Trip Report Arenui - Bucket List Trip to Raja Ampat, January 2023

[Falcon97]

Having recently returned from a similar trip, here's what I'd advise:

1) Get to Singapore and spend a couple of days to get over any jet lag. That said, we did well on the way out, but we're suffering pretty badly from the return trip. We're still not on a good sleep schedule.

2) Avoid Bali like the plague, which I think we both contracted while there. "Don't drink the tap water" is a common recommendation, but I think we got taken out by lettuce and tomato on a burger we had. No fun at all.

3) While many/most people get to Sorong at 6AM the day of departure, we went a day early. The Swiss Belhotel is a nice enough, western-style hotel. Don't plan on walking anywhere from there; just hunker down with a book. You'll need to arrange transportation to/from the Swiss and the dock.

4) We dove 5mm shorties that were provided by the boat. The mixing currents can bring up colder water, so they were helpful. If I were doing 3+ dives a day, I wouldn't go with anything less, but of course that is a very personal decision.

5) Jakarta airport (CGK) was surprisingly nice. I guess I expected roosters running around, or something. (You'll hear plenty of those in Sorong.) Garuda treated us well, and we heard recommendations to avoid Batik. Garuda has a solid lounge you can hang in, but you might need to fly Business... I'm not sure.

Thank you so much for the feedback. Appreciate it!

 

[Falcon97]

1. I have been to RA 10 times, flown Jakarta to Sorong about 8 times, twice from Denpasar, Bali to Sorong (but that is not ideal route as it requires a stop over, either in Makasar or Manado). Jakarta to Sorong flights had always been on time (knock on wood) because the red-eye flights. Flight delays usually happen later on in the days.

I hope you picked Garuda flight as their gates are in Terminal 3, the same terminal for international flights. If you go on Batik, its gate is in Terminal 2, which requires a ground transfer. Sky train is available for that, but it stops operation at around 9 PM. You may resort to a taxi or bus if you go to terminal 2 after 9PM.

If you want to go a day early to Sorong, there are a couple recommended hotels in Sorong; 1) Swiss Belhotel Sorong (where I usually stay, 2) Aston Sorong near the airport.

2. As far as check-in luggage, if you fly with Garuda, they will allow you to bring 2 bags (20kg max each) free with the 2nd bag is for your dive gear. You can tell them at the check-in counter which bag is you dive-gear bag. For me, I travel light, only 1 check-in bag, 2 carryon bags (a backpack & a small carryon bag for my reg, rash guards & a set of clothes just in case my check-in bag is lost or got delayed during transit. This happened twice in 19 years of traveling overseas),

3. I usually get cold after 6 days of divings and add a 2mm shorty over my 3mm wetsuit for the 2nd 6 days of diving. Don’t dive with only shorty as RA hydroids are abundant, itch like hell and will blister up your exposed ankle’s skin when your leg accidentally rubbing against them. If that happens to you, pour some vinegar when you get back to the mother boat.

Thank you for the response and super helpful info. Fortunately we are flying Garuda so that is good to hear.

 

[stepfen]

3) While many/most people get to Sorong at 6AM the day of departure, we went a day early. The Swiss Belhotel is a nice enough, western-style hotel. Don't plan on walking anywhere from there; just hunker down with a book. You'll need to arrange transportation to/from the Swiss and the dock.

Actually there is a market area about 20 mins walk from Belhotel that is not bad to see. Google Remu Market. It is NOT a must see thing, but it's an interesting short walk out of the hotel to move a bit.
Keep in mind shops close around sunset (it is NOT a night market) so don't be too late.

 

[rlh739]

2. As far as check-in luggage, if you fly with Garuda, they will allow you to bring 2 bags (20kg max each) free with the 2nd bag is for your dive gear. You can tell them at the check-in counter which bag is you dive-gear bag. For me, I travel light, only 1 check-in bag, 2 carryon bags (a backpack & a small carryon bag for my reg, rash guards & a set of clothes just in case my check-in bag is lost or got delayed during transit.

Hey @Dan

How long ago was your last trip? I'm wondering if one can still get away with your luggage set.

We were in Business Class Jakarta -> Sorong on the red-eye. The ticket specified that the limit for cabin bags was "1x7kg (15lbs)" and checked baggage "Adult, 40kg".

And they had "baggage cops" with a portable scale roaming around the gate area randomly checking carryons.

So, the checked bag limit looks the same with a cap of 40kg, but in my perfect world, I would have my backpack for personal items, and a shoulder-slung case for regs, lights, and PLBs. I'm not sure I could get away with those two bags inside the plane.

Thoughts?

 

[rlh739]

Actually there is a market area about 20 mins walk from Belhotel that is not bad to see. Google Remu Market. It is NOT a must see thing, but it's an interesting short walk out of the hotel to move a bit.

Hmm, we'll have to consider that, as we're spending two nights between boat trips in February. Could go stir-crazy.

We tried to walk in that direction, but the sidewalk -- such that it is -- was slippery in spots, chunked up, or just downright missing. We didn't make it far before turning around.

Saw a couple of westerners coming back from the other direction with a small bag of something. They didn't look terribly happy.

The other piece of advice I've heard: Don't go to bars at night. There are any number of Indonesians who can't handle their alcohol and are looking to pick a fight. I'm in bed by 9PM anyway, so no worries.

 

[Dan]

Hey @Dan

How long ago was your last trip? I'm wondering if one can still get away with your luggage set.

We were in Business Class Jakarta -> Sorong on the red-eye. The ticket specified that the limit for cabin bags was "1x7kg (15lbs)" and checked baggage "Adult, 40kg".

And they had "baggage cops" with a portable scale roaming around the gate area randomly checking carryons.

So, the checked bag limit looks the same with a cap of 40kg, but in my perfect world, I would have my backpack for personal items, and a shoulder-slung case for regs, lights, and PLBs. I'm not sure I could get away with those two bags inside the plane.

Thoughts?

February this year. Garuda don’t check your carryon’s weight, as long as they look reasonably small. You can get away even more by flying on business class.

Trip Report - Raja Ampat 2024

I just came back from Raja Ampat on Blue Manta for 19-29 February 2024 trip. It’s my 10th time there and the best one, so far. The route for the 11 day trip is as shown, below. Table 1, below, shows the daily activities. And here’s the trip video: About Blue Manta You can check...

scubaboard.com

I’m going back to South Raja Ampat (Misool) + Fak Fak + Triton Bay on White Manta in January 2025. Also I’ll be returning to North Raja Ampat on Blue Manta in February 2026.

 

[stepfen]

The other piece of advice I've heard: Don't go to bars at night. There are any number of Indonesians who can't handle their alcohol and are looking to pick a fight. I'm in bed by 9PM anyway, so no worries.

We wanted to find a local restaurant/warung for dinner with my friend. Searched in Google and found a couple towards north, so we tried our luck. After about about 1 hour walking around, we didn't find anything worth considering be it restaurant, bar or coffee place. Even street stalls were closed after the sun was down. And the restaurants we saw in google maps were actually take aways. We ended up having dinner back in Swiss Hotel. Looks like there is no night life, at least in that side of the city.

 

[rmorgan]

Garuda treated us well, and we heard recommendations to avoid Batik.

We flew Batik from Manado to Singapore in May. The flight was within acceptable limits, but a note of caution re. payment for excess baggage (which we inevitably have, between dive and photography gear). We waltzed up to the counter knowing we'd have to pay, but what we didn't know was that we had to pay in cash--Indonesian cash. The agent carefully totted up the excess, then said no credit card, no US cash. Remarkably, to me at least, there was an ATM outside the terminal and, in three tranches, I was able to withdraw the 3,400,000 IDR (around $220), and were not (quite) the last to board. No weighing of carryons, though.

 

[rlh739]

@rmorgan

Sounds familiar. When we arrived in Bali from Singapore, we had to pay for a visa. Despite many attempts at home, we couldn't do the e-visa thing ahead of time; our card kept "failing". Just like it did at the Bali visa desk in the airport. Despite using several cards, they all failed. We paid in US dollars and got change in IDR.

On that, I think it's a scam, of sorts. The exchange must work out well for them, so they decline all cards and ask for greenbacks.

 

[Dan]

We flew Batik from Manado to Singapore in May. The flight was within acceptable limits, but a note of caution re. payment for excess baggage (which we inevitably have, between dive and photography gear). We waltzed up to the counter knowing we'd have to pay, but what we didn't know was that we had to pay in cash--Indonesian cash. The agent carefully totted up the excess, then said no credit card, no US cash. Remarkably, to me at least, there was an ATM outside the terminal and, in three tranches, I was able to withdraw the 3,400,000 IDR (around $220), and were not (quite) the last to board. No weighing of carryons, though.

That sounds like a nightmare and becoming an expensive flight. You should have used Scoot.

@chillyinCanada once posted her flight on Batik business class which baggage is included and ended up cheaper than economy class + paid baggage. May be you should consider that next time.

For me, I’ll avoid Batik, Lion Air, Wings Air, if I can fly with Garuda.