Raja Ampat-Halmahera-Lembeh

 

This route offers a wealth of biodiversity starting with the spectacularly beautiful reefs around Raja Ampat in some of the world’s most bio-diverse waters: 580 kinds of coral, 1,397 species of fish including 23 endemics, are just a few of the numbers used to define this area.  From Raja Ampat we head to Halmahera where remote, unspoiled, and stunning underwater landscapes await, Halmahera’s pristine beauty is staggering and made all the more alluring by the lack of crowds.    

Sample Itinerary 

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

Day 1. (0-1 dives) 3pm trip departure day.  Our staff will meet you upon your arrival to Sorong Airport or local hotel and transfer you to the awaiting White Manta.  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. (4 dives) Raja Ampat: Misool: Fiabacet & Boo area, Boo Windows & Magic Mountain.

Day 3. (3 dives) Raja Ampat: Nempele: exploring the West coast of Misool, a photography must with amazing mangroves in clear, shallow water.  Sail to Pulau Pisang.

Day 4. (3 dives) Pulau Pisang: rich coral reefs in aquarium like conditions.  Sail to Halmahera.

Day 5. (4 dives) Palau Bacan: reef sharks, schools of barracuda & jacks along a coral & sponge packed reef.

Day 6. (3-4 dives) Palau Kusu: strong currents & amazing action in the Patintie Strait.

Day 7. (4 dives) Palau Tolimau & Goraichi: Manta cleaning station & fish packed reefs amongst pristine hard coral gardens.

Day 8. (3-4 dives) Pulau Tifore: amazing dive site island in the Moluccan Sea equidistant from Goraichi & Lembeh, schools of jacks, snappers and massive school of barracuda. 

Day 9. (2 dives) Critter dives in Lembeh Strait.  Sail to Bitung Port, Manado where you spend last night on board.  Plenty of time to wash & dry equipment, have lunch, rest & relaxation, and if need be, an early flight on trip departure day.

Day 10. (0 dives) 5am-12pm. Check out after light breakfast & farewells, and transfer to airport.  Departure from Bitung Port, Manado to local hotel or transfer to Manado Airport. 

Diving days: 9 days (26 dives)

Note*: If staying in Manado, please review our ‘Hotels in Manado’ section in the Celebes Sea Fact Sheet for included drop offs for local hotel in Bitung area or Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado (transfer time 1 hour).   Manado City hotels are NOT included in our free drop offs.  If NOT local, we can drop you off at Manado Airport where your hotel can pick you up.

 

This route offers a wealth of biodiversity starting with the spectacularly beautiful reefs around Raja Ampat in some of the world’s most bio-diverse waters: 580 kinds of coral, 1,397 species of fish including 23 endemics, are just a few of the numbers used to define this area.  From Raja Ampat we head to Halmahera where remote, unspoiled, and stunning underwater landscapes await, Halmahera’s pristine beauty is staggering and made all the more alluring by the lack of crowds.    

Sample Itinerary 

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

Day 1. (0-1 dives) 3pm trip departure day.  Our staff will meet you upon your arrival to Sorong Airport or local hotel and transfer you to the awaiting White Manta.  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 x2 days) Raja Ampat: Misool: Fiabacet & Boo area, Windows & Magic Mountain.

Day 4. (3 dives) Raja Ampat: Nempele: exploring the West coast of Misool, a photography must with amazing mangroves in clear, shallow water.  Sail to Pulau Pisang.

Day 5. (3 dives) Pulau Pisang: rich coral reefs in aquarium like conditions.  Sail to Halmahera.

Day 6. (4 dives) Palau Bacan: reef sharks, schools of barracuda & jacks along a coral & sponge packed reef.

Day 7. (3-4 dives) Palau Kusu: strong currents & amazing action in the Patintie Strait.

Day 8. (4 dives) Palau Tolimau & Goraichi: Manta cleaning station & fish packed reefs amongst pristine hard coral gardens.

Day 9. (3-4 dives) Pulau Tifore: amazing dive site island in the Moluccan Sea equidistant from Goraichi & Lembeh, schools of jacks, snappers and massive school of barracuda. 

Day 10. (2 dives) Critter dives in Lembeh Strait.  Sail to Bitung Port, Manado where you spend last night on board.  Plenty of time to wash & dry equipment, have lunch, rest & relaxation, and if need be, an early flight on trip departure day.

Day 11. (0 dives) 5am-12pm. Check out after light breakfast & farewells, and transfer to airport.  Departure from Bitung Port, Manado to local hotel or transfer to Manado Airport. 

Diving days: 10 days (28 dives)

Note*: If staying in Manado, please review our ‘Hotels in Manado’ section in the Celebes Sea Fact Sheet for included drop offs for local hotel in Bitung area or Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado (transfer time 1 hour).   Manado City hotels are NOT included in our free drop offs.  If NOT local, we can drop you off at Manado Airport where your hotel can pick you up.

This route offers a wealth of biodiversity starting with the spectacularly beautiful reefs around Raja Ampat in some of the world’s most bio-diverse waters: 580 kinds of coral, 1,397 species of fish including 23 endemics, are just a few of the numbers used to define this area.  From Raja Ampat we head to Halmahera where remote, unspoiled, and stunning underwater landscapes await, Halmahera’s pristine beauty is staggering and made all the more alluring by the lack of crowds.    

Sample Itinerary 

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

Day 1. (0-1 dives) 3pm trip departure day.  Our staff will meet you upon your arrival to Sorong Airport or local hotel and transfer you to the awaiting White Manta.  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 x2 days) Raja Ampat: Misool: Fiabacet & Boo area, Windows & Magic Mountain.

Day 4. (3 dives) Raja Ampat: Nempele: exploring the West coast of Misool, a photography must with amazing mangroves in clear, shallow water.  Sail to Pulau Pisang.

Day 5. (3 dives) Pulau Pisang: rich coral reefs in aquarium like conditions.  Sail to Halmahera.

Day 6-7. (4 dives x2 days) Palau Bacan: Reef sharks, schools of barracuda & jacks along a coral & sponge packed reef.

Day 8. (3-4 dives) Palau Kusu: strong currents & amazing action in the Patintie Strait.

Day 9. (4 dives) Palau Tolimau & Goraichi: Manta cleaning station & fish packed reefs amongst pristine hard coral gardens.

Day 10. (3-4 dives) Pulau Tifore: amazing dive site island in the Moluccan Sea equidistant from Goraichi & Lembeh, schools of jacks, snappers and massive school of barracuda. 

Day 11. (2 dives) Critter dives in Lembeh Strait.  Sail to Bitung Port, Manado where you spend last night on board.  Plenty of time to wash & dry equipment, have lunch, rest & relaxation, and if need be, an early flight on trip departure day.

Day 12. (0 dives) 5am-12pm. Check out after light breakfast & farewells, and transfer to airport.  Departure from Bitung Port, Manado to local hotel or transfer to Manado Airport. 

Diving days: 11 days (30 dives)

Note*: If staying in Manado, please review our ‘Hotels in Manado’ section in the Celebes Sea Fact Sheet for included drop offs for local hotel in Bitung area or Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado (transfer time 1 hour).   Manado City hotels are NOT included in our free drop offs.  If NOT local, we can drop you off at Manado Airport where your hotel can pick you up.

Embarkation / Disembarkation

  • Sorong (SOQ), West Papua / Manado (MDC), North Sulawesi

How to get to Sorong (SOQ), West Papua

  • It is easiest to fly through to & from Sorong (SOQ) via Jakarta (CGK), Makassar (UPG Ujung Pandang), Bali (DPS, Denpasar), or Manado (MDC).   Recommended, via Jakarta.  For more flight options and details, please see our Raja Ampat Fact Sheet
  • Please refer to our Trip Schedule before booking your domestic flights.
  • From Jakarta: Overnight direct daily flights, with Batik Air / Garuda Indonesia, arriving to Sorong earlier morning.  Lion Air & Sriwijaya Air have similar overnight flights but with a stopover in Makassar.   

How to get from Mandao (MDC), North Sulawesi

  • To Bali, direct flights with Lion Air daily flights, Citilink or Garuda Indonesia, via Jakarta/ Makassar/ Surabaya. 
  • To Jakarta, direct flights with Batik Air, Citilink & Garuda Indonesia, or with Lion Air, via Surabaya.
  • International to Singapore, direct flights with Scoot.   
  • 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 (Raja Ampat-Halmahera)

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

Dive Site Information (Lembeh)

  • Water Temp: 27-30 degrees Celsius
  • Air Temp; 27-32 degrees Celsius
  • Visibility: 20-25 meters,
  • Current; mild in Lembeh, other sites medium to strong
  • Level: Intermediate to Advanced,
  • Best Time to Dive: April-September (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, 5 dive guides (1x Instructor, 4x Dive Masters)

What's excluded?

  • All flights & hotels stay
  • Marine Park & Harbour fee  
  • Dive & Travel insurance
  • Fuel surcharge (if applicable). 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 rental, 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: 3pm, 1st day, 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 White Manta on trip departure day (transfer time 20-30 mins)
  • Return: 5am, last day - Bitung Port, Manado, North Sulawesi.  After breakfast and fond farewells, we take you to local Bitung hotel* or Sam Ratulangi Airport Manado, in time for check-in & flight (transfer time 1 hour).  Note: Latest WM check-out midday, 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 last night on White Manta. This allows for your minimum 18 hours’ surface interval/ No Fly Time (as recommended by PADI) before flying next day.

White Manta Reminders

Travel Documents

  • Please see our Travel & Visa Information page to help prepare and plan in advance for your travels and entry into Indonesia, as detailed by the Government of Indonesia.
  • Guest Info. We MUST receive guest’s details well in advance in the trip.  Note: Late receipt of passport details may very likely lead to delayed departure & significant changes to the itinerary.
  • 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). You may also apply for an eVOA prior to your travel, making it super easy. Note: Please check here for eligibity. If you are from one of countries not on the VOA or VEA lists, or if you simply wish to get a 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, has enough 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.
  • Departure Tax. Indonesia Passenger Service Charge (IPSC) has changed to be included in your flight ticket price. Please check though as previously it was 200,000IDRp to leave Indonesia, & up to 100,000IDRp 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 Sorong & from Manado.
  • 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 the team here tour2@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 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.
  • Travel insurance is 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/ medical/ extraction/ delay/ 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 occurance will affect all guests on trip. Please see our Booking Information page 'Travel Insurance' section for more details and recommended insurers.
  • Malaria Zone: NOTE that in this part of Indonesia we advise you take the proper precautions against malaria.  The following anti-malaria drugs are considered safe with diving; Doxycycline or Malarone.  Mefloquine (Lariam) is NOT recommended with diving.  Good preventative measures include DEET and long armed/legged clothing in evenings. If unsure consult a diving doctor.

Internet/ Mobile

  • Satellite Wi-Fi
  • Mobile signal; local Telkomsel is best local card to buy.  Not long after you leave port we have has intermittent/ limited mobile signal until we return.
  • Telkomsel prepaid card is the best value. Plus can add credit to top up!!!

Trip Extras payment onboard

  • By Credit card comes with 4.5% additional handling fee.
  • By Cash we accept US Dollars, Euro, 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. ATMs available in town.

Trip Extras

  • Marine Park & Harbour fee: US$200 per person (collected in advance of trip). 
  • Fuel Surcharge fee: US$150 per person (collected in advance of trip).
  • Massage US$35/ hour,  Laundry services (US$10/ basket)
  • Nespresso coffee: US$2, beer US$4, wine US$30-50
  • 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) ONLY if paid in advance of the trip, else individual 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 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.
  • Note: Additional tank US$15/ day

TRIP BOOKING