Question Raja Ampat First time

[Franek]

First time
Hi,
We have questions about Raja Ampat's dive in January.
We've read a lot about R4 in the forum and we're wondering about this place, our experiences are various dive spots in Central America and Egypt.
Our questions are initially as follows.

1. Whether this is the right date for diving with Liveabord, we are interested in Blue Manta 7/8 nights
2. We have both been diving for 7 months, we have +/- 45 dives is it a suitable place for divers with little experience?
3. We finished AOWD + Nitrox we are conservative dives only 2 + 1

Maria

 

[Searcaigh]

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[Franek]

Okay, sorry we used our language by accident

 

[SaltyWombat]

I haven't been to Indonesia yet, but I'm planning a trip right now. I can share some random thoughts.

I'll be on a 10 night charter with Scubaspa Zen. They require a minimum of 30 dives + AOW for Raja4. Their Komodo and Forgotten Islands charter requires a minimum of 50 dives.

Scubaspa is more luxurious than I would choose on my own, but a friend is planning this trip and the other passengers all seem really great. It's important for me to dive with people I'll like. If I were planning my own trip, I'd likely go with Blue Manta. I don't care much about luxury; I just want to be with serious and experienced divers and I think I'd find them on Blue Manta.

A seven night charter doesn't seem enough.

Since Raja4 is so far away, I also plan to book a week at a shore-based resort. My top choices are already booked up, sadly. If you want to do this, plan early.

Scheduling the transfers from Sorong to a land-based resort has been a hassle. The resort-blessed transfers only happen on certain days.

Many people advise me to only take Garuda Airlines. There are too many surprises on the discount airlines. Garuda flies to Sorong on M/W/F/Sat. Getting to Sorong a day early has been advised, because flights are often canceled. I hope to not get there too early though, as I hear Sorong is not charming.

Undercurrent has trustworthy reviews of LOBs and resorts: Indonesia Diving Guide. Much of their site requires a subscription.

 

[Cali_diver]

Problem with Garuda is their prices are almost double compared to Batik and others right now, and they cancel and delay just as much. Just want to put it out there. I have used Batik on my last three trips and they were great with no delays. My friend just had her Batik flight delayed due to weather and they held her second flight in Jakarta for her so she could make her International flight. She said they were so awesome and they escorted her to the waiting plane. We often have to use Lion on trips where the others don't fly and they are ok for the most part as well. I have had my fair amount of Garuda snack boxes(they bring them out when flight is delayed by a long time) in the terminals so don't limit yourself.

 

[SaltyWombat]

It's worth noting that Indonesia has a terrible reputation when it comes to airline safety, perhaps the worst in the world. Googling "Indonesia airline safety" turns up a lot to be worried about. That's really why I want to stick with Garuda.

 

[Franek]

We want to say that this is our joint account of Maria and Marek.

Thank you Very much all the very valuable information about Raja Ampat, we made our decisions and booked the Blue Manata 9/8 in January 2023.
This is our first stay on the dive boat where we will live, maybe you can give advice on what to take with you on such a trip.
As you know, you can't go to the store.

As for flights, we will try to use Garuda Airlines, we have enough time, we will be in the Papu and Sorong area for 30 days, we are also thinking about staying in the resort for 5-7 days.

Maria

 

[also_anon_dc]

This is our first stay on the dive boat where we will live, maybe you can give advice on what to take with you on such a trip.

Bring all your diving necessities and then not much else! On liveaboards I've given out dive computer batteries and mask defog if that's a good gauge of what people forget. Also bring warm clothes, diving that much makes you cold and AC is always blasting indoors for some reason.

 

[NootFish]

I dove Raja for dives 50-100 of my diving career. First trip with my own gear. First trip to Asia. I learned a lot. I did every dive. I'm sure I must have frustrated the dive guides, but we got through. There are currents, there are washing machines, there are negative entries (that I botched every time). There's a lot of swimming in currents. There's need for reef hooks and safety sausages, and being comfortable using both of them. There were some currents that were really ripping and it felt like flying. The wildlife was AMAZING and I will go back to Raja/Indo whenever I can.

 

[Franek]

Thank you for the very interesting and informative information. We are even more interested in what will happen to us there.
I have no return. Blue Manta Paid, flight tickets bought, hotel booked.
We still ask what you meant:

safety sausages, how do we understand it, can you upload a photo of this product?

There are currents, there are washing machines,,
there are negative entries (that I botched every time)
You can elaborate on what the negative is about, we don't understand this term, we haven't come across anything like this.

 

[also_anon_dc]

Safety sausage is slang for a surface marker buoy

Negative entries are when divers enter the water without air in their BCD and immediately sink below the surface as quickly as possible to avoid surface currents. In calmer areas all divers will get in the water and wait on the surface then descend as a group. With a negative entry you'll want to descend as quickly as possible and gather as a group at depth. They can be a challenge for people with equalization issues.