Getting it down pat – at Raja Ampat

[JohnM]

Jumping ahead, this was the route:



This was the typical daily program:



Pretty full-on. Four dives/snorkelling per day, with the last one being a night dive/snorkel. Each lasted an hour. I did all day snorkels except one and no night activity. @Daver6 did night snorkelling and can comment on that.

The archipelago has masses of small limestone islands and protruding rocks, generally with a fairly narrow shallow shelf before a steep wall plunging into the depths.

I took plenty of pics and video under water, but I’ll leave a selection of those till the end of the TR.

 

[JohnM]

I’m just working through day-by-day, so apologies for some repetition of similar things.



The crew was a well-oiled machine, efficiently getting people briefed, geared-up, onto the Zodiacs and back off, escorting dives and snorkelling, pointing out sights, and quickly stowing and checking dive gear. For the 17 pax we had 17 crew. And a great bunch of people to boot. Faultless. Just awesome.

 

[JohnM]

Next day there was lagoon tour in the Zodiacs amongst the limestone karst formations that make up the many islands of wide-ranging size in the Raja Ampat archipelago.

That was followed by the opportunity for some to kayak around a beautiful lagoon area from a small beach, while snorkellers could enter the water there and return to the beach, rather than launching from a Zodiac. PJM opted to single kayak and I snorkelled. Beaches are rarities among the steep-walled islands.

Beautiful calm dawn.

 

[JohnM]

@Daver6 and Mrs Daver6 went for a dip while PJM and I watched on.



Kayak time for PJM. Pics taken with my action camera in its waterproof case and marred by some water in front of the lens.

Launch time.



Pickup time.

 

[Daver6]

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@Daver6 and Mrs Daver6 went for a dip while PJM and I watched on.

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Kayak time for PJM. Pics taken with my action camera in its waterproof case and marred by some water in front of the lens.

Launch time.

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Pickup time.

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Watched and encouraged the dinghy drivers to get moving

 

[JohnM]

Cloudy the next day. The chains of islands provide interesting, possibly unique, silhouettes.

 

[JohnM]

Brighter the next day.

Liveaboard boats come in a variety of styles, and our sister boat Mermaid I.



That afternoon, a visit to the famed Piaynemo lookout.

 

[JohnM]

Back to the boat via a Zodiacs tour through the lagoon.



Next afternoon, anchored off Arborek Island tourist village.



The day after was the final day. Dives/snorkelling in the morning off Sauwandarek tourist village, then steaming back to Sorong in the afternoon. Stayed on board overnight in Sorong harbour before disembarking the next morning.



Back at Sorong.

 

[ksthommo]

Thanks for the trip report, great photos.
We visited Raja Ampat 10 years ago this August, stayed on Pulau Kri, small guesthouse.
Great memories.

 

[Daver6]

That shirtless Alby Mangles following us around...

 

[RooFlyer]

Back to the boat via a Zodiacs tour through the lagoon.

No life jackets? I know you are ?all divers and snorkellers but still. Were they offered at all for each zodiac trip? Optional?

Would seem a cool thing to do until something goes wrong.

 

[Daver6]

No life jackets? I know you are ?all divers and snorkellers but still. Were they offered at all for each zodiac trip? Optional?

Would seem a cool thing to do until something goes wrong.

Not offered. There were always flotation rings with the guides and in the dinghy. Trips in them to and from dive sites were a few minutes at most.

 

[JohnM]

Not offered. There were always flotation rings with the guides and in the dinghy. Trips in them to and from dive sites were a few minutes at most.

And the water and air temperatures there are warm, so no need to be burdened with heavy clothing or run the risk of hypothermia.

 

[Daver6]

And the water and air temperatures there are warm, so no need to be burdened with heavy clothing or run the risk of hypothermia.

Dehydration a much greater risk! I'd easily down a litre of water after a hour snorkel. Obviously, also required G&Ts in the evening to re-hydrate

 

[JohnM]

Some assorted underwater camera pics in no particular order.

The pics can do the talking, but some general comments:

While the coral is stunning, it is the fish life that is exceptional. The mangroves are important fish nurseries and the fish abundance there was astounding. Stingers were common and abundant in some places. The clown fish are cute, flitting in and out of soft corals. But, as you will see, they were not the only clowns in the ocean…

 

[JohnM]

 

[JohnM]

 

[JohnM]

And that's all, folks.