Jan 20 – Jan 29, 2027

This trip offers an incredible journey through the heart of Raja Ampat, starting with the massive schools of fish in the Dampier Strait and culminating in the pristine reefs and dramatic karst islands of Misool. Trip Highlights: • Central Raja Ampat (Dampier Strait): Huge schools of fish, manta rays, wobbegong sharks, and massive biodiversity. • Misool: World-class soft coral reefs, stunning sea fans, unique topography, and a high concentration of pygmy seahorses. • Topside Scenery: The iconic limestone karst formations of both Piaynemo (Central) and Misool. • Biodiversity: This route is in the heart of the "Coral Triangle," home to the highest marine biodiversity on Earth. • Topside Excursions: On Jelajahi Laut we like to include a number of land excursions depending on weather and time, which can possibly include Kali Biru (Blue River), Birds of Paradise trek, Piaynemo Viewpoint, Love Lagoon, Batanta Waterfall or a Beach BBQ. 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 a chance to relax and enjoy the cruise out to Raja Ampat before getting ready to enjoy your first dive to get acquainted with the gear and the local conditions. • Possible Dive Sites: Begin in the Dampier Strait at a site like Saonek Kecil, where you can witness vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life, possibly followed by a night dive depending on conditions. Days 2-3: The Dampier Strait - Fish Capital • Dedicate these two days to exploring the most famous and fish-dense sites of Central Raja Ampat. • Possible Dive Sites: o Cape Kri: Holds the world record for the most fish species 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 Blue Magic: A submerged pinnacle known for attracting reef mantas, schooling barracudas, and sometimes the rare wobbegong shark. Day 4-5: Fam Islands - Piaynemo • Jelajahi Laut will cruise west to the stunning Fam Islands, a must-see for their topside scenery and beautiful reefs. • 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. • Topside Excursion: A gentle trek to the iconic viewpoint at Piaynemo, where you can take a photo of the famous star-shaped lagoon. Days 6-9: South to Misool - The Coral Kingdom • Jelajahi Laut will make her way south, into the spectacular Misool region. This is the heart of the trip and where you will spend the most time. • Possible Dive Sites: o Fiabacet, Nudi Rock, and Whale Rock: A series of interconnected dive sites known for their vibrant soft corals, large schools of fish, and stunning underwater topography. o Boo Window: Famous for a distinctive swim-through with a big hole in the reef that looks out to the blue water. o Daram Islands: Home to unique sites like Andiamo and Candy Store, offering an explosion of colour and macro life. o Magic Mountain: A seamount known for attracting large numbers of schooling fish and pelagics. • Topside Excursion: Visit the famous viewpoint to see the iconic limestone karst islands and jellyfish lake that Misool is known for. Day10: Northbound Journey • We’ll commence our journey back north towards Sorong and end the trip in Sorong Harbour. 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 our Misool trips, depending on conditions, we can also do the reverse route and directly head south at the start of the trip, before heading north into Central Raja Ampat. For this reason, you will need to book your flights for the day after the final day. 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, for our Misool trips, depending on conditions, we may also do the reverse route, heading directly south at the start of the trip, before heading north into Central Raja Ampat with our last dive in the morning of the final day of the trip, and we will arrive back at Sarong Harbour around 4pm. For this reason, you will need to book your flights for the day after the final day, 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 Sorong Airport (SOQ).