Fenides

You will be picked up either at your hotel or Komodo Airport, Labuan Bajo, and brought to the harbor where the crew will welcome you onboard. After refreshments and a short tour of the ship, you will be briefed on safety, the diving operations, and life onboard.

First Dive: Sebayar Kecil

A small reef with a drop-off to greater depths. There are some large boulders around which you may see groups of giant trevallies, white tip reef sharks, coral trout, snappers and emperors, schools of bump head parrotfish and fusiliers, leaf scorpionfish and stonefish, morays, batfish, damselfish, butterflyfish, anthias, and giant spiny lobster. Most of the wall is well protected from current and usually has warmer water and good visibility and no risk of strong currents. This site is suitable for divers of all levels.

Second Dive: Mini Wall

Look out for ornate ghost pipefish, shrimp and nudibranch in the small coral bummies. The reef quickly develops into a coral wall with macro life, bluefin trevally and the occasional Hawksbill turtle. If you go far enough there are also schools of batfish and fusiliers and perhaps eagle rays too.

North Komodo is famous for its speeding currents, drift diving, sharks galore and pelagic fish life.

First Dive: Castle Rock

An underwater seamount is only visible from the surface by its whirling currents and the turbulence caused by currents hitting its 10-ft-deep rocky top. Deep down on the seamount colorful corals grow in all directions, while white tip and grey reef sharks, tuna, jacks and trevallies patrol while waiting for their next meal. In the early mornings, dolphins passing by the reef are a common sight. Mantas and other rays sometimes pass by.  

Second Dive: Crystal Rock

Similar to castle rock with slightly better corals.  

Third Dive: Cauldron

A drift dive with a difference. Start the dive with no current, swimming in white sandy areas full of life and corals, chances for mantas are high. Continue heading towards a narrow channel between two islands. As you get closer the current picks up and you pass through a bowl in the reef (the cauldron). Here, the current suddenly picks up and throws you over the edge in a section called the shotgun. Holding on here is tricky but incredibly fun as the current blows your face and body in what can only be described as underwater skydiving. Continue to drift through to a calm soft coral garden and enjoy the fish life and maybe some manta sightings.

Here is the most famous and most easily accessible area of the national park, offering the best chances to see Komodo’s famous manta ray population (in season) and the world-famous Batu Bolong dive site. Currents are strong here, but the islands provide a lot of protection for less experienced divers.

First Dive: Batu Bolong

This is an isolated island stretching up from the deep seabed. The island itself gets its name from a hole in the rocky surface (Batu meaning rock, Bolong meaning hole). Underwater, the rocks are covered with every color of coral imaginable and the diversity is huge. Every type of fish from small red anthias to giant napoleon wrasse searching the deep. The currents hit this island hard, so the dive is always on the opposite side to the current in the protected area.

Second Dive: Makassar Reef / Manta Point

This is a long sandbar over a flat plateau with the current running north to south. Mantas can congregate in huge numbers here to feed, clean, and mate. Divers start at one end of the dive site and drift along the flat bottom.  

Third Dive: Siaba Besar

This is Komodo’s best spot for turtles. A huge population of green turtles uses this hard coral-covered bay as a feeding ground. More often than not, the turtles can be seen scratching on corals and rubbing their shells on sponges to keep clean. Whitetip sharks are not uncommon here either. If turtles are not interesting enough, then the white sand algae areas between corals are a macro hunter's dream. Flamboyant cuttlefish, frogfish, a huge variety of pipefish and inverts make this area their home.

First Dive: Mawan

Mantas come here to clean, and you can look forward to some seriously close interactions especially in mating season where more than 20 mantas may collect in a small space.

Second Dive: Siaba Kecil

This drift dive is seriously fast. It is a small channel between two islands and the currents rip through. It's a rollercoaster. Towards the end of the dive, you will arrive in a hard coral garden. Keep an eye out for the rare but resident dugong.

Third Dive: Wainilu

A macro dive over a sloping soft coral and rubble reef full of critters that can't be found anywhere else. This is an underwater treasure hunt. Seahorses, nudibranch of all colors, octopus and cuttlefish and countless shrimps and crabs. This is a great night dive.

South Komodo is less explored and harder to reach; far fewer boats visit this area. Land based vistas are amazing with sheer volcanic cliffs and crashing white waves.

First Dive: Manta Alley

Jump in at any point around the island and chances are that the mantas will be feeding or cleaning. For the best experience, when the currents are running through the small channel, dive in and hold on while watching the mantas swoop and fly past like a natural cinema.

Second Dive: German Flag

Named after the colors of the rocks that mark it, this dive site is a black sand slope covered in coral blocks. Current is mild and you can slowly drift or swim along the slope searching the seabed for stingrays and sharks hiding under the rocks, as well as many critters.

Third Dive: End of the World

A sheer black rock wall in the open ocean faces cold upwellings, which bring in large pelagics.  Currents are strong but the topography and coral colors are amazing.

Here, you can head ashore on a ranger-led nature trek in search of Komodo dragons, which are indigenous to this small group of islands. In this savannah-like setting of dry, rugged landscape, you will encounter, at a safe distance, these awe-inspiring giant lizards – Indonesia’s living dinosaurs.

First Dive: Cannibal Rock

This underwater seamount is covered in beautiful soft corals and filter-feeding life is everywhere with sea cucumbers and invertebrates covering every rocky surface. You’ll see colorful fish schools everywhere; large sharks and trevallies patrol the deep blue water, and you may see dolphins. 

Second Dive: Torpedo Point

This is macro heaven. A volcanic, rich, black sandy slope where you can find rare critters. Mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, and rare seahorses, frogfish, scorpionfish, countless nudibranch, crabs and shrimp.

Third Dive: Yellow Wall

This sheer wall is covered in yellow corals.  Cracks and holes in the rock are home to countless fish and critters. Very scenic dive.

Fourth Dive: Jimmie’s Rock

Currents rip around this rock, which plummets deep into the Southern Ocean.  Eagle rays and white tip sharks are common. Every now and then hammerhead sharks have been known to swim out from the blue.

West Komodo combines the best of all the areas of Komodo. Great critter hunting in the protected volcanic bays and raging current dives with pelagics on the exposed rocky islands. Mantas are common and the shark population is active.  Experience level: Advanced Open Water - 50 minimum logged dives required.

First Dive: Mawan

Mantas come here to clean, and you can look forward to some seriously close interactions especially in mating season where more than 20 mantas may collect in a small space.

Second Dive: Siaba Kecil

Siaba Kecil is the fastest drift dive in Komodo. The reef face is filled with small caves harboring angel fish, batfish, and sweetlips. Giant trevally school up above in the shallows. At the end of the dive, you are pushed up onto a shallow reef plateau, home to countless turtles and mandarin fish.

Third Dive: Wainili

If it’s macro you are seeking, this is your place. Ribbon eels, Indian walkman, mandarin fish, frogfish, juvenile harlequin sweetlips, and countless species of nudibranch are all common sightings.

Disembark at Labuan Bajo Port.

Dive at the nearby island of Saonek Kecil, the perfect spot for our first check dive in calm waters.

After the sun sets over the eastern Indonesian sky, we will go looking for unusual critters in Saonek Besar, where you might also make your very first encounter with the iconic Tasselled Wobbegong Shark.

2-3 day dives (Manta Rays, and other large pelagics such as Spanish Mackerel and Bigeye Trevally, one postcard dive on the vibrant colorful reef with lots of reef fish. 

Optional night dive on Kri’s south coast, in Yenbuba Village’s Jetty after you soak in the stunning sunset views with the islands of Waigeo and Gam on the distant, fiery horizon.

Early morning hike in which we explore the iconic limestone pinnacle formations of Pianemo lagoon.

Dive at Melissa’s Garden the undoubtedly top dive in this area, with a staggering number of coral and fish species packed into this small piece of marine real estate.

Keruo Channel and My Reef are among the top choices for the next dive… plenty of amazing coral reefs and lots of schooling fish! Optional night dive in Penemu area (major critters, unusual Frogfish species or even Blue-Ringed Octopus).

Overnight sailing to the northern islands of Raja Ampat.

Here we have many options and will coordinate this with the guests according to their preferences.

• Morning’s hike to witness sunrise on the equator
• Snorkeling in the bay, a Manta breeding station
• Kite Surfing
• Fishing
• Beach BBQs on a pristine, fine white sandy beach, surrounded by turquoise waters surrounding the limestone cliffs of the islands. 
• Optional dive at Figure 8 Rock, a submerged pinnacle home to large pelagic fish, and the occasional passing Manta, on the eastern side of Wayag, the famous dive site, Cathedral, which is renowned for its spectacular topography and swim-throughs
• Explore Wayag Ranger Station, which is also a Black Tip Reef Shark breeding area where we can snorkel with baby sharks
• Optional night dive on the same stretch of reef
• Kayak and SUP 

Here we have many options and will coordinate this with the guests according to their preferences.

• Morning’s hike to witness sunrise on the equator
• Snorkeling in the bay, a Manta breeding station
• Kite Surfing
• Fishing
• Beach BBQs on a pristine, fine white sandy beach, surrounded by turquoise waters surrounding the limestone cliffs of the islands. 
• Optional dive at Figure 8 Rock, a submerged pinnacle home to large pelagic fish, and the occasional passing Manta, on the eastern side of Wayag, the famous dive site, Cathedral, which is renowned for its spectacular topography and swim-throughs
• Explore Wayag Ranger Station, which is also a Black Tip Reef Shark breeding area where we can snorkel with baby sharks
• Optional night dive on the same stretch of reef
• Kayak and SUP 

Here we have many options and will coordinate this with the guests according to their preferences.

• Morning’s hike to witness sunrise on the equator
• Snorkeling in the bay, a Manta breeding station
• Kite Surfing
• Fishing
• Beach BBQs on a pristine, fine white sandy beach, surrounded by turquoise waters surrounding the limestone cliffs of the islands. 
• Optional dive at Figure 8 Rock, a submerged pinnacle home to large pelagic fish, and the occasional passing Manta, on the eastern side of Wayag, the famous dive site, Cathedral, which is renowned for its spectacular topography and swim-throughs
• Explore Wayag Ranger Station, which is also a Black Tip Reef Shark breeding area where we can snorkel with baby sharks
• Optional night dive on the same stretch of reef
• Kayak and SUP 

We wake up just off the coast in Gam Island. There is some amazing diving (Citrus Ridge and Mayhem) around this area with vibrant fish covered reefs and plenty of stunning macro subjects.

After lunch we will cruise down to the Western Dampier Strait, to a dive site named Manta Ridge, for an opportunity to dive with the Manta Ray population often located here.

In the late afternoon, we explore the peaceful Arborek Island on land, a tranquil village surrounded by beautiful beaches.

Optional night dive at Arborek Jetty (Walking Sharks, Blue- ringed octopus, and many other critters).

Dive at Mike’s Point. Legend has it that it was mistaken for a battleship during WWII, and was heavily bombed by enemy aircraft. It has a stunning overhang, as well as gentle-swim throughs in addition to its magnificent coral reef. 

On land trip to Kali Biru, one of Raja Ampat’s hidden natural wonders, a river with cool, clear blue waters surrounded by lush tropical jungle. A wondrous sight to simply take in, it also makes a great spot for a swim in an unspoiled, remote plot of paradise.

Overnight sail to Sorong.

Check out in Sorong after breakfast.

Crossing to Alor.

First & Second Dive: Kal's Dream

Alor's signature dive site promises a wealth of pelagics and large schools of fish. When the currents are ripping, the waters surrounding the pinnacle here resemble a bubbling cauldron. However, when conditions are right, pelagics are abundant. You may see huge napoleons, massive tuna, more varieties of coral than you can count, giant trevallies and schooling fish.  

Third Dive: The Bullet

This is a channel that lies between the pinnacle at Kal's Dream and Alor Island itself. It is called The Bullet because the flow of water compressed between the pinnacle and the landmass can get very swift, bringing along a spectacular range of big photo subjects. The Bullet offers reliable hammerhead shark sightings and a constant flow of large black tips and turtles that drift along the coral-covered slopes. Although it's hard not to spend the whole dive scanning the blue water looking for hammerheads, try looking behind you at arguably one of the prettiest reefs anywhere on earth. Hard and soft corals with so much fish life, it might literally take your breath away.

Fourth Dive: Mike’s Delight

Mike’s Delight is also one of the most popular sites. It’s a slow drift dive that offers the chance of spotting creatures like lobsters, sea snakes, boxfish, lionfish, and a variety of small reef fish. There are multiple species of coral in vibrant colors, including the sea apple coral, making wonderful underwater photography subjects.

First Dive: Clown Valley

Clown Valley is famous for being the dive site with the highest concentration of anemones in the world. The drop-off descends gently, allowing you to observe the bright colors while looking for the small nudibranchs, shrimps and lobsters that hide on the site. Raise your eyes and you may see the magnificent thresher sharks and mola-mola that sometimes appear out of the blue.

Second Dive: Sharks Galore

This dive spot and its relatively low current allow you to make a serene and contemplative drift. The site is inhabited by large grey sharks as well as dog-toothed tuna and white-tipped sharks.

Third Dive: The Cathedral

One of the most southerly dive sites in the Pantar Strait, The Cathedral features a swim-through at 115 feet that exits at 65 feet. Entering it at the right time means the sun dominates the view at the exit, lighting up the reef similar to a massive cathedral's stained-glass window. The reefscape here is unique to Alor: covered in kelp and dense coral cover and a fish life so rich that at times the anthias block the view. Mola mola is fairly common at The Cathedral, and there is an estimated population of slightly over 100 mola mola that inhabit its deep waters. Thermoclines can be very chilly and unpredictable here.

First Dive: Max’s Point

This site is very special because, from one dive to another, you might find it exceptional or without interest. With a little bit of luck, you will be able to observe large, marbled rays, magnificent unicorn fishes, imposing mola-mola and even dolphins and gigantic blue whales.

Second Dive: Wolang Cave

This cave site is located south of Alor and is made up of two magnificent caverns. The first is inhabited by whitetip sharks and has a large room in which you can emerge.

Third Dive: Wolang Cave

The second cavern here is lined with sponges and inhabited by numerous fishes, lobsters, crabs, and nudibranchs.

Fourth Dive: Anemone Fields

This easy shallow dive takes you down a spectacular gentle slope covered in thousands of anemones, swaying gently back and forth in the surge. Aside from hundreds of anemonefish, you can see schooling sweetlips and fusiliers, and a wide range of reef fish as well as nudibranchs and various shrimps.

First Dive: Red Wall

With a wonderful drop-off of nearly 380 feet, Red Wall is renowned for its underwater volcanic activity. You will see many small red craters from which escape small gas bubbles. You will observe magnificent sea bream, nudibranchs, sea snakes and fusiliers.

Second Dive: Great Wall of Pantar

Sometimes called Bamah Wall, the walls here are full of orange and pink sponges in the midst of which many anthias are lounging. You will also be able to find big fish such as the huge trevally, the napoleon and the humpback parrot fish. For macro photography lovers, nudibranchs, leaf fish and shrimp will also be part of the game.

Third Dive: Current Alley

Current Alley, as the name suggests, is a high-current diving spot. The immense drop-off is the playground of many large fish like hammerhead sharks, immense trevallies, grey sharks, blacktip or whitetip reef sharks, imposing dogtooth tunas, and magnificent napoleons. The dive spot is also visited by majestic devil rays and eagle rays. A must for pelagic enthusiasts.

Fourth Dive: Dusk Dive

First Dive: The Arch

Structured around an immense geological feature in the form of an underwater arch more than 30 feet high, this site has all the attributes of an exceptional dive spot. The topography includes numerous small caves and overhangs adorned with beautiful soft coral.

Second Dive: Babylon

This is a nice dive site with some interesting overhangs at 100 feet.

Third Dive: Mini Wall

A great night dive, the sea here is thick with life; with all the usual suspects out hunting at night, cuttlefish of all sorts, sea stars and mollusks, and electric clams embedded in the wall. It is also a chance to take a closer look at the abundant hard coral polyps feeding at night. A dusk dive gives you the chance to see the gorgeous mandarin fish mating.

First Dive: Pussy Galore

If you adopt the strategy of swimming against the current, you may see coleman shrimp and zebra crabs in fire sea urchins, small frogfish, thorny seahorses, cockatoo waspfish, lobsters, ribbon eel, and even a mushroom coral pipefish.

Second Dive: Mucky Mosque

Descend in front of a mosque to a slope of coral heads, rocks and sand.  Natural treasures are bountiful here, you may see striped catfish, broadclub cuttlefish, bigfin reef squid and the bizarre, rare, and exceptionally magnificent rhinopias scorpionfish, both the weedy and paddleflap varieties. Ghost pipefish, soft coral crabs, frogfish, various octopus including the wunderpus and mimic, snake eels, sea moths, sand divers and many other remarkable creatures.

Third Dive: Pertamina Pier

This black sand slope in the harbor forms a haven for critters. Keep a look out for ghost pipefish, seahorses, hairy crabs and even wonderpus − a bizarre species of octopus. Night diving here can be even more interesting.

First Dive: Pink Forest

Muck diving sites are normally lacking in coral, but Pink Coral promises to change that. A gentle slope that evens out at 65 feet, this site is chock-a-block with pink soft corals. Fight the temptation to just swim along enjoying the corals: take time searching for critters, species like the harlequin swimming crab and the yellow sea cucumber. Rare nudibranchs are often found as they come out to bask in the sun and crustaceans lurk in almost any crevice you care to look in.

Second Dive: The Boardroom

The 160-foot-deep wall at the Boardroom offers caves filled with glassfish and schooling jacks and snappers at depth.

Third Dive: Mandarin House

The north side of Pura island offers this healthy reef slope where mandarin fish can be seen dancing in the daylight. Dusk often yields the opportunity to witness them mating.

First Dive: Aquarium

This dive site is truly deserving of its name. Aquarium is teeming with marine life and the colors of the corals are breathtaking, making it one of the most visually stunning spots around Alor Island. The clarity of the water is also hard to come by.

Return crossing.

Disembark at port.

Check-in on board Fenides will take place in the morning. The first dives will be in Ambon Bay.

First Dive: Air Manis

Located in Ambon Bay under a pier, residents of this area include giant frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, ghost pipefish, anthias, pufferfish, and dragonets. You will also encounter schools of fusiliers, scatfish, batfish, crinoid clingfish and crabs.

Second Dive: Rhino City

True to its name, you will find rhinopias swarming around this area in exquisite colors and variations. Dotted by anemones along its slope, other types of brightly colored crustaceans are common too, such as commensal and emperor shrimps and arrow crabs, while in the shallow parts are lots of nudibranchs, moray eels and dragonets.

Third Dive: Twilight Zone

Twilight Zone is considered as the mother of all muck sites and the best macro dive site in Indonesia. The rubbish and fish remnants attract different varieties of marine life including moray eels, colonies of catfish, scorpionfish, stonefish, and the psychedelic frogfish.

Make sure you spend some time walking around the village of Banda Neira and visit the museum or the 17th century Fort Belgica, the old colonial governor’s house, the traditional market, or the nutmeg plantations. 

First Dive: Karang Hatta

This site has beautiful sloping reefs and huge schools of fusiliers that together create a big cloud of yellow and blue. Look for trevally, groupers, triggerfish, snappers and butterflyfish. Large pelagics like eagle rays, barracuda and even hammerhead sharks can be spotted here. You will also see some huge sponges. You can dive down through the hole and find yourself looking back to what appears to be a bridge in the reef. The bridge is covered with soft corals, and large gorgonian fans underneath are home to various pygmy seahorses.

Second Dive: Batu Kapal

What makes this dive site special is the huge pinnacles, with the center one resembling a large ship. Between the pinnacles, you'll see multiple sea fans and gorgonians and many fish such as snappers, moray eels, gobies, butterflyfish, triggerfish, anemonefish and more.

Third Dive: Gunung Api

The reef system here was once destroyed by the eruption of Gunung Api Volcano but the regrowth has created a new spectacular dive site. Several species of coral including table corals, acropora corals, cabbage leaf corals, and many more have created a unique view. Parrotfish, triggerfish, cuttlefish, batfish, shrimp, wrasse, and numerous other species add color to the black lava flow scenery.

Fourth Dive: Maulana

In the shallows and amongst the stones below the wharf in front of the Maulana Hotel in Banda Neira, the colorful mandarinfish congregate to mate at sunset. In fact, this particular spot is one of the best in the world to spot mandarinfish. You may also see juvenile batfish, crocodile fish, scorpion fish, pipefish and moray eels.

First Dive: Pulau Ai

Pulau Ai is an island west of Banda Neira. Shark encounters are common here with hammerhead sharks as regulars, earning the name Hammerhead Point, and occasional sightings of thresher and silvertip sharks. Large schools of chevron barracuda and bluefin trevallies can be spotted hunting, wahoo and giant trevallies visit the island, and mobula rays often provide a memorable sight.

Second Dive: Batu Payung

This dive site on the island of Ai, translates to Umbrella Rock as there are many overhangs along the walls of the island. You will be able to drift along the wall and enjoy the view of thousands of tiny reef sharks darting in and out of the cracks and crevices.

Third Dive: Pulau Run

White sandy slopes interspaced with large coral heads and a healthy reef make this a very beautiful dive site. A resident school of bump-head parrotfish may be spotted here, as well as passing eagle rays.

First Dive: Manuk

Manuk is a volcano in the middle of the Banda Sea and is one of the few places in Indonesia where there are huge aggregations of sea snakes, Chinese sea snakes and banded sea kraits. Diving, when surrounded on all sides by sea snakes, is a unique experience.

Second Dive: Manuk

Although the sea snakes are the stars of the show, the reefs are in great health with cabbage corals, porites and barrel sponges rising up from the warm brown volcanic sand where at times you can witness bubbling geothermal gas. Fish swarm around the island's circumference, with plenty of barracuda including chevron and yellow-tailed varieties. Jacks, rainbow runners, and sleek unicornfish are present in large, impressive numbers.

Third Dive: Manuk

The black sandy slopes of the volcano are covered with hard coral reefs, ridges covered in gorgonians with thousands of fusiliers, mackerels, tunas and wahoos passing through.

First Dive: Pulau Koon

Pulau Koon is a small island, home to large amounts of schooling fish and pelagics, barracudas, bigeye trevallies, red snappers, pompanos, batfish and giant groupers to name a few.

Second Dive: Pulau Koon

The wall dive site here has a gentle current carrying you along the way and showing you countless species of fish. Ghost pipefish, triggerfish, crabs, napoleon wrasse, tuna, barracuda and giant morays are just a few examples of what you might see here.

Third Dive: Pulau Koon

While the walls are covered in soft corals, the reef slope has a beautiful mix of hard and soft coral, and sandy slopes littered with coral bommies. In the nooks and crannies of the wall, look for robust ghost pipefish quietly going about their business as well as the orangutan crab, most often at home in bubble coral. Countless red-toothed triggerfish flutter their electric blue fins all around you and the occasional palette surgeonfish swims around on the wall, as spotted and giant morays gape from their holes.

The area is a heaven for wide angle photographers and some of the healthiest and photogenic corals reefs in the world are located here. Above water, you will have the chance to paddleboard through the coral atolls and discover the fantastic inner lagoons, crystal blue water and endemic wild bird life. 

First Dive: Andiamo

This is a large, bustling reef with an underwater pinnacle covered in bright sea fans and surrounded by schools of fusiliers and reef fish. Reef sharks, barracudas and bump head parrot fish can also be found here.

Second Dive: Candy Store

Named because the first divers here felt like kids in a candy store, this site is covered in huge sponges, beautiful soft corals and sea fans. On the sandy bottom are literally thousands of hard and soft corals. You’ll probably see large schools of barracuda, butterfly fish, and fusiliers as well as many different types of shrimps and every color of nudibranch. Wobbegong sharks rest in the hard corals while turtles eat at the reef. 

Third Dive: Warna Beranda

Meaning ‘colorful’ in the Indonesian language, this site is covered in colorful corals and fish life, offering a very chilled and relaxed dive. There is also a chance to see small critters such as the rare and elusive pygmy seahorse.

First Dive: Magic Mountain

This is one of the top-rated dive sites in Raja Ampat. An offshore pinnacle with a long and narrow ridge, on top of which shoals of bannerfish, pyramid butterfly and yellow snappers can be seen cavorting, persistently stalked by giant trevallies, orange-spotted jacks and longnose emperors. The ridge goes progressively down, with yellowtail barracudas patrolling the upper sector, and white tip and grey reef sharks found nestled under the large coral tables. At the end of the peninsular is a cleaning station where oceanic manta rays come to be cleaned from parasites by wrasse and other reef fish.

Second Dive: Boo Rock

This site is known for the “windows” or rounded openings on the end of the largest rock, which completely pierce the reef from the surface down to 16 feet deep. Although the two rocks appear separate from the surface, they are in fact connected underwater by a magnificent reef draped in soft corals and brimming with fish. Reef sharks, parrotfish, surgeonfish, schooling batfish, fusiliers, snappers and moray eels are all found here, as well as a wide variety of nudibranchs, unicorn fish, octopus and green turtles.

Third Dive: Whale Rock

This rocky island looks like an enormous whale, and the site is home to arguably the most beautiful reef system on the planet. There’s not a single barren rock or empty space on the reef here as corals of all types blanket the substrate. When the currents pick up, bait balls form and trevallies dart back and forth.

First Dive: Blue Magic

The reef top is covered in hard coral with some big coral heads and some tabling acropora corals well over 10 feet across. Look for wobbegong sharks here and often a sleeping Raja Ampat epaulette shark (the walking shark). There is a resident school of bigeye trevallies and many large barracuda. Green turtles can be found here as well as black tips, white tips and the occasional grey reef shark. In season it’s a giant manta magnet with several cleaning stations on the reef top. There is also plenty of macro here, starting with pygmy seahorses. The magnificent dive ends with a blue water safety stop drifting over and away from the reef.

Second Dive: Cape Kri

Huge schools of big-eye trevallies, barracudas and snappers can be seen hanging over the drop off. A large shallow coral garden crowns the reef top with blacktip reef sharks patrolling amongst the overlapping maze of hard corals feeding hawksbill turtles. Massive Queensland groupers down to the diminutive ever-present pygmy seahorse can be seen on this phenomenal and always-surprising dive site.

Third Dive: Manta Sandy

Manta Sandy is a cleaning station where up to 10 mantas can be seen vying for a position above the two rocks where wrasses clean these giants.

First Dive: Manta Slope

Here, mantas circle above in the sun while divers hook onto the reef while the current arcs overhead and down the steep slope below.

Second dive: Sardine Reef

Sardine reef is quite simply one of the best reef dives in the world, where divers witness the phenomenal diversity of Raja Ampat in full force. Where the current strikes this offshore reef and splits, a dazzling array of fish congregate, swarming fusiliers spin audibly above, pursued by giant trevallies, packs of bluefin jacks and Spanish mackerel. Batfish can gather in their hundreds, while multitudes of schooling bannerfish feed in the current. Grey reef sharks, blacktips and whitetips can also be seen along with the wobbegong waiting in ambush on the seafloor.

Third Dive: Manta Ridge

There is no better way to end a trip through Raja Ampat’s magical waters than to chill with graceful rays and swim around in a fish soup.

The last day will be spent cruising to Sorong. Check-out time will be early afternoon.  For the reverse trip, Sorong – Ambon, the route is exactly the same. The first day’s diving around Dampier, and last days in and around Ambon Harbor. Therefore, the dive locations will be a complete reverse of the above itinerary.

Departing the harbor at approximately 11am, Fenides will cruise through Sele Strait to reach the East of Misool, a navigation of approximately 12 hours. During this cruise period, there will be the opportunity to stop at a remote island area for a late afternoon check dive in preparation for the next day’s full diving schedule.

First Dive: Andiamo

This is a large, bustling reef with an underwater pinnacle covered in bright sea fans and surrounded by schools of fusiliers and reef fish. Reef sharks, barracudas and bump head parrotfish can also be found here. 

Second Dive: Candy Store

Named because the first divers here felt like kids in a candy store, this site is covered in huge sponges, beautiful soft corals and sea fans. On the sandy bottom are literally thousands of hard and soft corals. You’ll probably see large schools of barracuda, butterflyfish, and fusiliers as well as many different types of shrimps and every color of nudibranch. Wobbegong sharks rest in the hard corals while turtles eat at the reef.

Third Dive: Warna Beranda

Meaning ‘colorful’ in the Indonesian language, this site is covered in colorful corals and fish life, offering a very chilled and relaxed dive. There is also a chance to see small critters such as the rare and elusive pygmy seahorse.

After spending the night in a hidden lagoon enclosed by towering rocks. Take the kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to explore the lagoon to an orchestra of birds in the rainforest above.

First Dive: No Contest

This is a dramatic reef littered with pinnacles and valleys. Currents can get strong here but hiding in the protection of the reef you can easily sit and watch the countless batfish fusiliers and sometimes see barracuda.

Second Dive: Love Potion Number 9

A strange name for a strange dive site. An underwater maze of spectacular reefs leading to a ridge and deep pinnacles. Soft corals mix in with hard corals and fish shelter in the crevices of the reef.

First Dive: Magic Mountain

This is one of the top-rated dive sites in Raja Ampat. An offshore pinnacle with a long and narrow ridge, on top of which shoals of bannerfish, pyramid butterfly and yellow snappers can be seen cavorting, persistently stalked by giant trevallies, orange-spotted jacks and longnose emperors. The ridge goes progressively down, with yellowtail barracudas patrolling the upper sector and white tip and grey reef sharks found nestled under the large coral tables. At the end of the peninsular is a cleaning station where oceanic manta rays come to be cleaned from parasites by wrasse and other reef fish. 

Second Dive: Boo Rock

This site is known for the “windows” or rounded openings on the end of the largest rock, which completely pierce the reef from the surface down to 16 feet deep. Although the two rocks appear separate from the surface, they are in fact connected underwater by a magnificent reef draped in soft corals and brimming with fish. Reef sharks, parrotfish, surgeonfish, schooling batfish, fusiliers, snappers and moray eels are all found here, as well as a wide variety of nudibranchs, unicornfish, octopus and green turtles. 

Third Dive: Yillite Kecil

Whilst sharing all of the attributes of its neighboring sites, the main character here is the large number of nembrotha nudibranchs that can be observed

Fourth Dive: Whale Rock

This rocky island looks like an enormous whale, and the site is home to arguably the most beautiful reef system on the planet. There’s not a single barren rock or empty space on the reef here as corals of all types blanket the substrate. When the currents pick up, bait balls form and trevallies dart back and forth.

This area has incredible diversity and topography both above sea and below. In between dives, don’t waste the chance to take in the scenic landscapes with some kayaking and SUP boarding amongst the most spectacular hidden lagoons in the region.

 First Dive: Wedding Cake

Schools of batfish, trevallies, barracuda and pygmy seahorses congregate here.

Second Dive: Four Kings

This site comprises four pinnacles covered in soft coral and colorful filter feeders. Turtles are common here and it’s easy to swim from one pinnacle to the next, enjoying the rainbow colors of the corals and the abundant fish life as you go.

Third Dive: Goa Farondi

Farondi’s unique and distinctive landscape consists of tunnels, caverns, boulders and colorful walls. The Island has two large caves with a shallow reef and a dramatic cliff north of the headland. Goa Farondi is a wonderfully unique dive site and a true gem. Shelves of yellow-colored soft corals, wall tops blanketed with plate corals, leather corals, and passing Mobula rays. Huge Tunnels and swim-throughs in the caves contrast with the colors on the reef creating this truly dramatic site. 

Fourth Dive: Barracuda Rock

This is a very shallow night dive with a chance to see the rare and unique epaulet sharks walking along the reef floor.

First Dive: Barracuda

This oval-shaped reef extends out to the northernmost tip of Penemu. Depending on currents, huge schools of fish aggregate at the ends of the reef, especially barracudas. The chance for pelagic fish is high here.

Second Dive: Galaxy

This is a huge reef with amazing corals and fish life. Macro is also easy to find here ranging from multi-colored nudibranch and patterned shrimps to eels in the rocky cracks. Galaxy has a lot of everything.  

Third Dive: My Reef

This is a great place to catch a sighting of the weird wobbegong sharks and black tips cruising up and down the reef in a mild current. The shallowest point of this dive is 26 feet, so planning and current checking is important. 

First Dive: The Passage

Currents are strong here, and a huge selection of sea fans extend from both walls in an amazing collection of hues. Pygmy seahorses steal the show in the form of pink and yellow barbiganti and also orange and white types of denise. The Passage dive site is also the home to a compelling range of crinoids, shrimps, squat lobsters, and clingfish. You may also see Mobula rays and schools of yellowfin barracuda, and intermittently, moving groups of eagle rays.

Second Dive: Dinding Seletan

Here you will spot many fire urchins, some containing zebra crabs, sea cucumbers with pearlfish, several species of cephalopods such as the blue-ringed, mimic and baby red octopus, cuttlefish and the tiny, rare, iridescent bobtail squid.

Third Dive: Kebung Kerang

Here, there are big mushroom leather corals, purple soft corals and huge gorgonians covered in schools of colorful fusiliers and surgeonfish.

Fourth Dive: Blue Wall

This reef wall is a fascinating, colorful mix of hard corals, soft corals and barrel sponges. Schools of yellow-fin barracuda and surgeonfish will fill your view while blacktip and grey reef sharks swim below you.

First Dive: Two-Hump Rock

This is one of three dive sites to the west of Wayag. The islands here are more exposed than others in the area and the waves have sculpted the surface rocks into the wonderful mushroom shapes that give this dive site its name. Here, you can explore steep walls and overhangs covered in rich coral growth and sometimes see a passing pelagic fish.

Second Dive: The Bommie Bowl

The Bommie Bowl has something for everyone. Wonderful fish life, colorful corals, creeping macro and generally great visibility. As the name suggests this dive site has a bowl-shaped sandy bottom covered in large coral bommies decorated healthily with sea fans and sponges, which in turn attract schooling fish of all sizes.

Third Dive: Cathedral Rock

This is a dive site best for experienced divers with a mild current. In the correct conditions, divers can traverse the whole island exploring large underwater tunnels, caverns and caves. Fish play and school in the blue waters just out from the reefs. There is a shallow swim through that dissects the whole island so on days with good conditions you can end your dive in an incredibly unique way.

Fourth Dive: Magic Rock

Another dive site full of swim-throughs and overhanging reefs, magic rock is one of the top sites in this area. Huge schools of sweetlips are approachable inside the caverns and corals cover every space, attracting macro life of all shapes and sizes. It’s a must-do dive.

First Dive: Blue Magic

The reef top is covered in hard coral with some big coral heads and some tabling Acropora corals well over 10 feet across. Look for wobbegong sharks here and often a sleeping Raja Ampat epaulette shark (the walking shark). There is a resident school of big-eye trevallies and many large barracuda. Green turtles can be found here as well as black tips, white tips and the occasional grey reef shark. In season it’s a giant manta magnet with several cleaning stations on the reef top. There is also plenty of macro here, starting with pygmy seahorses. The magnificent dive ends with a blue water safety stop drifting over and away from the reef. 

Second Dive: Cape Kri

Huge schools of big-eye trevallies, barracudas and snappers can be seen hanging over the drop-off. A large shallow coral garden crowns the reef top with blacktip reef sharks patrolling amongst the overlapping maze of hard corals, where you’ll see feeding hawksbill turtles. Massive Queensland groupers down to the diminutive ever-present pygmy seahorse can be seen on this phenomenal and always-surprising dive site. 

Third Dive: Manta Sandy

Manta Sandy is a cleaning station where up to 10 mantas can be seen vying for a position above the two rocks where wrasses clean these giants.

First dive: Manta Slope

Here, mantas circle above in the sun while divers hook onto the reef while the current arcs overhead and down the steep slope below.

Second dive: Sardine Reef

Sardine reef is quite simply one of the best reef dives in the world, where divers witness the phenomenal diversity of Raja Ampat in full force. Where the current strikes this offshore reef and splits, a dazzling array of fish congregate, swarming fusiliers spin audibly above, pursued by giant trevallies, packs of bluefin jacks and Spanish mackerel. Batfish gather en masse, while multitudes of schooling bannerfish feed in the current. Grey reef sharks, blacktips and whitetips can also be seen as well as wobbegongs waiting in ambush on the seafloor.

Third Dive: Manta Ridge

There is no better way to end a trip through Raja Ampat’s magical waters than to chill with graceful rays and swim around in a fish soup.

Cruise back to Sorong and disembark.