Trip Report Video-Trip Report: "Back to Raja Ampat: Diving Dampier Strait in 2025 | Indonesia | 4K"

[Laval]

In January 2025, we returned to the Dampier Strait in Raja Ampat, staying once again at our favorite Sorido Bay Resort.

It was my first trip shooting with the Sony FX3 in a Nauticam housing, experimenting with S-Log3 Cine vs HLG3 and different white balance settings. Conditions added to the challenge — visibility was often poor, many corals showed signs of bleaching, and several sites were crowded.

Still, the ocean offered unforgettable moments. Manta rays made a welcome return to Blue Magic after nearly four years, and Melissa’s Garden stood out as our favorite site of the trip — vibrant, full of life, and untouched by bleaching.

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[NovaCane]

Great video as always.

Has anyone been to the Dampier straight recently? I'm crossing my fingers some of the bleaching reverses before next January.

 

[Laval]

Great video as always.

Has anyone been to the Dampier straight recently? I'm crossing my fingers some of the bleaching reverses before next January.

Thank you for your kind comment! Regarding the Dampier Strait, I actually stopped recommending my friends of going to the Dampier Strait area for now.

 

[Luko]

I absolutely do not concur with the opinion above, my last recent trip was in april 2025 (following 2 previous trips in the 18 months before).

Even though if some parts of spots especially nearby villages or in the Mioskon area show bleaching evidence (and on some of them coral destruction rather due to much too intensive diving and careless divers, like Blue Magic) there are largely intact parts and spots that are completely devoid of coral bleaching as soon as you're in the western part west of Dampier.

For most of the operators the bleaching has already starting to reversed since March/April.

 

[Laval]

I absolutely do not concur with the opinion above, my last recent trip was in april 2025 (following 2 previous trips in the 18 months before).

Even though if some parts of spots especially nearby villages or in the Mioskon area show bleaching evidence (and on some of them coral destruction rather due to much too intensive diving and careless divers, like Blue Magic) there are largely intact parts and spots that are completely devoid of coral bleaching as soon as you're in the western part west of Dampier.

For most of the operators the bleaching has already starting to reversed since March/April.

Glad to hear that the bleaching has already started to reverse! At the end of January, it was very significant.

 

[Blackcrusader]

@Laval

Thanks for sharing your video. I loved the turtle being chill resting on the corals just looking up at you.
Watched to the end where you have your name on the video.

I am planning a land based Raja Ampat diving trip next year stay one week on Kri island another week on Gab island in homestays. I speak enough Indonesian to get by. Did you use video lights for the shots of fish under the coral platforms?

 

[NovaCane]

Thank you both for your updates. Glad to hear the reversal has started, here's hoping it continues.

 

[Laval]

@Laval

Thanks for sharing your video. I loved the turtle being chill resting on the corals just looking up at you.
Watched to the end where you have your name on the video.

I am planning a land based Raja Ampat diving trip next year stay one week on Kri island another week on Gab island in homestays. I speak enough Indonesian to get by. Did you use video lights for the shots of fish under the coral platforms?

Thanks for watching my video. I was really lucky with that turtle! Regarding video lights, I very rarely use them, as fish shy away right away. My video camera, Sony FX3, is very good for low light. I do not think that lights have been used for that particular shot of fish under the table coral. I used video lights for filming a shark in a cave for sure.