Trip Report Raja Ampat-Cove Eco-February 2025

[Living4Experiences]

Here's a few video clips I put on my YouTube channel. I really enjoy night diving with the critters of the dark.

BIG Snail in Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Cuddlefish of Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Juvenile Sweet Lips-Indonesia
Electric File Clam-Indonesia

 

[Living4Experiences]

Indonesia certainly delivers on different species of marine life.

 

[Darnold9999]

You might want to revisit the "Ghost Pipefish" label

 

[Living4Experiences]

You might want to revisit the "Ghost Pipefish" label

Oh, please correct my label. This is what the guide told me it was. I'm always seeking correct critter I.D.

 

[JonnieB]

I've used my Schwab debit card all over the world and never had an issue with getting cash during my travels. It's the only bank I know of that reimburses all ATM fees, so it costs me nothing to pull money out. I prefer not to carry large sums of USD when I travel. We all have our preferences. YMMV.

I have no problem giving my passport for identification and I have had it scanned by the hotels on my last trip to Indo. But the clerk was using his personal phone to take a photo of my passport and not a scanner at the registration desk, which is why I balked about him doing so.

Yes I understand traveling with an ATM card, I'm just suggesting carrying at least a a few new $100 bills as backup for the situation you were in with the card. At least then you could buy meals and other daily necessities and not be inconvenienced like you were in Manila. That would be more sketchy using a personal phone for the passport; I probably wouldn't have even noticed that. I just hand my passport over and don't pay much attention to it. Maybe I should

 

[Catito]

These are the pictures you don't want to see showing the bleaching and the trash, but I think you should know how it really looks there.

Wow. My Buddy and I are booked for a Live-Aboard Dec 2026 in Raja Ampat…maybe we will just choose to lose our downpayment.

 

[Catito]

The good pics will follow.

Yikes

 

[TostitoBandito]

Wow. My Buddy and I are booked for a Live-Aboard Dec 2026 in Raja Ampat…maybe we will just choose to lose our downpayment.

I wouldn't be too concerned. This is basically the norm all over the world now, to some extent. At least in Raja Ampat it seems to be limited to a handful of sites mainly in the strait, and I'm sure liveaboards won't take you to any dead sites. They're not stupid, and being on a boat they have the freedom to change it up to many other sites instead.

 

[Darnold9999]

Oh, please correct my label. This is what the guide told me it was. I'm always seeking correct critter I.D.

I know this one as a Donald Duck Shrimp

 

[Joneill]

I know this one as a Donald Duck Shrimp

Google Lens agrees:

Leander plumosus Long nose shrimp, Donald Duck Shrimp

Leander plumosus, Bali, Indonesia