First Timer Liveaboard in Raja Ampat - Help Needed

[scuba_kate]

"Bring waterproof bandaids, antibiotic ear drops, oral antibiotics, antidiarrheals, cortisone cream (prescription strength if possible), patches if seasickness is a possibility, extra batteries for anything that uses batteries, including integrated-air sending units."

This is spot on. If I were coming to Indonesia for 2-3 weeks... Bring a Z-Pack and Imodium if you get sick. I have been here 16 years, and always use ear beer starting on day one no matter where I'm diving. If you really want to be safe, do not eat anything that hasn't been cooked or peeled- especially salads. Even at 5-star places, salads can get ya.

Thank you, great insight! What about sunscreen, bring from here or get there?

 

[passeparici]

9 or 12 nights ? You don't go there very often : do the most you can do. I think 12 nights would be perfect. Also you say the price for 12 nights is much more expensive : 12 nights are obviously more expensive than 9 but what about the price per night ? If it is quite the same do the 12 nights as you already paid for the transportation to be there. I never dive with gloves in warm water. It is true that with gloves you are more tempted to touch, wich is bad. Also even with a glove if you touch a stone fish you might regret it as the spikes may go through the glove. So no glove and don't touch or be absolutely sure of what you are touching.

 

[scuba_kate]

9 or 12 nights ? You don't go there very often : do the most you can do. I think 12 nights would be perfect. Also you say the price for 12 nights is much more expensive : 12 nights are obviously more expensive than 9 but what about the price per night ? If it is quite the same do the 12 nights as you already paid for the transportation to be there. I never dive with gloves in warm water. It is true that with gloves you are more tempted to touch, wich is bad. Also even with a glove if you touch a stone fish you might regret it as the spikes may go through the glove. So no glove and don't touch or be absolutely sure of what you are touching.

Got it, thank you. Definitely not planning on touching anything and more thinking of general protection. The cabins available are different so the ones available for 12 nights are more fancy which adds to the price.

 

[rmorgan]

Bring sunscreen. Don’t assume you can find anything (although you might be able to.) Can’t believe I forgot ear beer, and vinegar—we had a dive this trip which ended with a freakish number of stinging jellies, and the vinegar was a godsend—although the boats may have both readily available. And Benadryl! Fewer clothes and more bathing suits than you think you would need.

 

[Kendall Raine]

1. December is the height of LOB season in Raja so unless your trip includes the northern sites (Kawe, Wayag) you'll likely see lots of boats (LOB and day) everywhere. As for north v. central v. south, I prefer central and north for big animals, currents and high voltage reef action, but you're going to the most spectacular diving there is so you're going to have an amazing experience no matter what you choose. You'll get in more dives per day staying central and north because the transit to Misool is a day each way. That said, Misool is mind blowing.
2. Mosquitos. Not a big deal on an LOB/outside of Sorong. I use Permethrin on clothes (pants and long sleeved shirts) and DEET on body parts if in Sorong dawn/dusk but otherwise nothing. Dengue is in Bali so if you're transiting/laying over be aware. Best thing is don't get bitten.
3. Gloves. As said most LOBs discourage and really not needed.
4. Reef hooks. Good idea provided you know how to use.
5. Meds as advised by others. Suggest Benadryl, Z Pack, ear beer (50/50 isopropl alcohol/white vinegar), lomotil, bacitracin
6. I always bring an extra reg (1, 2 and hoses) but your LOB will have some to rent if you want to go that way.
7. I also have a PLB, strobe, DSMB, back up lights and dye pack when diving offshore/remote locations. Overkill, until it isn't.
8. Good magnifying glass. Cheap is as cheap does but a good one opens the macro world to you. Otherwise the guides will be pointing to things you can't see and you'll miss a lot.
9. Ear plugs for overnight motoring

Getting to Sorong a day early is good. Rest, hydrate and resolve any baggage issues. Aston is the best of the worst of Sorong hotels. I wouldn't worry about last day and time to fly. Your exposures will be modest, the boat will only have two dives the last day and you'll be done by noon latest. If you take the 8:15 am Garuda flight to CGK the next day that will still give you a solid 18 hours before flying (DAN US guidance and above Navy ascent tables). Lion/Batik have a number of flights later in the day.

 

[jeremyl]

Garuda used to include sports/scuba gear as a free bag in addition to the allowance... i am not sure if they do anymore - it's been years since I flew them. But they are the best of the indo-servicing airlines.

One more thing I like is thin (1mm) socks. Diving 4x/day for 10 days the socks (inside booties) help prevent blisters and make siding into a wet wetsuit easier.

Bali diving is decent. Lots of places to go. It will be rainy season but still worth a couple days diving if you can swing it. Just go up to Tulamben. Just leave plenty of time for airport return... You can walk... nah, you can crawl... backwards... carrying a family of 10 on your back - faster than your uber will drive the last 2mi to the airport. Worse in Jakarta but bad in Bali.

 

[Kendall Raine]

Garuda used to include sports/scuba gear as a free bag in addition to the allowance... i am not sure if they do anymore - it's been years since I flew them. But they are the best of the indo-servicing airlines.

One more thing I like is thin (1mm) socks. Diving 4x/day for 10 days the socks (inside booties) help prevent blisters and make siding into a wet wetsuit easier.

Bali diving is decent. Lots of places to go. It will be rainy season but still worth a couple days diving if you can swing it. Just go up to Tulamben. Just leave plenty of time for airport return... You can walk... nah, you can crawl... backwards... carrying a family of 10 on your back - faster than your uber will drive the last 2mi to the airport. Worse in Jakarta but bad in Bali.

All true.

Garuda sports baggage policy still in effect.

 

[GF99/99]

We are flying from East Coast so planning to do a one day stop in Tokyo and arriving 12th early morning to settle before getting on the boat on the 13th. I am looking at flying with Garuda through Denpasar and their baggage requirements seem confusing. We are thinking of having our BCDs/Regulators/Dive Computers/Cameras in carry on - do you think that would be a problem?

Since its your first time to Asia, if you have the time and have not booked your flights yet spend more than a day in Tokyo. You have already traveled that far and spend the money on the flights so make the best of it. Japan is also one of my most favorite countries and 1 days is way to short for Tokyo. Also Tokyo IMO is very easy Asian country for first time travelers. Everyone is super helpful, all the subways kiosk have and English. If your lost or need help literally ask anyone and they will try there best to help you or find someone to help you. And the food... wow!!

Garuda is the best and most reliable airline to fly. When you check in make sure you tell them one bag is diving equipment. Garuda gives you 1 free 23kg bag of diving equipment on top of your regular baggage allowance. As for carry-on's if you want to carry on all that then you should have no issues. I have carried on all kinds of diving gear on pretty much every Indonesia airline and never had an issue, they are pretty use to seeing diving equipment. The only thing they get suspicious about is large batteries, just make sure they have the manufactures sticker on them with the wH rating and that it is under 100 wH. Garuda is pretty easy going about carry on's as well, I have never had any issues with them so you can have a roller bag and backpack all stuffed with diving gear.

 

[GF99/99]

Thank you, great insight! What about sunscreen, bring from here or get there?

Bring it! Unless your in Bali it is very hard to find (Indonesians really don't us it). Also make sure you get the "reef safe" usually several brands on Amazon.

Some other random things that just popped into my head that I did not see anyone list are:

• Laundry washing powder - you can pick up a small bag at any local grocery store. Nice to have on the boat so you can do a quick backpackers wash of stuff in your sink/shower.
• For women - Extra hair ties. Also not to get weird but tampons (Once you get out of Bali these are hard to find as well, all you will find is pads)
• Extra reel/spool to string across your cabin to hang stuff to dry (obviously during the day in the sun is the best but overnight I always find things dry better in your room in the A/C than out on the deck.)
• Moleskin and medical tape for blisters - I have seen that lots of people that are not use to diving 3-4 x/day for 9 days get blisters from there booties/fins

Lastly a water bottle - Usually most of the boats give you one but if not please bring one. Please do your best to try and reduce the amount of plastic waste. Indonesia/Asia in general has a very big single use plastic issue and most of it ends up in the ocean and as you will see on the beach's most of it is plastic bottles.

 

[rmorgan]

As of yesterday, at least, Garuda definitely honors the scuba-gear luggage exception. @scuba_kate, I’m going to add one suggestion, which may be impractical and/or controversial. If it is at all possible for you, hire a private guide. Our boat had “that diver”—despite a large tank, their group was subjected to 45-minute dives, kicks to the head, flailing arms, stuck in the staghorn, lost GoPro, all the things. If you can manage it and the boat can oblige, you assuredly will not regret it.