Snorkeling Raja Ampat

Head off the map with us into the Raja Ampat archipelago, one of the most phenomenal snorkeling destinations on the planet, renowned for its pristine reefs and marine biodiversity. The snorkeling is outrageous and the setting is jaw-droppingly beautiful. We've chartered a 100-foot Indonesian schooner to get you to the best spots in these remote islands. Shallow reef systems make for idyllic snorkeling, and the underwater universe supports an astonishing diversity of species. We'll also explore the dramatic limestone islands themselves, with their aquamarine lagoons and rare birds. This is the perfect experience of a paradise in the Coral Triangle!

Itinerary

Days 1-3
Sorong / Waisai / Dampier Strait / Penemu 
Boarding our boat in Waisai, near Sorong, we head out for snorkeling adventures in amazing ecosystems, from shallow bays with rare shrimp gobies and nudibranchs to underwater limestone rock islands covered with tunicates, sponges, and corals. Sailing into the Dampier Strait, we snorkel on Friwinbonda Island, where the hard coral reefs teem with reef fish. En route to Mansuar Island, we have our first chance to snorkel with large schools of barracudas and turtles and over soft corals. On Penemu on the western edge of the Dampier Strait, our anchorage is in a beautiful bay surrounded by vertical limestone cliffs. We can climb up to a viewpoint for our first panorama of the jungle-draped rock islands of the region. 

 
Days 4-5
Wayag Island 
After snorkeling on Eagle Rock in search of manta rays and wobbegongs, we sail to Wayag, listening for the sound of our ship's horn as we cross the equator. Wayag is absolutely stunning, the ultimate "dream island" setting of jungle-covered rock outcrops and waters of every imaginable shade of blue and green. We drift-snorkel along the lagoon channels, beachcomb on the deserted white-sand beaches, and tour the hidden lagoons by dinghy in search of orchids, juvenile sharks, and rays. 

Day 6 
Uranie Island 
Our anchorage at Uranie is in a stunning beach-lined bay with small rock islands and reefs. We snorkel the reefs and make an optional short scramble up the limestone to the top of the island for a spectacular 360-degree view of Uranie Bay and Raja Ampat's beautiful waters. There is plenty of opportunity to kayak, beachcomb, or birdwatch in the outer beaches of the bay.

 
Days 7-8
Alyui Bay 
At Alyui Bay, we enter the mysterious world of invertebrates as we drift through forest-lined waterways. We enjoy a beautiful sunset in this scenic bay, listening to the chorus of parrots, hornbills, and herons as they come home to rest at night. Our snorkel in "Spooky Channel," with its towering limestone walls, is a drift through an abundance of soft corals and sea fans. We hop in the dinghy to explore the diversity of marine life, hidden lagoons, and mangroves.  

Days 9-12
Waigeo Island / Gam Island 
Cruising the lagoons, we visit mangroves and snorkel the passage separating Waigeo and Gam Island, first discovered by the British naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace, one of the "forgotten fathers" of the theory of natural selection and evolution. We can explore more by kayak or dinghy for a different perspective of this tropical paradise. The islands of Waigeo and Batanta are home to the Wilson's bird-of-paradise and the red bird-of-paradise, both found only here, as well as hundreds of other bird species. Depart on Day 12 via Sorong.