Raja Ampat in February

[chocolate]

Hi all,

Raja Ampat has always been one of my target destinations that I never had a chance to dive at. Because of work situation, I now have about 10 days to spare in early February.

I checked and seems like most liveaboards are either fully booked or has a schedule clash. I therefore plan to dive RA land-based (while saving some money).

Appreciate if you could help me the following,
1. is it worth it to stay and dive with a dive resort?
2. which island(s) worth most to dive/stay?
3. any recommendation on dive resort/lodge?
(I don't think the local homestay is for me, but don't want to spend a fortune)
4. any good night diving there?
5. if possible, I would also like to spend a day or two exploring birds paradise, etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[dirtfarmer]

Do you have 10 days of dive time including in your travel and no fly time or 10 days of vacation time?

 

[billt4sf]

I've heard good things about Papua Paradise and Kri Eco Resort, although I have not been to either one. They are in central RA and I'm pretty sure you can see birds from either. We saw tons of sharks from another resort on Kri last week, so you might as well.

As always in Indo, bring your safety gear and be aware of currents.

- Bill

 

[chocolate]

Do you have 10 days of dive time including in your travel and no fly time or 10 days of vacation time?

I'm still working out the details, but actual dive time will most likely be less than 10 days. Most likely to be 7-8 days max.

Does that make a big difference though?

 

[chocolate]

I've heard good things about Papua Paradise and Kri Eco Resort, although I have not been to either one. They are in central RA and I'm pretty sure you can see birds from either. We saw tons of sharks from another resort on Kri last week, so you might as well.

As always in Indo, bring your safety gear and be aware of currents.

- Bill

Thx.
So which island and resort did you stay with?
How was the diving there?

 

[dirtfarmer]

I'm still working out the details, but actual dive time will most likely be less than 10 days. Most likely to be 7-8 days max.

Does that make a big difference though?

Not if you don't mind the time travelling all that way.

 

[chocolate]

Not if you don't mind the time travelling all that way.

I'm in Asia, I figured travelling will be about 2 days each way...

 

[billt4sf]

Thx.
So which island and resort did you stay with?
How was the diving there?

I have dived in RA off of Mermaid LOB and staying at Sorido Bay and Misool Eco Resort. All are about the same HIGH price. IMHO diving was best off of Mermaid, secondly off Misool. Misool ER is the only one in south RA though. They all sounded like more than your budget so that's why I suggested looking into Papua Paradise and Kri Eco.

- Bill

 

[Centrals]

Feb is the right time to dive southern Komodo if your land-based option does not come out.
Getting to Komodo is pretty straight forward.

 

[chocolate]

I have dived in RA off of Mermaid LOB and staying at Sorido Bay and Misool Eco Resort. All are about the same HIGH price. IMHO diving was best off of Mermaid, secondly off Misool. Misool ER is the only one in south RA though. They all sounded like more than your budget so that's why I suggested looking into Papua Paradise and Kri Eco.

- Bill

I'm under the impression that diving in South RA is superior to its northern counterpart. Is that so?