Starting a 12-day expedition with Calico Jack guarantees an amazing trip throughout the underwater beauties of Cenderawasih Bay. This trip is a diver’s dream come true from the historical relics of World War II wrecks to colourful coral gardens and meetings with amazing aquatic species.
The trip starts at Manokwari, where visitors are greeted kindly on Calico Jack and given safety briefings before diving into the rich undersea past with wreck dives. Underlying the waves, the study of Pulau Numfoor and Manim Island provides varied marine life and fascinating battle relics.
Pulau Purup offers opportunity to discover local culture and breathtaking dive spots with sloping walls covered in coral. Pulau Mioswar and Pulau Roon highlight a range of coral, fish, and even a World War II airplane wreck. Offering distinctive reef structures and lots of marine activity, the trip also reaches Pulau Sodompari and Wandammen Peninsula.
Against the backdrop of glistening clean waters and immaculate beaches, Tridacna Atoll offers a calm environment with huge clams and a wealth of aquatic life. The amazing soft coral colonies at Tanjung Mangguar draw a wide range of marine life.
The highlight awaits diving with the gentle giants, the Whale Sharks, at Kwatisore Bay during the grand finale. This amazing trip has a special and lasting touch from the cultural relevance of the sharks to nearby fisherman as well as from their experience.
Guests say goodbye to the Calico Jack crew as the excursion ends at Nabire, leaving with treasured memories, breathtaking underwater images, and a great respect of the several marine ecosystems that make Cenderawasih Bay a top diving destination.
More About Calico JackDives: Approximately 36 dives in total
Experience: Advanced Open Water – 30 minimum logged dives required.
DAY 1 | Embarkation in Manokwari (2 Dives)
We will pick you up either at your hotel or the airport and take you to the harbor where our crew will welcome you onboard Calico Jack.
Following refreshments and a short tour of the ship, you will be briefed on safety, diving operations, and life onboard. After Lunch, we will make an afternoon check-dive in the Manokwari area.
DAY 2 | Manokwari WW2 wreck dives (4 Dives)
During World War 2, Manokwari was a Japanese stronghold, and several outstanding wrecks lie within recreational diving depths. Bombed by the Americans on May 1944, these old warships are now the main attraction for divers in this part of Cenderawasih Bay.
“Shinwa Maru” (The Good Ghost), is an imposing ship, resting port side up in 35m of water. It sank near the port of Manokwari after having been hit by two bombs, leaving it with two holes in the bow. In one of the cargos are still cables and machinery once used to move bombs. The sides are nicely decorated in soft corals and hard corals.
“Cross Wreck” is a 35m former patrol boat lying off Mansinam Island, The patrol boat took a direct hit across its bow, the wreck sits in about 20m of water. Coral growth is impressive and colorful and is known for its critters including leaf fish, juvenile batfish, octopus, and manta shrimp.
“Pillbox wreck”, is a cargo ship that was carrying ammunition and is roughly 60-65 meters long. It is lying on its starboard side in around 16 meters of water, just off the Coast of Mansinam Island. It is in good condition and well-preserved.
DAY 3| Pulau Numfoor & Manim Island (3 Dives)
Pulau Numfoor is a wall and steep slope with good coral growth surrounded by clear, blue water and big fish. Baby Grey reef sharks, white tips, barracudas, tunas, big groupers, jacks, and snappers can easily be spotted. The fish life is particularly good with some current running.
On Manim Island are more than 7 landing crafts from the war. They all sit on a white sand slope and each one is decorated with colorful corals, at different depths between 40+ meters to a shallow 5 meters.
DAY 4 | Pulau Purup (4 Dives)
Pulau Purup has 3 great dive sites offering a little something for everyone. A combination of beautiful sloping walls decorated with soft and hard corals, sea fans, and elephant ear sponges.
There is an abundance of fish life in the area, schools of barracuda, trevally, several species of fusiliers, and a mix of reef sharks. Afternoon there is a possibility to go to the local village and visit some nice local rock art in the area.
Evening night dive in the area.
DAY 5| Pulau Mioswar, Pulau Roon (3 Dives)
3 dives in the area with large rocks and boulders covered in both soft and hard coral. Some of the most prolific green Tubastrea hard corals of Cenderawasih grow here.
Schools of Fusiliers along with Bumphead parrotfish or the occasional small grey reef shark can be seen here. Tanjung Ayami is a nice boulder dive with good coral growth and lots of Fusiliers and Barracudas.
DAY 6 | Pulau Roon & Pulau Ribbon (4 Dives)
These islands are covered with masses of lovely soft corals, sea fans, whips, and elephant ear sponges. Hawksbill, green turtles, barracuda, and surgeonfish can be seen cruising along the oasis of coral.
Just off Pulau, Rippon is a downed aircraft from World War 2 resting in 12m on a hard-coral slope. The wings and some of the fuselage are still intact. Nice sea fans and soft corals can be found as the slope steepens.
Possible night dive in the area.
DAY 7 | Pulau Sodompari & Wandammen Peninsula (3 Dives)
A half-kilometer-long reef runs west of Pulau Sodompari. A lovely mini wall with flourishes of sea fans and soft coral. Good fish life in the area when the current is running.
Wandammen Peninsula good variety of pelagic and critter action with ridges of rocks and bommies covered in colorful sea fans and soft corals, schooling barracuda, giant trevally, fusiliers, and plenty of critters to be found in the area.
DAY 8 | Tridacna Atoll (3 dives)
Tridacna Atoll is a patch reef and atoll named after the many Tridacna giant clams that colonized in the area. The area is well known for fantastically clear water, excellent diving, and stunning white uninhabited white sand beaches.
An impressive amount of marine life congregates around these reefs. Schooling barracuda, trevallies, sweetlips, groupers, and lots of little critters call these waters home.
DAY 9 | Tanjung Mangguar (4 Dives)
Tanjung Mangguar is one of the most beautiful and interesting dive areas in Cenderawasih. Huge soft coral and sea whip colonies adorn this reef which attracts a large number of fishes including barracudas, rainbow runners, jacks, and even sharks, manta rays and Mobula rays can be spotted regularly!
Huge barrel- and elephant ear sponges, giant clams, gardens of Acropora hard corals and lots of fish, all-in crystal-clear water.
Possible night dive in the area.
DAY 10 – 11| Kwatisore Bay Whale Sharks (6 Dives)
Kwastisore Bay is home to the majestic and beautiful Whale shark. This once-in-a-lifetime experience to dive or snorkel with these gentle giants is what really makes Cenderawasih Bay so unique. This year-round playground for whale sharks is vertically an everyday occurrence.
Cenderawasih Whale sharks are thought to bring good luck to the fisherman who lives on the Bagons (floating fishing platforms). The fisherman tosses handfuls of baitfish so the whale sharks so they stay close to the Bagans.
DAY 12 | Disembarkation in Nabire
After breakfast and the last exchange of photos and memories, the crew and Calico Jack will say our fondest farewells and transport you either to your hotel or the airport.
DAY 1 | Embarkation in Nabire (1 Dive)
We will pick you up either at your hotel or Nabire airport and take you to the harbor where our crew will welcome you onboard Calico Jack.
Following refreshments and a short tour of the ship, you will be briefed on safety, the diving operations, and life onboard. After Lunch, we will make an afternoon check dive in Nabire area.
DAY 2 – 3| Kwatisore Bay Whale Sharks (6 Dives)
Kwastisore Bay is home to the majestic and beautiful Whale shark. This once-in-a-lifetime experience to dive or snorkel with these gentle giants is what really makes Cenderawasih Bay so unique. This year-round playground for whale sharks is vertically an everyday occurrence.
Cenderawasih Whale sharks are thought to bring good luck to the fisherman who lives on the Bagons (floating fishing platforms). The fisherman tosses handfuls of baitfish so the whale sharks so they stay close to the Bagans.
DAY 4| Tanjung Mangguar (4 Dives)
Tanjung Mangguar is one of the beautiful and interesting dive areas in Cenderawasih. Huge soft coral and sea whip colonies adorn this reef which attracts a large number of fishes including barracudas, rainbow runners, jacks and even sharks, manta rays and Mobula rays can be spotted regularly!
Huge barrel – and elephant ear sponges, giant clams, gardens of Acropora hard corals and lots of fish, all-in crystal-clear water.
Possible night dive in the area.
DAY 5 | Tridacna Atoll (3 Dives)
Tridacna Atoll is patch reefs and atolls named after the many Tridacna giant clams that colonized in the area. The area is well known for fantastically clear water, excellent diving, and stunning white uninhabited white sand beaches.
An Impressive amount of marine life congregates around these reefs. Schooling barracuda, trevallies, sweetlips, groupers and lots of little critters call these waters home.
DAY 6| Pulau Sodompari & Wandammen Peninsula (3 Dives)
A half kilometer-long reef runs west of Pulau Sodompari. A lovely mini wall with flourishes of sea fans and soft coral. Good fish life in the area when the current is running.
Wandammen Peninsula good variety of pelagic and critter action with ridges of rocks and bommies covered in colorful sea fans and soft corals, schooling barracuda, giant trevally, fusiliers and plenty of critters to be found in the area.
DAY 7 | Pulau Roon & Pulau Ribbon (4 Dives)
These islands are covered with masses of lovely soft corals, sea fans, whips, and elephant ear sponges. Hawksbill, green turtles, barracuda, and surgeonfish can be seen cruising along the oasis of coral.
Just off Pulau Rippon is a downed aircraft from World War 2 resting in 12m on a hard-coral slope. The wings and some of the fuselage are still intact. Nice sea fans and soft corals can be found as the slope steepens.
Possible night dive in the area.
DAY 8 | Pulau Mioswar, Pulau Roon (3 Dives)
3 dives in the area with large rocks and boulders covered in both soft and hard coral. Some of the most prolific green Tubastrea hard corals of Cenderawasih grow here.
Schools of Fusiliers along with bump head parrotfish or the occasional small grey reef shark can be seen here. Tanjung Ayami is a nice boulder dive with good coral growth and lots of Fusiliers and Barracudas.
DAY 9 | Pulau Purup (4 Dives)
Pulau Purup has 3 great dives sites offering a little something for everyone. A combination of beautiful sloping walls decorated with soft and hard corals, sea fans and elephant ear sponges.
There is an abundance of fish life in the area, schools of barracuda, trevally, several species of fusiliers and a mix of reef sharks. Afternoon there is a possibility to go to the local village and visit some nice local rock art in the area.
Evening night dive in the area.
DAY 10 | Pulau Numfoor & Manim Island (3 dives)
Pulau Numfoor is a wall and steep slope with good coral growth surrounded by clear, blue water and big fish. Baby Grey reef sharks, white tips, barracudas, tunas, big groupers, jacks, snappers can easily be spotted. The fish life is particularly good with some current running.
On Manim Island are more than 7 landing crafts from the war. They all sit on a white sand slope and each one is decorated with colorful corals, at different depths between 40+ meters to a shallow 5 meters.
DAY 11 | Manokwari WW2 wreck dives (2 Dives)
During World War 2 Manokwari was a Japanese stronghold, and several outstanding wrecks lie within recreational diving depths. Bombed by the Americans on May 1944, these old warships are now the main attraction for divers in this part of Cenderawasih Bay.
“Shinwa Maru” (The Good Ghost), is an imposing ship, resting port side up in 35m of water. It sank near the port of Manokwari after having been hit by two bombs, leaving it with two holes in the bow. In one of the cargos are still cables and machinery once used to move bombs. The sides are nicely decorated in soft corals and hard corals.
“Cross Wreck” is a 35m former patrol boat lying off Mansinam Island, The patrol boat took a direct hit across its bow, the wreck sits in about 20m of water.
Coral growth is impressive and colorful and is known for its critters including leaf fish, juvenile batfish, octopus, and manta shrimp.
DAY 12 | Disembarkation in Manokwari
After breakfast and the last exchange of photos and memories, the crew and Calico Jack will say our fondest farewell’s and transport you either to your hotel or Manokwari airport.
Raja Ampat, Ambon, Banda Islands
33 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
50 minimum logged dives
Raja Ampat North, Wayag
20 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
5 minimum logged dives
Manokwari, Nabire
36/33 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives
Sorong – Sorong
34 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives
Raja Ampat
30 dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
50 minimum logged dives required
Raja Ampat, Ambon, Banda Island
30 dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
50 minimum logged dives required
Dives, the BBQ Party The stroll to appreciate the island views
