Dive Safari

About Dive Safari

Dive safari is our budget-friendly alternative for a Liveaboard in Raja Ampat. We will explore similar dive sites as the liveaboards, but we will stay on land, compared to staying on a boat.

We explore the best dive spots around the Dampier Strait and spend the nights on exotic islands. During our surface intervals, we visit local communities and stroll along white sandy beaches.

During your Dive Safari, you support the Papuan community by staying in local homestays. The homestays provide traditional huts with a mattress, mosquito net, shared bathroom, and a veranda with a spectacular view. The meals are served in the common area and usually include delicious fish, rice, vegetables, and fruit. Vegetarian options are limited but available.

Local Homestays *tentative

Itineraries

(sample)

Day 1
- We meet at Scuba Republic Base Camp at 12:00 for lunch. If you need a pick-up from the ferry, please let us know in advance.
- After lunch we make sure all the necessary paperwork is in order and set up your dive equipment.
- Around 13:30 we will leave from our Base Camp and head towards our first dive site.
- After enjoying a cold beer on the white beaches of Arborek island we move on to Besir Bay for the night.
  
  Day 2
- Today is filled with adventure. Our journey takes us from Besir Bay through the picturesque, mangrove framed passage between Gam and Waigeo to Kabui Bay. Along the way we explore a bat cave and plunge into the spectacular underwater world that Raja Ampat has to offer. We spend the night on Waigeo or Gam.
  Day 3
- On your last day we have time for two more stunning dive sites before we return to our our Base Camp. You will be back in time to catch the 14:00 ferry from Waisai to Sorong.
Day 1
- We meet at Scuba Republic Base Camp at 12:00 for lunch. If you need a pick-up from the ferry, please let us know in advance.
- After lunch we make sure all the necessary paperwork is in order and set up your dive equipment.
- Around 13:30 we will leave from our Base Camp and head towards our first dive site.
- After enjoying a cold beer on the white beaches of Arborek island we move on to Besir Bay for the night.
  
  Day 2
- Our second day is full of adventure. On our journey to Piaynemo, we peek into bat caves, dive some of the most famous coral reefs in the area and climb the 341 steps to the iconic viewpoint at Piaynemo. We spend the night on the nearby island of Fam.
  
  Day 3
- After watching a sunrise over the white, sandy beach of our homestay and a last dive in the Piaynemo area, we wave goodbye to the spectacular landscape. Our Safari boat heads back to central Raja Ampat for some more diving and takes us to Gam or Waigeo for the night.
  
  Day 4
- After breakfast we have time for two more stunning dive sites before we return to our Base Camp for lunch.
- You will be back in time to catch the 14:00 ferry from Waisai to Sorong.
Day 1
- We meet at Scuba Republic Base Camp at 12:00 for lunch. If you need a pick-up from the ferry, please let us know in advance.
- After lunch we make sure all the necessary paperwork is in order and set up your dive equipment.
- Around 13:30 we will leave from our Base Camp and head towards our first dive site.
- After enjoying a can of beer on the white beaches of Arborek island we move on to Besir Bay for the night.
  
  Day 2
- Our second day is full of adventure. On our journey to Piaynemo, we peek into bat caves and dive some of the most famous coral reefs in the area. We spend the night on the nearby island of Fam.
  
  Day 3
  After watching the sunrise over the white, sandy beach of our homestay we set out to explore the Piaynemo islands. Lush coral gardens and massive aggregations of fish keep us entertained throughout the day. Before we head back to Fam for the night, we climb the 341 steps to the iconic viewpoint at Piaynemo.
  
  Day 4
- After a last dive in the Piaynemo area we wave goodbye to the spectacular landscape while our Safari boat takes us back to central Raja Ampat. We sleep in the local village of Sawandarek on Palau Mansuar.
  
  Day 5
- On our way back to Waigeo we dive an enchanted jetty and one of the most famous dive sites in Raja Ampat before we return to our Base Camp for lunch.
You will be back in time to catch the 14:00 ferry from Waisai to Sorong.

Special Request Trips

Day 1
- We meet at Scuba Republic our Base Camp at 12:00 for lunch. If you need a pick-up from the ferry, please let us know in advance.
- After lunch, we make sure all the necessary paperwork is in order and set up your dive equipment.
- At approximately 13:30 we will depart from our Base Camp and head towards our first dive site.
- After enjoying a can of beer on the white beaches of Arborek island we move on to Besir Bay for the night.
  
  Day 2
- On our second day, we stay in the area around Arborek. The tiny island is located in the middle of the Dampier Strait and exposed to some strong currents. This attracts massive aggregations of schooling fishes like fusiliers, jacks, and snappers. And seasonally – the graceful manta rays.
- We will return to Besir Bay for our 2nd night.
  
  Day 3
- Our third day is full of adventure. On our journey to Piaynemo, we peek into bat caves and dive some of the most famous coral reefs in the area. We spend the night on the nearby island of Fam.
  
  Day 4
- After watching the sunrise over the white, sandy beach of our homestay we set out to explore the Piaynemo islands. Lush coral gardens, fast drifts, and hunting pelagics keep us entertained throughout the day. Before we head back to Fam for the night, we climb the 341 steps to the iconic viewpoint at Piaynemo.
  
  Day 5
- After a last dive in the Piaynemo area, we wave goodbye to the spectacular landscape while our Safari boat takes us back to central Raja Ampat, to the south side of Kri. We sleep in the local village of Sawandarek on Palau Mansuar.
  
  Day 6
- On our way back to Waigeo we dive an enchanted jetty and one of the most famous dive sites in Raja Ampat before we return to our Base Camp for lunch.
- You will be back in time to catch the 14:00 ferry from Waisai to Sorong.
Day 1
- We meet at Scuba Republic Base Camp at 12:00 for lunch. If you need a pick-up from the ferry, please let us know in advance.
- After lunch we make sure all the necessary paperwork is in order and set up your dive equipment.
- At approximately 13:30 we will depart from our Base Camp and head towards our first dive site.
- After enjoying a can of beer on the white beaches of Arborek island we move on to Besir Bay for the night.
  
  Day 2
- On our second day we stay in the area around Arborek. The tiny island is located in the middle of the Dampier Strait and exposed to some strong currents. This attracts massive aggregations of schooling fishes like fusiliers, jacks and snappers. And seasonally – the graceful manta rays.
- We will return to Besir Bay for our 2nd night.
  
  Day 3
- Our third day is full of adventure. On our journey to Piaynemo, we peek into bat caves and dive some of the most famous coral reefs in the area. We spend the night on the nearby island of Fam.
  
  Day 4
- After watching the sunrise over the white, sandy beach of our homestay we set out to explore the Piaynemo islands. Lush coral gardens, fast drifts and hunting pelagics keep us entertained throughout the day. Before we head back to Fam for the night, we climb the 341 steps to the iconic viewpoint at Piaynemo.
  
  Day 5
- After a last dive in the Piaynemo area we wave goodbye to the spectacular landscape while our Safari boat takes us back to central Raja Ampat, to the south side of Kri. We sleep in the local village of Sawandarek on Palau Mansuar.
  
  Day 6
- On our way back to Waigeo we dive an enchanted jetty and one of the most famous dive sites in Raja Ampat before we retire to Gam or Waigeo for the night.
  
  Day 7
- After breakfast, we have time for one more stunning dive site before we return to our Base Camp for lunch.
- You will be back in time to catch the 14:00 ferry from Waisai to Sorong.

Itineraries are subject to change. We do everything we can to choose the best dive sites, land visits, and homestay locations based on changing variables such as weather and dive conditions for our Dive Safaris.

Minimum 3 guests needed for each Dive Safari trip to be confirmed. Join a scheduled trip or start your own! Contact us for further questions.

If you want to go on a private Dive Safari (2 people).

Prices

*Minimum 3 guests.

3 Days / 2 Nights

$450

per Person

4 Days / 3 Nights

$600

per Person

5 Days / 4 Nights

$750

per Person

Our Dive Safaris depart from our Basecamp on Mondays

booking request

If you can’t find a trip that matches your preferences, please feel free to contact us, and we’ll see if we can find a solution.

Get in touch

General information

- 3 meals per day.
- Accommodation in homestays (shared bed).
- Drinking water, tea, and coffee.
- Light snacks and refreshments.
- Dive guide (ratio 1 : 4)
- Weights, weight belts, and tanks.
- Marine Park Fee:
  Foreign nationals IDR 700,000 per year
  Indonesian citizens IDR 350,000 per year
- Diving / Snorkeling Fee:
  Foreign nationals IDR 300,000 per year
  Indonesian citizens IDR 175,000 per year
- Local Contribution Fee:
  IDR 500,000 per trip
- Pick up from Waisai harbor to Scuba Republic Base Camp.
- Private guide (inquire for current prices and availability)
- Soft drinks & alcoholic beverages (available for purchase)
  Refresher or course dives (inquire for current prices and availability)
  Crew gratuities (recommendation: approx. 10% of trip cost / person)
- 20 USD per day
- Dive computer (please bring your own)

Photo Gallery

by Jasper Blijker & Jamie Schlotterer