Snorkeling Raja Ampat: Heart of the Coral Triangle!

Raja Ampat, or four kings, is located off the northwest tip of Bird’s Head Peninsula in West Papa (the western portion of New Guinea, politically associated with Indonesia). The four kings refer to the four main islands, Salawati, Waigeo, Batanta, and Misool, though legend has it that the names actually refer to four men who were hatched from four of seven eggs found by a woman (the three other eggs hatched to reveal a ghost, a woman, and a stone). Each man lived on one of the four islands where they eventually became king. Legends and myths aside, one fact remains: This region has an unusually high variety of marine life and is recognized as the world’s center of marine biodiversity.

Dozens of surveys by the world’s leading scientists have found that the region possesses over 600 species of corals (nearly 75% of all known species of reef-building corals) and more than 1500 species of tropical marine fish (about half of all known tropical marine fish). The astoundingly high level of marine life is due, in part, to plate tectonics, high amounts of water that flow through the region, and a variety of marine habitats that are found in the area. Pristine reef flats, secret bays, swift channels, deep drop-offs, shallow seamounts, mangroves, marine lakes, and protected coral gardens are but a sample of the types of marine habitats that can be found in the roughly 50,000 square kilometer area of Raja Ampat.

Along with the four main islands, Raja Ampat has over 1500 breathtaking islands and islets that offer a scenic backdrop to the unspoiled underwater wilderness. The majority of the islands, especially the smaller islands and islets are made of limestone and the main islands are mostly volcanic in origin with deposits of limestone and sandstone. Dense jungle and rainforest dominate much of the hilly, craggy terrain, making perfect habitats for over 350 species of birds including parrots, hornbills, and birds of paradise.

We wrote our snorkeling itinerary to take advantage of the huge diversity of marine life that abounds in Raja Ampat, from tiny neon gobies to large reef mantas. Whether we float blissfully above a shallow protected reef or get whisked along a fringing reef, each day we will snorkel in a variety of marine habitats that makes Raja Ampat such a special destination. Though our main focus will be on the incredibly rich underwater world, we will have opportunities to view rare or endemic birds, summit dramatic rock islands for incredible views, and relax on idyllic white-sand beaches – but not too long because we have a lot of snorkeling to do. We have guided over 50 snorkeling tours to this region and have come to know more than just a few islands and snorkel sites, largely unknown to other operators, that have some of the best reefs and scenery that Raja Ampat, the Heart of the Coral Triangle, has to offer!X

ITINERARY

Our snorkeling tour begins and ends in Jakarta, Indonesia. One round trip, internal flight (Jakarta-Sorong-Jakarta). Upon our arrival in Sorong, we will board our boat and cruise towards our first destination within the Raja Ampat archipelago. Please note that although we visit many of the islands and island groups in the sample itinerary below, each of our departures is unique and that weather, tides, and opportunities to explore all play a role in the decisions about our daily schedule as well as the overall itinerary.

Day 1: Jakarta / FM7 Hotel Jakarta
Meals provided: D
Meet in Jakarta, Indonesia at our group hotel, FM7 Resort and Hotel, for the tour orientation and welcome dinner. As is often the case with our internal flight, we will depart for Sorong in the late evening, thus our ‘overnight’ will be in transit to Sorong. Overnight FM7 Hotel, Jakarta.

Day 2: Sorong / Gaia Love / Waisai
Meals provided: B,L,D
Fly to Sorong and transfer to our live-aboard boat, the Gaia Love. Boat orientation and lunch before we depart for our snorkeling adventure into the islands. While we do not plan to have the chance to snorkel today, if time and weather permits, we will give it our best. Overnight Gaia Love.

Day 3: Penemu / Fam Islands
Meals provided: B,L,D
The Fam islands, Penemu being the largest, offer us the chance to drift snorkel along incredibly healthy, colorful walls where huge schools of fusiliers, unicornfishes, surgeonfishes, snappers, rabbitfishes, and sweetlips crowd along the edges while the current passes by. In the afternoon, we will snorkel in a quiet lagoon where we can lazily float above fields of delicate branching corals, some that can only be found in this specific habitat! Penemu Island is also home to some of the most stunning island scenery in Raja Ampat. We’ll have a chance to take a dinghy tour through the network rock islands and finish the tour with the chance to walk up 400 stairs for the ultimate in panoramic views! Overnight Gaia Love.

Day 4 – 7: Alyui Bay / Wayag
Meals provided: B,L,D
Ajyui Bay is one of the premier destinations in Raja Ampat. The bay possesses a variety of habitats including robust passages where brisk water movement supports a dazzling amount of bizarre and colorful life along the shallow edges of the islands, as well as protected reefs in private lagoons where a mixture of juvenile and adult reef fishes play amongst the tangle of staghorn coral thickets. We’ll also snorkel sea grass and sand flats to look for rare critters such as waspish and tasseled wobbegongs. To the north of Alyui Bay is Wayag, a remote island archipelago otherwise knowns as paradise. The convoluted network of picture-prefect, jungle-capped limestone islands create narrow passages, hidden lagoons, and shallow platform reefs. Our snorkels range from exposed seawards reefs to sheltered coral gardens and mangroves. Dinghy tours around Wayag rank among the best on the planet! We will meander our way through intimate passages made by towering limestone islands and stop off to put our feet in pure white sand before returning to our gorgeous moorage within the islands. Overnight Gaia Love.

Day 8: Pef / Secret Bay 
Meals provided: B,L,D
The combination of limestone and mangrove islands in the Pef island group create magnificent shallow habitats that often possess a large diversity of sponges and sea fans. This is easily the best place to see the spot-tail blennny, marvel at enormous sponges (both fan and barrel), and catch a glimpse of a ray or juvenile shark as they swim among the mangroves in the shallows. Secret Bay is a drift snorkel that begins at the mouth of channel and ends in an intimate bay. Along the way, we’ll get whisked by huge fields of purple and orange soft corals and sea fans! We will also tour the bay via dinghies to look for and hear birds and enjoy the scenery, the tides will determine our timing. Overnight Gaia Love.

Day 9: Yangeffo / Gam
Meals provided: B,L,D
The tiny mangrove islands of Yangeffo are separated from the main island of Gam by little more than a 75m-wide channel. Normally, mangrove islands would be fairly turbid and, as such, lack high coral abundance and diversity, but the channel focuses strong water flow that flushes the area of sediment. This results in clear-water mangroves where a huge number of corals use the prop roots of mangroves as substrate to grow upon. The clash of ‘habitats’ makes for amazing snorkeling opportunities! We will snorkel both sides of the channel, especially to take advantage of the reef that extends from Gam. Overnight Gaia Love.

Day 10: Mansuar / Dampier Strait
Meals provided: B,L,D
Dampier Strait is where the big fish are found! The seaward reefs along Kri and Mansuar that are simply some of the best Raja Ampat has to offer. Huge schools of snapper, bumphead parrotfish, barracudas, unicornfishes, plus the thousands of reef fishes make this a must-do for fish-loving snorkelers. Look for sharks, turtles, and rays as they are common sightings as well. We’ll spend time along the jetty where current-exposed, weathered pilings act as substrate for forests of colorful sea fans. Overnight Gaia Love.

Day 11: Batanta / Dayang
Meals provided: B,L,D
Across Dampier Strait to the south, is the lush, volcanic island of Batanta. The shallow coral gardens around Dayang, located at the northwestern tip of Batanta, contain a mind-blowing diversity of hard and soft corals in every shape and color imaginable. Schools of fish number in the thousands and if we look closely out into the blue, a manta ray or dugong may be swimming by! Overnight Gaia Love.

Day 12: Sorong / Jakarta / FM7 Hotel, Jakarta
Meals provided: B,L,D
Disembark for our connection to Jakarta. Check in to our group hotel, FM7 Resort and Hotel. Farewell dinner at the hotel. Overnight FM7 Hotel, Jakarta.

Day 13: International flights or extensions
Meals provided: B

DEPARTURES

Feb 22 – Mar 5, 2024 ←Click to request a booking
Accommodations: Gaia Love
Guides: Lee Goldman
Length: 13 days

Prices and Payment schedule:
$8600 USD per person, double occupancy
$11,600 USD per person, single occupancy

Reservation deposit: $500 USD
August 22, 2023: $4600 USD / $6600 USD (single occ.)
November 22, 2023: $3500 USD / $4500 USD (single occ.)
Back-to-back combination with: Misool, Raja Amapt, Mar 05 – Mar 17, 2024

Dec 09 – 21, 2024 ←Click to request a booking
Accommodations: Gaia Love
Guides: Lee Goldman
Length: 13 days

Prices and Payment schedule:
$TBD USD per person, double occupancy
$TBD USD per person, single occupancy

Reservation deposit: $500 USD
June 09, 2023: $ USD / $ USD (single occ.)
September 09, 2023: $ USD / $ USD (single occ.)

Tour cost includes:

• Accommodations throughout tour dates
• All meals on days 2 through 12 (dinner on day 1 – breakfast on day 13)
• All internal transfers including international arrival and departure transfers
• Non-alcoholic beverages
• All snorkeling and park fees
• All gratuities

Tour cost does not include:

• Round-trip international airfare (Please contact us with recommendations for routes or referrals to any of the several travel agents we currently work with)
• Additional hotel accommodations and meals as a result of travel outside of the program dates
• Visa requirements including payments
• Alcoholic beverages
• International departure taxes
• Extra / overweight baggage fees
• Trip insurance (recommended; (we recommend Travel Guard, World Nomads, or Travel Insure)
• DAN insurance (required unless personal insurance program has worldwide emergency evacuation services)
• Additional accommodations while on tour in the event of flight schedule changes or events of force majeure
• Any required COVID-19 tests
• Any required quarantine or flight changes due to a positive COVID-19 result

Cancellation policy:
180 – 91 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost
90 days or less prior to departure: 100% of tour cost

Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information

The Gaia Love is a modern 40 meters steel hull vessel build from the ground up in Batam, Indonesia. It is purpose built to sail and explore the far reach regions of Indonesia and complies with class requirements of BKI (Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia). Designed with a modern contemporary look with an emphasis for diving in comfort, she accommodates up to 20 guest in 10 spacious ensuite rooms; six on the upper deck and five on the lower deck. Each room averages in size of approximately 20 square meters, individual air-conditioning and ensuite bathrooms with hot water. Upper deck rooms will feature an additional private outdoor balcony. Gaia Love has a total of 4 decks (lower, main, upper and top/sundeck). A lounge, restaurant and camera room is located on the main deck. In the lounge is an entertainment center, pantry and all the facilities and little creature comforts to make your stay most comfortable. At the rear is a large dive deck that can accommodate up to 28 divers, so there is lots of space for guest to move around. On the dive deck is also eleven large rinse tanks of various sizes, for camera setups of all sorts. A boat deck is slightly aft of the dive deck where two 5.5 meters diving skiffs will always be ready and easy for divers to board. The sundeck features a bar for evening gatherings and relaxation under the stars. If you prefer to dine outdoors, this will be the perfect area to enjoy your meal. Sufficient shelter is available here as well as unshaded areas for those who wish to soak up some sun. Safety is top priority for us, hence, Gaia Love has a very well equipped wheelhouse from up-to-date navigation equipment to advance communication systems, life rafts, life vests, EPRIB, fire protection and fire fighting systems. An additional back up RIB is stored on the top deck, easily and swiftly deployable by a one ton crane, should it be needed. For more info about the Gaia Love click here.

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When you are looking for comfortable and convenient accommodations in Jakarta, make FM7 Resort Hotel Jakarta Airport your home away from home. FM7 Hotel was established in 2006 as a new luxury hotel in Soekarno-Hatta Jakarta International Airport area. Each spacious room is designed with a modern taste and include many amenities, such as hairdryers, bathrobes, and toiletries. Laundry service is available and there is an onsite convenience store for small travel items. FM7 Hotel offers delectable fine dining, whether you’re looking for a business lunch or a weekend brunch with the family. The restaurants include the finest cuisines featuring Malay, Chinese, Indonesian, Korean, Thailand, Western, or indulge in an extravagant buffet and enjoy a variety of international flavors. The hotel offers a sanctuary spa that inspires effortless relaxation. This luxury haven has a complete spectrum of wellness services, including sauna & steam, hot and cold whirlpool and a fully equipped fitness center with an indoor swimming pool, hair salon, karaoke, sport bar and many more. Front desk services including concierge service, luggage storage and safety deposit boxes. The hotel’s ticket service and tours can even help you book tickets and reservations for entertainment and explorations. Pre-arrange arrival and departure, airport transfer services can be booked before you even check in. Free WIFI available.

DEPARTURES

Feb 22 – Mar 5, 2024 ←Click to request a booking
Accommodations: Gaia Love
Guides: Lee Goldman
Length: 13 days

Prices and Payment schedule:
$8600 USD per person, double occupancy
$11,600 USD per person, single occupancy

Reservation deposit: $500 USD
August 22, 2023: $4600 USD / $6600 USD (single occ.)
November 22, 2023: $3500 USD / $4500 USD (single occ.)
Back-to-back combination with: Misool, Raja Amapt, Mar 05 – Mar 17, 2024

Dec 09 – 21, 2024 ←Click to request a booking
Accommodations: Gaia Love
Guides: Lee Goldman
Length: 13 days

Prices and Payment schedule:
$TBD USD per person, double occupancy
$TBD USD per person, single occupancy

Reservation deposit: $500 USD
June 09, 2023: $ USD / $ USD (single occ.)
September 09, 2023: $ USD / $ USD (single occ.)

Tour cost includes:

• Accommodations throughout tour dates
• All meals on days 2 through 12 (dinner on day 1 – breakfast on day 13)
• All internal transfers including international arrival and departure transfers
• Non-alcoholic beverages
• All snorkeling and park fees
• All gratuities

Tour cost does not include:

• Round-trip international airfare (Please contact us with recommendations for routes or referrals to any of the several travel agents we currently work with)
• Additional hotel accommodations and meals as a result of travel outside of the program dates
• Visa requirements including payments
• Alcoholic beverages
• International departure taxes
• Extra / overweight baggage fees
• Trip insurance (recommended; (we recommend Travel Guard, World Nomads, or Travel Insure)
• DAN insurance (required unless personal insurance program has worldwide emergency evacuation services)
• Additional accommodations while on tour in the event of flight schedule changes or events of force majeure
• Any required COVID-19 tests
• Any required quarantine or flight changes due to a positive COVID-19 result

Cancellation policy:
180 – 91 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost
90 days or less prior to departure: 100% of tour cost

Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information

WHAT TO EXPECT

Raja Ampat straddles Equator and, as an equatorial island archipelago, weather year round is hot and humid, with nearly daily rain showers occurring in the early morning or late afternoon. Daytime temperatures hover around 86º F (30º C) and  do not fall much at night. Water temperatures average around 82º F (28º C), though cooler temperatures may occur if persistent rains cause a thin layer of cool freshwater on the surface. Currents around Misool are generally light but may be strong at specific sites. While we plan our snorkel session around the slack tides, we also have several sites where having water movement is an advantage. These drift snorkels allow us to cover large tracks of reef without having to swim too hard. Our snorkel sessions are 100% boat supported and two dinghies will be there at all times to assist anyone for whatever reason.

Most of the islands are steep and rugged with small pocket beaches, but we will have a chance to hike to a summit in the island group of Fam. The stairs are well established and require nothing more than comfortable shoes or sandals. We will also have several scenic dinghy tours scheduled during our time in Raja Ampat.

Please read more about our daily schedule here.

WHAT TO BRING

The following list is a suggestion of things to bring and applies to almost all of our trips (specific items on a particular departure will be noted on the departure information).

-A good fitting mask, snorkel, and set of fins. If your equipment is brand new, please try it out in the pool. Determining the fit and function of your equipment in the pool includes doing several laps with all of your equipment on. Doing several snorkel dives is also very beneficial. It is also important to clean your new equipment, especially your mask. Cleaning procedures for your mask include light scrubbing with toothpaste or dishwasher soap to remove the light layer of silicon that is used to preserve the mask during shipping and storage. All areas of the mask, both inside and out, need to be addressed. Doing this greatly reduces the chances of having your mask fog. Not doing this, even when using mask de-fogger, usually results in a fogged mask.

-A wetsuit, rash guard, diveskin, or any type of clothing that can be used for thermal and/or protection form the sun. We suggest bringing a full 3mm wetsuit and some type of core insulation like a vest or shirt made of 1 – 2 mm neoprene (e.g., Lavacore or Sharkskin shirts or vests). These items will not only provide thermal protection but protection from the sun as well. For those who feel that a 3mm suit may be too warm, please consider a full body skin or rash guard to ensure protection from the strong sun. With regards to thermal protection, remember the saying: it is better to have and not need, than to need and not have. One that note…

-Head protection in the form of a wetsuit hood, a cap, or even a bandana. Anything that can keep the sun off of your head is extremely important. It is the most exposed part of our bodies when we are floating on the surface.

-Biodegradable sunscreen lotion. Okay, this is a tricky suggestion. Even many biodegradable sunscreen lotions have been shown to harm and even kill tiny larvae (baby marine life ranging from fish to all types of invertebrates especially coral). It is fine to wear on land, but we highly discourage the use of sunscreen lotions in the water. Having a full wetsuit or skin will do the job of protection from the sun much better than lotions and the suits also help with thermal protection. It is truly a win-win for everyone and the marine environment.

-Casual, lightweight, tropical clothing
-Sunglasses (and a spare in case you lose your main pair)
-Comfortable footwear such as active sandals (Teva, Keen, Merrell, etc.)
-Hats. We cannot stress the importance of a hat in the tropics!
-All of our boats provide items like shampoo, soap, towels, etc. We bring this up because these items represent added weight and if they leak, less-than-fun times during the unpacking stage of the trip.

Other items that may be considered:
-Lightweight rainwear to protect from the occasional afternoon shower
-Binoculars

DEPARTURES

Feb 22 – Mar 5, 2024 ←Click to request a booking
Accommodations: Gaia Love
Guides: Lee Goldman, Ethan Daniels
Length: 13 days

Prices and Payment schedule:
$8600 USD per person, double occupancy
$11,600 USD per person, single occupancy

Reservation deposit: $500 USD
August 22, 2023: $4600 USD / $6600 USD (single occ.)
November 22, 2023: $3500 USD / $4500 USD (single occ.)
Back-to-back combination with: Misool, Raja Amapt, Mar 05 – Mar 17, 2024

Dec 09 – 21, 2024 ←Click to request a booking
Accommodations: Gaia Love
Guides: Lee Goldman
Length: 13 days

Prices and Payment schedule:
$TBD USD per person, double occupancy
$TBD USD per person, single occupancy

Reservation deposit: $500 USD
June 09, 2023: $ USD / $ USD (single occ.)
September 09, 2023: $ USD / $ USD (single occ.)

Tour cost includes:

• Accommodations throughout tour dates
• All meals on days 2 through 12 (dinner on day 1 – breakfast on day 13)
• All internal transfers including international arrival and departure transfers
• Non-alcoholic beverages
• All snorkeling and park fees
• All gratuities

Tour cost does not include:

• Round-trip international airfare (Please contact us with recommendations for routes or referrals to any of the several travel agents we currently work with)
• Additional hotel accommodations and meals as a result of travel outside of the program dates
• Visa requirements including payments
• Alcoholic beverages
• International departure taxes
• Extra / overweight baggage fees
• Trip insurance (recommended; (we recommend Travel Guard, World Nomads, or Travel Insure)
• DAN insurance (required unless personal insurance program has worldwide emergency evacuation services)
• Additional accommodations while on tour in the event of flight schedule changes or events of force majeure
• Any required COVID-19 tests
• Any required quarantine or flight changes due to a positive COVID-19 result

Cancellation policy:
180 – 91 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost
90 days or less prior to departure: 100% of tour cost

Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information