Page 110 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019

Cenderawasih Bay

Snorkeling and Freediving Highlights
Dive Site and Marine Life Highlights of It is easily arguable that Cenderawasih Bay Outside of Kwatisore Bay
Cenderawasih Bay offers the best snorkeling and freediving snorkelers and freedivers can
opportunities in the world for those who enjoy snorkeling over colourful coral reefs
want to see whale sharks. The whale and experience a wide variety of marine life
The main reason for visiting certainly confirm that the dives done sharks are seen on the surface, breaching and underwater topographies. For freedivers
Cenderawasih Bay are the whale sharks of here with whale sharks are unrivalled by the surface and swimming just below the wanting to make longer and / or deeper
Kwatisore Bay, near the town of Nabire on anything else they have experienced. In surface – an experience perfectly suited freedives there are multiple opportunities.
the bay’s southern coastline. The whale terms of the number of whale sharks, their to surface swimmers – and for many, an Although the area is mostly accessed by
sharks are in the area all year round. proximity to you, the clarity of the water experience more comfortably enjoyed liveaboards, there are plenty of opportunities
There are several places in the world that and the length of time you have to marvel without the encumbrance of scuba. to swim to shore.
offer an encounter with a whale shark at them, it is difficult to imagine how the
and some that offer an encounter with experience could be improved upon.
more than one. However, nowhere really DIVE CENTERS IN
promises the same density of whale Shinwa Maru is located near the town WEST PAPUA
sharks in crystalline waters and on scuba. of Manokwari on Cenderawasih’s west
coastline, there are several World War PAPUA DIVING - SoRIDo BAy (PADI)
There is quite a difference between being II wrecks lying in various depths. Some DoBERAI PRIVATE ISLAND (PADI) Address : Pulau Kri, Near Pulau Mansuar,
Address : Pulau Urai, Distrik Waigeo Selatan,
Raja Ampat, West Papua
one of a few dozen snorkellers chasing of the wrecks can easily be dived within Raja Ampat, West Papua 98482 Phone : +62 811 4834 614
after a single shark and being one of only normal recreational limits, others are Phone : - Email : info@papua-diving.com
a few lucky scuba divers surrounded much deeper or in locations where Email : info@rajaampatdoberai.com Website : www.papua-diving.com
by whale sharks near the surface in conditions make them only suitable for Website : www.rajaampatdoberai.com
clear water as they feed from below the experienced wreck divers. KURABESI DIVE (SSI) PAPUA PARADISE ECo RESoRT (PADI)
Address : Jl. Danau Towuti, Lorong Jl. Danau Poso,
local fishing platforms. An incredible Address : Jl. Manggoapi Dalam Amban, Rufei, West Sorong, West Papua 98412
experience for divers of any experience The Shinwa Maru wreck is a 120m West Papua Phone : +62 951 3268 81
level. The best action is often in early Japanese transport ship which sank off Phone : - Email : peter@lotus-hotels.com
: bigkurabesi@gmail.com
Email
morning when, below the fishermen’s the coast of Marsinam Island. The name Website : www.kurabesiexplorer.com Website : www.papuaparadise.com
‘bagans’ (platforms) several whale sharks translates as ‘friendly spirit’. The Shinwa PAPUA ExPLoRERS RESoRT (PADI)
often gather for an easy meal, an all-you- Maru sank following two large blast holes MISooL ECo RESoRT (PADI) Address : Pinsilim Bay, Kampung Yenwaupnor,
can-eat breakfast. The local fishermen in the starboard side and the wreck now Address : Jl. Basuki Rahmat No. 8, Km 8, Meos Mansar, Waisai, Sorong,
Raja Ampat, West Papua 98415
consider their presence a good omen and lays on its side at between 16 and 34m. Phone : +62 951 3311 25 Raja Ampat, West Papua 98942
Phone : +62 811 800 0511
began offering them baitfish which also The wreck is still in good condition and Email : sabine@misoolecoresort.com Email : raja@papuaexplorers.com
helps to prevent them disturbing the nets has become home to colonies of sponges Website : www.misoolecoresort.com Website : www.papuaexplorers.com
of sardines. and hard and soft corals which colourfully GURARA DIVE CENTRE RAJA AMPAT (SSI)
mask its metal bulk. Although it is home Address : Jl. Trans Wisata No. 88, Pantai Saleo, RAJA AMPAT BIoDIVERSITy NATURE RESoRT
(SSI)
The fact that they are not being fed to a variety of life including jacks, moray West Papua 98414 Address : Yenanas Beach, Yenbeser Village,
solely to provide entertainment for eels and nudibranchs, it is more noted Phone : - Raja Ampat, Jalan A Yani, Sorong,
divers is a highlight here and one which for the cargo scattered around. Dishes, Email : raja4ku@gmail.com West Papua 98414
Website : www.rajaampatku.com
is unparalleled elsewhere on Earth. The beer bottles, batteries, sake bottles and Phone : : info@rajaampatbiodiversity.com
Email
whale sharks are very much focused on chopsticks are among the wreckage. MERIDIAN ADVENTURE DIVE (PADI) Website : www.rajaampatbiodiversity.com
the delicious bounty that the humans on Address : Pelabuhan Pariwisata, Jl. Yos Sudarso,
the surface provide but are also aware Sungei Omiand does not feature whale Distrik Waisaim, Waisai Kota, Waisai, WoBBEGoNG DIVE CENTER RAJA AMPAT (SSI)
Raja Ampat, West Papua 98482
of humans sharing the water with them. sharks, impressive reef or wrecks but Phone : +62 951 3176 120 Address : Jl. Kamp. Yenbuba, Distrik Meos Mansar,
West Papua
They seem to swim around avoiding is still worthy of mention here. This is Email : dive@meridianadventuresdive.com Phone : -
contact with the divers and sometimes a muck site with volcanic black sand Website : www.meridianadventuresdive.com Email : islandkri@gmail.com
seemingly enjoying their bubbles rippling substrate and home to an array of critters PAPUA DIVING - KRI ECo RESoRT (PADI) Website : -
against their bodies. such as pygmy seahorses, sea snakes Address : Pulau Kri, Pulau Mansuar, Raja Ampat,
(and snake eels), frogfish, tiger prawn, West Papua
If you talk to anyone who has been on cuttlefish, blue ring octopus and various Phone : +62 811 4834 614
a trip to Cenderwasih they will almost nudibranchs. Email : info@papua-diving.com
Website : www. papua-diving.com
216 Wonderful Indonesia Diving and Snorkeling Directory Wonderful Indonesia Diving and Snorkeling Directory 217