Konjo invites you to celebrate Christmas & New year’s eve with an 11-night Raja Ampat liveaboard diving Expedition. Sonia Sodiving, your Konjo leader on board, has crafted an exceptional itinerary in West Papua. Dive into the heart of the fabulous marine biodiversity of the Raja Ampat islands! Navigate through Dampier Strait, Penemu, Kawe, and the secret lagoon of Wayag. However, this sample itinerary is subject to weather conditions and may be adjusted to ensure the comfort ad safety of the passengers.
Diver since 1992 and a scuba diving instructor since 2014, Sonia Pietrasik has explored the oceans of our blue planet. Furthermore, she has been passionate about Indonesia since her first trip in 2000. As a result, she naturally joined the Konjo team in 2022. Therefore, she will assist you effectively in planning your trips and will accompany you with a huge smile on board your cruise during our expeditions.
Launched in November 2017, Jakaré is perfectly suited for dive cruises. Beside that, this Pinisi can accommodate up to 10 people in 5 cabins. Additionally, it is very comfortable and tastefully decorated, featuring spacious living areas that invite relaxation. In this way, Jakare allows you to experience true diving adventures in comfort and safety.
EXPLORE
December 22
We will pick you up from Sorong’s Domine Eduard Osok Airport (see practical information at the end of the page) or from your chosen hotel on the morning of departure. Once you arrive, you will be greeted by the crew, followed by a general briefing on life aboard and safety rules. Furthermore, a breakfast or snack will be provided. We will sail for 5 hours to reach the Raja Ampat National Park. During this time, you can settle into your cabins and prepare your diving equipment. A check dive is planned for late afternoon on the Saonek Kecil wreck.
Navigation of the Day: 35 miles | 6 hours
The Dampier Strait is located between the islands of Batanta and Waigeo. It is the epicenter of Raja Ampat, where most of the Papuan resorts and homestays are situated. In order to learn more about local life and discover the best dive sites in the Dampier Strait, visit our dedicated page HERE.
December 23
Blue Magic: This underwater ridge near Mioskon Island is renowned for its abundant marine life. Indeed, Gray reef sharks, groupers, schools of big-eye trevallies, barracudas, and wobbegongs gather at this exceptional site.
LaoLao: Another submerged reef near Mioskon, LaoLao attracts schools of striped yellow snappers, sweetlips, and barracudas. Similarly to Blue Magic, it sometimes hosts the elusive manta rays.
In addition, a Raja Ampat land excursion to Kali Biru: A hike through the primary forest will lead you to Kali Biru, where you can swim in a magical blue river.
Further more, a Raja Ampat Night Dive in Sapokreng will be proposed. This dive site offers a superb muck dive.
December 24
Sardine: This reef located between Kri and Mioskon offers a dive through a school of shimmering fusiliers, where you can observe reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, and various species of trevallies.
Cape Kri: This is the premier site in the Dampier Strait, provided it is well-planned. It is a unique example of Raja Ampat’s marine biodiversity. Indeed, an incredible diversity of fish species congregates around this eastern point of Kri Island. Following this, dive at Mike’s Point.
In addition, enjoy a Raja Ampat kayak or speedboat tour: Explore the intricate mangroves of Gam by kayak or paddleboard.
December 25
Manta Ridge: This exceptional site offers a rapid entry for divers, who then hide behind the ridge and use their reef hooks to enjoy the show.
Mayhem: Located at Yangeffo, this reef is particularly rich in fish. The third dive will be around Yefnabi, where you’ll discover a splendid coral garden on a beautiful sandy bottom, offering striking contrasts for photographers.
Moreover, get ready for a Raja Ampat village visit & a Beach barbecue: The afternoon will be dedicated to swimming in the turquoise waters of the surrounding white sandbanks. In addition, participants will also have the opportunity to visit the Papuan village of Miosmengkgsara. For Christmas, a barbecue will be held on one of the idyllic beaches of this micro-archipelago.
This Konjo dive & adventure expedition aims to introduce you to the more exclusive locations within the Raja Ampat National Park. After exploring the must-see sites, it’s time to head towards the less accessible islands of Raja Ampat.
December 26
Purple Haze: This site, located at the mouth of Aljui Bay, features a spectacular wall covered with soft corals. Many rocks, detached from the reef, rest on the sandy bottom. On this dive site, Schools of Sweetlips and snappers share the space with fusiliers, pygmy seahorses, and a particularly rich fixed fauna.
Eagle Rock: As an exceptional diving spot, Eagle Rock not only serves as a cleaning station for manta rays but also boasts rocks covered with gorgonians and sponges.
Black Rock: The best site in the area, Black Rock’s visible black rocks from the surface conceal an extensive reef. Black coral bushes compete with soft corals, sponges, and tunicates for space.
A true icon of Raja Ampat, Wayag is an exceptional place. This labyrinthine lagoon is made up of numerous sugarloaf peaks and white sand beaches. As a result, it is completely sheltered from the Pacific swells and also serves as a nursery for many species. Juvenile blacktip reef sharks and even baby manta rays can sometimes be spotted in the lagoon. Additionally, Sea turtles come to nest on a nearby island, and they are also abundant there.
December 27
Figure Eight Rock: This dive site features a wall to the north and a gentle slope to the south.
Manta Secret: An ideal site for observing manta rays that seek refuge in the lagoon.
Ridge Rock: Its pinnacle offers splendid dives.
The day will be dedicated to relaxation, with options for speedboat tour & kayak tour, swim, or take a Raja Ampat hike to Mount Pindito.
December 28
The stunning landscapes of Wayag will inspire us to spend an extra day in the area.
Cathedral dive site is located to the north of Wayag. Rarely visited, it features spectacular topography with its vertical walls, swim-throughs, and hunting schools of trevallies.
Raja Ampat land tour: A visit to the Wayag ranger station is also a fascinating experience. Juvenile blacktip sharks are numerous and swim around the bathers.
Mushroom Rock is a unique site with exceptional topography. Its tunnels, crevices, and arches are populated by soft corals and host many fish. Bag Wall is a vertical wall that will delight divers. The boat will then head to anchor in the incredible bay of Uranus, a location straight out of a pirate movie.
Jakare and its Konjo passengers will once again cross the equator, heading towards Kawe, but this time from the eastern side. Before continuing south, Sonia will introduce you to the fabulous Aljui Bay. Stretching over 10 miles along the northwest coast of Waigeo Island in the Raja Ampat archipelago, the bay is home to a pearl oyster farm that offers intriguing tours of its production methods.
December 29
Weka’s Wow: This typical Raja Ampat rock, located to the northeast of the island, offers rather intense dives.
Canggo: With its tunnels, pinnacles, and vertical walls, it is a paradise for sweetlips, groupers, schools of surgeonfish, and big-eye trevallies.
Jakare will then sail for a few hours and anchor in Aljui Bay. A beautiful muck dive at night will captivate macro photography enthusiasts.
Day 9: Raja Ampat dive in Aljui Bay and land tour at the Pearl Farm
December 30
Pearl Jam: A very fish-rich site.
White Arrow: Ideal for nudibranchs hunting.
A short sail will then take you to Wofoh. To the south of the island, Black Forest features a plateau with a lovely coral garden, very fish-rich within the top 10 meters. Large black coral bushes thrive in the 30-meter zone. The island is also suitable for swimming with its two small white sand beaches.
In the evening, sail towards Penemu.
Penemu Island (or Piaynemo for insiders) is known as the “Little Wayag.” Although its lagoon is worth a visit, it may seem somewhat underwhelming after several days spent in the wild spaces of Wayag. Speed boats operating from Waisai offer day trips, making it a popular spot for tourists.
Batanta is one of the largest islands in the Raja Ampat archipelago. Wild, with mangroves and primary forest, it is rarely visited by liveaboards. The southern part is known for its exceptional muck diving.
Day 10: Explore the Raja Ampat Islands While Diving | Penemu
December 31
Melissa’s Garden remains one of the best dive sites in Raja Ampat. Its Staghorn Coral garden spans over a dozen hectares and attracts blacktip sharks and turtles, serving as a cleaning station for Napoleon wrasse and bigeye trevallies.
Keruo Channel features beautiful corals that shine under the midday sun. My Reef is a fabulous underwater ridge.
The cruise will continue to Batanta and Dayag, where you will spend the night and celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Day 11: Celebrate the New Year in Raja Ampat on a Liveaboard
January 1, 2025
Start the year off beautifully by diving with the manta rays of Raja Ampat! Following this, The rest of the day will be dedicated to relaxation. Moreover, An adventurous excursion to the Batanta waterfall will be offered.
Following that hike in Raja Ampat, Konjo invites you to conclude the first day of the year with a final magnificent sunset over the sandbanks of Tapok. After that, the boat will then head towards Sorong, with an expected arrival around midnight.
Departure from the boat and transfer to the airport or your chosen hotel. We look forward to seing soon for more adventures!
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