Trip Report Raja Ampat 10-Night Indo-Siren Liveaboard Dec. 2 – 12, 2022 Trip Report

[Illini_Fan]

No, the United counter did not check my vaccination record status. Some in our group still had that "pending". However, "rejected" seems like something you should fix. Just try again, I guess. I just uploaded a photo of my CDC card. It's easy to get the date incorrect, but you've probably already thought about that.

Basically the app is not a big deal.

I’m trying. But the date I input in the app is correct for all the vaccines. There is no edit button I can find. I tried simple redoing the process but that generates a database error on the app and it won’t process the new submission. So I chatted with the online help and they said wait 3-5 days.

I’ve not yet gone the route of a new account with a new email address to see if that would work.

 

[Cali_diver]

@Illini_Fan You do not need the app just load it on your phone and put your name in it... no one checks it in Indo, just make sure you have your vax card. I have been twice this year already and the only place they asked for it was the mall in Denpasar and I just showed them the card. They might ask you if you have it at US counter so you just say yes and have it on your phone. My husband never even installed it on his phone.

 

[Illini_Fan]

@Illini_Fan You do not need the app just load it on your phone and put your name in it... no one checks it in Indo, just make sure you have your vax card. I have been twice this year already and the only place they asked for it was the mall in Denpasar and I just showed them the card. They might ask you if you have it at US counter so you just say yes and have it on your phone. My husband never even installed it on his phone.

Thanks. I was hoping that I was over thinking it. My liveaboard responded with basically the same message. Just bring the cards.

UPDATE from 21DEC. The app let me reenter all three vaccines and corresponding images of the CDC card and this time it was APPROVED. I believe my initial error was not using unique photos for each CDC card. I upload one file with two CDC cards and my guess is that caused the confusion. But all good now.

 

[Joneill]

Thanks - I did use the chat feature in the app to ask them why it showed my vaccine as "rejected" with a reason of "Incorrect 1st, 2nd, 3rd vaccination date. Please fill in the correct vaccination date." The support contact said "...we inform you the verification process for overseas vaccinaton data will take 3 to 5 working days..."

Did your US departure counter check the app to see if status was "green" or whatever it will show once the card is verified?

I arrived in Sorong this morning for a liveaboard trip starting on Friday. No one in either Jakarta or Sorong asked to see the PeduliLindungi app.

On entry into Indonesia at Jakarta, they just needed to see your vaccine record - I presented my Smart Health QR code: they just looked at it and did not even actually scan it. I saw others present physical vaccine cards (I had mine as backup, just in case).

I had downloaded and gotten my vaccines approved in the PeduliLendungi app (it took many weeks to show as approved) but, it seems, no one is actually using/checking it anymore?

 

[Searcaigh]

Awesome trip report @drrich2 I think it must be the most extensive I've read on ScubaBoard

I'm really happy that you did this trip and enjoyed it. RA is still on my to do list, but will probably only happen when I move to SE Asia in the next few years.

 

[SaltyWombat]

You're supposed to use PeduliLindungi to check-in and check-out each time you move to a new place, like an airport or hotel. There are signs in Indonesian about this at entrances to big venues, etc. The app must keep track of who's there for contact tracing purposes. It's mostly disregarded though. I saw Indonesians using it at the airport when getting off a plane, but that's it.

 

[Trailboss123]

Trip Report-Philippines-Puerto Galera-El Galleon/Asia Divers-April 1-14, 2019 - by @Trailboss123

Puerto Galera with El Galleon/Asia Divers

——10 Day stay with meal plan - For Trailboss123, would’ve been $1,614 + $42.50/day x 11 days so $467.50, so $2,081.50. If round trip transport weren’t included in the package, it’d be $320 more!

——Airfare - July 19 - Aug. 2, 2023 (just grabbed some dates): close to $1,800.

——Baggage - Might be none! I don’t know.

——Tip - Let’s say $250?

——Nitrox - $70 for a week. Maybe $110?

@Trailboss123 in 2019 had 11-night stay at El Galleon + breakfast daily + 11 days unlimited diving + personalized transfers from Manila Airport to Batangas and high-speed boat to resort for $1,614 per person. He had a 12-hour flight to Taiwan, 4-hour layover, 3-hours to Manila, 1.5-hours in Manila airport, 2.75-hour drive to Batangas City for boat, then 1-hour 15-minute boat ride to resort. His total travel time from Seattle to resort was 24.5-hours. Figure 4-dives/day.

If we ignore 3-years’ inflation (hah!), it might add up to $4,241.50. Let’s throw in unexpected expenses (e.g.: Travel insurance? Fuel surcharge? Inflation?) and call it 5-grand rough estimate. His travel itinerary looks similarly grueling to my Raja Ampat trip.

Hey Richard,

Thanks again for setting the standard we all aspire to for trip reports! I thought I would respond to this page of your report, since i have very current information to share.

I have a 2 week trip planned next November, 2023. It is a group trip with a week in Puerto Galera and a week in Dumaguete. I am considering going over a week earlier than the rest of my group and if so, I would spend that time back at El Galleon and dive with Asia Divers. I reached out to the good folks at Bluewater Travel for a quote last week for a 7 night stay and here was the response. Note that the roundtrip transfers from Manila to El Galleon and back is the price you would pay if you had to incur it all by yourself. If there are others that can be coordinated with, the cost would be split among them (maximum of 6 persons).

My wife and I found others who were departing El Galleon the same time we were upon our return to Manila at the end of the dive trip and since we had already paid in advance, those folks just reimbursed us for their percentage and El Galleon was good with that and it is common practice. Here is what Bluewater sent me:

Hi Greg,
Please find the following information with El Galleon:
Oct 30 - Nov 6, 2023
USD350.00 – 7 nights in Budget Room Single
USD448.00 – Fullboard
USD700.00 – Unlimited Diving ( 4 day dives and 1 night dive)
USD73.00 – Unlimited Nitrox for 1 week
USD580.00 – Roundtrip Transfers (Manila – EG – Manila)
100cf tanks: FREE
USD2151.00 – Total Package

 

[drrich2]

I have a 2 week trip planned next November, 2023. It is a group trip with a week in Puerto Galera and a week in Dumaguete. I am considering going over a week earlier than the rest of my group and if so, I would spend that time back at El Galleon and dive with Asia Divers.

Thanks, good info. to have. For your prior trip to Puerto Galera, you flew to Taiwan, then on to Manila. That raises an interesting question; how practical is it to fly from the U.S. direct to the Philippines (probably landing in Manila)? Did a little quick Orbitz searching with a random Sept. 2023 Sat.-Sat. hypothetical itinerary; looks like most have a layover in another country but at least a couple are direct to Manila, Economy class tends to run around $1,300 - $2,000 (if one starts at BNA - Nashville Airport in TN), at least a couple include 2 checked bags (I don't know whether that means no added charge), and arrival is 1 - 2 days after departure.

Considering the grueling trans-Pacific flight there's practically no good way of avoiding, seems like a direct flight to Manila would cut down travel time and hassle. Do most people connect through another country? Is there an advantage vs. direct flight to Manila?

For a week at El Galleon diving with Asia Divers, any idea how much more it'd cost if you were going alone? Is that $2,151 'per person' for you and your wife, or the total for the 2 of you? I'm guessing per person, but it's worth confirming.

 

[Trailboss123]

Thanks, good info. to have. For your prior trip to Puerto Galera, you flew to Taiwan, then on to Manila. That raises an interesting question; how practical is it to fly from the U.S. direct to the Philippines (probably landing in Manila)? Did a little quick Orbitz searching with a random Sept. 2023 Sat.-Sat. hypothetical itinerary; looks like most have a layover in another country but at least a couple are direct to Manila, Economy class tends to run around $1,300 - $2,000 (if one starts at BNA - Nashville Airport in TN), at least a couple include 2 checked bags (I don't know whether that means no added charge), and arrival is 1 - 2 days after departure.

Considering the grueling trans-Pacific flight there's practically no good way of avoiding, seems like a direct flight to Manila would cut down travel time and hassle. Do most people connect through another country? Is there an advantage vs. direct flight to Manila?

For a week at El Galleon diving with Asia Divers, any idea how much more it'd cost if you were going alone? Is that $2,151 'per person' for you and your wife, or the total for the 2 of you? I'm guessing per person, but it's worth confirming.

The price is just for me-- my wife not going on that trip. So the room and board is for a single person with no single supplement.

I did not enjoy my flight through Taiwan and the layover. I plan to take the non-stop Philippine Airlines flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Manila (MNL). Which is currently around $1150 round trip for late next year. I will already be down in Los Angeles on business a few days prior, so that will be a separate flight and a business expense.

You might want to look into an inexpensive RT from Nashville to LAX (Southwest maybe) and a separate RT on Philippine Airlines? Just thinking out loud-- have not researched that for viability.

 

[Indah]

Hey Richard,

Thanks again for setting the standard we all aspire to for trip reports! I thought I would respond to this page of your report, since i have very current information to share.

I have a 2 week trip planned next November, 2023. It is a group trip with a week in Puerto Galera and a week in Dumaguete. I am considering going over a week earlier than the rest of my group and if so, I would spend that time back at El Galleon and dive with Asia Divers. I reached out to the good folks at Bluewater Travel for a quote last week for a 7 night stay and here was the response. Note that the roundtrip transfers from Manila to El Galleon and back is the price you would pay if you had to incur it all by yourself. If there are others that can be coordinated with, the cost would be split among them (maximum of 6 persons).

My wife and I found others who were departing El Galleon the same time we were upon our return to Manila at the end of the dive trip and since we had already paid in advance, those folks just reimbursed us for their percentage and El Galleon was good with that and it is common practice. Here is what Bluewater sent me:

Hi Greg,
Please find the following information with El Galleon:
Oct 30 - Nov 6, 2023
USD350.00 – 7 nights in Budget Room Single
USD448.00 – Fullboard
USD700.00 – Unlimited Diving ( 4 day dives and 1 night dive)
USD73.00 – Unlimited Nitrox for 1 week
USD580.00 – Roundtrip Transfers (Manila – EG – Manila)
100cf tanks: FREE
USD2151.00 – Total Package

Indonesia forum here, I thought.