Raja Ampat - 9 days Safari

Itinerary:

Day 1 departure:
Sorong Papua departures for Raja Ampat and Biodiversity Specials: The majority of local flights need to be booked in Indonesia. Some airlines accept internet bookings such as Silk Air and Lion Air and surely more will come on line too. However we are also happy to assist and only add a nominal service fee to cover banks and service charges. Guests are strongly advised to arrive at least 1 day prior to their cruise to avoid any delays.
Sorong Raja Ampat Transfer Times : We will co-ordinate your arrival and collect you from the airport or your hotel and bring you direct to the vessel. There are several reasonable hotels in Sorong plus there are some wonderful island retreats around and about that you may wish to stay at before or after your cruise. We are happy to assist with ground transport, accommodations, resort stays/local diving, air fares etc.
Check-in on board KM Mermaid II. As guest arrivals take place all through the day depending on flights you are welcome to board when you arrive and spend some time looking around Sorong, gearing up etc. Following the boat and safety briefing - its overnight to the Misool area. It is almost impossible to put together a daily itinerary due to the magnificent diving everywhere we go. No trip is the same with so many different sites to visit and explore. If there is somewhere in particular you really have your heart set on please discuss with the Cruise Director who will do their utmost to get you there . conditions, ship and your safety allowing!

Day 2 - 4: Misool Island
Misool area . with literally hundreds of dives around this magnificent area we will be in diver’s paradise for a few days. Soft corals, gorgonians . some of the pretties corals in the world. The kingdom of the pygmy seahorse! Pinnacles with masses of fish. Blue water mangroves (crocs depending!) Islands we will thoroughly enjoy the Misool area including Sagof Islands, Wagma and Farondi islands; Wailbatan and Warakaret Island, Kalig, Pele Islands (total 12 dives)

Day 5 - 7: Fiabacet - and Farondi Isl., Waigeo Isl., Batanta Isl, Yanggefo Isl.
Fiabacet and Farondi Islands and after the 3rd dive of the day spend some time going around the lagoons in the dinghy for amazing sights and wildlife. Then we may head north to Waigeo Island Perhaps we will spend the day around Batanta Island, a black sand environment. Great muck diving! The Mantas call us to Dampier Strait where they hang out at their cleaning stations. But this place is also fabulous for macro diving with critters such as Pegasus, Pontohi Pygmy Seahorse, pipefish etc. And two dives at a small island called Arborek, with a lovely village and a jetty great for diving! The jetty pillars are covered in soft corals, a photographer’s delight and also good for macro such as signal gobies, nudibrancs and more Pohtohis etc. Dive around the island of Kawe a great place for schooling fish, and beautiful reefs covered in black coral bushes. And dive Alyui Bay (or a full day around Alyui Bay). In Alyui Bay there is a pearl farm. We can tour the pearl farm and learn how they harvest the pearls, and the whole process of pearl farming. You can even buy pearls. Diving in Alyui bay is good for macro and wide angle. Walls covered in soft corals and sea fans with lots of nudies and pygmys. Also a great night dive in the jetty; Raja Epaulette Shark (walking sharks), wobbegongs, crocodilefish, toadfish and frogfish.
Dive around the island of Yanggefo - beautiful mangrove areas, stunning reefs covered in orange and purple soft corals, and submerged reef with lots of schooling fish, and pygmies.The Strait of Dampier is also well known for the amount of schooling fish. There are several pinnacles with zillions of fish. Also the tips (capes) of several islands with again lots of schooling fish; schools of barracudas, school of bigeye jacks, snappers, zillions of fusiliers and surgeonfish and a lots of wobbegongs (total 16 dives)

Day 8: Strait of Dampier
2 dives in the Strait of Dampier. More of the same. Fish, fish, fish, glorious corals and all! Then back to Sorong we must go. The crew will take care of rinsing and packing your equipment during this 4-5 hour run, overnight at Sorong (total 2 dives)

Day 9: arrival day
After breakfast transfer ashore to continue your vacation. 

Note: Schedule and Itinerary depending on the weather conditions and the discretion of the Cruise Director and Captain and depends on currents, dive sites activities, light, objective, sailing times etc. The spots are possible, but not guaranteed.