Raja Ampat trip – January 2012
Posted by Neil on May 18th, 2010
S/Y Indo Siren
I’m organising a Liveaboard trip to Raja Ampat in Indonesia, for January 14th-24th 2012. Yes, it’s a long way in advance, but (1) the Liveaboard is pretty much booked up until then, and (2) it’s not going to be a cheap trip, so it gives people time to save!
Raja Ampat is well-known as being the epicentre of marine biodiversity: over 550 Coral species; over 1100 fish species – and that’s before you even get to nudibranchs, starfish, molluscs, etc.!
You can expect to see everything from tiny anemone crabs and nudibranchs, to Wobbegong sharks and Manta Rays. With luck, we might also see the Epaulette Shark, which “runs” away along the sea bed when startled!
The trip is for experienced divers – the currents can be unpredictable at times, and visibility can sometimes be less than you might expect in tropical waters. We’ll also be over 500 miles from the nearest Hyperbaric Chamber – and it’s mostly sea in between. Although we’ll spend 10 nights on board the boat, the area is so remote that it’s likely we’ll need to stopover at least once, and possibly twice, in each direction, so this is really at least a 2-week trip. There are options to extend the trip, either at a Raja Ampat resort, or in Manado or Bali.
At present, I have three GLUG members (plus me) signed up for the trip, plus two from NCRD (Northern California Rainbow Divers) (and three more from NCRD interested). The boat takes a total of 16 divers.
Twin Cabin
Our boat will be the Indo Siren. The boat is currently being custom-built in Thailand, to be identical to the Philippine Siren (pictured in this post).
The boat is very spacious, and offers:
- A spacious air-conditioned saloon with cocktail bar, 42 inch flatscreen & computer server supporting the inter-cabin network
- Covered outdoor dining area
- 8 large air-conditioned cabins each with their own personal computer, audio-visual entertainment system and ensuite bathrooms with hot water. All rooms are lavished with luxury extra’s including bathrobes, hair dryers, towels, individually controlled mood lighting and individual controls for your air-conditioning unit.
- All meals
- All soft drinks and beer
- Enriched Air Nitrox is free for all certified Nirox divers. (If you are not a certified Nitrox diver the Instructors on board can teach you!)
- 2 high-powered Zodiacs
- Kayaks
- Free hire of 3mm Shorty Wetsuits, BCDs, Regulators, and Fins – Worldwide Dive & Sail are Official Aqualung partners, and all of their hire equipment is replaced annually. This is almost certainly going to help you avoid Excess baggage charges! NB: You must bring a Dive Computer with you.
- Each cabin is fitted with an individual computer and multiple power sources to facilitate the needs of digital photography. The computer features high end specifications and 20” high definition flatscreens, which are integrated with the yachts network server in the saloon.
- Workstations for the preparation and maintenance of cameras including prep and storage areas
- Large rinse tanks with fresh water solely for cameras and videos.
- Up to 32 Dives on the 10 night trip, including up to 5 night dives
You can find a 360-degree Virtual tour here: http://www.panomnio.com/clients/wwds/philippine_siren/ and a sample itinerary here: http://www.worldwidediveandsail.com/pax_si/downloads/pdf/raja_ampat_10_nights.pdf
Dining Area
The trip is normally priced at £2170, however GLUG members will receive a substantial discount on this price – for details please log in and check out this post (details of the discount are only available to club members). If I manage to completely fill the boat, then there will be a further discount.
Not included:
- Marine Park and Port fees (approx €100 in 2010)
- Transfers to/from airport to boat
- Alcohol other than Beer (Wine €4/glass, Spirits €4/shot, Cocktails €5/glass)
- Laundry Service (€0.50 per piece)
- Massage Service (€15/hour)
- Gratuities
- Underwater Torch Rental (€5 per night dive)
- Hotels
- Flights
Getting to Raja Ampat is likely to take a couple of days in each direction. To get to Sorong, you need to take a domestic flight from either Jakarta, Makassar (previously called Ujang Pandang), or Manado. Manado is the cheapest for domestic flights, but the most expensive to get to Internationally. One overnight will probably be required between London and Sorong, and because some of the domestic flights only go 3 or 4 times per week, you may well need to spend a night in Sorong as well. (Have I put you off yet?!). I would probably work on around £1000 – £1200 to cover hotels and flights from the UK (unless you’re prepared to slum it on Air Asia). Each participant is responsible for booking their own International flights, but Worldwide Dive & Sail can advise on Schedules, and will organise the Domestic ones, and any accommodation needed in Sorong.
Lounge Area
Payment Schedule
Deposit: £250
1st Stage Payment: £500, due Jan 1st 2011
2nd Stage Payment: £500, due July 1st 2011
Final Payment of remaining balance: due October 1st 2011.
Note that it is a requirement of the trip that you be a GLUG member during 2012. The 2012 membership fee will be due with the Final payment, unless you pay your Membership by Standing Order.
If you’d like to join us, please drop me an email (make sure you’re logged in, then click on the envelope that appears at the top of the post).
Neil.
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#4130 | | Hide Post Comments |
Hi Neil
I am drooling over the pics of this amazing vessel and will have a deposit with you very shortly as discussed in emails. Thanks for the work you have already put into this. It would be so cool to fill this trip with our friends and GLUGies.
Catch you soon.
Charlie
I knew I could persuade you! It does look rather fabulous, doesn’t it? Great to have you on board!