Dive Operators in Papua, Indonesia

[abc123]

G'day all


I will be travelling to Papua, Indonesia from January to March and I'm looking for some information on the best diving spots in that part of the country. A few people have recommended a place called Raja Ampat (just north of Sorong) and by all accounts, it looks like a good spot. However I'm thinking there must be some other places out there worth seeing and I'm trying to get a feel for what's out there.


I've come across a few dive operators via google but none of them seem to be accredited by any of the major diving organizations. There are a lot of trip reports about this area on ScubaBoard but most of them are about liveaboards which I'm unable to do. Can anyone recommend any reputable dive operators or any place to stay clear of? I'll have maximum 5 days. As for my budget I'd like to keep expenses under control but I'm willing to pay for a good experience.

Thanks a lot!

 

[ocdiver1]

If you've only got 5 days for diving, and don't want to do a liveaboard, I'd do something landbased in Raja Ampat. I've stayed at Kri Eco Resort which I'd definitely recommend, and there's the more upscale Sorido Resort on the same island.

 

[Kevster]

If you have a maximum of 5 days dont go!

Getting to Sorong is difficult & expensive(not worth it unless you are going to spend at least 1 week)
Raja Ampat is huge & that is why normally divers go on liveaboards. The land based resorts are more than 2hrs by boat from Sorong.

I spent a week land based at papua dive resort (Kri eco resort).
There are now 2-3 other land based resorts that have opened recently. Check out Raja 4 divers

Misool (approx 4 hrs south east of Sorong) has good reports (Misool Eco resort)

Many resorts will only offer a weekly deal as there will be a single boat transfer (otherwise it is very expensive to arrange own boat transfer >$200)

 

[Zippsy]

I recently did four days of diving at Raja Ampat Dive Resort, Raja Ampat Diving, and thought it was quite decent. The resort, rooms, food, set-up, speedboats and regular guides were all good or better. It's an effort to get to the resort and, of course, you have to commute to all the dive sites. I prefer a liveabord for this area as 30 minute to hour-long speedboat rides 6 times a day is tiring but if you can't stand a LOB, it's better than not diving. You can get to enough of the best dive sites that R4 has to offer. As others noted, I would not fly all the way to Sorong just for a few days of diving but if you are in the area anyway and you can have a at least 4 days of diving, definitely do it.
(full disclosure: I sometimes work on the Black Manta which operates in the area)

 

[highdesert]

I've come across a few dive operators via google but none of them seem to be accredited by any of the major diving organizations.

I have an acquaintance who owned a very nice little dive resort in Roatan. He got a call from one of the "major diving organizations" wanting to essentially sell him an accreditation package, or whatever the proper title was. The agency had never seen the place, and really knew nothing of the operation, but offered a range of levels, each sounding better than the last, for a sliding scale of $$$. He decided it would be meaningless, and turned them down.

This was a single case, and I don't know if this is how all of the agencies work, but it's worth remembering when you ask how many stars, or palms, or what color of precious metal a resort has on their rating.

 

[abc123]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I think I'm going to go with Kri Eco Resort for a couple of reasons. First, I find their rates quite reasonable and second, they have been recommended by a bunch of people. I'll be traveling by myself and some operators are keen on charging outrageous rates for single occupancy. I understand that their business is based on having at least two people travel together but I can't justify the extra cost. I've never done a liveaboard before but I'm not sure they're for me especially given the cost (some are quoting 5000 AUD for a week) and also because I've done a couple of day trips on large boats and wasn't very impressed. I like being on land also because I do enjoy being able to check out the area on foot - something I'm guessing is a little more difficult during a cruise type of thing.

A couple more questions:

1. I've noticed that several places offer a weekly rate for "unlimited diving." Does anyone have any experience with this? There seems to be some limitations imposed on the term "unlimited" such as only dive sites within 10km of the base or maximum 2 trips per day, boat returning to base between dives, etc. It seems to me that if you pay per dive, you can expect better diving.

2. I also understand that some resorts are isolated and payments cannot be made easily by credit card. A couple of operators are insisting on wire transfers and payment must be made in full 45 days before arrival. Again, does anyone have any experience with this? Is this just a tactic to get people to commit well in advance or are these places actually THAT busy?

3. I have the option of doing a 7-day or a 10-day (lucky for me my schedule works out that way). I'm tempted to do the 10-day only because I want to see as much as possible in RA but I'm also conscience of the fact that it could get boring. With a 7-day, I would spend 3 days in Sorong before catching the boat to the diving resort. Does anyone have any thoughts on the best length of stay and whether it's worth kicking around Sorong for a couple of days?

Once again, thanks a million!

 

[highdesert]

Hi abc - I can address a couple of your questions ...

Because RA is such a widespread area, many divers favor liveaboards in order to cover a larger variety of dive sites. If you're happy with a good resort, there is nothing wrong with that; you'll have good diving in an intimate environment. Regarding liveaboards, there is one to suit every temperament and personality, and many carry as few as 8 divers at a reasonable cost, considering you will get 4 dives a day on a variety of sites. You don't need to be aboard a gold-plated, endless-amenities boat to dive the same sites that they do. Unless you really have something against spending your time on a boat, you might consider it sometime.

Kri Eco Resort has an excellent reputation and is in a beautiful location. You'll be able to dive southern RA (Misool and surroundings) from there, but not north Raja Ampat, so be sure that fits with your expectations. You'll be on a rather small island which is thickly vegetated. It has a high point which should provide an excellent view of the surrounding area, but you might be able to "check out" the entire island in a few hours.

Many parts of Indonesia simply cannot process credit cards. Wire transfer in advance is very common among dive destinations there, and is legitimate. Not saying I personally like it ... that's just the way it is. Raja Ampat is "the" hot spot in Indonesia now, and most divers will tell you the quality of the diving bears that out. Resorts and liveaboards there are booked well in advance, often more than a year out, for prime seasonal times ... it is THAT busy.

Sorong ... yeah. If you spend a little time perusing a few other recent threads regarding the area, you'll find most divers prefer to get in and out of Sorong as quickly as possible. Let's just say that if you were not a diver passing through there en route to a dive boat/resort, you would almost certainly never visit that fair city.

Don't let anything I said dissuade you from Raja Ampat or Kri ... you'll be very happy with both!

 

[ocdiver1]

You'll be happy with Kri. If you want to get an extra dive beyond their normal 2 tank am/1 tank pm schedule you've got an outstanding house reef that formerly held the record for the most fish species recorded in a single dive. I don't recall them pricing an "unlimited" package while i was there but it might have changed. Absolutely don't spend 3 days in Sorong...nothing to do or see. Regarding the credit card issue...yes, it's commonplace in Indonesia for them not to be accepted or if they are, with huge surcharges. Huge inconvenience but it's the way it is.

 

[abc123]

ocdiver1 and highdesert, thanks to both of you for the info. It's beginning to sound like the 10-day is the best option, if only to spend as little time as possible in Sorong (hey, Lonely Planet said it was "quite fun to stay for a day or two" ).

The unlimited diving with Kri apparently includes 3 guided boat dives and 1 guided night dive each day (6 days per week) within a 10km radius of the base. The unlimited option adds approximately $110 per day whereas a 15-dive package adds about $70 per day if you average the costs over a 10-day stay. Given their offering of up to 4 dives per day, it would seem that the trips are shorter and visit locations nearer the resort which have been more frequented (and consequently not as healthy). It's obviously in the resort's best interest to offer this package and then operate the trips that incur minimal cost to the resort. Do you suppose the boats take pay-as-you-go divers and unlimited divers to the same sites? In my experience, it's been worth spending all day on a boat and see a couple of amazing sites instead of doing shorter, more frequent trips to dive sites which are less memorable. On that note, while it's certainly possible to do 40 dives during a 10-day stay, is that number realistic?

Kri has been recommended by a number of people so I feel pretty good about sending them a wire transfer in advance. Apparently it will cost $30 plus whatever random fees are charges on the other end. I just hope they don't stiff me when I show up to get on the boat!

 

[highdesert]

In my experience, it's been worth spending all day on a boat and see a couple of amazing sites instead of doing shorter, more frequent trips to dive sites which are less memorable.

You mean sort of like a liveaboard???