The Mari Dive liveaboard 13D12N Kaimana, Raja Ampat is the best way to see the whole story of the Raja Ampat islands, from their peaceful southern edge to their world-famous northern center. This is the best trip for divers who want to see the whole story. The trip starts in Kaimana, a hidden jewel known for its beautiful underwater atolls, colorful soft coral trees, and unusual whale shark sightings in Triton Bay. It lasts 13 days on the expedition-ready Mari Dive ship. Then you will cruise north on an engaging adventure that will reveal the Dampier Strait’s famous biodiversity and the stunning karst seascapes of Wayag. This Kaimana to Raja Ampat liveaboard is the best choice for experienced explorers and underwater photographers who want to capture the Coral Triangle’s whole ecological gradient, from the clean macro habitats in the south to the fish-filled currents in the north.
The 13-day Mari Dive Kaimana, Raja Ampat itinerary is a master class in marine geography. It takes its time to thoroughly explore the region’s most famous and inaccessible habitats. The trip takes you from Kaimana’s protected, colorful reefs and limestone cave dives to the strong currents and famous places like Cape Kri in central Raja Ampat. This trip is different from others since it gives you access to both the “secret” south and the “iconic” north. You will have plenty of time to dive in each of these unique environments. You will be safe as you travel through these isolated seas on the Mari Dive liveaboard, which is known for its professional guides and expedition-level accommodation. This 13-day trip is the ultimate Raja Ampat liveaboard program for serious divers. It will change your life and give you a full knowledge of why this area is the king of marine biodiversity.
More About Mari DiveDives: Approximately 33 dives in total
Experience: Open Water – 30 minimum logged dives required.
Marine Life: At least 75 percent of all coral species can be found in Raja Ampat, divers can expect a range of topography from soft corals and sea fans, to hard corals, seagrass beds, mangroves, shallow reefs, deep drop-offs, caves, black sand and white sand. Giant manta rays, sea turtles, sharks, cuttlefish, pipefish, various seahorse species, and massive schools of reef fish are the norm, plus the delightful wobbegong sharks and epaulet sharks inhabit these waters, too.
Your flight will arrive in Kaimana. Kaimana Regency is a regency in the south of West Papua province in Indonesia.
If possible we offer 3-4 dives daily. When crossing only 1-2 dives a day can be scheduled. (We reserve the right to change the itinerary or specific agreed services, if force majeure, unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances require us to do so.)
Some of the destinations:
Sorong: a coastal city in the eastern Indonesian province of West Papua. Its only land borders are with Sorong Regency. It is the gateway to Indonesia’s Raja Ampat Islands, species rich Coral reef islands in an area considered the heart of the world’s coral reef biodiversity. It also is the logistics hub for Indonesia’s thriving eastern oil and gas frontier. Sorong has experienced exponential growth since 2010.
Misool, formerly spelled Mysol (Dutch: Misoöl), is one of the four major islands in the Raja Ampat Islands in West Papua. The inhabitants speak the Biga language and Matbat language, as well as Indonesian. The reason the reefs in the southeast of Misool are so incredibly rich is their relative location to the deep waters of the Ceram Trough and the upwelling of nutrients created as the Indonesian Throughflow makes its way south to the Banda Sea.
Triton Bay sits at the center of the famed Coral Triangle which has the claim to fame of being the home of more species of fish and coral than any other spot on earth. When it comes to aquatic life you can expect to find species that are common across the rest of Indonesia and more. Some of the highlights however include the bobbing pygmy seahorses as well as elegant whale sharks. It is also possible to spot dolphins and marlin here as well as walking sharks which can be difficult to find in other waters around Indonesia.
Kaimana City: Capital of Kaimana Regency, Papua Barat province. Kaimana Regency is known for its legendary sunsets, there is even a popular song about it. There are simply so many places where you can enjoy sunsets in this part of Papua. The most popular place to enjoy the golden hours is definitely at the beach, which is a lot in Kaimana. During the sunset, you can see the sky changing its colors multiple times. At some points, you probably could see any color you can think of because the sky is bursting with colors, from one spectrum to another. Not even Bali has this kind of sunset, that is why many people who have witnessed sunset in Kaimana tend to come back to enjoy more.
Balbulol, Farondi: In Tomolol, you’ll be amazed by the caves in the area, where you can see paintings of huge human palms and animals which were painted by ancient cave dwellers.
Final day of diving – our trip ends at Sorong.
Check out after breakfast or lunch, depending on your return flight time. We say goodbye to our guests and wish them farewell. The MARI crew will organize the transfer to the Airport and assist at check-in for onward flights.
Included: VAT, Environment Tax, Airport Transfer, Hotel Transfer, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Welcome Cocktails, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Land Excursions, Naturalist Guide, Snorkel Gear, Snorkeling Guide, Beach Towels, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, Deck Towels, WiFi internet.
Required Extras: Fuel Surcharge (75-230 EUR), National Park Fees (140 EUR per trip).
Optional Extras: Gratuities, Alcoholic Beverages, Soft drinks, Nitrox (5 EUR per activity), Rental Gear.
Triton Bay, Raja Ampat
33 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
30 minimum logged dives required
Raja Ampat Ultimate
30 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
30 minimum logged dives required
Raja Ampat, Ambon, Banda Island
33 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
30 minimum logged dives required
Raja Ampat Central/North
30 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives required
Raja Ampat
29 dives
Certificate: Open Water
10 minimum logged dives required
Banda, Forgotten Island, Alor
30 dives
Certificate: Open Water
50 minimum logged dives required
It is a busy dive destination. I prefer the more remote places without other diveboats. Night diving is not as lively as in many other places. Except for one with lots of night action. Overall dive experience for Raja Ampat was a bit below my expectations
