Apr 29 – May 11, 2027

This itinerary takes you from the heart of Raja Ampat's "Coral Triangle" to the "Muck Diving Capital of the World." The first half of the trip focuses on the stunning reef ecosystems of Raja Ampat, including the southern region of Misool. The second half is a transitional phase through the Halmahera Sea, before ending with the famous muck diving of Lembeh Strait. Trip Highlights: • Raja Ampat: Huge schools of fish, manta rays, wobbegong sharks, pristine soft and hard corals, and breathtaking topside scenery. • Misool: The most spectacular soft coral gardens in the world, with vibrant reefs and rich marine biodiversity. • Halmahera Sea: A chance to see a mix of pelagics and unique macro life in a less-dived region. • Lembeh Strait: The ultimate destination for macro photographers, with a seemingly endless list of rare and unusual critters. Sample Itinerary Day 1: Arrival & First Dives in Sorong/Dampier Strait • We will organise a taxi to collect you from Sorong Airport (SOQ) or your hotel, taking you to our meeting point, Marina Star Café in Sorong Harbour at 7:30am. • After a tea or coffee while we wait for all our guests, we’ll transfer you to Jelajahi Laut. • We’ll give you our welcome briefing and a tour around the boat, then you’ll get ready to enjoy your first check dive to get acquainted with the gear and the local conditions. • Possible Dive Sites: Begin in the Dampier Strait at a site like Mioskon, where you can witness vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life. Days 2-3: Central Raja Ampat - The Dampier Strait & Fam Islands • Your first dives will be in the famed Dampier Strait, known for its incredible fish density and strong currents. • Possible Dive Sites: o Cape Kri: Holds a record for the most fish species counted on a single dive. Expect barracudas, jacks, and various reef sharks. o Sardine Reef: Another fish-packed site, with schooling fusiliers, snappers, and mobula rays. o Manta Sandy: A dedicated manta ray cleaning station where you can observe these majestic creatures. • We'll also visit the stunning karst formations of the Fam Islands, with a trek to the iconic viewpoint at Piaynemo. • Possible Dive Sites: o Melissa’s Garden: A beautiful hard coral reef that resembles a sprawling underwater garden. o Keruo Channel: A sloping reef with excellent coral coverage and opportunities for pelagic sightings. Days 4-7: Misool - The Southern Kingdom • Jelajahi Laut will cruise south to the Misool Marine Protected Area. This area is famous for its vibrant soft corals and dramatic underwater topography. • Possible Dive Sites: o Boo Windows: Named for the two swim-through holes in a small rock formation. Incredible biodiversity and a great site for wide-angle photography. o Magic Mountain: A submerged pinnacle that serves as a busy cleaning station for both reef and oceanic manta rays. It's also a nursery for white-tip reef sharks. o Nudi Rock: A small island shaped like a nudibranch, perfect for critter enthusiasts and macro photographers. Look for pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, and other small marine life. o Fiabacet: A series of pinnacles and ridges with phenomenal soft corals, huge schools of fish, and a chance to see wobbegong sharks. o Daram Island: Another Misool hotspot with impressive coral walls and submerged pinnacles teeming with life. • Topside Excursion: Visit the famous viewpoint to see the iconic limestone karst islands and jellyfish lake that Misool is known for. Days 8-10: Crossing the Halmahera Sea • We’ll begin our crossing from Raja Ampat to Lembeh, a long distance that involves some overnight cruising. This portion of the trip is less dived and offers a mix of reef and muck diving. • Possible Dive Sites: o Pulau Pisang: Remote islands between Misool and Halmahera with sloping reefs full of both soft and hard corals. A great spot for schooling fish. o Strait of Patintie (Halmahera): This area is known for strong currents and amazing action, with a chance to see manta rays and other large pelagics. o Goraici Islands: A group of islands with diverse dive sites, including submerged pinnacles and pristine coral gardens. o Tifore Island: A small island with a submerged reef known for schooling barracudas and bigeye trevally. Days 11-13: Lembeh Strait - The Muck Diving Mecca • Our final destination is the famous Lembeh Strait, where the focus shifts from reefs to the volcanic black sand bottoms. This is a haven for macro photographers and critter hunters. • Possible Dive Sites: o Nudibranch City: A site dedicated to a wide variety of nudibranchs and other small invertebrates. o Hairball: A classic muck dive site known for frogfish, scorpionfish, and the elusive mimic octopus. o Tanjung Kusu: A site with unique macro critters, including various species of ghost pipefish and seahorses. o Jahir: A black sand slope where you can find flamboyant cuttlefish, ribbon eels, and blue-ringed octopus. o Critter Hunt: Our guides are experts at finding the most unusual and well-camouflaged creatures. Important This is a sample itinerary only; the final route may vary. Weather and tides play a big role in safety and planning, which is why the Cruise Director and Captain plan every day accordingly. For any special requests, please don’t hesitate to contact us beforehand or chat with the Cruise Director on the boat. *Please note: Before booking your return flight, our last dive will be on the final day of the trip, and we will arrive back at Bitung Harbour around 3-4pm – please observe the 24-hour no-fly surface interval. Upon arrival at the harbour, we will organise a transfer for you to take you to your hotel, you’ll need to get your return flight from Manado Airport (MDC).