Kaimana - Triton Bay
- October to May
- Snorkeling
- DIN Valve & Intl. Converter
- Diving
- 13+ Days
Welcome to Kaimana Regency, “Kingdom of the Fishes!” Triton Bay is one of the three regions in Indonesia’s West Papua province that comprise the Bird’s Head Seascape. The other two are Raja Ampat and Cenderawasih Bay, which is now considered by marine biologists to be the epicenter of the Coral Triangle and which contains more fish and coral species than anywhere else on the planet. The area offers everything from the tiniest pygmy seahorses to large and graceful whale sharks! Almost all of the marine creatures found in other parts of Indonesia, too numerous to list, can be found here. Signature dive sites count Christmas Rock, Bo’s Rainbow, White Rock and many more…!
“Of all the tropical reefs we have seen in our combined 70 years of diving, Triton Bay is near the top of our list for fish diversity, soft corals and topside scenery” – Burt Jones & Maurine Shimlock – Secret Sea Visions
Kaimana - Triton Bay
October to May
13 Days From € 3200 / Person
10 Dives From € 400 / Person
(Based on double occupancy)
(All Flights Included)
Overview
Step back in time and imagine what Indonesia was like 40 years ago. This is how locals from other parts of the country describe the region of Kaimana and Triton Bay.
Still unspoiled by shopping malls and traffic jams.
In 2008 the Kaimana Regency was declared a Marine Protected Area and our resort is just minutes from some of the best dives sites in Triton Bay and the Iris Strait. With only a few liveaboards ever reaching this area you will be one of only a very few to experience the wonders that lay beneath the waves in Triton Bay!
The marine biodiversity here is second to none and continues to surprise us with new finds every time we go diving. Dubbed by some as “the next frontier of Indonesian diving” and the “last best place”, Triton Bay offers something for everyone both above and below the waves. And best of all you will be one of only a few divers enjoying the waters in this very remote area.
Located approximately 30 nautical miles from the town of Kaimana in the Indonesian province of West Papua, previously known as Irian Jaya, on the western part of the island of New Guinea.
Triton Bay Divers is the only dive resort in the area. Choose between Deluxe Seaview, Standard Seaview or Garden View Bungalows. We aim to offer a very personalized service and a holiday never to be forgotten in a remote paradise.
Intro
The marine biodiversity here is second to none and continues to surprise us with new finds every time we go diving. Dubbed by some as “the next frontier of Indonesian diving” and the “last best place”, Triton Bay offers something for everyone both above and below the waves. And best of all you will be one of only a few divers enjoying the waters in this very remote area.
The area offers everything from the tiniest pygmy seahorses to large and graceful whale sharks visiting the traditional fishing bagans.
We have also seen pods of dolphins and marlin around these platforms. In addition, the region boasts a number of species found nowhere else, such as the elusive Triton Bay walking shark (Hemiscyllium henryi), and the beautiful P. Nursalim flasher wrasse, which outside of Triton Bay can only be found in Misool, south Raja Ampat.
Soft Coral Capital
Triton Bay is becoming best known for its beautiful soft coral gardens and we have had guests suggest that this should be called the “soft coral capital of the world” with all due respect to Fiji.
Most of our dive sites are in and around the Iris Strait (the body of water between Aiduma Island and the mainland) just south east of Triton Bay. For the majority of our dives it is not necessary to venture deeper than 20m as the shallower parts boast the best coral and fish action. Unfortunately the price we pay for the speculator soft corals gardens and masses of schooling fish of every shape, color and size, is reduced visibility which varies considerably, but averages around 10 ~ 15 meters.
The Whalesharks
One of Triton Bay’s biggest draws are the whale sharks, which are present year round.
Just as in Cenderawasih Bay, the whale sharks here are attracted to the anchovies and other baitfish caught by the bagans (floating fishing platforms). There are a few locations around Kaimana Regency where the bagans operate, and they can be over an hour away from the resort.
Due to various factors, the bagans are not always operating or may be fishing for other kinds of fish so not every bagan will attract whale sharks.
Bagans operate at night, turning on their lights and lifting their nets usually well before sunrise when they are full. For this reason, trips to see the whale sharks always start early in the morning as we try to get there as soon as possible after the nets have been lifted. Empty nets don’t keep whale sharks around.
This is also the reason why the days around the full moon are not good for fishing – the bright moon light means that baitfish aren’t likely to congregate around the bagan’s lights – and therefore not ideal for seeing whale sharks.
Favourite Dive Sites
Dive sites range from pinnacles to shallow soft coral gardens, huge boulders draped in colorful corals, massive black coral bushes, drift and wall dives, as well as the opportunity for critter hunting. We have over 30 dive sites already identified here and many more yet to explore.
The better known of these sites were discovered by the Conservation International survey team in 2006, but there are a few that we like to think are known only to us! Indeed, the region is so rarely visited that we are still doing exploratory dives!
Saruenus Island: Locally nicknamed “Pintu Arus”/”Pulau Arus” (current island), this small island is just 5 minutes boat ride from our resort and offers diving experiences that will blow your mind!
The most well known dive site is Little Komodo where the huge boulders nearly break the surface with soft corals and schools of anthias, damsel fish, and fusiliers. Deeper down, schools of sweetlips and snapper hang out in the black coral bushes, hunting jacks as well as wobbegong can also be found here. If you are in the mood for some macro photography, you can also find a number of different species of pygmy seahorses as well as nudis and shrimp. When the currents are playing nicely, you can gently drift along a beautiful soft coral covered wall and end your dive in the “Aquarium”.
Aquarium is best dived in the morning when the waters are nice, calm and glassy on top to make the most of your reflection shots. Its a small dive site but boasts beautiful soft coral bommies and loads of schooling fish.
If you are looking for a little more action (conditions permitting) you can enjoy a drift dive along the western side at Pintu Arus! But beware currents can get crazy with eddies and timing on this dive site is everything! The soft coral gardens cover the wedding cake tiered reef like a carpet and is totally mind blowing! You can often be joined on the dive by giant grouper checking you out as well as schools of fusilier and anthias playing in the current! Note to self: if the fish can’t swim against the current you definitely can’t! But its fun to watch. Reef hooks might be a good option on this dive!
Bo’s Rainbow: Another dive site very close to our resort is Bo’s Rainbow , which has huge soft coral covered boulders with schools of fish. A relatively shallow dive, bottoming out into a gentle sandy slope at 16 meters it is perfect for both wide angle (especially when the sun is shinning) or macro. There is also a shallow swim through cutting through the middle of the island. If there is strong current, divers can stay within the protected side of the island. With no current you can easily swim around the entire island.
White Rock and Macro Rocks: White Rock can be dived day or night and should be named Candy Crab City!!! Covered with soft coral bushes it is a gentle sloping reef bottoming out at around 14 meters. This is mainly a macro site but we have also spotted wobbegong sharks and frogfish on this dive site. Macro Rock is mostly white sand bottom down to 20 meters, and is great for subjects like nudibranchs especially early in the season when the water temperature is cooler.
Andy’s Point: This dive site is always full of surprises! Every time we dive it we see something new from yellow fin barracuda, a squadron of Bumphead parrot fish, large schools of anchovies being hunted, devil rays cruising by, wobbegong sharks as well as solar powered nudis and pygmy seahorses. Most notable is that the black coral here may be more prodigious than anywhere else in Triton Bay! Visibility is not the best on this dive site but the rewards are numerous. Currents can be strong so stick with your dive guide.
Batu Jatuh is Indonesian for “Fallen Rocks” and was so named for the massive boulders that rolled into the ocean not long ago. Since then the site seems to get better every year. This one has very large hard coral gardens which every photographer dreams of! It also hosts a large school of bat fish as well as hunting jacks, midnight snapper, bumphead parrot fish and napoleon wrasse. We have had surprise visits from mobula rays, eagle rays as well as the odd manta here so remember to look into the blue while you are diving!
Flasher Beach is located on an island outside of Triton Bay and north-west of Aiduma. It was named because of the beautiful Flasher Wrasse that are seen here. Flasher wrasse are the most colorful of all reef fish and are so named because of the mating displays by males during the late afternoon. This dive site is about 30 minutes ride from our resort and has at least three different species of flasher wrasse.
Triton Bay Divers House Reef: We are really excited to discover some great macro life on both of our house reef sites. Flasher Wrasse, Saron/Marble Shrimp, Harlequin shrimp as well as the LSD/Picturesque dragonet and mandarin fish! We have also spotted bob tail squid, starry octopus and walking sharks on our night dives!!!
Boulders: Just 15 minutes from the resort is a site with yet more large boulders covered with sea fans and soft corals…Beautiful for wide angle with schools of different species of glass fish and fusiliers, the rocks break the surface a low tide. It is also a great site for macro as a number of different species of pygmy seahorses can be found here as well as at the nearby sites of Bagus and Tangga.
Christmas Rock: Another signature dive site, Christmas Rock is a small island near the south of Aiduma. It is not a large dive site, but big bushes of black coral, wonderful soft coral covered bommies, and schools of snappers and surgeonfish can be found here. Better for wide angle photography but sharp eyed dive guides will be able to find some critters here.
Season
Water temperatures vary between 28-30 degrees Celsius during the diving season and drop down to around 24 degrees during the eastern monsoon (June ~ Sept). Note that Triton Bay Divers will be closed during mid-June to mid-September due to seasonal weather.
Please note that visibility can be as low as 5 meters or over 25 meters as it is dependent on weather and currents / upwellings. We try to plan our dives accordingly. A wetsuit of 3 to 5 mm is recommended. If only wearing a 3 mm wetsuit, then a 2 or 3 mm hoodie will provide good extra warmth.
Diver Safety
Triton Bay is remote to the extreme. Although we have emergency oxygen and first aid kits available, guests must be aware that the nearest decompression chamber is in Manado or Ambon (which are day’s travel away) and the nearest hospital is an hour and a half away in Kaimana. As such, SAFETY must be our most important consideration.
– No Decompression diving.
– Safety stop at 50 bar.
– Max dive time: 70 mins (unless otherwise agreed prior to the dive).
– All divers must have his/her own dive computer.
– Divers will not be allowed to dive beyond their certification, please bring your certification cards.
– Practice good buoyancy when diving and do not touch the reefs or any marine animals.
– Divers should be aware of their physical condition when diving (ie., properly rested and hydrated) and have the right to opt out of a dive for any reason whatsoever.
Dive insurance is mandatory for all guests. If you do not have dive insurance, we can recommend Divers Alert Network (DAN) since they handle insurance and can arrange an evacuation if necessary.
Included
Included
- International Flights
- Domestic flights to & from Sorong / West Papua (20 kg’s checked baggage included)
- Domestic flights to & from Kaimana / West Papua (20 kg’s checked baggage included)
- Airport pick-up by private car (Denpasar, Manado or Jakarta International Airports)
- 2 nights in a 4* hotel w/ breakfast
- Airport pick-up by car and boat between Kaimana & Triton Bay
- 14 nights in resort w/ full board and free mineral water + hot water for tea and coffee)
- It is recommended to pre-book the dives in order to get a special “diver’s discount” on the total price
- Full package tour – See the benefits of being covered by the Full Package Act and Regulations here
- *Fee to Rejsegarantifonden
*A Danish Travel Guarantee Fund covering all European citizens in case of bankruptcy: link
Not Included
- “Visa On Arrival” ~ €30
- *Triton Bay Marine Park Fee ~ €30
- Dive Packages
- Tips for the staff
- Airport departure tax ~ €10
- Personal Travel Insurances
- Anything not listed in “Included”
*All divers and non divers visiting Triton Bay are required by the regional government to pay an annual entrance fee for the Marine Park
A Domestic Flight or Along the Way:
Raja Ampat
Pulau Batanta
Explore frontier diving in Central Raja Ampat! Mantas, macro & waterfalls. On the way, as you must go via Sorong in West Papua.
Raja Ampat
Northern Dampier Strait
The most iconic sites of Raja Ampat. Highest marine biodiversity on earth! Along the way, as you must go via Sorong in West Papua.
South Sulawesi
Pulau Selayar
With some of Indonesia’s best reefs and one of the best housereefs found anywhere! Along the way via Makassar.
Central Sulawesi
Tompotika
Ridges, canyons and valleys with complex topography. Giant corals and schools of fish. Needs a short domestic flight.
North Sulawesi
Pulau Bangka
Bounty island, surrounded by soft coral color explosions and pinnacles. Along the way via Manado.
North Maluku
Southern Halmahera
The “newest” place for diving in Indonesia. Remote – primal nature above and below. One domestic flight away with a short stop-over.
Via Sorong / West Papua:
Sorong Airport is on the way to Raja Ampat and often overlooked by travellers. Sorong Regency and the area beyond offers many adventures into the rainforests of Papua where you will find nature and jungle at its best!
We will take you to look for the Lesser Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise and 12-Wired Bird of Paradise. Also you have the chance to see the cassowaries.
If you are interested to explore the rainforests in Sorong Regency the closest site is about 1.5 hours drive by a four wheel jeep from Sorong and a 1.5 hours trek through low-land forest to the base camp. You need to be fit for this trip.
You will need an extra domestic flight from Sorong with a short stopover in Manokwari to reach Nabire. So we recommend to add even more days in West Papua once you are finally there.
Did you know that Papua is one of the few places in the world where you can easily see and swim with whale sharks? These majestic, endangered animals can grow up to 12 meters! It is a special experience to get to swim with these rare, enormous creatures that are known to be very gentle and docile. This is one of Papua’s most exclusive trips!
The mass presence of whale sharks on the coast of Papua can be explained by the activity of fishermen. Over the years, fishermen and whale sharks have gained a mutually beneficial relationship as the sharks are attracted by the fish that escape from the nets or are rejected by the fishermen. On the other hand, the whale sharks offer protection to the fishermen by keeping other predators away. During this tour you will stay with a friendly local Papuan family, giving you a good chance to see the local life style upclose!
We are well-aware that whale sharks are currently listed as a vulnerable species. They are continued to be hunted in other parts of Asia, even though it is now strictly illegal under the international law. In Cenderawasih bay, besides the fishermen, the local people have now also a chance to benefit from the tourism related to seeing these beautiful animals. We actively monitor the safety and professionalism of the swimming activities when we visit them.
If you are an adventurer passionated about nature and wildlife expeditions then this challenging trekking tour into Arfak Mountain of Papua is ideal for you. You will explore the wonderful wildlife that hides in the thick jungle of Papua, including several species of the Birds of Paradise and Tree-kangaroos.
This part of the Arfak Mountains in Papua is untouched by modern development and therefore, very pure and special in its own. Only one small village lies high in these imposing, mountains. It’s surroundings hide a great variety of wildlife which is unique to the world. The terrains are still very untouched so no roads lead to this part of the Arfak Mountains. Therefore, the challenging and thrilling trek to your basic base camp is the only way to get there. You need to have a good physical condition for this tour.
Birds of Paradise and more
- Magnificent Bird of Paradise Playground: 5 minutes walk from village
- Western Parrotia Playground: 1.5 hours walk from village
- Lesser Bird of Paradise Tree Performance: 30 minutes walk from village
- Flame Bowerbird Nest: 1.5 hours from village. 30 minutes from Wester Parrotia
- Bowerbird Nest: 2 hours walk from village
- The Black and Brown Sicklebill: Near Bowerbird’s nest
- Magnificent Riflebird and the Superb Bird of Paradise have been heard.
2 domestic flights to reach this remote part of West Papua!
Be ready to go back in time and walk through the ancient world of the Dani tribes during this trekking tour in the southern part of the Baliem Valley. You go back to the roots of Papua and challenge yourself to meet the most beautiful people in the most fascinating environment.
In 1938 the area of Baliem Valley and its people were discovered and the original Dani and Lani tribes inhabit this beautiful valley still today. This 5 days trekking tour through the southern Baliem Valley offers great and interesting trekking routes and an unforgettable adventure to your soul. A good physical condition is required for this tour. You pass mountainous and isolated area where you will meet friendly tribes that still live according to their own, traditional ways. Although the people have started to wear western clothing, their habits and way of living has not changed much in the last decades. There are no road systems between the villages so to walk is the only option to move around the valley. We take you back to the roots of Papua in a fascinating and pure environment.
Via Manado / North Sulawesi:
Easy to read, only 2 hours drive from Manado. Located at the foot of Dua Saudara Mountain, the Tangkoko Nature Reserve is comprised of rolling hills and valleys with a variety of hardwood trees and unusual plant life. The animal life is also quite varied, and one can often view Tarsius tarsier (one of the smallest known primates), black tailless monkeys, snakes, spiders and kuskus (marsupials). Tangkoko Batuangus Reserve offers a suitable protective environment to help prevent these animals from becoming extinct.
Only one hour away from Tangkoko Nature Reserve (on the way) is Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue and Education Centre (www.tasikoki.org). Here you can observe many unique species from Indonesia, as well as several endemic to Sulawesi. All animals have been rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. When taking a tour of the centre (1.5 hours) you will learn about conservation of wildlife and nature as well as the rampant wildlife trade. After visiting the animals you can enjoy a vegetarian meal (with fish) together with the staff as well as the many volunteers from all over the world.
Price: $45/person as add-on only to a Tangkoko Nature Reserve trip.
Visit the Vihara Buddhayana (Buddhist Temple) near Gardenia Country Inn, then heading for the small village of Woloan, where you can see the Minahasan Style Houses being built, knock down style, ready for delivery or shipping. Then continue to the base of Mount Mahawu where we begin the 1-hour trek to the crater’s edge. From that vantage point we can see Bunaken & Manado Tua Islands, as well as the bay of Manado. At the bottom of the crater, one can observe a steaming lake and experience the smell of sulfur from the pools.
Then it’s off to see the traditional food & flower market in Tomohon, surprises in store for you!
You will have lunch at Tondano Lake, close to the goldfish farm, where you will enjoy the serenity of the lake. Then we travel to Pulutan Village, a cottage industry for making pottery or choose the Toraget Hot Springs. At the weaving factories you can observe the local weaving traditions being practiced. Last stop is Lake Linow (the changing color lake), a one of a kind experience.
Gorontalo can be reached by a 1 hour flight from Manado or an 9 hour scenic drive. You would be surprised by what Gorontalo has to offer in its forests with its endemic fauna as well as the unique diving of the Togian Islands.
Nantu Forest is located in the heart of the Wallacea region in Gorontalo Province. Wallacea is the wildlife transition zone between Asia and Australia named after its founder, Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913), a famous British biologist, naturalist, and anthropologist.
A community of approximately 30,000 people live within the Nantu and Paguyaman river watershed and is completely dependent on these rivers for its water supply. Nantu’s carbon content is invaluable. Nantu Forest is famous because it is the only place in the world to reliably see its other endemic inhabitants: the Babyrousa celebensis.
The remarkable “prehistoric” appearance of these mammals is largely due to the prominent upwards incurving canine tusks of the males, which actually pierce the flesh in the snout.
One of the most spectacular and thrilling adventure tours in North Sulawesi. The most popular rafting route is on the Nimanga River in Timbukar-Sonder. The grade of the rapids is level 3. You will be picked up at your hotel at 9:00 AM and driven to the village of Sonder (about 1.5 hours from the center of Manado) located in the Minahasan highlands.
Your journey down the 9 km long river will take about one and a half to two hours through scenic forests with a coffee break including traditional cookies. Don’t be shy to scream along the rapids because at the end you will scream for more. Every raft can hold up to six persons including an experienced guide.
After this wet and wild experience, it’s back down the mountain with a lunch stop in a local restaurant. You will arrive at your hotel or the city of Manado (approximately 1.5 hour ride) at approximately 3:00 to 4:00 PM.
Combine Landtours of South Sulawesi
On the southern point of Sulawesi Island, Bira’s nearest access point is through its capital, Makassar. South Sulawesi hosts some of the most beautiful beaches in Indonesia. The accommodation is located on one, and if you rent a motorbike and follow the coast north you will find a number of white, untouched beaches, caves and small islands.
Sulawesi is the largest island of the Wallacea region and hosts at least seven species of macaques that are endemic to the island, some of them occasionally paying a visit to our camp.
Bira is home of the Konjo tribe and the heart of maritime culture in Indonesia. The Birians have been sailors for as long as history has been recorded. To this day, shipbuilding and sailing remain the central focus of daily life and identity. About 70 percent of the population in Bira and surrounding villages make a living through work related to boatbuilding and navigation.
Diving Bira you will meet turtles, moray eels and quite a variety of small critters such as mantis shrimp, anemone shrimps, scorpion fish, a variety of nudibranches and much more. Pelagic species are trevallies hunting on the reefs. Other pelagics that are sometimes seen around Bira are thresher sharks, bull sharks, tiger sharks, hammerheads, tunas, barracudas, giant marble rays, manta rays, sunfish / mola mola and even whale sharks at the right time of the year. July to October seems to be having the most of these pelagic encounters – this is also when the water temperature drops a bit.Scuba Diving in Bira is done from April to November.
- Best diving conditions to witness pelagic life including bigger sharks, mola mola and manta will be in late summer when the water gets colder. This happens from July onwards to October. But of course no guarantees can be made on behalf of nature.
Day 01 : Makassar Arrival – Toraja (LD).
Meeting service at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport Makassar, then directly trip to Tana Toraja. The trip will pass some regencies in distance of 310 km (it’s about 8 – 9 hour drive from Makassar). On the way you’ll enjoy the beautiful rice field, fish pool and the Traditional Houses of Bugisnese which is adorn on the right and left side of the main road. Lunch will be at Pare-pare, one of the regencies we passing by in the distance of 175 km. After lunch the trip will be continue and will arrive in Tana Toraja about late noon, then check-in to hotel, dinner at the local restaurant, free program.
Day 02 : Toraja Tour – Batutumonga (BLD).
After breakfast at Hotel, check out then visiting Traditional weaving village at Sa’dan, traditional Toraja village with buffalo horns in front of their houses in Palawa then start trekking to Batutumonga its magnificent and fascinating mountain, rice terrace, coffee and cacao plantation, and green trees surrounding will give the trip more impressive one. By chance, you will meet the local people doing their activities in traditional way. Lunch will be served en-route with simple style. Afternoon arrive in Batutumonga, check-in at Guest house / Homestay, dinner and overnight at Batutumonga.
Day 03 : Batutumonga – Pana – Sariale Trekking (BLD).
Simple breakfast at Guest house or Homestay, check out, process to Pana Village for start the trekking in the country side through traditional farm, Torajan villages etc .. on foot. Lunch will be served en-route with simple style. During trekking you will find a beautiful landscape, paddy field, traditional Toraja houses, local people daily live and more. Upon arrive at Sariale Village, pick up then transfer to hotel for check in. Dinner at the local restaurant.
Day 04 : Toraja Fullday Tour (BLD).
Buffet breakfast at hotel, starting Toraja tour to visit The cliff-side stone grave with wooden effigies on the balcony at Lemo, the royal family tombs at Suaya, Ke’te Kesu (traditional wooden carving village and hanging grave), then lunch at local restaurant. After lunch continue the tour to visit Londa (the natural cave grave) and Marante (is a village where a lot of Tongkonan House, big paddy barns and big rocky hill containing hanging stone graves which the located called “Erong”). Afternoon back to the hotel, Dinner at the local restaurant, free program.
Day 05 : Toraja Fullday Tour (BLD).
Buffet breakfast at hotel, starting tour to visit Pallawa (The most beautiful village with buffalo horns in front off their houses), Kambira (Baby grave) then lunch at the local restaurant after that continue the tour to visit Lokomata (the boulder grave) then visit Sa’ dan To’Barana, the traditional cotton weaving village. Afternoon back to the hotel, Dinner at the local restaurant, free program.
Day 06 : Toraja – Makassar Departure (BL).
Buffet breakfast at hotel, check out then leaving to Sultan Hasanuddin Airport Makassar. The trip will be take about 8 – 9 hour drive. Lunch will be served at the local restaurant in Pare-pare, afternoon arrival at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport for flight back to home or others destination. End program.
Day 01 : Makassar Arrival – Toraja (LD).
Meeting service at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport Makassar, then directly trip to Tana Toraja. The trip will pass some regencies in distance of 310 km (it’s about 8 – 9 hour drive from Makassar). On the way you’ll enjoy the beautiful rice field, fish pool and the Traditional Houses of Bugisnese which is adorn on the right and left side of the main road. Lunch will be at Pare-pare, one of the regencies we passing by in the distance of 175 km. After lunch the trip will be continue and will arrive in Tana Toraja about late noon, then check-in to hotel, dinner at the local restaurant, free program.
Day 02 : Toraja Fullday Tour (BLD).
Buffet breakfast at hotel, starting Toraja tour to visit Kete’ Kesu (traditional wooden carving village and hanging grave), Marante (is a village where a lot of Tongkonan House, big paddy barns and big rocky hill containing hanging stone graves which the located called “Erong”), Bori menhir stones, soared up several meters above the land and then lunch at local restaurant, after wards continue tour to visit Pallawa (The most beautiful village with buffalo horns in front of their houses) and Lokomata (the boulder grave) then visit Sa’dan To’Barana, the traditional cotton weaving village. Afternoon back to the hotel, dinner at the local restaurant, free program.
Day 03 : Toraja Fullday Tour (BLD).
Buffet breakfast at hotel, starting Toraja tour to visit Londa (the natural cave grave), Lemo The cliff-side stone grave with wooden effigies on the balcony, the royal family tombs at Suaya then lunch at local restaurant. Afterwards continue tour to visit Kambira (Baby grave) and Sangalla, village lying among the leafy bamboo trees and the tomb of King Sangalla. Afternoon back to the hotel, dinner at the local restaurant, free program.
Day 04 : Toraja – Makassar Departure (BL).
Buffet breakfast at hotel, check out than leaving to Sultan Hasanuddin Airport Makassar. On the way we will stop to visit the Jesus statue, which is known as one of the highest statues in World, than continue trip back to Makassar. Lunch will be served at the local restaurant in Pare-pare, afternoon arrival at Hasanuddin airport for your flight to the next destination.
Q & A
Yes beginners can dive here and but you must already be certified as no courses are available.
However, to make the most and best of your journey, we do recommend people to have at least some diving experience. Especially drift dives. Buoyancy control should be good = neutral buoyancy. Not only to have an easier dive, but also not to harm marine life and corals by kicking them.
After all this is said, yes, beginners can dive here. But keep the above in mind.
The whale sharks are attracted by fishermen, more than an hour from the resort. They are not seasonal but the conditions and fishermen’s catch all has to work into a higher meaning, and voila, you will see whale sharks. But there are no guarantees of course.
Courses are not possible at Triton Bay Divers.
Contact us for further details – and we can hook you up with a course in another great location!
The prices for PADI OPEN WATER courses roughly start at €285 and takes 3-4 days.
The 3 day course will let you study via e-learning before you get here, which is smart if you want to be better prepared and spend your holiday time diving and relaxing instead of studying.
The 4 day course is the most popular and you start your studying once you get here.
The prices are almost identical.
Please book courses at the time of booking the whole trip.
You do not need to prebook the dives, however, you do get a discount on your accommodation if you prebook diving. The same goes for the dives themselves – if you prebook them as a package they come with a discounted rate compared to diving â-la-carte.
And the resort only takes cash in Indonesian Rupiah, so we recommend pre-booking a dive package.
You will spend most surface intervals on some tropical piece of paradise. The boats can easily reach small villages and jetties for a comfortable surface interval. Usually the boats won’t return between the two morning dives.
12 liter aluminum DIN tanks with INT adapters
Of course it is nice to bring your own dive gear if you can.
As a minimum we would recommend to bring your own dive mask – for a good fit and a dive computer.
12 liter aluminum DIN tanks with INT adapters.
We regret to advise there are no Credit cards facilities available at the resort and we can’t take traveler’s cheques.
This is another good reason to prepay the dive packages.
There is currently no phone signal on the island or in the immediate area but we hope that will soon change. There is free Wi-Fi in the restaurant but it is extremely slow and should be used for basic email and online messaging. In the meantime just sit back and relax!
Each room is equipped with a large ceiling fan and designed with “natural” air conditioning in mind. There is a desk with extra (220v) power sockets, allowing you to download and view your photos whilst charging your camera in preparation for your next day of diving.
Unfortunately, at this time we do not have 24 hour electricity available, but are planning to install solar panels in the not to distant future. Power will be on from 6:00 am to 11:00pm.
There is a hospital in Kaimana that can provide first aid, but for anything serious you would probably need to go to Sorong. Especially if urgently requiring treatment on a weekend.
Despite what some sources (and many local people) will tell you, malaria is present in the islands.
Although malaria transmission rates are currently low in the Raja Ampat islands, wearing repellant and appropriate clothing to avoid bites is a must and anti-malarial medications are recommended.
Doxycycline is often recommended as a good antimalarial and has the advantage of also providing protection against certain other bacterial infections, but you should definitely consult a professional for current recommendations before making a decision about malaria prophylaxis.
Insect bites: There are a lot of insects in Raja Ampat that can give irritating bites, but sand flies are the worst in our opinion. They are virtually invisible, exceedingly tiny, black flies that are common in many beachside locations. They most commonly attack at dusk, usually (but not always) on your lower legs and arms. The bites take several hours to appear, are incredibly itchy, and last for days. Because of the delayed reaction, many guests wake up at night and assume they’ve been bitten by bedbugs. We’ve never known of a single proven infestation of bedbugs in homestay accommodation. It’s much more likely that sandflies were the culprits. It’s good practice to liberally apply an insect repellant late in the afternoon after your last swim!
Gastrointestinal diseases: We’ve been lucky and have never contracted any, but again make sure you have some rehydration salts and basic medicines on hand. (Consult your doctor regarding appropriate medicines before you go.) Anti-diarrhoea medicines like Imodium are best taken only if you have to travel – they only treat symptoms, not causes. Drinking only boiled or otherwise purified water will greatly reduce your chances of stomach troubles. You can read more about drinking water here.
Skin and wound infections: You should clean and treat even small wounds immediately with an antiseptic, and then examine them regularly for signs of infection. Especially if they are coral scrapes, which are notorious for going septic. Keeping wounds dry until healed is also good practice, but it’s a big ask when you’re on a short stay in the islands. Fungal infections love a tropical environment too, so you might want to consider having some antifungal medicine in your first aid kit.
Ear infections: Spending a lot of time with water in your ears in the tropics raises the risk of ear infections, so if you’re concerned pack an appropriate medicine.
Japanese Encephalitis and Dengue Fever: These mosquito-borne diseases have been reported from Raja Ampat. You might want to consider vaccination for Japanese Encephalitis. Avoiding mosquito bites is the only protection available against Dengue Fever.
Tropical diseases: All tropical environments harbour parasites and pathogens not found elsewhere. You’re extremely unlikely to come into contact with any of those during a short holiday in Raja Ampat, but if you suffer any persistent or recurrent symptoms that can’t be diagnosed or aren’t relieved by standard medical treatment – even if those symptoms appear months after your visit – you should consult a tropical diseases specialist.
See our “About” page to know more about prevention of moscuito bites.
For further reading on health: https://www.iamat.org/country/indonesia