RAJA AMPAT
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Location Raja Ampat - Indonesia
Duration 12 nights
Vessel Sea Safari 8
Level from Open Water
Manta Expert Niv Froman
HIGHLIGHTS
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Chance to see both species of manta rays (oceanic and reef manta) and both color variations (chevron and black morph)
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Known for the highest recorded diversity of fish and invertebrates in the world with over 1,500 species of fish!
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Untouched reefs and remote locations. With over 1,500 islands in Raja Ampat, many remain unexplored with new manta aggregation sites still to be discovered
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Explore new areas by conducting aerial and in-water surveys at potential manta aggregation and nursery sites
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Encounter fascinating critters and rare species such as pygmy seahorses, flamboyant cuttlefish, wobbegong and walking sharks
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Focus on understanding local reef and oceanic manta populations to support effective conservation measures​​
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Learn from your dedicated Manta Trust expert through tailored marine biology presentations
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Participate in workshops & help scientists collect meaningful data to further manta ray research and conservation!
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Oceanic Mantas
Reef Mantas
Wobbegong Sharks
With their sublime scenery of steep, jungle-covered islands, scorching white-sand beaches, hidden lagoons, spooky caves, weird mushroom-shaped islets and pellucid turquoise waters, Raja Ampat is undoubtely one of the most beautiful island chains in Southeast Asia.
On this expedition we will explore the north, the centre and the remote southern Raja Ampat offering you a stunning variety of dives and wildlife!
Venturing north into Wayag we will dive Eagle Rock and look for feeding mantas at Wayag nursery. In the Dampier Strait region we will dive with mantas at sites such as Blue Magic and Manta Ridge while also enjoying world class diving at Chicken Reef and Cape Kri. Here is where we may also be looking for aggregations of feeding mantas too for a chance to swim with formations of these marine giants!
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Navigating south we will be visiting Kofiau and Fam islands, diving sites such as the famous and pristine Melissa’s garden, My Reef and exploring for potential manta nursery sites.
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The cruise will finally venture into Misool, famous for its abundance of marine life and colorful reefs; here we will dive sites such as the famous Magic Mountain, Boo
Window and 4 Kings with chances of seeing both species of manta rays at once!
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On this unique expedition we will also dedicate time to exploring new areas and conducting aerial and in-water surveys at potential manta aggregation and nursery sites which will enrich our understanding of the dynamics of the local manta populations critical to ensure that appropriate and effective conservation measures are taken.
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Along the cruise we will have also the chance to experience the amazing landscapes and terrestrial life of Raja Ampat. Land excursions we may organise include a hike to swim in stingless jellyfish lake, an early morning hike in search of the elusive birds of paradise and hikes to stunning viewpoints.
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Raja Ampat is particularly famous for its untouched reefs festooned with wildly colourful soft corals, hard coral gardens, massive gorgonian sea fans, and an extremely rich reef life.
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Wobbegong, pigmy seahorses and harlequin shrimps are just a few of other incredible creatures you will have the chance to encounter on this once in a lifetime expedition!
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Note: Itinerary may be subject to change based on weather and ocean conditions.
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A TYPICAL ITINERARY
Day 1:
7-8am Hotel and Airport pick-ups
Transfer to the vessel, check-in and lunch
Check dive
Day 2-12:
3-4 dives/day with the occasional land excursion.
A daily night dive will be offered depending on the schedule.
Over these days you will be able to experience some of the best dive sites Raja Ampat has to offer in Misool, Central and North such as Blue Magic, Cape Kri, Chicken Reef, Melissa's Garden, 4 Kings, Boo Windows and many more.
Expect to see both reef and oceanic mantas, Wobbegong sharks, turtles, stunning reefs covered in soft and hard corals, the highest abundance of tropical fish life in the world and plenty of stunning critter organisms such as pygmy seahorses, flamboyant cuttlefish, decorated crabs and much more!
Daily workshops & presentations by onboard Manta Experts​
Day 13:
Check-out and airport transfer between 5am and 12pm
"
"
The Manta Expedition was an
epic trip from start to finish
great people, diving and boat!
Guest, Socorro 2023
MEET YOUR MANTA EXPERT
Niv has been passionate about nature for as long as he can remember. His dream has always been to live in close contact with the world’s wild places and to try to understand their fascinating mysteries. After graduating summa cum laude with a degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Milan, Niv completed a Masters degree in Environmental Management, focusing primarily on animal behaviour and evolution. In 2010, Niv started working as a marine biologist in the Maldives, an experience that brought him closer to marine life and developed his passion for the underwater world. Building on his background as a professional swimmer, Niv quickly became a proficient freediver and qualified as a Dive Master. Following his first encounters with the Maldivian manta rays, their complex and poorly understood behaviour drove his desire to learn more about these majestic animals and work to aid in their conservation. It was this drive that brought Niv to the Manta Trust, with whom he worked as the Project Leader for the Maldivian Manta Ray Project from 2013 to 2017. In 2017 Niv moved on to lead the development of the IDtheManta platform as Global Database Manager and began in 2018 his PhD on the reproductive ecology of the reef manta population of the Maldives at Cambridge University. This exciting new project aims to shed new light into the mysterious life of these gentle giants and aid improving their conservation status. Throughout the expedition, Niv will be providing lectures and informal talks on manta ray and whale shark research and conservation. In addition, Niv will conduct general presentations on marine biology, with a focus on the diverse and productive marine ecosystems of the Republic of Maldives.
"
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I love getting the additional information
on the mantas & other ocean life from the
experts on board.
It adds so much to my experience
Guest, Socorro 2022
YOUR IMPACT
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