Join Wetpixel in diving and photographing the world’s most amazing coral reefs. Raja Ampat, on the cusp of two great oceans; Indian and Pacific, is known as having the world’s greatest biodiversity. The confluence of nutrient-rich currents in the area makes for amazing underwater scenery and a plethora of photographic subjects.

Located within the creature-abundant Coral triangle, the area consists of around 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo.

The diving is an exotic mixture of wide-angle and macro subjects, offering a truly staggering amount of amazing diving. Like all Wetpixel trips, we aim to optimize the diving to suit the needs of image makers, and to make them as productive as possible.

Like all Wetpixel trips, we aim to optimize the diving to suit the needs of image-makers, and to make them as productive as possible.

Damai I

We will be diving from the boutique liveaboard dive vessel, Damai I. The vessel and her crew are well-known for having the knowledge and experience to best cater to demanding image-makers. Boasting “large dive stations with individual rinse tanks and a camera room with separate camera work stations with integrated 110v and 220v charging stations for each photographer. The vessel is the first in Indonesia to offer a divemaster/guide to customer ratio of 4 to 1 ensuring the best service underwater as well as onboard.”

Itinerary

20 September to 01 October 2022 (10d/11n) Sorong-Sorong

Departing from Sorong, Papua, Damai will make her first stop at the eastern end of the Dampier Straits for a check-out dive. We will spend the following day here diving iconic sites like Cape Kri, Blue Magic, and Mioskon enjoying the schooling fish, cruising sharks, and maybe rays and pygmy seahorses. We will head west to Gam, where there are beautiful orange soft corals at Citrus Ridge and fish action at Mayhem before exploring the wonders found under Arborek Jetty. We will head west to Penemu for some world-class coral reefs and the photo opportunities of the lagoon from the top of the viewpoint.

Moving south to the colorful soft coral-covered reefs around the island of Misool, we can enjoy the pinnacles at Wayilbatan and Fiabacet or a gentle drift along the channel at Neptune Fan Sea.

Perhaps more critically, as we are chartering the whole boat, we will go where the conditions are best and most productive for image-making. On our last charter aboard Damai 1, we traveled the entire length of Raja Ampat to take advantage of exceptional conditions in Misool!

This trip will be led by Wetpixel Publisher Adam Hanlon.

The trip fee includes: a. Return land transfers b. Shared accommodation with A/C in twin or double/twin bed cabin with en-suite showers and toilet. (Upgrades available at a supplement). c. All meals and drinks while on board (excluding wine and Spirits). One glass of wine per person and night will be complimentary. d. Any required gear hire e. Cruise director f. Experienced dive guides, with a maximum of 4 customers per guide g. Unlimited daytime diving and night dives (schedule permitting) h. Land tours and group activities organized by Dive Damai I i. All vessel port, park, and harbor fees j. Crew gratuities and tips k. EANx 32 m. Laundry and spa treatments

You will need to book your own airfare to Indonesia, and we can help you to book local flights into and out of Sorong as required. Please note that these flights have an additional fee.

Payments and fees:

The trip is competitively priced at $7,250/person.

Here’s the payment schedule per person, per trip:

Deposit (immediate): $2,000 December 15, 2021 payment: $2,000 May 1, 2022, final payment: $3,250 + local airline fees, if we book for you

What to do next… Please contact Adam Hanlon for more info or to book. Spaces are limited, and we expect this trip to sell out very fast, so please do not delay…