Raja Ampat-Banda-Alor-Kupang

Blue Manta crossing 11 Days / 10 Nights

Starting in South Raja Ampat including Misool you will be immersed in an amazing array of marine life and diving diversity.  The abundance continues with critters, sea snakes, manta rays, sharks and much more as we cross the Banda Sea, tracing the perimeter of islands.  Let our experienced crew show you these remote and almost untouched locations with wonderful reefs and stunning drop offs, before we finish our trip with muck diving at its best in Ambon.  We also have known cleaning stations for potential sighting of hammerheads………

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 Blue 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. (3-4 dives x2 days) Misool; Wayil, Fiabacet & Boo area.  Sail to Koon Island.

Day 4. (3 dives) West Seram, Pulau Koon full days diving. Wide angle diving with vibrant corals and a profusion of fish life.

Day 5-7. (3 dives x3 days) Ring of Fire; diving around Volcanic Islands and stunning seamounts in search of hammerheads, encounter many sea snakes, huge schools of fish, reef sharks, tunas, & other pelagic superstars. 

Day 8. (3 dives) Wetar: excellent wall, pelagic life and fantastic drop off, sail towards Pulau Alor

Day 9. (4 dives) Alor & Pantar Strait (Islands of Kepa, Pura, Ternate, & Buaya between Pantar & Alor); nutrient-rich adventurous currents and a diversity of dive site formations, make for an abundance of coral and fish, both big and small. 

Day 10. (2 dives) Alor: diving around the best sites: Karl’s Dream and Critters diving. Beautiful reefs in (sometimes cold!) clear blue waters, great macro and fish life.  Then sail to Kupang, where you spend last night on Blue Manta arriving to Tenau Port.  Plenty of time to wash & dry equipment, 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, we transfer to local hotel or airport in time for check-in & flight.  Take your pre-booked flight to Bali or Jakarta.

Diving days: 10 days (28 dives) 

Note: 3 dives are scheduled per diving day*.  This is due to deeper dives and long distances covered between islands.  Where possible a bonus night dive may be scheduled at the discretion of the Cruise Leader. *Except trip departure day & trip return day.

Embarkation / Disembarkation

  • Sorong (SOQ), West Papua / Kupang (KOE), East Nusa Tenggara

How to get to Sorong (West Papua)

  • It is easiest to fly through to 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 Blue Manta 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. We will be there to pick you up on arrival. 

How to get from Kupang (KOE), East Nusa Tenggara

  • To El Tari Airport, Kupang.  From boat to airport, estimated 1hr transfer time.
  • Back to Jakarta.  Direct early morning flights with Batik Air (06:50-08:40) or Citilink (06:35-08:35), or via Surabaya (SUB)  with Lion Air (06:20-09:15)
  • Back to Bali.  Take direct flights Lion Air (12:30-14:25 or 13:35-15:30) or Air Asia Indonesia (13:05-14:50).

Dive Site Information (Raja Ampat)

  • Water Temp:  27-30 degrees Celsius
  • Air Temp: 27-32 degrees Celsius
  • Visibility: 20-30 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 (Banda-Alor)

  • Water Temp:  26-28 degrees Celsius, however deep water upwelling’s & thermoclines especially in Sept-Nov can mean temps as low as 25C.
  • Air Temp: 22-31 degrees Celsius
  • Alor Water Temp: 22-26 degrees, it can be cold in the waters around Lembetta & Alor and we do recommend you bring extra exposure suit for this section of the cruise.
  • Visibility: 20-30 meters
  • Current: Medium to strong
  • Level: Intermediate to Advanced,
  • Best Time to Dive: March, April, & mid-September to early December

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 (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, 1large 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: 5pm, 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 Blue Manta on trip departure day (transfer time 20-30 mins). 
  • Return: 5am, last day - Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. After a light breakfast and fond farewells, we take you to local hotel or El Tari Airport, Kupang in time for check-in & flight or local hotel (transfer time around 1 hour).  Note: Latest BM check-out midday, trip return day.
  • Last dive ends: 12pm (midday), penultimate day.  Plenty of time for R&R while we sail to Kupang where we spend the last night on Blue Manta.  This also 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 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 Ambon. 
  • We advise you to stay a night in a local hotel in Jakarta/ Makassar/ Bali before the flight next day.  If your  stopover is in Makassar; you may wish to take advantage of some rest between flights, just remember toset your alarms in good time for your early flight to Sorong.  Ibis Makassar Airport is located right on the side of the exit door.  Alternatively, the Harper Perintis Hotel is just a 15min drive from the airport and offers good value & comfortable rooms.
  • 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$250 per person (collected in advance of trip)
  • Fuel surcharge fee: US$200 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