Alfred Russel Wallace

Papua Explorers Dive Resort Raja Ampat, West Papua!

General Info & Rates

“Raja Ampat, one of the most singular and picturesque landscapes I have ever seen.” Alfred Russel Wallace

PT. OCEAN EXPLORERS Pantai Pinsilim, Kampung Yenwaupnor, Distrik Meos Mansar, Kabupaten Raja Ampat, Propinsi Papua Barat, Indonesia [email protected]; www.papuaexplorers.com Papua Explorers Dive Resort Raja Ampat, West Papua!

RAJA AMPAT AND PAPUA EXPLORERS RESORT

Papua Explorers Resort is located in the islands of Raja Ampat, which is on the northwest tip of the Bird’s Head Peninsula of West Papua. Raja Ampat translates into English as Four Kings and gets its name from a local mythology about four kings that occupy the four big islands; Salawati, Batanta, Waigeo and Misool. It’s a stunning archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, hosting thousands of species some of which are endemic to the region. Some scientific surveys reveal that Raja Ampat has 603 hard coral species which represents more than 75% of all the species in the world. With its rich ecosystem and abundance of species, Raja Ampat is the bull’s-eye of the Coral Triangle in every sense. Papua Explorers is located on the island of Gam and just along the coast of worldwide renowned Dampier Strait, only 10 to 15 minutes away from the most famous dive sites like Manta Point, Cape Kri, ….. Papua Explorers Resort is constructed using traditional Papuan construction methods and local, natural materials. Our water bungalows are designed to be in perfect harmony with the exotic surrounding, allowing the guests to feel the breeze from the rainforests, enjoy the songs of the tropical birds and soothe their souls with the flutter of the waves. Our 300m2, over-the-sea restaurant and lounge is designed to offer a relaxing environment to enjoy various international and local dishes from our restaurant and to refresh and relax between the dives. The little peninsula that Papua Explorers Resort is located is home to the endemic Red Bird of Paradise. This unique bird and its amazing mating ceremony can be observed after an early morning hike in the rainforest. There is a pretty lake behind the resort that can be reached after a 5 min hike in the jungle. This short jungle hike is an excellent way to observe the amazing plants and creatures of the rainforest.

HOW TO GET THERE? The main entry point to Raja Ampat is Sorong, which can be reached from Jakarta, Manado, Ambon or Makassar via domestic flights. There are international flights to Jakarta, Manado and Makassar (Ujung-Pandang) and below are some alternatives for the connecting flights:

International, arrival to: Jakarta, Manado, Ujung-Pandang ( Makassar) Connecting Flights: Jakarta-Sorong direct flight: Express Airlines Jakarta- Sorong through Ujung-Pandang (Makassar): Sriwijaya Airlines, Merpati Airlines, Express Air, Garuda Airlines. Jakarta- Sorong through Ambon: Lion Air Ujung Pandang- Sorong: There are international flights to Ujung Pandang from Singapore & Kualalumpur. This option requires one night stay in Ujung Pandang. Manado-Sorong: There are direct flights to Manado from Singapore and Kota Kinabalu (AirAsia). This option requires one night stay in Manado. There are airport hotels in Jakarta and Ujung Pandang. Rooms can be booked for 6 hours upon request. Airport hotel in Jakarta is located on the second floor of Terminal 2, between gates D and E. Hotel can be accessed after going up 1 floor with the escalator. Airport hotel in Ujung Pandang is located on the 2nd floor, right in the middle of the terminal. Transportation in Indonesia is a growing and improving sector, however the standards are still way below the Western world. Therefore, it’s important to mentally prepare yourself for the imperfections you may face during your travel. Be patient and stay positive, remind yourself that you will be in heaven soon. We would highly recommend that you have travel insurance to cover any potential loss caused by the airlines. Don’t forget to lock your luggage and housing cases. Airplanes can be extremely cold in domestic flights. We’d recommend that you have a light jacket with you. Domestic airlines can be quite tolerant about over weight issues occasionally. The cost for extra luggage is usually around USD3-4/kg for Jakarta-Sorong flights. Domestic Flight tickets can be arranged by our company, a 20% booking fee is applicable on top of the ticket rate .

TRANSFERS TO THE ISLAND: Papua Explorers Resort has scheduled transfers to the island from Sorong every Sunday and Wednesdays with our own transfer boat. Our boat leaves at latest at 12:00 noon and we strongly recommend our guests to arrange their flights to arrive earlier than this. In case the guests cannot catch these transfers, we can provide special transfers at an extra cost. Although we do our best to be accommodating for late arrivals due to flight delays, we may not be able to wait for long if there are other guests !!!!!!!!!!!Our!Resort!transfer!Boat!“Explorer!I” in the boat. In these cases, special transfers will need to be arranged for the guests that arrive late. Our boat leaves the Resort at 6;00 o’clock to reach flights departing from Sorong after 10:00 o’clock please kindly arrange your domestic flight tickets according these transfer times. Please always take in account that we are operating at a remote area of the world, always try to plan your flights and connections leaving ample time for unwanted conditions that might arise during transfer. We would highly recommend Travel Insurance for all our guests.

ACCOMODATİON: Papua Explorers Resort is constructed using local architectural techniques and natural materials. Walls are made from Daun Bobo , roofs are made from Daun Nipa, floors and window and door frames are made from teak wood. These are the typical materials used for traditional Papuan houses. Our water bungalows are very specious with their 72m2 total area, that includes a 40m2 room, WC, shower and hot water, and a 20m2 veranda. There are single or double rooms upon request. Each room has a bed with mosquito net, ceiling fan, desk and chair, a seating area consisting of a two seater sofa and a coffee table. There are two sun loungers on each veranda as well as a hammock to enjoy the breath taking Raja Ampat sunsets. There is a stairway straight to the ocean on the veranda. Towels, shampoo, shower gel and soap are provided. DIVING: We offer 3 boat dives and unlimited shore dives each day. Our boats leave at 08:00 usually for 2 dives (depending on dive sites to be visited) and 14:30 in the evening. All famous dive sites are included in our daily dive plans. Depending on currents at the jetty we can also schedule boat dives for sunset or night dives to locations nearby .Here are some of these world renowned dive sites and our distance to them: Manta Point: 20 min Mike’s Point: 10 min Cape Kri: 15min Sardine Reef 25 min Mioskon: 25 min Blue Magic: 25 min Odlima: 5 min Chicken Reef: 20 min Passage: 45 min Hidden Bay: 30 min

Raja Ampat waters are highly rich in nutrients the Dampier Strait is especially nutrient-rich due its fast moving currents. These currents attract a wide variety of species including migrating mammals and pelagic species. However, nutrient-rich means low visibility(typically 15-20m) and the saying goes “no current, no fish”.

All divers are required to bring their safety buoys and whistles with them when coming to our resort. It is mandatory for all divers to have Dive insurance to be able to dive with Papua Explorers. Waisai (45 Min from our location by boat) has a new Hyperbaric Chamber now, however costs for treatment and further transportation can be extremely high in case of an emergency. Therefore, all dives are planned and executed without deco stops and it is mandatory for all divers to use a dive computer. We don’t have a huge stock of rental equipment because most divers prefer to bring their own equipment here. So if you’d like to rent any equipment from our dive center, please book them 60 days in advance.

FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHERS: Raja Ampat is an underwater photographers haven for both macro and wide-angle photography. Huge corals in vibrant colors are perfect for wide angle. Most photographers are mesmerized by the density of fish and corals and focus on wide-angle photography throughout their stay. However, Raja Ampat is home to some endemic macro creatures and using your macro lens can be extremely rewarding. Photography is not limited with underwater. Tropic birds, bats, moths and butterflies, interesting rainforest creatures can be observed on our island, as well as wild orchids and endemic black orchids. If you are interested in photographing the Red Bird of Paradise, it is advisable to bring a tripod and telephoto lens with you. Should you be interested in visiting the neighboring village, be prepared to capture portraits of beautiful Papuan children.

EXTRA ACTIVITIES: Raja Ampat islands are amongst the rarest natural beauties in the world. Mushroom islands and the depth of green melting into the bright blue of the sea will make you feel like you’re on Pandora in James Cameron’s Avatar. Excursions to the mushroom islands are highly recommended. If you are interested in bird watching, then it is guaranteed that your stay in Papua Explorers will be a very satisfactory one. We wake up to the amazing sounds of the tropical birds. Flocks of parrots can be observed during the day. Red Bird of Paradise is resident at the neighboring bay. If you’re not into scuba but interested in the marine life, then snorkeling is ideal for you. It is possible to witness a serious amount of the marine and coral reef life by snorkeling as well. Guided kayak tours are available upon request at an extra charge.

MEDICAL:

Raja Ampat is a remote area with limited access to medical care. Therefore you are advised to bring your medicine with you. If there are pills that you need to take regularly, please bring enough stock for all the days of your stay. If you have any medicine allergies and you need to use special medications in case of sickness, bring these with you as well.

Malaria: Malaria is more common in big cities and less of a threat in our resort. You may choose to take preventive medicine, however we strongly recommend that you consult your doctor before using these as they are known to have some side effects. LARIAM has proven side effects for scuba divers, so we strongly discourage the use of this medicine. The best way to avoid malaria and all mosquito transmitted diseases is to get protection against mosquito bites. Mosquito repellents are advisable for both direct use on body and for the room. Light, long sleeved clothes are safest and best way to avoid mosquito bites.

VISA and ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

Most nationalities can get Visa On Arrival for 30 days at the major entry points to Indonesia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Indonesia To be able to enter Indonesia, your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival and you need to have a return ticket. Visa On Arrival costs USD 25 and it is advisable that you carry the exact amount with you. You will be given a pink “arrival/departure” card on the plane. Please fill in these forms and make sure you don’t lose the “departure” card, as immigration police will check it and take it back during your departure. For the address part of this form, please write: Papua Explorers Resort, Raja Ampat. Upon arrival, you need to go to the counter for Visa On Arrival and then proceed to the passport control desks named “Foreigner”. We also need to get another document called Surat Jalan for you to be able to enter Raja Ampat. Please bring 3 copies of your passport and 3 pass photos with you.

WEATHER/SEASONS: Raja Ampat can be visited any time of the year. The temperature is between 30-35 degrees and the sea is at 28-29 degrees throughout the year. It is possible to have tropical rains any time, but like most tropical rains, these will not last for too long.

FOOD: Our restaurant serves a selection of Indonesian and Western dishes. If you have special dietary requirements, please inform us at least 60 days before your arrival to allow us enough time to make necessary arrangements.

OTHER FACILTY’S: 24 hours Electricity of 220/230 Volt is provided at the resort. Plugs are 2 round pin European type plugs. Satellite Internet via Wi-Fi is available at main areas . Cellular reception does change day by day depending on weather conditions.

Published Rates Valid from April 1st, 2015 to March 31st, 2016 All package rates include: ! Deluxe Water Cottage Accommodation with en-suite bathroom & hot water. ! 21% service & taxes ! On full board basis (international buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner) ! Afternoon tea/coffee and cakes ! Welcome drink ! Internet service & WiFi ! Laundry service ! Free Nitrox for pre-booked dive packages ! Free of charge for max. 2 children <10 years old in parent’s room Packages Single Room Double Room Triple Room (Per Person) € (Euro) € (Euro) € (Euro) 7 nights 2310 1965 1795 DIVER 10 nights 3190 2745 2415 ( Deluxe Water Cottage Accommodation) 14 nights 4275 3610 3115 “Incl. Free Passage and Manta Point Trips” 17 nights 5170 4345 3740 21 nights 5985 4980 4230 7 nights 1530 1190 960 10 nights 2170 1670 1380 NON DIVER 14 nights 2830 2160 1690 ( Deluxe Water Cottage Accommodation) 17 nights 3430 2620 2055 21 nights 3950 2940 2190 ! 3 Boat dives plus unlimited house reef dives per day at various famous dive sites (Cape Kri, Mike’s Point, Manta Point, Sardine Reef, Mioskon, etc), subject to weather condition. (We might use the boats for House reef or 4th dives) ! Rates include scuba tanks, weight belts, guide, beach towel, water & fruits, hot tea, Free Nitrox Adult: € Free of Charge Children: Free of Charge " From/to Sorong airport, by A/C car & Resort Transfer Boat . TRANSFERS " Transfers from/to any other resort/location are subject to surcharge. If the Arrival/Departure is on our scheduled " Only applies for guest staying a minimum of 7 nights. transfer days " Departure from Sorong to the resort latest at 12:00pm noon. Sorong -Resort -Sorong (Sundays,Wednesday,) " Departure from Resort to Sorong at 6:00am and flights after 10:30am "can be used on the day of transfer. NON SCHEDULED Adult: € 95 p.p Children: Free of Charge " From/to Airport/ Waisai by Car , First Class Ferry Ticket (1;45 h), Resort Transfer TRANSFER- Options Boat (45min ) per person / per way. If the Arrival/Departure is not on our " Ferry does not operate on Indonesian Public Holidays. scheduled transfer days. Adult: € 180 p.p / per way Children: Free of Charge By resort Transfer Boat From/to Sorong airport, by A/C car & Resort Transfer Boat . Other paying guests might join. (This is not a private transfer ) Private Transfers " € 550 Per Way - Cost might be shared with other guests . (Max 8 Guests) Domestic Flight Tickets " Ticket Price + 20% Booking Fee " Jakarta 150 € (Single) " Sorong 50 € (Single) Hotel Rates " Jakarta 150 € (Double) " Sorong 80 € (Double) Daily rate include: ! 21% service & taxes ! On full board basis (international buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner) ! Afternoon tea/coffee and cakes ! Welcome coconut drink & fruit basket upon arrival ! Internet service & WiFi ! Laundry service ! Free of charge for max. 2 children <10 years old in parent’s room Rate Single Room Double Room Triple Room (Per Person) € (Euro) € (Euro) € (Euro) DAILY 1 night 240 200 180 " Each guest visiting the area of Raja Ampat National Park is subject to pay an entrance fee. Its validity is one calendar year. RAJA AMPAT NATIONAL " The amount of the fee is established by Raja Ampat Government and is subject to PARK change without prior notice. " At the present date the amount is Rp 500.000 per person (about € 40) for international guests. Rp.250.000 per person for Indonesian citizens.

RENTAL EQUIPMENTS Daily Weekly BCD, Regulator, Wetsuit, Mask, Snorkel, Fins (Full equipment) € 30 € 140 BCD, Regulator € 20 €100 Dive Computer € 10 € 50 Mask, Snorkel, Fins € 15 € 80 Dive Light € 9 € 45 DIVING COURSES (Rates including: all equipment, tanks, weights, multilingual instructor) Open Water Diver € 480 Advanced Open Water Diver (With/Without prebooked dive package) € 290 € 380 Drift Diver € 190 Rescue Diver On Request Dive Master (crew pack included) On Request Enriched Air NITROX Diver € 190 Discover Scuba Program (one day course, confined water & sea) € 99 Scuba Refresher (in confined water) € 70 DIVING Per Dive 1 -5 Dives € 45 6-10 Dives € 40 11- and above € 38 Snorkeling Session (with Boat & Guide ) 1-5 € 25 6-11 Sessions € 20 >12 Sessions € 18 OPTIONAL TOURS (Min. 2 pax) Per Person Red Bird of Paradise Yenwaupnor € 20 Red Bird of Paradise Sawingrai € 25 Full day tour to Raja Ampat icon, Wayag (Min 4 Pax) € 190 Full day tour to Fam islands € 65 Waterfall Trip to Batanta Island € 75 Wilsons Bird of Paradise Trip to Batanta Island On Request Kabui Bay Trip , Mushroom Islands and village visit for non divers € 75 Arborek Tourism Village visit € 30 Mayalibit Bay excursion with 2 dives (Min 4 dives) € 160 160 TERMS & CONDITIONS " All reservations shall be directed to: [email protected] " Upon reservation, please be so kind as to specify if you are a non-diver or diver. And any additional services that you wish to book (tours, rentals, etc). " Payments are quoted and paid in EURO, US Dollars or Indonesian Rupiah (upon request). " All extra payments at the resort need to be paid in CASH. Rupiah, US Dollars & Euro banknotes are accepted. " All proof of payment should be sent by bank transfer to: [email protected] Bank Details Euro / Rupiah Beneficiary Name PT. Ocean Explorers Bank Name/Branch Bank Mandiri/ Sorong Bank Address KC Sorong, Basuki Rahmat Account Number 1600000829206 (IDR) 1600001162532(EUR) 1600000829214(USD) Swift Code BMRIIDJA Payments Cancelation Policy GROUP POLICY - 25% First Deposit within 7 days from the - 10% from 90 to 60 days prior the arrival of the Group confirmation date, in order to grant the "(We extend one pax FOC for every 10 paying - 50% from 60 to 30 days prior the arrival of the Group booking pax (10 + 1) on room + full board + diving + - 70% from 30 to 7 days prior the arrival of the Group return transfer.) - No later then 30 days before arrival 75% - 100% from 7 days and/or Non Show balance must be paid. - When booking less than 30 days prior to arrival we can only guarantee the booking after the full amount is paid. - Money transfer fees remain the responsibility of the guest. ! Rates and information are subject to change without notice! Terms and conditions apply. All rights reserved. ! Raja Ampat is a Protected Marine Park, all kind of fishing and spearfishing activities are strictly forbidden .

PT. OCEAN EXPLORERS Pantai Pinsilim, Kampung Yenwaupnor, Distrik Meos Mansar, Kabupaten Raja Ampat, Propinsi Papua Barat, Indonesia [email protected]; www.papuaexplorers.com