Page 106 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019
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THE DAMPIER STRAIT                                                                                                              The Dampier Strait








                                                                                                  Dive Site and Marine Life Highlights of Dampier Strait


                                                                                       Manta Rays are of course a big attraction   beside bommies which are literally
                                                                                       here and with dive sites like Manta Sandy   shrouded in glass fish. This site is one
                                                                                       and Blue Magic close by, an encounter   of Raja Ampat’s most famous and never
                                                                                       is almost guaranteed. No two dive sites   fails to impress even the most seasoned
                                                                                       are the same and it’s hard not to be   of divers.
                                                                                       impressed with every single site. Some of
                                                                                       the firm favorites of regular Dampier Strait   The Passage dive site just has to be dived
                                                                                       divers include Sardine Reef, Cape Kri, The   to be believed – this is one of the most
                                                                                       Passage, Mikes Point and although it is   unique diving opportunities in this region
                                                                                       further to travel, a trip to the Fam Islands   and a melting pot of reef and rainforest.
                                                                                       is highly recommended.             This narrow passage between limestone
                                                                                                                          islands is overhung by mangrove and
                                                                                       Sardine Reef is an offshore reef which   tree canopies and it feels as though you
                                                                                       is simply teeming with fish including   are diving in a jungle. There is usually
            aja Ampat is the world’s                                                   huge schools of surgeonfish, jacks,   current here as the water rushes between
            most bio-diverse                     Conditions                            batfish, fusiliers, rainbow runners, and   the islands and that adds to the effect of
       Rmarine region with                                                             trevally but no sardines! When you’re   diving in a jungle river! The main highlight
                                                                                       not looking at the tightly packed schools
                                                                                                                          here is the unique nature of this site
        more recorded fish, coral and   Diving and snorkeling conditions in the Dampier   this is a great site for macro life including   which also features a large underwater
        mollusc species than anywhere   Strait are good all year round. The climate    nudibranch, mantis shrimps, pygmy   cavern. Look out for the archerfish in
        else on the planet. The variety   of West Papua has no particular dry or rainy   seahorses, octopus, cuttlefish and if   the shallows which fire jets of spit at
        of marine life which you can   season. The summer months are windier,          that’s not enough, look out for the resting   insects in the tree canopy, shooting
        see in the Dampier Strait can   some resorts, especially in the south (Misool   wobbegong sharks under the table corals.  them down for their next meal! This is
                                                                                                                          also an excellent site for nudibranch and
        be staggering. No two islands   area), will close due to rougher conditions. The   Cape Kri is a record breaker of a site with   reef sharks are often spotted here. For
                                     Dampier Strait has an almost equatorial climate
        or islets are alike, and no   and occasional tropical rainfall showers are the   374 species of fish being counted in one   underwater photographers the sunbeam
        two dive sites the same. The   standard throughout the year.                   single dive! The stunning reef top is a   passing through the tree canopy and
        steep-sided walls of the rocks                                                 kaleidoscope of colours. Healthy, vibrant   illuminating the stunning soft corals and
        are shaped by wind and water.   Visibility tends to be the best during the     soft and hard corals create a beautiful   gorgonian fans creates breathtaking
                                                                                       garden which black and white tip sharks
                                                                                                                          wide-angle opportunities.
        Soft, vanilla-coloured, sandy   summer months in the Dampier Strait (May to    pass through, reef fish swarm around
                                     September). Visibility tends to be influenced
        bays are ideal for spending   by high plankton concentrations that guarantee   and turtles lazily cruise by. If you venture   One of the most talked about Raja Ampat
        time exploring between dives.  pelagic encounters – especially manta ray       deeper you’ll find schools of sweetlips   dive sites in the Dampier Straight is
                                     sightings. In general visibility ranges between                                      Mike’s Point, renowned for it’s challenging
        The Dampier Strait is one    15-30 meters.                                                                        currents and adjacent to Kerupiar Island.
                                                                                                                          The story is that Kerupiar Island was
        of the most accessible       Currents are a constant component and must                                           bombed by Allied planes during WWII
        regions of Raja Ampat (from   be considered when planning the dives. More                                         after being mistakenly identified as a
        Sorong) and is a very popular   current really does mean more fish but dives                                      Japanese ship. Where the chunks of rocks
        liveaboard location. A number   can be timed for calmer conditions for less                                       were blown off, magnificent crevices and
                                                                                                                          overhangs were created – perfect for an
        of land based resorts are also   experienced divers.                                                              array of macro subjects. Ascending on
        available.                                                                                                        a great wall, there is usually a group of
                                     Water temperature is a constant 28 or 29
                                     degrees Celsius all year round.                                                      sweetlips smiling at the cameras. Since


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