Itinerary – 12 Days 11 Nights
The above rates are per person per trip and subject to change. Please note these fees are in line with third party supplier costs.
Your adventure with La Galigo kicks off with a crew member pick-up for the transfer from the airport or your Sarong hotel to the harbour. Pick ups are between 7:30 A.M. and 8:00 A.M. We strongly recommend guests arrive a day prior and for those arriving on the day of departure, please make sure your flight lands before 7:30 A.M.
After a warm on board welcome, you’ll have the chance to meet the Cruise Director and our friendly crew. Once you’ve settled into your cabin, we’ll gather for a brief orientation before enjoying lunch. Afterward, you’ll have time to relax and unwind and take in the scenery as we sail toward the clearance point in Waisai. This afternoon our ‘welcome dive’ is at the nearby island of Saonek Kecil, where the calm waters provide the perfect introduction to your diving experience. After your check-out dive, you’ll have time to get comfortable, settle into your surroundings, and start looking forward to an exciting full day of diving!
Dampier Strait is renowned for its vibrant marine life and coral reefs, a true paradise for divers. Our first stop is Cape Kri, often regarded as one of the best house reefs in the world. Enjoyi views of pelagics in action against a backdrop of vibrant coral and marine life. It’s an unforgettable experience that showcases the beauty and diversity of this underwater paradise.
Next, we’ll head to the Jetty dive site at Yenbuba Village located on the south coast of Kri Island. This location is teeming with a dazzling variety of fish, both beneath the jetty pylons and in the gorgeous hard coral garden that slopes down below.
As we prepare to settle in for the night, take a moment to soak in the breathtaking sunset views over the islands of Waigeo and Garn, painting the horizon in stunning colors. It’s the perfect way to end a fantastic day of diving!
Today we set out to explore Cape Kri, one of Raja Ampa’s iconic dive sites known for its incredible biodiversity offering a thrilling experience as you drift along vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life including schools of barracuda, trevally, reef sharks, and an abundance of colorful reef fish.
After breakfast, we head to the southern coast of Kri Island to dive the Yenbuba Jetty and the Sawandarek Jetty. Both dive sites offer up calm water perfect for exploring coral gardens and watching reef fish dart in and out of the jetty’s pylons. The friendly smiles of village children often greet divers as they surface, adding a special local charm to the dive. Following lunch, we’ll venture to the Sawandarek Jetty, another incredible site further along Kri’s coast.
As the day comes to a close, we anchor near Sawandarek, giving you time to soak in the stunning sunset views over the tranquil village. The vibrant colors lighting up the sky provide the perfect backdrop for reflecting on a day of remarkable diving and local encounters.
Manta Sandy day is a serene dive site where we have the chance to observe majestic manta rays as they visit the cleaning stations in this calm, sandy-bottomed site. It’s an unforgettable experience to watch these graceful giants glide overhead. Afterwards we head to Garn Island, a region known for its vibrant reefs with opportunities to spot stunning macro subjects and enjoy colorful underwater scenes.
Two of the standout dive sites around Garn that we frequently explore are Citrus Ridge and Mayhem. Citrus Ridge is famous for its dazzling orange and yellow soft corals that blanket the reef, creating a vibrant, picturesque underwater landscape. Mayhem, on the other hand, lives up to its name, offering the thrilling spectacle of pelagic predators hunting among swirling schools of baitfish atop a submerged seamount. Both dives offer something unique, from dramatic coral beauty to heart-pumping action, making them highlights of any Raja Ampat itinerary.
Wake up bright and early to witness a breathtaking sunrise as our day kicks off with a tender cruise through the striking limestone formations of Wayag, setting the stage for a scenic morning hike. These iconic limestone islands and pinnacles have become synonymous with Raja Ampat’s beauty. Wayag is also home to the world’s first confirmed manta ray nursery. The best time for this hike is early morning before the temperatures rise, and the stunning views from the top, along with pristine white sand beaches and turquoise waters, are well worth the effort. After returning from the hike, we’ll sail to Kawe Island, situated right on the equator, and one of our favorite spots to dive in northern Raja Ampat.
The dive sites around Kawe are heavily influenced by changing conditions, but one of the standout sites is the vibrant Black Rock, with its colorful corals teeming with life. Later in the afternoon, we’ll explore Eagle Rock, a dive site renowned for its rich marine biodiversity, including Pygmy Seahorses and a healthy population of manta rays. It’s an exciting dive that will leave you in awe of the underwater wonders Raja Ampat has to offer.
Melissa’s Garden Dive Site is undoubtedly the top dive in this area, with a staggering number of coral and fish species packed into this small piece of marine real estate. It gets its name from an amazing hard coral garden situated on a reef between 3 small islands. Its beauty needs to be seen to be believed. Another one of the places we may visit today is Keruo Channel Dive Site.
A great gentle drift dive down a mini wall and slope on the edge of Keru Island. One of our other favorites we often visit in this area is Batu Rufus dive site. This dramatic dive site has a 40m plus drop off wall to the blue with amazing views at 20 meters when you look up and down at the stark landscape you are floating between.
The iconic limestone pinnacles have become as a much a part of the Raja Ampat experience as the diving has, and Pianemo lagoon/lookout is just one of many such stunning formations. The best time to hike this hill is late afternoon, when the temperature has dropped and the lighting is a golden hue.
We wake up to Pianemo island views for 2 more dives before we leave the area. Dive sites may vary on the day, but a couple that we like to do are Galaxy and My Reef. Galaxy has a nice mini wall to explore that’s exploding with soft corals and black coral. My Reef is always a very fishy dive, Barracuda’s, Wobbegongs and Black Tip Reef Sharks love this spot.
In the afternoon as you relax, we will set sail for the southern islands of Raja Ampat, the biggest crossing of the trip will have you waking up tomorrow morning in Misool.
Misool is an expansive island, surrounded by smaller, satellite island clusters. There are in fact numerous regions within this area itself. If being surrounded by limestone pinnacles does not instill in you a sense of awe, a night dive amongst these towering peaks surely will! Today we will show you the dive sites around Wayil, where you will undoubtedly experience the feeling of remote Indonesia. An outstanding selection of dive sites are located in proximity to Wayil, one of which is the blockbuster – Four Kings dive site, a group of towering pinnacles almost too large to circumnavigate in a single dive which attract giant Oceanic Manta Rays.
Giant Trevally, Napoleon Wrasse, and large Snapper are all often found here. Another favorite we will dive into is Barracuda Rock dive site, a pinnacle with a unique underwater cavern, where a school of Barracuda patrol the waters. Neptune’s Sea Fan dive site is another great spot that we often visit and it gets its name from the vast number of gorgonian sea fans on the site.
Diving in this part of Misool offers an unforgettable experience, with pristine coral reefs and frequent encounters with Giant Manta Rays, especially near the Misool Eco Resort. Sites like Whale Rock, Tank Rock, and Nudi Rock are teeming with vibrant soft corals and schools of fish. Depending on conditions and logistics coordinated with the Misool Eco Resort, we’ll choose the best spots for the day’s dives. If the weather cooperates, we’ll head to the renowned Shadow Reef (also known as Magic Mountain or Karang Bayangan).
Located in the exposed southern waters of Misool, this world-class dive site is the highlight of the region. Here, you’ll often witness the graceful gliding of enormous Manta Rays, making for an awe-inspiring, hard-to-top dive experience in this remote corner of Raja Ampat.
One of today’s highlights is diving at the iconic Boo Window. This site is famous for its unique topography, featuring window-like swim-throughs that make for fantastic wide-angle photography opportunities. Keep an eye on the sea fans here – they often hide Pygmy Seahorses, a delightful secret of the reef! Another favorite is Anchovy dive site, where you can witness the breathtaking spectacle of schools of Mobula Rays darting among vast clouds of anchovies. These movements reveal brief windows through the reef to the Manta Rays circling at a nearby cleaning station-a truly awe-inspiring sight.
As the day winds down, we’ll dive at Yilliet Kecil, a stunning night dive site with vibrant sea fan growth and bommies that are perfect for exploration. The area is also dotted with hidden beaches, ideal for a peaceful evening stroll if you’re looking to unwind before the night dive adventure.
On the penultimate day of our adventure, we’ll start the day with a dive at the Andiamo Dive Site, a perfect way to wrap up your Raja Am pat South Misool journey. Here, you’ll have the chance to spot pygmy Seahorses, hunting giant trevallies, and plenty of barracuda.
The final dive of your trip will conclude at Warna Berwarna Dive Site.where you can look forward to vibrant sea fans, schools of fusiliers, and the iconic Bumphead Parrot Fish.
Our return journey to Sarong is approximately 18 hours depending on currents and prevailing weather conditions. To celebrate an incredible trip, our crew prepares a delicious al fresco dinner. Join us for a night of music and dance as we party the night away!
Today we bid farewell to Raja Am pat as we arrive in Sarong around 5:00am in plenty of time for a morning flight or if you prefer a leisurely morning, guests are welcome to stay onboard until 11:00am and our crew will be on hand to assist you with transportation to your next destination. After breakfast, feel free to take some time to exchange photos and swap contact details, ensuring you stay connected with your new friends and dive buddies!
La Galigo does not guarantee this outlined itinerary, and it is to be considered as a rough guideline. Information compiled here is based on past trips we have conducted, and includes common dive sites and routes we often visit. Weather and sea conditions in the area can be unpredictable, and La Galigo retains the right to alter an itinerary from advice of the shipʼs captain, cruise director, or owner for the safety of the vessel, its passenger and crew.
Discover unforgettable marine life and pristine landscapes with La Galigo Liveaboard!
