Question Airline and post LB 3 night land-based stay?

[CaliDiver14]

Hi all,
Thank you so much for all your help thus far in my planning. I can’t tell you how helpful this forum has been!

After assessing options I booked a Liveaboard out of Sorong on Blue Manta in April, a spot magically opened. I’m doing this after a work trip to Singapore. I’ll have 3 nights after the LB that I’d love to spend at a landbased resort, get some beach time and prep for the long journey back to the states.

I’ve been working with Bluewater to find the best options. It’s tricky with my LB ending on a Sunday then I’ll need to get back to Sorong on a Wednesday. Papua Paradise is an option but I’ve read mixed reviews and no AC worries me. I believe Papua Explorers is also an option (again no AC). Raja Ampat Dive Lodge has AC but no direct transfers so I’d be going on the ferry, though Bluewater Travel said there was no option of getting there period. Meridien is available but it’s pretty standard hotel looking and read to not stay in Waigeo.

Any suggestions or insights? One review of the dive op at Papua Paradise visiting a village while divers were underwater made me really nervous.

I’d love to make sure to go to Melissa’s Garden one day because I’m not seeing it on the LB sample itinerary.

I think everything I’ve read on here recommends to take Garuda Air over Batik even if it means staying an extra night so I’ll probably do that but I also just want confirmation that trying to book Sorong-Jakarta-Singapore just for a later take off time on 2 different carriers is a fool’s errand? It would likely be Super Jet and Batik.
Let me know. Thank you one and all!

 

[diveUAE]

If you did not book your round trip to Jakarta, maybe fly to Manado and dive Lembeh, Bangka or Bunaken?

Alternative: Cove Eco Resort? They have transfer Saturday and Monday - if your LOB has the last dives on the penultimate day, maybe you can disembark in Waisai on the Saturday? Then pay from transfer on Tuesday (to make your flight Wednesday).

Alternatively have a look at Tabari Dive Lodge (no ac though), or Agusta Eco Resort.

 

[Living4Experiences]

I'm at Cove Eco Resort now, having arrived on February 24th. I took the 12:10 a.m. flight from Jakarta to Sorong on Garuda. Cove Eco picks up at the airport or a hotel. It's a 2 hour ferry ride from Sorong to Waisai. Then it's about 1 hour 45 minutes ride on Cove Eco's boat from Waisai to the resort.

Melissa's Garden and Piaynemo is about 40 minutes away. Every Wednesday, Cove Eco does a day long trip to that area for three dives to include Melissa's Garden. That's coming up for tomorrow. This may not work out for your schedule, though.

They have air conditioning. It's really hot and humid here. Air conditioning is a requirement for me. Plus, without air conditioning, you've got insects to worry about.

I met some divers that stayed at Papua Explorers before coming to Cove Eco. They really enjoyed the diving and the service, however, now that they have A/C, they said they wouldn't stay again at a place without A/C.

I looked into Meridian while planning this trip. Their rooms are tiny, made from shipping containers and they have A/C. They do not have nitrox, if that is a requirement for you.

And if you choose Garuda for the return flight, they run one daily flight from Sorong to Jakarta at 6:15 a.m.

Good luck! Have fun!

 

[CaliDiver14]

Thanks all!! This is very helpful. I know myself and don’t think flying to another location to do some landbased diving will be in the cards. It’ll be enough of a trek to get to R4 and I’d like to try to stay in that area (famous last words).

Thank you for calling out Meridien doesn’t have Nitrox! That is a requirement for me.

I looked at Cove but it is booked, but I’ll ask my Bluewater travel contact. It looked lovely but definitely a little worried about the long haul on ferry then long transfer too.

It’s helpful to know my instincts are correct, as much as I like to think I don’t need AC… I’ll probably be miserable without it.