Day 1 | Embark Ambon
On arrival in Ambon from Jakarta or Bali, you are met and transferred to board the Fenides.
Once on board the boat, you meet the team and undergo a safety briefing, and an orientation to become familiar with your home for the next ten days.
The ship then embarks for Nusa Laut, with opportunities to sight the majestic blue whale and other marine life while on your way to your conservation impact "whale patrol" along the way.
The customised itinerary focuses on the best snorkelling and diving locations that the region has to offer. Highlights include colourful soft coral walls, abundant schooling reef fish, and productive reef ecosystems that are very snorkel accessible and perfectly suited to the group. The guides may change the snorkelling/ diving site sequence or selection due to local sea and weather conditions or wildlife sightings.
Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 | Nusa Laut, Spice Islands
You wake up in Nusa Laut, where you spend the first full day.
Nusa Laut is home to a magnificent hard coral garden which gently slopes towards a stunning drop off wall. This sheltered area makes for excellent snorkelling and diving and will become part of the newly established Lease Islands Marine Protected Area.
This new MPA was successfully designated less than two years ago, and features pristine coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves that support abundant marine life, oceanic dolphins and even the endangered dugong.
All meals
Day 3 | West Ceram, Teluk Taluti (Spice Islands)
Today you will anchor in Taluti Bay for an exciting day of discovery diving and snorkelling in this little explored area.
Situated between the Cerum Sea to the north and the Banda Sea to the south, Ceram Island is mountainous and covered with tropical forest. Depending on conditions you may alter course towards Suanggi, near the Banda Neira Island group.
Cerum and Banda are historically known as part of the "Spice Islands" with native trees of valued nutmeg, cloves, mace and black pepper.
There are spectacular shallow reef sites that give way to steep drop-offs into the deep blue.
At sunset you will lift anchor and cruise overnight to Koon.
All meals
Day 4 | Koon (Spice Islands)
Your full day today will be spent at Koon Island, situated along the northern edge of the Banda Sea, and is fully protected under a large 2,500 hectare Marine Conservation Agreement with local stakeholders (which benefit directly from your visit under this MCA).
Koon is one of the most important Fish Spawning Aggregation sites in the region, with more than 30 coral fish species using this area to spawn on different moon phases. As a result, it offers great diving and snorkelling with delicate coral reef and incredible fish variety and abundance.
Depending on local conditions, you can explore a steep wall in the north and a gentle slope in the south. These habitats converge along an action-packed reef that juts out into the Banda Sea, and is teeming with marine life including tuna, trevally and sharks.
At sunset, you will cruise form Koon toward southern Raja Ampat.
All meals
Days 5-6 | Misool
Today you will explore Misool, one of only a handful of places in the world where biodiversity is improving rather than declining.
Under the stewardship of the pioneering Misool Resort Foundation, a staggering 300,000 acre (1,220 sq km) of marine reserve is protected in this area. On average, the biomass in the area has increased by 250% in just 6 years, and on some key sites, recovery has surpassed 600%.
There are 25 times more sharks inside the Misool Marine Reserve than directly outside of it, and oceanic manta sightings have increased 25-fold. Access is limited within the park and you will collaborate with your fellow conservationists at the Misool Resort to ensure some of the “Best of Misool” snorkelling and diving during your visit here. There are numerous other fantastic sites in this area for you to explore as well.
You cruise overnight to Wayil.
All meals
Day 7 | Wayil
You’ll spend the full day today in spectacular Wayil.
Depending on tide and weather conditions, the first dive/snorkel will be in the passage of Wayil batan – Neptune’s Sea Fan – where you will see metres-wide huge gorgonian fans covering this wall, nicely lit by the morning sun.
For the rest of the day, you’ll have three different sites to choose from for other dives/snorkels.
In the afternoon you will go “jalan jalan” (Bahasa Indonesian for “roaming around”), on a James Bond style speedboat excursion, traversing through crystal turquoise waters between limestone pinnacles with lush green peaks. We’ll slow down to also take in the mangroves, orchids, and some of the other incredible biodiversity in amongst the greenery.
You cruise north overnight.
All meals
Days 8-9 | SW Batanta & Pulau Dayang (Raja Ampat)
Today you’ll enjoy a cruise along the lush rainforest on the wild coast of West Batanta, as well as diving and snorkelling at the West Batanta manta cleaning station, a phenomenal experience with up to 10+ mantas circling in shallow sheltered waters.
The Batanta-Mansuar area is full of amazing reefs such as “Larry’s Dream”, named after the late legendary dive guide and pioneer of Indonesian diving, Larry Smith.
In addition, the area is the western entrance of the Dampier Strait migration corridor. Thus, many oceanic cetaceans including Bryde’s and Omura’s whales, pilot whales and occasionally groups of sperm whales can be sighted nearby the islands and reefs.
All meals
Day 10 | Kri
Today will be spent exploring Mansuar, Kri and the surrounding area. The biodiversity and sheer abundance of marine life in this area is truly incredible.
Before Raja Ampat became THE place to dive in the world, the famous Dr Gerry Allen (world renowned ichthyologist and co-author of Reef Fish Identification: Tropical Pacific as well as dozens of other books) counted 327 fish species on a single dive at Cape Kri. In a more recent survey, 374 distinct species were counted in just 90 minutes.
Dr Allen is quoted as saying that C ape Kri is one of his favourite places to dive. It certainly is one of our all-time favourites and worthy of “doubling-up” on to experience the changes of tides.
After lunch, we will get back on your conservation impact “whale patrol” as you head south to Batanta.
Bryde’s whales, Omura’s whales as well as a myriad of oceanic dolphins have residential populations in the waters of the Dampier Strait. Seabirds are also present in abundance throughout this area.
Late afternoon, you will enter a spectacular jungle anchorage at Pulau Wuzwarez in Northeast Batanta, often with hornbills flying overhead right after sunset.
All meals
Day 11 | Batanta
Your day starts in the early morning with an optional early bird watching. Out on the speedboats, with breakfast provided, you will explore the lush coastal jungle for numerous parrots, cockatoos, azure kingfishers and more. This is a jungle-by-speedboat experience not to be missed.
On your return you enjoy a second breakfast, lift anchor and get back on whale patrol as you cruise towards Sorong with the opportunity to see a wide range of cetaceans and pelagic species on your way.
Your final dive/snorkel of the trip will be at one of the stunning coral reef sites near Batanta.
You will then continue onwards through Dampier Strait, whale patrolling to Sorong. You will survey through a regional stronghold of Bryde’s and Omura’s whales that the Planet Deep team put on the “conservation map”.
While at sea, the friendly crew will wash, dry and prepare your equipment for travel.
Once you arrive in Sorong at your overnight anchorage, you will prepare for the farewell Captain’s dinner.
All meals
Day 12 | Disembark, Sorong
You’ll say goodbye to the ship and crew as you disembark this morning and transfer to the Sorong airport for flights onward Jakarta or Bali.
End of arrangement
Breakfast
