Anywhere beat Raja Ampat ?

[Dan]

This is a little off topic.
Dan.
When you do these trips [and you do a lot, I am green with envy] , what gear do you take ?
If you have the time [and the inclination] I would love to see a photo of your dive travel kit, BC, regulators, exposure suits, fins that sort of stuff.
I am always pushing the limits when it comes to weight with dive gear when I travel to some places, such as 16kg plus 2kg carry on on a light plane [Cessna Caravan] with 6 other divers one trip and 22kg max another [can't remember the aircraft, twin prop job].
My SCUBA gear was 14.7kg alone, mind you I did have to take a 5mm and booties for this trip.
Thanks in advance.

Nothing special. Just like most of my dive buddies, I’d bring a 4-wheel check-in bag and carry-on bags (a backpack and 2-wheel hand-bag), as shown in Figure 1 and 2, below. The check-in bag is < 50 pounds and can be reduced further if needed.

Figure 1: My 4-wheel check-in bag

Figure 2: My 2-wheel carry-on bag and backpack


The 4-wheel check-in bag contains:
On bottom half, as shown in Figure 3, below,
- 3mm booties
- 3mm neoprene socks
- fins (Mares Avanti Quattro)
- BCD (CRESSI Travelight)
- mesh gear bag
- a spare mask
- dive safety kit (DSMB, PAB, PLB, whistle, mirror)
On the top half, not shown,
- a wetsuit (3 or 5 or 7mm, depending water temp)
- 1mm hood
- 6 T-shirts
- 3 sets of underwear's
- 3 pairs of socks
- a pair of sandal
- first-aid bag

Figure 3: Bottom half of my 4-wheel check-in bag


My 2-wheel carry-on bag contains:
- primary mask
- a set of regulators
- 3 swim trunks
- 3 rush guards
- a set of pajama (a short & a T-shirt)
- laptop with computer bag, lying on top of my regulator set.

Figure 4 shows my regulator set & mask in the bottom half of my 2-wheel carry-on-bag.

Figure 4: Bottom half of my 2-wheel carry-on bag


The swim trunks and rash guards are rolled and slipped (packed) into crevices around the regulator set & mask case, as shown in Figure 5, below.

Figure 5: Packing swim trunks and rash guards around regulator set & mask case


My backpack contains:
- a GoPro
- a video light
- camera brackets
- spare Li-ion batteries
- battery chargers
- adapters
- USB cables
- a short pants
- a T-shirt
- my logbook
- dive computer in a case (Shearwater Teric)
- a light rain jacket

 

[Dan]

Editing videos with laptop sitting on my lap can get very hot on my lap. So I made a lightweight laptop tray (12” wide x 17” long) from cardboard laminated with black Gorilla tape, as shown in Figure 6, below:

Figure 6: 12” x 17” lightweight laptop tray.


That laptop tray fits nicely into my 2-wheel carry-on bag, as shown in Figure 7, below:

Figure 7: 12”x17” laptop tray in my carry-on bag

I put my laptop & it’s bag on top of the laptop tray, as shown in Figure 8, below.

Figure 8: My laptop & its bag in my carry-on bag

 

[Joneill]

The Blue Manta and White Manta have different hull designs. The White Manta is more streamlined and therefore uses less fuel, hence the cheaper price of trips. The down side is it rolls more in heavy seas compared to the Blue Manta which is much more stable.

The Blue Manta CD told me that Blue Manta was built in Indonesia and is a heavier build that is a bit better in heavier seas. White Manta was built in China and a slightly less heavy build - he liked both boats, but preferred Blue Manta for its slightly better seakeeping.

 

[Pressurehead]

Great set up, thanks. ^^
Mine is very much the same, just less of some things. [I will try and take a photo before I leave next week].

2 Hollis M1 masks
2 Regulators Mk17 and Mk2 backup, 2 G260
SP Hydros Pro with simple harness only
Fins 3 SP Go Sport fins [lost one once, never again, sometimes take 2 sets]
3mm boots, or 5mm, again depends
3mm socks
3mm, 5mm suits, depends on area.
full rash suit
Shark Skin vest
2 pair of Shark skin socks [saves on band aids and tape]
2 computers Perdix AI and Peregrine
2 dive lights SP 250 and 850
Cressi thin gloves
2 cutting tools, kitchen knife and line cutter
SMB, reel and 2 bolt snaps
Mesh gear bag
Whistle , mirror and marine rescue GPS [Nautilus]
My Save a dive kit, 2.2kg by it self, very extensive, IP gauge, tools etc
Extensive first aid kit
Light no name duffle bag or waterproof bag if weight permits

Clothes
very few
2 Board shorts
3 t shirts
2 swimmers
Thongs [flip flops for the US guys]
light weight reef walking style shoes
Shark Skin jacket
Waterproof torch , doubles a spare dive light
Thin rain coat

Here is a start, the save a dive kit is obvious.
Oh, and that is the Mk19 DIN not the Mk17 yoke, again what works where.

​

 

[Pressurehead]

Last trip I took the above bag and a light duffle bag for all my gear.

No camera gear for me, I did wedding photography for years as a side line, feels like work, a basic Canon R7 for above water shots only with L series lens.

 

[acidrush]

The Blue Manta CD told me that Blue Manta was built in Indonesia and is a heavier build that is a bit better in heavier seas. White Manta was built in China and a slightly less heavy build - he liked both boats, but preferred Blue Manta for its slightly better seakeeping.

Yes, the Blue Manta has a flat hull and uses almost twice the amount of fuel compared to the White Manta which has a rounded hull.

 

[Bubbles below]

I’m on the White Manta/Triton Bay on Jan 9-18 of 2024
Flying PHX to Singapore(New Year’s Eve) to Manado,,Lembeh( New Year)
Manado to Sorong is direct flight w Scoot ( only option)
Kaimana to Sorong is 7am departure on the 18 on Thursday ( Wings)
Friday has an 11am departure. Is there much to explore in Kaimana or should I take the early departure on the 18th? And, maybe take the ferry to Waisai to explore more of R4?
Also, what is the water temperature during that season. Should I bring sharkskin and 5mm or Sharkskins, shorty, and hood?
Komodo, I wore 3mm but froze my ass when we went south.