Papua Explorers – Diving in the Golden Triangle
Travel period
Features
Starting at
Papua Explorers Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat consists of a group of remote islands in the westernmost part of Papua province in Indonesia. Known for its rich marine biodiversity, with more than 1,500 fish species and 600 coral species. Papua Explorers is a renowned dive resort on the island of Ngam, with easy access to the best dive sites in the area.
For divers, staying with Papua Explorers means enjoying world-class diving experiences such as drift diving, wall diving and mud diving. You can also spot rare and exotic marine animals, such as manta rays, turtles and pygmy seahorses.
You don’t have to be a diver to enjoy the island’s natural beauty, crystal clear waters and beautiful beaches. Explore nearby islands by boat, go snorkeling, visit villages and hike through lush jungle. Papua Explorers also offers a variety of on-site activities such as bird watching, kayaking and relaxing spa treatments.
All in all, Papua Explorers in Raja Ampat offers a unique and unforgettable experience for divers and non-divers alike, with its stunning natural beauty and rich marine life.
Best travel time: Diving and snorkeling can be done year-round. There is no specific season that is particularly dry or rainy. The summer months can be rougher and windier, but do offer the best visibility. A good season is also October to April but then there is less visibility due to plankton.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for diving in Raja Ampat
Our recommendation is a 3mm wetsuit, shorty or skin.
What will you experience on this trip?
View itinerary here
Day 1 & 2 - The journey to Sorong
Sorong is the airport in West Papua that connects Raja Ampat to the rest of the world. For travelers from Europe, it is likely that they will first fly to Jakarta before continuing on to Sorong. This stopover may take several hours, depending on the airline and route chosen.
For this trip, the standard is that for a 10-night stay, you will arrive on Sunday and leave on Wednesday. This means that in many cases you start traveling as early as Friday.
Day 3 - Arrival in Sorong & Check in.
Once you arrive in Sorong, you will be picked up by Papua Explorers at the airport. By car you will be taken to port and, depending on what time you arrive, taken to a hotel where you will have a room to take a shower and have breakfast after which the boat will arrive at 12:00 departures. Of course, we took this into account when picking flights. Verafter, you will sail by boat the last bit to the beautiful Raja Ampat.
Papua Explorers staff is already waiting for you upon arrival and after a long journey you can check into your room.
The rest of the day is at your discretion. Perhaps you are very tired after the long trip and probably want to relax more than anything else. Feel free to drop in at the on-site dive center to get the paperwork in order, because starting tomorrow, you’ll be doing a lot of diving in particular.
Day 4 to 11 - Diving in Raja Ampat
For the next 9 days you will make 3 boat dives each day (maximum) and possibly another (guided) dive on the house reef.
Diving at Raja Ampat enchants everyone who descends into the clear waters. Located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, Raja Ampat rightfully holds the prestigious title: the most marine biodiverse place on earth. Diving at Raja Ampat is breathtakingly spectacular and truly unforgettable. Hard and soft corals compete for space on reefs bursting with life and color. Swarms of small fish such as damselfish, fusiliers and anthiasses swarm around on the reef. Not too far away, the large schools of tuna, trevally and mackerel congregate. Batfish, doctor fish and barracuda gather around jetties and points on the reef.
Large fish species include the Napoleon Wrasse, Bumphead parrotfish and Giant Sweetlips. Because you are in a shark sanctuary, divers spot reef sharks every day. And, of course, there are the manta rays. You may encounter reef manta rays at nearby cleaning stations, the majestic oceanic manta ray in open water. During the right season, any dive site can yield beautiful manta rays gliding by. This is what makes diving in West Papua such an incredible underwater adventure. There are really no words to describe Raja Ampat scuba diving, it has to be experienced and it is truly unforgettable. There is regular diving at more than 50 sites in the area. In this way, we ensure that all our guests visit all the highlights this region has to offer.
Most of the beautiful dive sites can be reached in less than 30 minutes by boat from the Papua Explorers Eco Resort.
Day 12 - Excursions and packing up
You can possibly dive today, but keep in mind the no-fly times, as you fly tomorrow. You can use today to explore the island above water. For example, go in search of the red bird of paradise or visit the Batanta Island.
Batanta Island is one of the four kings of Raja Ampat. The island has a rugged shape and numerous bays fringed with pristine mangrove forests. We take the boat down a winding path that runs through a 30-meter-high mangrove forest,. Then we walk up to a beautiful stream, where you can photograph iridescent dragonflies and see numerous butterflies. After only 10 minutes, we reach a small waterfall. Large rainforest trees surround it and it is already a great place to take photos. Then we climb further upstream through the beautiful rainforest of Batanta, some of the trees are centuries old. We can also hear many species of birds calling from the treetops. The creek is crystal clear, so small fish and crayfish can be seen in the shade. After a 1-hour hike, we arrive at the summit. The waterfall is about 80 meters high. The waterfall has a large pool of cool pristine water where we can cool off and swim.
The Red Bird of Paradise Tour begins early in the morning and includes a boat ride to a nearby island, followed by a walk through the pristine rainforests with an expert guide providing information about the animal and plant life of the jungle. Upon arrival at the site, one quietly waits and watches the mysterious red bird of paradise from a distance of about 20-25 meters. With a little luck, the beautiful bird can be seen flashing yellow around the head and dark red back and wings. The tour takes about 4 hours and requires moderate fitness and waterproof hiking boots. Binoculars will be provided.
Other excursions available include the Wilson’s bird of paradise tour, The passage tour and the Mayalibit Bay
Exploration. Be sure to ask us for more information if any of these titles appeal to you.
Day 13 & 14 - Return home
On the day of departure, the boat transfer is at 06:00. This means that from about 10:30 it will be possible to fly.
Good to know, there is also a direct connection between Sorong and Manado. So should you want to extend your diving trip you can do so by diving with the smallest special critters in Lembeh, the critter capital of the world. Or you can go to Bunaken, diving along steep drop offs with sea turtles and colorful fish. It’s all possible!
The accommodation of Papua Explorers
The stay and surroundings
Papua Explorers
Papua Explorers is a dive resort located on Gam Island in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. The resort is surrounded by the natural beauty of the archipelago, overlooking the turquoise waters of Dampier Strait and the lush green jungle in the background.
The accommodation consists of comfortable and spacious bungalows, built with local materials and designed to blend harmoniously with the natural environment. The resort features a restaurant serving local and international dishes prepared with fresh ingredients from the region. The restaurant has an open-air layout, so you can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding nature while enjoying your meal. The resort also offers vegetarian and gluten-free options. However, it is wise to communicate special dietary requirements in advance.
When it comes to wellness facilities, Papua Explorers offers a range of relaxing treatments and massages to help guests unwind and enjoy their stay. Guests can enjoy a traditional Indonesian massage or aromatherapy treatment in the open-air spa, located amid the resort’s lush gardens.
All bungalows at the resort are built over the water. They are equipped with private toilet and shower, hot water, ceiling fan, mosquito net, desk and comfortable sitting area. The spacious veranda with direct access to the sea allows guests to enjoy the sun and sea in their own privacy. Moreover, sun loungers and a hammock invite you to linger and admire breathtaking sunsets of Raja Ampat. Furthermore, a staircase straight into the ocean makes it easy to take a dip and cool off. The 300-square-foot restaurant and lounge over the sea is designed to provide a relaxing environment. After a long day of diving or snorkeling, our sundeck and spa on the main pier is another great place to enjoy the sunset and the beautiful tropical landscape of Raja Ampat.
There are a total of 2 different bungalows, where especially the size makes the difference. There are 12 Deluxe Water Bungalows (72 m2) and 2 Superior Water Bungalows (55 m2). There is also one large family villa, also built on the water that can accommodate either 2 friendly couples or a family of 4.
Travel costs
What is included
This travel package is US$ 3.973 per person based on two people in one room. The trip can be extended as desired. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about the possibilities? Get in touch with us!
Included in this trip, from US$ 3.973 p.p.
- 10 nights in a Deluxe Over-Water Bungalow
- Accommodation on full board basis
- Return transfers
- 9 days of diving max. 3 boat dives per day and 1 (guided) house reef dive
- Free Nitrox Upgrade
- VZR, Calamity Fund & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight to Sorong from US$ 1.249 p.p.
- Marine Park Fee of IDR 700,000 = approx. US$ 45
- Retribution Fee of IDR 300,000 = approx. US$ 20
✈︎ The quoted (international) flight prices are indicative prices and based on departures from Europe.
However, we can arrange flights from any location worldwide.
Booking your own flights is of course also possible.
Optional
- Full diving equipment 9 days US$ 302 p.p.
- Dive computer 9 days US$ 73 p.p.
- Dive light 9 days US$ 66 p.p.
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Frequently asked questions about this diving vacation
Diving general
You will make up to 3 boat dives daily here. Lace diving is also possible. Because of the strong currents, the dive shop usually wants a guide to accompany them.
Most dive sites are within a 30-minute boat ride of the resort, often even closer.
Manta Point: 20 min
Mike’s Point: 10 min
Cape Kri: 15 min
Sardines Reef: 25 min
Mioskon: 25 min
Blue Magic: 25 min
Otdima: 5 min
Chicken Reef: 20 min
The Passage: 45 min
Hidden Bay: 30 min
You can make up to 4 dives per day, including 3 boat dives.
Yes definitely, night diving is possible on the house reef. All house reef night dives are with a dive guide.
The only exception: on Saturdays most of the staff has off, so no night dive on Saturday night. All other evenings are available
. Please note that they cannot provide nitrox during sunset and night dives.
Yes definitely!
Yes definitely, there are several PADI courses:
- Discover Scuba
- Open Water Diver
- Advanced Diver
- Rescue Diver
- EFR
- Nitrox
- Drift Diver
If you want to learn to scuba dive and get your first scuba certification then take the PADI Open Water course. For this you can start learning at home, ask us about the possibilities.
The diving school is located at the resort.
Diving equipment
There are both DIN and INT tanks.
No, the resort only has 12L bottles.
Yes, Nitrox is included as standard in the dive package. Of course, you must be certified. Are you not yet? Then you can take the Nitrox course here for €190,- p.p.
Equipment Set: BCD, Regulator,Wetsuit, Mask, Snorkel, Fins € 200 p.w.
Dive Computer € 50 p.w.
BCD & Regulator € 150 p.w.
Mask, Snorkel, Fins € 80 p.w.
Dive Light € 45 p.w.
Fluoro (UV) Equipment, for Diving or Snorkeling (torch and mask filter) € 20 per dive.
Other activities & excursions
For non-divers interested in marine life, snorkeling is ideal. Snorkelers can enjoy the house reef at any time and join the boat to dive sites that are also fantastic for snorkeling. In addition, there are optional tours. On all boat trips, snorkelers are accompanied in the water by one of Papua Explorers’
experienced guides.
Snorkeling sessions by boat are not included. Snorkeling on the beautiful house reef is free, but unguided. The total number of sessions per boat you do during your stay determines the price per session.
1 to 5 snorkeling sessions €28 per session
6 to 10 snorkeling sessions €22 per session
11+ snorkeling sessions €20 per session
Activities near the resort:
– Snorkeling on the house reef
– Kayaking
– Massage or facial at our spa
– Lounging on the sundeck
– Taking a walk to our neighboring village of Yenwaupnor, with shy but friendly locals (also many of Papua Explorers’
employees come from this village, so you might see some familiar faces)
– Take a beach walk at low tide
– Take a guided trip in the early morning or early afternoon to see the Red Bird of Paradise (it leaves from the village and then
it’s a 20-minute walk up the hill to the bird watching station)
Activities accessible by boat:
– Join us on the daily dive boats for snorkeling (includes snorkeling guide, snacks, coffee/tea, towels) – this
is subject to a surcharge.
– Join one of the full day tours where we combine sightseeing and diving/snorkeling.
This is subject to a
surcharge.
– If you really love birds, we can also recommend an extended bird watching tour where you can see both
the Wilson’s Bird of Paradise and the Red Bird of Paradise and other birds. However, we recommend this for serious “birders” only because it is a long walk, very early in the morning
Red Bird of Paradise Yenwaupnor €35 p.p.
Red Bird of Paradise Sawingrai €40 p.p.
Wilsons Bird of ParadiseTrip to Waigeo Island € 95 p.p.
Full Day Tour to Raja Ampat Icon,Wayag € 250 p.p.
Full Day Tour to Fam / Penemu Islands (Pianemo) € 80 p.p.
Full Day Tour to Batanta Island (incl. waterfall visit) € 85 p.p.
Full Day Tour to The Passage € 80 p.p.
Mayalibit Bay Exploration (Kali Biru) € 200 p.p.
Most excursions require a minimum of 4 participants.
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