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| 2008 Dive Trip Schedule - book early (especially for single cabins!) | ||
| 2007 Trips FULL | ||
| Change pages to see availability on trips below | ||
| April 23- 30 | Lembeh Strait Photography Trip | |
| April 30- May 12 | Raja Ampat Indonesia Dive Trip 12 nights | |
| May 16 - 28 | Raja Ampat - Halmahera - Lembeh Diving Trip | |
| May 28 - June 4 | Divers Lodge Lembeh Strait Photography Trip | |
| Oct 30 - Nov 11 | Raja Ampat Indonesia Dive Trip | |
| Nov 13 - Nov 24 | Raja Ampat Indonesia Dive Trip | |
| - all year - | Indonesia Liveaboard Schedule | |
| - all year - | Bird Watching Trips Papau, Indonesia / New Guinea Island / Irian Jaya | |
luxury liveaboard trip for photography
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Irian Jaya Liveaboard Trips |
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| 2007 Trips SOLD OUT | ||
| 2008 Trips | ||
| Change pages to see availability on trips below | ||
2008 Trips:
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see also Lembeh Strait Photo Trips Raja Ampat, Sorong - Sorong: Sorong - Halmahera - Lembeh: |
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| WHERE: | Raja Ampat Islands, Irian Jaya (West Papua) Indonesia.. the far west end of New Guinea Island | |
| HOW: | Indonesian liveaboard "SMY Ondina" with extra dives, services, menu, and special itinerary | |
| WHY: | Special trips dedicated to producing top quality photos, escorted by experienced Irian Jaya guides, limited participation. | |
| email us about Raja Ampat Liveaboard trips |
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| Images & Photo Galleries | ||
| new2004 Irian Jaya Trip Photo Galleries | ||
| Irian Jaya Underwater Pictures, Irian Jaya Gallery 1 |
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| Irian Jaya Diving West Papau Gallery 2 |
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| SMY Ondina - Irian Jaya Liveaboard Pictures |
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A few comments from the 2005 group: "I just wanted to thank you for a really great trip - one of the very best I have ever done and from a photographic viewpoint, the most productive ever!" "I've been on two of Deb's trips - one to St. Vincent and one the past few weeks with her in Raja Ampat. I organize charters myself, and the reason I've gone with her (and expect to again in the future) is that she simply constructs and runs outstanding uw photo trips. She goes out of her way to think of every detail, and directs the dive operators she uses so as to maximize photo opportunities for her groups. For example, I saw far more critters in St. Vincent in a week with her than I did in more than two weeks on a private charter I did in that area with my own group. Likewise, I had far more and better photo opp's in Raja Ampat on this trip last week than on a charter of the same length there that I organized earlier this year. I realize that this makes it sound like the trips I organize are crappy, and that's really not the case; it's just that Deb's trips are really a cut above. "I like Deb's trips because she doesn't have to be nice to anybody." "I have only good things to say about the trip you organised. The diving was even better than expected. The crew and the boat were excellent, the food was a joy. I had a lot of laughs with Ricard, David and Co. I'd go back any day. I would have liked to stay longer in Misool, maybe an extra day, but that's a personal preference, I had never seen coral like this before (even after 5 trips to the Maldives, and the Maldives is great believe me). I am very suprised we didn't see more sharks, you never said sharks was not on the menu <joke>"
About Our 2004 Irian Jaya Dive Trips Our two Nov/Dec 2004 trips were a success! Our method of diving for photos appealed to the participants as did the special menu, extra dives, services and the improvements to the ship we requested for our trips. We don't want to give away all our secrets, so after reading our web pages, send us an email or give us a call so we can tell you all the details. In summary, everyone loved the ship. Many said it was the best organized liveaboard for diving they'd seen. Our special menu was a hit.. again, many said it was the best liveaboard food they'd ever had.. even comparing it favorably to luxury land-based resort restaurants. And the cabins... we did have a problem with AC, which the company went all out to get fixed during our first trip, but other than that, all the divers really liked the cabins. They were spacious, clean and comfortable.. coming out on top or other Indonesian liveaboard for the functionality. Kudos to Ricard for his design of the ship's interior (that's everything inside the hull. What will we change for 2005? Not much. Perhaps dive a bit less in the areas of stronger current, and add on some time at one of the favorite sites for macro... I thought we might have a rebellion when we left that site having done only 5-7 dives each on it. We'll be better organized with SMY Ondina's crew and our special guides for 2005. The first year we all work together takes some time. We all see ways to make the 2005 trips ever better.
The TRIP: Healthy reefs, unusual reef structures and dive sites. Unusual dive sites and the most diverse marine life area ever recorded. Huge schools of fish: barracuda, surgeonfish, fusiliers, batfish, sweetlips... macro creatures: blue-ring octopus, pygmy seahorses, double ended pipefish, shrimp gobies, nudibranchs, and loads of reef fish. Beautiful unspoiled topside scenery. This is a trip you will never forget. About US and the TRIP: We've spent over 27 weeks creating images on 4+ dives per day in Irian Jaya over the past 7 years and know the reefs and conditions necessary for optimal image making. This will be the 9th & 10th trip we've made with a group. Irian Jaya (Papua) is where we want to go for our diving holiday, so join us and find out why. Since 1999, Deb has written several dive magazine articles, created the Irian Diving / Papua Diving website, has contributed photos to dive magazines in Asia, the USA and UK, has presented shows at DEMA, Seaspace and UPS club meetings and wrote the Raja Ampat section of the Periplus Guide to Diving in Asia.
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While our guides in Irian Jaya have been excellent at finding the reefs, they have not been aware of the conditions photographers' need in order to create outstanding images. We've worked it out.. although with much arguing and stamping of feet. We've dived many of Irian Jaya's best sites dozens of times and we've explored by small boat many areas that our liveaboard trip will visit. This will NOT be an exploration trip. Although we will try a few new sites. We don't believe photographers should spend this much money and their time searching for places where they might get a decent photo.
We strive to include only compatible divers & photographers on our trips so that everyone has a great time as well as bring home great photos. Over the past 10 years of escorting our own groups to Indonesia, the Caribbean and the Philippines, we've learned a great deal about what most photographers want from a dive trip... ie great diving, freedom to get that perfect shot, good tasty food, comfortable accommodations, stable electrical supplies ! and a congenial group to share the big finds and photo conversations. We do screen our guests, and require they behave themselves while on our trip... so if you are grumpy, and your desire is to be unhappy and let others know, .. please find another trip. We receive heaps of praise for our organized trips. References readily available from previous trip members!
WATER TEMP: The water temperature is 1mm neoprene or polartec diving, usual temperature is 84-86F with an occasional "chilly" 82F spot. We've had no problem with cold when diving 4 -7 long dives per day. TRAVEL: These islands are very close together. We plan not to make long journeys, but to keep the boat in an area for several days and dive the sites surrounding that area as conditions (current, angle of the sun, time of day) provide the best photo ops on a site. We aren't crossing oceans, we're here to see the marine life and get those images. CONDITIONS: Oct/Nov is the best season for diving the area. The seas are typically flat.. like glass in some areas. Through the surface, split images and surface reflection shots are often possible. WIDE ANGLE: There are VERY unique formations and unusually large schools of fish that make this an excellent area for wide angle photography. Again the trick is getting into the right spot at the right time. Sometimes this means you must be able to descend quickly to get down and out of the current. MACRO: Can be done on nearly every site.. if you just ignore all the fish... We have several sites that we particularly like for macro. The silty bays, although not "clean" have abundant and unusual macro life. No pollution though.. only clean dirt out here. We always see blue-ring octopus, pygs (pygmy seahorses), nudibranchs.. there are unusual small fish, a newly discovered species of bamboo shark.. the ever present anemone fish.... we've seen a lot of the allied cowries on the soft corals.. really just too much to name.. please ask about macro. CURRENT: While there is a lot of current on certain sites, we do NOT want or plan to drift and try to take photos (with one exception). We do NOT want guests to be struggling with camera gear in strong currents. If you don't know how to dive in current, let us teach you.. that is the #1 specialty that doesn't get taught. We've noticed that many divers are afraid of current simply because they do not know how to deal with it.
About the Liveaboard in Irian Jaya:
SMY Ondina is a 7 year old Indonesian traditional Pinisi ship specifically designed and outfitted exclusively for diving. Ondina has run trips in Raja Ampat for 7 years. We have separate pages with medium size photos, boat specs and amenities.. be sure to look at the photo gallery and read the captions : SMY Ondina - Irian Jaya Liveaboard Details & Pictures Trips limited to 12 guests ! 2007 Dates SOLD OUT 2008 Dates: Change pages to see availability on trips below April 30 - May 12, 12 nts, Sorong - Sorong Oct 30- Nov 10; 11 nts, Sorong - Sorong: $3655
Not included:
Please note that due to the doubling of fuel prices in Indonesia Oct. 2005, a fuel surcharge of $150 per person currently applies to this trip. All liveaboards and dive operations in Indonesia have increased trip prices or are adding a surcharge to cover the increase. Read the fine print, conditions and change pages to find these costs which are covered as fuel surcharges, port fees, etc. (our's too! See above)
TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR THIS TRIP: Please read our terms & conditions page prior to sending a deposit.
call us in Texas at 817-626-0636 for information or email us about Irian Jaya Liveaboard trips
If you are interested in this trip we REALLY must speak with you about it There is no way to emphasize how special this area is or whether this trip will be suitable for you without some detailed communication. So, please call!
Deb Fugitt & Tony Matheis
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Magazine article on Irian Jaya Diving
