Raja Ampat on KLM Mari
Generally, it was mostly cloudy and often rainy.
We went to the South first, diving in Magic Mountain etc. The coral reefs in the South are really exceptionally beautiful and colourful, the diversity is remarkable. We saw oceanic manta rays, grey reef sharks, wobbegong shark, epaulette sharks, Napoleon wrasses, bumphead parrot fish, giant trevallies and macro stuff like pygmy sea horse and leaf fish etc.
After the South, I found Central Raja Ampat less exciting. Very beautiful reefs, reef manta rays on Manta Sandy, oceanic manta rays on Blue Magic, but poor visibility, less big fish and more other divers. We had a very good night dive on a muck diving site there.
The Mari is operating under new management since last year. She takes 10 guests max., but we were only five plus the owner. Generally, the trip was poorly organized. There was no general boat, diving or safety briefing. They had two free-lance dive guides. The main guide (who was new to the boat as well) was really good, trying to organize the diving as good as possible, making the briefings etc. The second guide, a Papuan from Sorong who did not speak much English, we were diving with did not care much about us under water. When he head about 10 min deco, the owner said he was not a qualified diver (!) and probably only noticed the deco when the computer was beeping. We convinced the other guests, that we should stay in one group because on the currents. After some talk with the main guide, our guide paid more attention. Generally, the crew was not particularly careful when carrying the gear breaking the cover of my second stage.
Food was served when ready, and we were waiting for dinner abut 30 Min, after the night diving. Food was simple, but varied and tasty, lots of fruit, fresh juices etc. The chef was very friendly and helpful.
I had a deluxe cabin with ac, safe, enough storage space and ensuite bathroom with hot water. When it rained, water dropped from the celing mainly on the bed. They had to exchange the wet mattress and bed cover.
Conclusion: Raja Ampat is great, particularly Misool, and definitely worth another trip. But next time, I´d choose a well-established operator with better management, qualified dive guides and water-proof cabins.
Generally, it was mostly cloudy and often rainy.
We went to the South first, diving in Magic Mountain etc. The coral reefs in the South are really exceptionally beautiful and colourful, the diversity is remarkable. We saw oceanic manta rays, grey reef sharks, wobbegong shark, epaulette sharks, Napoleon wrasses, bumphead parrot fish, giant trevallies and macro stuff like pygmy sea horse and leaf fish etc.
After the South, I found Central Raja Ampat less exciting. Very beautiful reefs, reef manta rays on Manta Sandy, oceanic manta rays on Blue Magic, but poor visibility, less big fish and more other divers. We had a very good night dive on a muck diving site there.
The Mari is operating under new management since last year. She takes 10 guests max., but we were only five plus the owner. Generally, the trip was poorly organized. There was no general boat, diving or safety briefing. They had two free-lance dive guides. The main guide (who was new to the boat as well) was really good, trying to organize the diving as good as possible, making the briefings etc. The second guide, a Papuan from Sorong who did not speak much English, we were diving with did not care much about us under water. When he head about 10 min deco, the owner said he was not a qualified diver (!) and probably only noticed the deco when the computer was beeping. We convinced the other guests, that we should stay in one group because on the currents. After some talk with the main guide, our guide paid more attention. Generally, the crew was not particularly careful when carrying the gear breaking the cover of my second stage.
Food was served when ready, and we were waiting for dinner abut 30 Min, after the night diving. Food was simple, but varied and tasty, lots of fruit, fresh juices etc. The chef was very friendly and helpful.
I had a deluxe cabin with ac, safe, enough storage space and ensuite bathroom with hot water. When it rained, water dropped from the celing mainly on the bed. They had to exchange the wet mattress and bed cover.
Conclusion: Raja Ampat is great, particularly Misool, and definitely worth another trip. But next time, I´d choose a well-established operator with better management, qualified dive guides and water-proof cabins.
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