Booking
a
M
Booking

Southwest Raja Ampat & Halmahera

Itineraries

Southwest Raja Ampat & Halmahera onboard Blue Manta

Embark on an exploration of Southwest of Raja Ampat: Boo Islands, Pulau Pisang, and Kofiau Island: one of the smaller and least visited amongst the major islands in Raja Ampat, the world’s centre of coral diversity. Kofiau Island has holds the world record for most number of fish species observed on a single dive, a whopping 284. These islands are comprised primarily of raised coral limestone and some volcanic hills covered in low lush rainforest, all offering a wealth of nature & beautiful scenery.  Make your way further west to Halmahera, where remote, unspoiled, and stunning underwater landscapes await, ending your trip on a truly epic note amongst one of the world’s lushest coral gardens.

8 Days / 7 Nights
Sample Itinerary

8 Days / 7 Nights

Note: All schedules are subjected to changes according to weather, sea, diving, & local conditions.

Day 1. (0-1 dives) 1pm trip departure day.  Our staff will meet you upon your arrival to Sorong Airport or local hotel and transfer you to your Manta vessel.  Arrivals before midday are best so we can make check dive at Red Light District (Lampu Merah) just outside Sorong before we get underway by 3pm for overnight sail.

Day 2. (3-4 dives) Kofiau Island. 

Day 3. (3 dives) Boo Islands and Pulau Pisang: Rich coral reefs in aquarium like conditions.  Sail to Halmahera.

Day 4-5. (4 dives x2 days) Palau Bacan: Reef sharks, schools of barracuda & jacks along a coral & sponge packed reef. Palau Kusu: Strong currents & amazing action in the Patinti Strait.

Day 6-7. (2-3 dives x2 days) Pulau Tolimau & Goraichi: Manta cleaning station & fish packed reefs amongst pristine hard coral gardens.  Sail to Ternate, where you spend the last night on board.  Plenty of time to wash & dry equipment, have lunch, rest & relaxation, and if needed, an early flight the next day.

Day 8. (0 dives) Check out (between 5am-10am) after light breakfast & farewells, and transfer to local hotel or airport.  Departure from Ternate to Manado/ Makassar/ or Jakarta.

Diving days: 7 days (20 dives)

Embarkation / Disembarkation

  • Sorong (SOQ), West Papua / Ternate (TTE), North Maluku

How to get to Sorong (SOQ), West Papua

  • It is easiest to fly to Sorong (SOQ) via Jakarta (CGK), Makassar (UPG Ujung Pandang), Bali (DPS, Denpasar), or Manado (MDC).   For more flight options, please see our Raja Ampat fact sheet .
  • From Jakarta: Early morning direct daily flights, with Batik Air / Garuda Indonesia, arriving to Jakarta, which should allow enough time to schedule your international flight home.  Lion Air also offer flights.

How to get from Ternate (TTE), North Maluku

  • To Manado (MDC): Daily flights around just 1 hour, with Sriwijaya Air or Wings Air (part of Lion group)
  • To Jakarta (CGK): Daily flights around 3.5 hours, with Garuda Indonesia / Batik Air / Lion Air  / Super Air Jet
  • International: Fly to Manado and connect with Scoot, or Jakarta with Garuda Indonesia for connecting flights direct to Singapore.
  • Note*: Departing flight on trip return day should be no earlier than 9am to allow for early morning departure & transfer from the boat with plenty of time for check-in & flight.

Dive Site Information (Halmahera-Raja Ampat)

  • Water Temp: 27-30 degrees Celsius, Air Temp: 27-32 degrees Celsius,
  • Visibility: 15-30 meters, Currents: Medium to strong, Level: Intermediate to advanced.
  • Best Time to Dive: April to October (less rain & much less wind: perfect for diving)

What’s included?

  • Round trip transfer local Hotel/Airport – Boat
  • All nights’ accommodation on Boat
  • All meals (Western & Indonesian) snacks, hot beverages, coffee, tea, Milo, soft drinks
  • Towels, toiletries, & cabin services
  • FOC replacement if equipment breakdown
  • Warm towel & drink after every dive
  • Regular air tanks, weights, belt, 6 dive guides (1x instructor, 5x dive masters)

What’s excluded?

  • All flights & hotels stay
  • Marine Park & Harbour fee
  • Dive & Travel insurance
  • Fuel surcharge. Please see our Booking Information page ‘Fuel surcharge’ section for more details and fees per person.
  • Massage services
  • Laundry services
  • Nespresso coffee, alcohol; beer & wine
  • Satellite Wi-Fi
  • Diving gear: Dive computer, torch, large tank, BCD, regulator, wetsuit, fins mask.
  • Nitrox Enriched Air fills
  • Note: Nitrox & diving gear Items priced per diving day and are subject to availability.
  • Note: Exposure suits; 3mm shorty wetsuits available ONLY.

Trip Schedule

    • Departure: 1pm, 1st day, Pelabuhan Usaha Mina pier, Sorong, West Papua. Or earlier if everyone arrives before and all trip preparations have been completed.  Free pickup upon arrival from Domine Edward Osok Airport, Sorong or from local hotel (10am) to your Manta vessel on trip departure day (transfer time 20-30 mins)
    • Return: 5am, last day – Ternate, North Maluku. After breakfast and fond farewells, we take you to Sultan Babullah Airport, Ternate, in time for check-in and flight (transfer 20-30 min). Note: Latest boat check-out at 10am, trip return day.
    • Last dive ends: 12pm (midday), penultimate day.  Plenty of time for R&R as we sail back to Manado where we spend the last night onboard. This allows for your minimum 18 hours’ surface interval/ No Fly Time (as recommended by PADI) before flying the next day.

Additional Trip Information

Travel Documents

  • Please find our updated Travel & Visa Information page, to aid you with your travels to Indonesia.
  • Visa On Arrival (VOA), single entry is now available for many countries and Visa Exemption Arrangement (VEP) for some ASEAN countries for stay up to 30 days. VOA cost: IDR 500,000 (approx. EUR 32/ USD 35). Payment can be done by: Visa, Mastercard or Debit Card or Cash Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).  Note: Please check here for eligibility & application. If you are from one of countries not on the VOA or VEA lists, or if you simply wish to get 60 day visa in advance, you MUST apply for an eVisa (B211A) online PRIOR to arrival before entering all other airports.
  • Passport. Please ensure your passport is in good order, at least 2 blank pages, is valid for at least 6 months, and that you are able to enter Indonesia. Check with your local Embassy of Indonesia if unsure.  Note: Late receipt of Passport details may very likely lead to delayed departure & significant changes to the itinerary.
  • Departure Tax. Indonesia Passenger Service Charge (IPSC) has changed (Mar-2015) to be included in your flight ticket price. Please check though as previously it was 200,000IDRp to leave Indonesia, & up to 75,000IDRp for Domestic flights. Carry small bills, Indonesia Rupiah preferred, as often no change given.

Domestic Flights

  • Please book BEFORE confirming your international flights to ensure you make your connection to Manado & from Ambon.
  • Travel agent: If you require assistance with your itinerary: obtaining an e-visa, booking domestic flight tickets, hotels, transfers, and additional land arrangements etc, we can recommend local Indonesian Travel agents, our friends at Come2Indonesia.  Contact Rendy & the team here rendy@come2indonesia.com. Note:If booked with credit card please ensure the card is with you upon check-In or have an official Airline form filled in & signed by card holder authorizing the use of.
  • Our ticketing agents are not responsible for any flight delay or cancellation, luggage lost or delay. In any case, please contact our ground staff in Bali for assistance for flight delay issue.
  • Domestic Airlines normally have 20Kg allowance, although you may pay for 10Kg extra when booking, if needed (around US$3/kilo). With an additional 7kg carryon.

Health & Insurance

  • Dive Insurance: Compulsory for this trip.  We also strongly advise you to get adequate travel insurance. Please check your travel insurance policy for your diving needs.  If not covered, then we recommend DiveAssure for their single trip policy cover.
  • Dive Computer: Compulsory on this trip.  We have rentals onboard if you do not have.
  • Follow Safe Diving Practices at ALL times plus No Deco Diving and No Solo Diving.
  • Dive & Travel insurance are compulsory for our trips. Our trips are not inclusive of any form of insurance. White Manta Diving cannot be held responsible for any trip disruption or cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control or any flight / hotel expenses. This includes any costs resulting in delay/ medical/ extraction/ or trip costs, refusal of admittance to the country or your trip, before, during or after. We strongly recommend all guests purchase adequate travel insurance, as such an occurrence will affect all guests on trip.   For more details see our Booking Information page, travel insurance section.

Internet/ Mobile

  • Satellite Wi-Fi
  • Mobile signal: Local Telkomsel is best local card to buy.  Not long after you leave port, we have intermittent/ limited mobile signal until we return.
  • Telkomsel pre-paid SIM or eSIM is the best value. Plus, can add credit top up!!!

Trip Extras payment onboard

  • By Credit card comes with 4.5% additional handling fee.
  • By Cash we accept US dollars, Euros, Singaporean dollars, and Indonesian rupiah.  Please ensure ALL bills are in good order; NOT worn or torn and unmarked or we are UNABLE to accept. Current Exchange rate to be determined onboard. ATMs are available in town.

Trip Extras

  • Marine Park & Harbour fee: US$300 per person.  To be settled in advance of trip.
  • Fuel Surcharge fee: US$350 per person.  To be settled in advance of trip.
  • Massage US$40/ hour, laundry services US$10/ basket
  • Nespresso coffee: US$3, beer US$4, wine US$40-50
  • Satellite Wi-Fi: US$35 per person/ 10Gb card.
  • Nitrox: US$20/ diving day or US$7/ fill.

Equipment rental

Diving gear: Full Set* US$50/ diving day (except large tank & torch) or if individual items then following rates apply per diving day**

  • BCD US$15*
  • Regulator US$15*
  • Dive Computer US$15*
  • Wetsuit US$10*
  • Fins US$10*
  • Mask US$10*
  • Large Tank US$15
  • Torch** US$15 per sunset/ night dive.

Diving gear items priced per diving day*. Please provide sizes in advance of the trip, as all gear is subject to availability. If not known then provide your height, weight, shoe size, where applicable.

  • Note**: Torch rental price is per use/ sunset/ night dive.
  • Note: Exposure suits: 3mm shorty wetsuits available ONLY.
  • Note: Large tank AL100, 100 cu ft (13.2 liters)
  • Note: Gear included, regular air tank AL80, 80 cu ft (11.1 liters), weights, belt.

Ready to Dive?

Checkout our our schedule and book your adventure today!

Check Schedule