, Sardine Reef, Cape Kri, Friwinbonda plus night dive
7	26	2	Blue Magic, Mike Point, Mioskon.  Manata cleaning stations and shallow reef to finish. Then head back to Sorong
8	27	0	7am check out after breakfast and transfer to airport

 

How to get to Sorong (West Papua)

The best route to Sorong (SOQ) is via Makassar also known as Ujung Pandang (UPG).  From here there are many flights every day to Sorong so if one is cancelled you have the best chance of catching a different flight and reaching Sorong in time.

You can fly to Makassar / Ujung Pandang from Jakarta (CKT) and the best airline to take you all the way from Jakarta to Sorong via UPG is Sriwijaya Air www.sriwijayaair.co.id  With this airline you can book on-line without the need for a local agent and they have decent luggage allowance of 20 kg

Remember Jakarta time zone is 2 hours behind Sorong. Jakarta 1 hour behind Makassar and 1 more hour behind Sorong

FROM JAKARTA BEST BOOKING
From Jakarta via Makassar/Ujung Pandang to Sorong
Depart Jakarta (CGK) 00:30 am flight SJ 598 on 20 Mar 2013
Arrive 03:45 Ujung Pandang (UPG)
Depart 04:30 arrive Sorong (SOQ) 07:45 am

Yes, it is a bit of a night owl flight BUT it gets us to Sorong nice and early with good leaway should there be delays along the way.  The boat will set sail as soon as everyone has arrived.

For the Return
Flight SJ 571 on 27 Mar 2013
Sorong (SOQ) - Ujung Pandang (UPG) Depart 11:40 - Arrive 12:55
Approx 1 hour transfer wait time then Fligjht SJ 593
Ujung Pandang (UPG) - Jakarta (CGK) Depart 14:05 - Arrive 15:20

Fare Summary 1 Adult
Base fare total 3,581,818 + Other 378,182 = Total 3,960,000 IDR = 420 USD approx.

Don't forget to book one way if you want to return via Jogyakarta to explore the famous tempes of Borobudur. Event Calendar Yogjakarta and Borobodur

Flying Lion Air

http://www.lionair.co.id/
Flight JT748 from Jakarta CGK at 06:00 arrives Manado MDC 11:45
Flight JT1178 from Manado leaves 14:25 arrives Sorong SOQ 17:15
**You would need to arrive Sorong 19 March (the day before the boat leaves) and stay one night in Sorong

Flight JT790 from Jakarta CGK at 01:30 arrives Ambon City AMQ 07:00
Flight JT1506 from AMQ 07:45 arrives Sorong  SOQ 08:55 

Flying to Sorong via Bali

Flying from Bali is not so easy and will always involve booking with 2 airlines.  Bali time zone is 1 hour behind Sorong

Most reliable airline combination 11 hours travel time
Garuda Indonesia, Sriwijaya Air
Tue 19 Mar 2013
19:45-19:40 Flight GA347 (Garuda Indonesia) Denpasar (DPS)- Surabaya (SUB) 0h 55m
19:40-23:30 Wait Surabaya (SUB) 3h 50m
23:30-07:45+ Flight SJ570 (Sriwijaya Air) Surabaya (SUB)- Ujungpandang (UPG)- Sorong (SOQ)6h 15mCAL

Quickest route
Garuda Indonesia and Merpati Airlines 9 h 40 m travel time
Tue 19 Mar 2013
19:45-19:40 Flight GA347 (Garuda Indonesia) Denpasar (DPS)- Surabaya (SUB)0h 0h 55m
19:40-22:00 Wait Surabaya (SUB)2h 0h 20m
22:00-06:25+ Flight MNA822 (Merpati) Surabaya (SUB)- Ujungpandang (UPG)- Sorong (SOQ) 6h 25m

Information care of www.DoHop.com

Other Airline Carriers

Batavia, Merpati, Express Air and Lion Wings operate daily (with stopovers in Ujung Pandang/Makassar). 1 night stay recommended in Jakatar/ Massakar before flying next day. Silk Air operates regularly from Singapore to Manado.  Manado to Sorong; Express Air and Lion Wings operate most days to Sorong, although the window between connecting flights is tight. Recommended 1 night stay in Manado then fly next day. Merpati are the least reliable airline carrier in this region.

Highly Recommended:-

1. book your domestic flights BEFORE confirming your International flights to ensure you make your connection to & from Sorong

2. Domestic airlines normally have 20Kg allowance, although you may pay for 10Kg extra when booking if needed. Usually an additional 7kg is allowed as carryon.

3. Stay a night in a local hotel in Jakarta/ Makassar/ Bali before the flight next day. Makassar Airport Hotel; Home In and Spa available between flights. Easy.

4. arrive Sorong one day early before the trip in case of flight or luggage delay.  For early arrivals there are recommend local hotels in Sorong where you can be collected on Trip Departure day. If needed transfers can be arranged for a nominal fee.

Visa on Arrival (VoA)

cost US$25/ pax. Raja Ampat official website is also provides very useful info along with Departure Tax.

Local Agent

Looking for a local agent to make all hotel and flight bookings for you?  This company has given me lots of helpful and prompt advice:
Merapi Pesona Jogja,
Steven Bino Basira, bino@merapipesonajogja.com
http://www.merapipesonajogja.com/

Dive Insurance

Compulsory for this trip. We also strongly advise you get adequate travel insurance. Please check your travel insurance policy for your diving needs. If not covered then I recommend DAN (Divers Alert Network).

Fuel Surcharge . although this has been incrementing at this moment, there is no fuel surcharge. However, fuel surcharge may apply without prior notice at US$100]US$150 maximum per guest for the whole cruise.

Video of another divers trip to Raja Ampat here
http://vimeo.com/36230800

All Captains, boat crew and dive crew have many years of experience in the Komodo, Alor and Raja Ampat area. She carried 2 Bauer M320 compressors and a Nitrox membrane system. She also carried 30 ton of fresh water and 2 water makers. With 3 chase boats, you can be assured of your safety diving in strong current condition.

Water Temp 27‐30 degrees Celsius. Air Temp 27‐32 degrees Celsius.
Visibility 15‐30 meters. Diver Level intermediate to advanced.
Best time to dive Feb to April (less rain & much less wind: perfect for diving)