Raja Ampat, Cendrawasi Bay and Biak.

Dive Guide Book

For dive sites in Raja Ampat and West Papua Diving Indonesia’s Bird’s Head Seascape is indispensable! Most likely not available in Sorong or elsewhere in Indonesia. Order online.

Diving permits for Raja Ampat may also be difficult or impossible to obtain in Sorong. Check website www.diverajaampat.org

Pulau Friwin

Good anchorages for a sailing yacht are rare phenomena in Raja Ampat but this was a good one and very useful being close to some of the best dive sites: Anchor at  0° 28.35’S, 130° 41.32′ E in 25m over sand.

Yenwaupnor

For spotting Red Bird of Paradise ask Nico in Yenwaupnor on Pulau Gam. The display tree is about an hour walk from the kampong.

Anchor around 0° 31.87’S 130° 36.08′ E in 20m in the sand off Maria’s Homestay.

Sorong

Good facilities for provisioning in the well-stocked supermarket (Saga)

Several good hardware shops such as Toko Indo Papua and others for boat spares.

Repairs facilities available, though not especially for yachts.

Diving gear service at PT EON Engineering, Mr Warwick Alliston does full service on diving bottles and compressors and can assist with many other repairs.

Tel: +62 9513173260

Pulau Amsterdam

Between Sorong and Manokwari, Pulau Amsterdam is a good anchorage at

0°21.11’S 132° 10.47’E  8m over sand, close to sunken WWII landing craft. Nice dive site.

Friendly Kampung Werur on the mainland opposite.

Manokwari

Good anchorage in 0° 51.8’S, 134° 04.21′ E  15m in the mud.

Good fresh market on the east side of the bay, Hadi supermarket in town.

Getting a permit for whale shark watching can be a wild goose chase.

Yoris from Arfak Paradigalla Tours will gladly assist visiting yachts

Tel: +62 81248092764 email: yoris_tours@yahoo.com

Diving: Shinwa Maru in 30m and Cross shipwrecks in 20m within 5M from the anchorage.

Once out of range from Manokwari no internet/telephone further S in Cendrawasi Bay

Whale sharks

Around bagans (fish platforms) at approx. 03° 11.6568’S, 134° 57.3339′ E in Cendrawasi Bay, the bagan guys here want ridiculous prices for snorkelling with the whale sharks (possibly based on dive liveaboard prices) and hard bargaining is a must.

Biak 

Anchor in 01° 11.2’S, 136° 04.79′ E in 15m sand between barrier reef and coastal reef off the kampung/fish market. Entrance is from the east. With high water, the barrier reef can be crossed in some places.

Anchorage can be rolly but good holding. Going ashore is tricky with high quay but once tackled you walk through very good fish market into town with Immigration close by and Hadi supermarket 1km further.

Alternative anchorage further NW behind barrier reef at 01° 10.2738 S  136° 02.7251 E with better protection.

Local Tourist guide, Mr Benny Lesomar from PT Ekowisata Papua Tel: +62 852 44940860 for local help and island tours  http://www.discoverpapua.com

Very nice Catalina aircraft wreck in 30m some 3M from the anchorage. Ask divemaster Julius in Biak  Tel: +62 852 44960506  e-mail biakdivers.ulis@yahoo.co.id

Hans van Rijn

SV Alk