Raja Ampat - Halmahera - Lembeh Strait - Indonesia Liveaboards

~5 Star Dive Reviews ~
Divers from our 2005, 2006 & 2007 trips created reports on Undercurrent.
If you would like a copy of their comments, please send us an email so we can
tell you how to find them. Both gave our trips 5 stars in all appropriate categories.

New!2009Schedule for Raja Ampat, Halmahera, Lembeh Liveaboard Charters

Nitrox available on SMY Ondina


Raja Ampat Reef and Rainforest

Underwater Photography Trips
2009 Raja Ampat - Halmahera - Lembeh Strait Trip

2009 dates:

May 8-20
Sorong to Lembeh
 
Cost per person: $4095
 
WHAT: Liveaboard Dive Trip focused on underwater photography
WHERE: Cruise through the islands of Raja Ampat, the islands west of Halmahera. Includes Lembeh Strait.
HOW: Indonesian liveaboard "SMY Ondina" with extra dives, services, menu, and special itinerary
WHY: These one-way dive trip visits some of the best areas for diving in Indonesia, including Raja Ampat's Dampier Strait, Kofiau, Banca and Halmahera's Gorachi islands, and Lembeh Strait.
COST: $4095 per person, boat only. Inquire for air flights. more info
email us about
Halmahera Liveaboard trips
 
 
Images & Photo Galleries
Raja Ampat Liveaboard Pictures
   
2008 Raja Ampat / Halmahera / Lembeh Liveaboard Trip
 


May 8-20, 2009, 12 nights /12 days
$4095pp + fuel surcharge and fees

This trip starts in Sorong and finishes in Bitung (Lembeh Strait / Manado, North Sulawesi)

Halmahera liveaboard map
Fly between Manado and Sorong, Liveaboard visits Sorong, Raja Ampat, Halmahera via Kofiau,
through Banca and Goraichi islands to Lembeh Strait.

Banda Sea liveaboard tripLike our Raja Ampat trips, this trip will offer extra diving and special services and will we will organize and accompany the trip to ensure things go smoothly.

The trip will concentrate mostly on the diving around Halmahera. We start in Sorong and after diving around the Dampier Straits, take a different route than our normal Raja Ampat trips. We will dive Kofiau. Fish diversity is high throughout Raja Ampat. Kofiau consistently has one of the highest species counts per site (a remarkable average of 228 species as counted by Nature Conservancy’s REA in 2002). For underwater and above water beauty Kofiau ranks in the top 3 areas for Raja Ampat.

Banda Sea, Koon Island Manta and Sea Whips, liveaboard tripHalmahera - Leaving Kofiau, we dive our way around the southern end of Halmahera and up the west coast through the Goriachi Islands for fish packed reefs, corals said to rival those of Raja Ampat plus sharks and pelagics. We'll expect some macro/muck diving as well.

Halmahera is a fairly new destination. SMY Ondina will be explored the area with the Spanish Geological Society in 2007.

The trip will finish up in Lembeh Strait with muck diving.

As an add-on to this liveaboard trip, book some diving at Lembeh Strait.

The ship can drop you at any resort in Lembeh, so no drying, packing or surface interval for flying required! We offer an add-on to this trip at a small resort on Lembeh Strait with exellent diving, private guides, 5 boats, 6 cottages for 11 divers, plus great views and food. This Lembeh Trip is limited to 9 guests. Please inquire even if you only want to join the group for the land-based Lembeh diving.

If you are interested please email us about the Raja -Ampat - Halmahera - Lembeh Strait dive trip so that we can inform you of the exact details and answer any questions.

The ship is spending some time in Halmahera in 2008, so we will have more information as the year progresses.

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A few comments from the 2005 Raja Ampat group:

Undercurrent: Two divers from our 2005 trips created reports on Undercurrent. If you would like a copy of their comments, please send us an email so we can tell you how to find them. Both gave our trips 5 stars in all appropriate categories.

"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!"  
Don, expert uw photographer from Australia

"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.

BTW, Deb is not only a great organizer, she has a great photographic eye and is an extremely accomplished uw photographer in her own right. Unless you are a troublemaker who doesn't play well with others (in which case Deb reserves the right to send you home), I wholeheartedly recommend her trips. You'll get more than your money's worth."
Bruce, Intermediate uw photographer from USA

"I like Deb's trips because she doesn't have to be nice to anybody."
Hal, uw photographer from USA
(Deb says "I take his meaning that there are no favorites, cliques or "sensitive" personalities that are catered to on these trips." )

"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>"
Jerome, expert uw photographer from Ireland

 

While we do not offer instruction (except for beginners and some assistance with intermediate composition, lighting, etc.) we do offer a well-organized trip with all the details worked out.

We strive to include only compatible divers & photographers on our trips so that everyone has a great time as well as brings home great photos.

Over the past 14 years of arranging dive trips for groups to Indonesia, the Caribbean and the Philippines, we've learned a great deal about what most photographers want from a dive trip... i.e. 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, want to hog photo subjects found by the guides 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!

 

Wayag photos, Raja Empat, Diving SorongAbout the Diving:

Water Temp : The water temperature will be variable. Ranging from a possible 78°F to 86°F. A 3mm suit is recommended with layering (vest) and hood suggested. 1mm can be worn by most divers in Raja Ampat.

Liveaboard Travel: Will be variable. Some islands are far apart, others very close together. Some days we will stay at anchor overnight, and a few nights will involve a long 10-14 hour cruise.

Conditions: This trip covers long distances. For at least 3 nights we will be traveling overnight in open seas. Expect some rolling. The season should be relatively dry and calm.

Wide Angle Photography: Raja Ampat and west Halmahera will provide ample wide angle possiblities with fabulous corals and fish.

Macro Photography: This trip includes a variety of places for macro photography and concludes (or for April 30, begins) at Lembeh Strait, which is world-famous for its macro / muck diving.

Current: While there is a lot of current on certain sites, we do NOT want or plan to drift and try to take photos. We do NOT want guests to be struggling with camera gear in strong currents.

 
About the Liveaboard:

 

SMY Ondina Indonesia LIveaboardnew Nitrox now available on SMY Ondina

SMY Ondina is a 7 year old Indonesian traditional Pinisi ship specifically designed and outfitted exclusively for diving. It was upgraded in 2007.

(BTW the sail color is traditional.. not dirty.)

 

We have separate webpages with medium size photos, boat specs and amenities.. be sure to look at the photo gallery and read the captions.

SMY Ondina - Raja Ampat Liveaboard Details & Pictures

 

Availability & Cost:

 

2009: 12 night / 12 day Raja Ampat - Halmahera - Lembeh Resort Liveaboard Trip

Trip full, but ask to be waitlisted.

Ask about guaranteed single cabins (limited availabilty).

May 8-20, 2009
The above are dates aboard the ship.

Dive cruise includes:

  • 3-4+ dives per day (except possibly first and last days)
  • 4 meals per day + afternoon snack, 24 hr. free snacks, tea, coffee & bottled water
  • accommodations on the ship in private cabin with ensuite bath (double occupancy)
  • transfers between the airport and ship in Sorong and Bitung (Lembeh) to Manado airport
  • ship fees and taxes
  • your choice of aluminum or steel tank, air fills, weights & weight belt
Two guaranteed single cabins are available on the cruise at a small extra charge. Please enquire for availability and price.

Not included:

  • air travel (Sorong-Manado is about US$160pp)
  • fuel surcharge of $150pp & Raja Ampat diver tag if needed
  • any additional fuel surcharge added after the Oct. 2005 increase
  • individual tourist fees imposed by authorities in Indonesia diving areas
  • crew gratuities
  • massage
  • dive gear rental, E-6 processing, CD downloads, etc.
  • alcoholic beverages & extra soft drinks other than those provided at meals

more about the Indonesia liveaboard ship

 

How to Get to Indonesia for the Raja Ampat - Halmahera - Lembeh Strait Liveaboard trip

 

These trips travel between Sorong and Lembeh Strait.. The best choice for an International flight is into Manado (MDC). Lembeh Strait (where we board the ship) is a 1 hour drive from Manado. Flights from Manado to Sorong are once or twice daily.

International flights to Manado, Indonesia connect through Singapore, Hong Kong, and other countries. Usually an overnight in Manado is required before going on to Sorong to meet the ship. Two or three nights is recommended so that you are not tired for your liveaboard diving..

We will organize these flights for you, book any hotel overnights you require and arrange for you to be met at the airport in Manado and transferred to and from your hotel. Since people come from all over the world for our trips, we are not all traveling together but do tend to meet in Manado, Singapore, Bali, LAX, JFK, etc. on the inbound trip. It is normal for single travelers to meet others, share a room or a side trip before or after the liveaboard trip.

Transfers between the airport and ship are included in the package price. Note any hotel overnights and air travel are not included in the trip price.

We are not travel agents but will assist you organize your travel which you will purchase directly from an airline wholesaler or an agent in Indonesia (through us).

You can use frequent flyer miles to Singapore (or other destinations) to decrease the cost of your dive trip. You should carefully check the cost of additional flights as its possible this might not be a good use of your frequent flier miles unless you can get all the way to Indonesia on them.

We have an arrangement for air tickets with Singpore Airlines from the USA to Indonesia with very good prices and terms.

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 Raja Ampat - Halmahera - Lembeh Strait trips

 

If you are interested in this trip we REALLY must speak with you about it to determine whether this trip will be suitable for you. So, please call or schedule for us to call you.

817.626.0636

 

Deb Fugitt

Images & Info from Many of the Areas We Will Visit:
new2004 Raja Ampat Trip Galleries
Raja Ampat Underwater Pictures, Irian Jaya Gallery 1
Raja Ampat Diving West Papau Gallery 2
Scuba Globe feature article on Raja Ampat Diving
Scuba Globe Raja Ampat Photography Portfolio
 
Indonesia Liveaboard Pictures & Info

 

 

raja ampat diving raja ampat liveaboards irian diving trips pygmy seahorse pictures underwater photography trips underwater photography sorong indonesia