5D4N Scuba Dive Trip Accommodation Package @ Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat is also known as the Four Kings, and it’s easy to see why as this archipelago really does have royal status amongst divers.
Raja Ampat comprises a large number of smaller isles, shoals and cays that border the main New Guinean islands of Batanta, Waigeo, Salawati and Misool.
The area is very remote and predominantly visited by liveaboards, although there are a very small number of dive resorts nearby.
Introduction
Raja Ampat deserves its worldwide hype as an exotic tropical paradise.
About 75% of all coral species in the world and thousands more species of fish, mollusks, plants, and birds find a home deep under the clear blue waters, in the quiet lagoon between the karst constellations, and up in the picturesque hills and jungles.
Dive Site Information
Best Time To Dive @ Raja Ampat :
Mid-October to mid- December time period.
Mid-June to mid-September can have ferocious winds and therefore heavy rain.
If you can only take your holiday in June-Sep. other parts of Indonesia can be a better choice.
The waters of Raja Ampat are unbelievably warm with an underwater temperature year round ranging from 28-30C / 82-86F depending on the dive site. This is true all year round.
Visibility varies from one day to the next throughout the year. There is no best time to dive Raja Ampat to ensure good visibility.
The best chance for getting good visibility is to join a liveaboard doing a round-trip within Raja Ampat that will work to get you to the best conditions during your trip. While the visibility may be bad in the north, it can be quite clear in the south, or green in the west and clear in the east and so on.
SHORE DIVES
Local Shore Dives
from 40/45 USD (own/rental equipment)
We offer shore dive trips to the dive sites around Raja Ampat. Prices start as low as 40/45 USD (own/rental equipment) for a single dive.
Prices include :
Transport, one dive, a dive guide and refreshments. Entry for shore dives is over sandy beach or small pebble rocks.
Coastal Shore Dives from 100/110 USD (own/rental equipment)
Further afield we offer day trips visiting dive sites along the coast around 40min to 1.5hr drive from Raja Ampat.. Prices start from 100/110 USD (own/rental equipment). These trips include two shore dives, a dive guide, lunch
and refreshments. Trips run for a minimum of two people.
BOAT DIVES
Local Boat Dive Trips:
Boat trips to dive sites around Raja Ampat
Prices start from 55 USD with your own equipment (60 USD with rental equipment) for one dive or 90/100 USD (own equipment/rental equipment) for two dives.
Prices include include the trip, a dive guide and refreshments.
Raja Ampat
Great for:
Advanced, Photography
Highlights:
Raja Ampat is undeniably one of the best locations in the world for scuba diving. It holds a number of world records for marine bio-diversity including the highest ever recorded number of fish species seen in one dive: a whopping 284 different fish species were spotted at Kofiau Island.
Amazingly, the waters surrounding Raja Ampat host an incredible 1508 fish species, 537 different species of coral and almost 700 species of mollusc, including 7 different variants of giant clam.
The area is also host to 6 of the 7 known sea turtle species, some of which are endangered and rare.
Dive sites around Kri Island and Sorido Bay
Sardine Reef
Blue Magic and Manta Sandy
Dive sites around Waigeo Island
Bird Wall
Dive Sites around Batanta Island
Jef Fam Group
Manta Ridge
Dive Sites around Misool Island
The Passage
Fabiacet
Triton Bay
Getting to Raja Ampat
Visitng Raja Ampat is hassle-free when choosing the liveaboard option. As the archipelago is smack-back in the centre of the Coral Triangle, it is fairly remote and is easiest to get to by liveaboard.
Depth: 5m – > 40m
Visibility:
July to October
20 – 30m
Currents:
Can be strong
Surface conditions:
Calm
Water temperature:
27– 29°C
Number of dive sites:
>15
Experience level:
Beginner – Advanced
Recommended Length of stay:
4 to 7 days
What's Included
Onboard shower and toilet
Tanks, weights and weight belt
Water, tea and coffee
Light snack after the first dive
Soft dive gear (full foot fins, wetsuit and mask) – requested sizes subject to availability.
What's Excluded
• Equipment rental
• Marine park fee
• 4 x AA sized batteries (if required for night dive)
• Airfare (if any)
• Taxes and fuel surcharges,
• Personal expenses (includes drinks, bills and tips),
• Travel insurance (proof of insurance required),
• Visa application and fees (if applicable),
• Gratitude for the Boat Crew / Guide
Dive Trip Requirements
• Valid passport and Visa (if applicable)
• Cash in Singapore or local currency (Malaysian Ringgit; RM)
• Personal Medication
• Travel Insurance (recommended)
• Able to snorkel/swim in the sea
• Minimum of PADI Open Water Diver Certification or equivalent (for leisure diver)
Equipment needed for the excursion:
Sun cream, hat, flip flop or sandals, swimming suit, beach wear, towel, camera
How to Get There
1: Getting to Sorong
Flight info presented here is aimed at international travellers seeking the quickest route to Raja Ampat from outside Indonesia and so ignores flights to Sorong from airports not serviced by international flights (Ambon, Jayapura etc).
Domine Eduard Osok Airport – SOQ
Sorong’s airport is Domine Eduard Osok (IATA code: SOQ) not Jefman Airport as some sources report. Jefman is an older airport (originally built by the Japanese during World War II) on an island off Sorong.
• There are no international flights into Sorong
• There are no direct (non-stop) flights from Bali to Sorong
From outside Indonesia:
Via Jakarta:
• Lots of airlines fly from Southeast Asian hubs to Jakarta.
Via Makassar:
• Silk Air flies from Singapore to Makassar (flights codeshared with Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia)
• Air Asia offers direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Makassar
Via Manado:
• Silk Air flies Singapore to Manado (flights codeshared with Singapore Airlines)
Note that these are merely the most convenient entry points for international travellers bound for Sorong. There are other international airports in Indonesia, but to the best of our knowledge, none of those offer non-stop flights to Sorong. (Correct us if we’re wrong about that!)
From inside Indonesia:
• Use Traveloka, Tiket.com, Tiket2Indonesia or Skyscanner to check availability of flights from your departure point
• Many international credit cards do not work on Indonesian websites. Most guests report they have no trouble paying by card on Garuda’s website. Nusatrip.com sells Indonesian domestic flights and is worth a try if you have problems.
• If you want to experience sea travel in the archipelago, here’s Indonesia’s Pelni ship schedules.
Direct flights to Sorong
As Raja Ampat tourism grows, so do the number of flights available to Sorong. We used to publish a table of airlines and their flight times here, but the last few years’ growth in the available options has made it impractical for us to keep those up to date.
Instead, here’s a list of links to the airlines that fly direct (no stops) to Sorong from the most convenient international airports mentioned above. This information was current in March 2018. We recommend searching one of the flight aggregators linked above to quickly find available flight dates and times from the Indonesian airport that best that suits you.
Jakarta to Sorong (CGK-SOQ): Garuda, Xpress, Sriwijaya (Nam Air), Batik Air
Makassar to Sorong (UPG-SOQ): Garuda, Xpress, Sriwijaya, Batik Air
Manado to Sorong (MDC-SOQ): Garuda, Nam Air, Lion (Wings Air)
2: Sorong airport to harbour transfers
The taxi ride from Sorong airport to the ferry harbour takes around 10-20 minutes, depending on traffic, and the asking price is around 100,000 Rupiah (~ USD10.00)
If you don’t have a lot of luggage you can get a lift on the back of a motorbike (ojek) for about 20,000 Rupiah (~USD2.00)
If you’re trying to keep costs as low as possible you can get there for 6000 Rupiah if you’re happy to walk a few hundred metres to the main road and catch the yellow public bimos (minibuses) to the city terminal, then transfer to the bimos heading for the harbour. Each leg of the trip is 3000 Rupiah – no news yet on how long that takes…
3: How to get from Sorong to the Raja Ampat islands
There are three choices for making your own way from Sorong to the Raja Ampat islands:
3.1: Public Ferries
There are three companies that operate ferries between Sorong and Waisai. Waisai is on the island of Waigeo and is the capital of the Raja Ampat regency. All of the accommodation options on this website provide pickup from Waisai.
Departures from Sorong’s Pelabuhan Rakyat (public harbour) are at 0900 and 1400 every day. Journey time is about 2 hours.
Tickets can be purchased on your day of travel at the ticket offices in the Waisai and Sorong port office buildings. Just ask at the port if you can’t spot those. There are often also agents selling them on the wharf itself and you can purchase them on board if you board without one. The Raja Ampat Tourism Office also sells tickets. Online booking of ferry tickets is not available.
At Sorong harbour, the express ferries can be found by going to the very end of the L-shaped pier. The express ferry is often tied up alongside another ship at the end of dock and you have to cross that ship’s deck to board the ferry.
Schedules as at April 2018 are provided below.
However: Schedules can – and do – change without notice. Individual departures can also be changed at random. Do not rely on the published schedule! Always ask your hosts to confirm Waisai ferry departure times for your return hourney.
The Sorong Tourism Office, the Raja Ampat Homestay Information Center at Waisai and your accommodation provider will be able to provide up to date ferry information. Ferry departures can be delayed, brought forward, and even cancelled without notice. We experienced a delay of over 90 minutes on one occasion, as the ferry waited for late VIPs to show up. The only way to absolutely guarantee that the ferry will get you back to Sorong in time for your flight is to return to Sorong the day before your flight leaves.
John Urbon at Sorong harbour usually has the latest ferry information and is also a great help with anything you might need to organise in Sorong. John has excellent English and everyone at the harbour knows him – just ask!
Times shown in the tables below are departure times. The trip takes about two hours.
Bahari Express tickets are IDR 100,000 for economy class, or IDR 150,000 for a VIP ticket. A VIP seat will give you an adjustable-back chair in an airconditioned room equipped with a state-of-the-art loud karaoke system that usually sees a lot of use.
Marina Express operates two routes with two different boats.
1 Between Sorong and Misool, stopping at Misool’s 35, Foley, Yellu & Fafanlap harbours.
2 Between Waisai and Misool (which requires a change of boat at Sorong.
Check at harbour ticket offices for the latest Marina Express schedules and prices.
PT Fajar operates a ferry named Sumber Bangka 7 that runs between Sorong and Waisai.
Sorong to Waisai flights
Lion Air subsidiary Wings Air flies daily from Sorong (SOQ) to Waisai’s Marinda Airport (RJM). This flight is the only one available into Marinda. Check departure times here. Note: Homestays pick up guests from the harbour at Waisai, so if you make a booking using the website and request a Waisai pickup, you’ll need to get a taxi from the airport to the harbour to meet your pickup.
Speedboats
If you’re in a real hurry, you can charter speedboats to take you directly to your accommodation. The speedboat harbour is about 200m west of the ferry wharf. Speedboats are far more expensive (hundreds of dollars) and a lot less comfortable than the public ferries or flying – you’d need a really compelling reason to charter one!
How to get from Waisai to the islands
The simplest way to get to your accommodation from Waisai is to arrange a pickup when you book your accommodation. You only need to request a Waisai pickup from the first place you will be staying at. (See inter-island transfers below.)
Transfer prices vary according to distance between Waisai and the homestay. Each homestay’s transfer price is published on its web page.
If you arrive in Waisai without a pickup arranged, the Raja Ampat Homestay Information Center can help. Homestay boat pickups are from the floating dock next to the ferry wharf. (See the photos on the previously linked Information Center page.)
The cost of transfer from Waisai to the islands is a sore point with many travellers. Boat transfer prices are in some cases more expensive than they should be and bargaining rarely yields a substantial discount on the asking prices. Be sure to let your host know if you think his transfer prices are too high. See this page for more information about boat prices.
A note about Sundays
If your intention is to always be culturally sensitive on your travels, you should try to avoid a homestay arrival or departure on a Sunday. Read more about that and other important cultural considerations on our Raja Ampat local culture page.
Inter-island transfers
There is no inter-island public transport available in most of Raja Ampat, but transfers from one homestay to another can easily be organised.
Ask your current host to arrange a boat to your next homestay, or call your destination to organise a pickup. Your current host should be able to call your destination for you if you can’t.
It’s always best to organise transfers a day or two ahead of when needed.
Payment Terms
SGD 100 deposit required upon confirmation of booking of accommodation and dive trip.
Payment payable once upon confirmation of booking of accommodation and or with dive trip package/s.
Equipment Rental
Rates (SGD)/ Per Day
Dive Torch : SGD 10
Dive Computer : SGD 15
Dive Computer - D4i : SGD 30
Camera : SGD 35
Disclaimer
Estimated rates for booking, Exact cost of dive trip booking depends on each dive itinerary and arrangement package. Invoice on the payment details will be sent to your personal email account upon booking.
Includes Boat transport, and for each pax meal - Breakfast, Lunch and transport back and forth to your hotel or resort or hostel accomodation.
If you will like to book for the accomodation for a stay for 1 Night or more for yourself and family members or for a tour group etc. , please indicate for your accomodation booking, for the number of days/nights
of stay here in Singapore, and we will arrange for you.
Subjective to availability.
An invoice will be sent to you via email on the separate payment charges for accomodation stay.
Applicable to local and foreign visitors :
• The arrangement of the sequence of the itinerary is subject to change with/without prior notice.
• In the event that the venue of attraction is closed to visitors, it will be replaced with an alternative venue if possible.
• May request for travel itinerary from us via email.
• During trade fairs or the peak season, accommodation stay may not be inclusive.
All dive trip/s are subjected to the weather conditions and change in itinerary.
If the dive trip unfortunately has to postpone or cancelled, there can be a request for arrangement for another dive trip. Subjected to approval and availability of boat charters.
Cancellation Policy
Any change in trip dates after booking confirmation will be subjected to SGD 100 administrative fees per change/s. Full fees will be charges for packages cancelled or postponed with less than 28 days notice.
If you cancel less than 28 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, full payment will be non-refundable. If more than 28 days, 50% of the package price will be forfeited with an administrative charge of SGD 50 Payable to the dive shop.
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
* The timings are as estimated proposed. Diving trip is subjected to road/traffic/tide/weather conditions on the day of trip.
Additional Information
Confirmation will be received at time of booking.
All dive trip/s are subjected to the weather conditions and change in itinerary.
If the dive trip unfortunately has to postpone or cancelled, there can be a request for arrangement for another dive trip.
Subjected to approval and availability of boat charters.
Passport & Visa Requirements
Visitors who are nationals of British, Australian, Canadian, USA and other EU countries require valid passports with at least 2 blank pages and a tourist visa valid for 30 days. Visas will be issued on arrival for a fee of USD 30 cash.
There are no money exchange or ATM Facilities at the airport.
Valid passport and Visa (if applicable)
Currency of Raja Ampat is the Indonesianrupee, though its exchange rate varies, currently it is at 13,000 Rp per US dollar.
There’s no access to cash out in the islands.
The only ATMs in Raja Ampat are in Waisai. If staying at a place without a credit card facility, you’ll need to bring a lot of cash. The largest denomination Indonesian bill is 100,000 Rupiah, so be ready to carry a sizeable wad of notes. To avoid problems and delays on arrival, the best approach is to work out how much cash you’ll need for your stay (including a margin for the unexpected) and get it all in Indonesian Rupiah before you land in Sorong.
Medical and Health Requirements :
Raja Ampat is a tropical wilderness area and like any environment of its kind, poses risks to your health that need to be assessed. You should consult a health professional for expert advice on any points of concern. Travelling with a first aid kit is recommended, as the nearest hospital is in Sorong, a few hours’ travel by boat from the guesthouses and locations covered by this site.
Is there malaria in Raja Ampat?
Yes. Despite what some sources (and many local people) will tell you, malaria is present in the islands. That said though, the risk at homestays on Mansuar, Kri, Gam and Arborek is relatively low due to the absence of large numbers of human carriers and (in most place we’ve stayed at) surprisingly low mosquito populations. Although malaria transmission rates are currently low in the Raja Ampat islands, wearing repellant and appropriate clothing to avoid bites is a must and anti-malarial medications are recommended.
Doxycycline is often recommended as a good antimalarial and has the advantage of also providing protection against certain other bacterial infections, but you should definitely con
