any info on cenderawasih liveaboards?

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Hi Dan_T,
I'm planning a live aboard trip to West Papua sometime in 2017 and am debating if I should go back to Raja Ampat (which was awesome) or try something new and check out Cenderawasih Bay. I'm a whale shark (and any kind of giant animals fanatic) so obviously CB sounds like a dream but I was wondering what you thought of the general diving in CB. Where did you go? Was it mostly big fish, schools, macro...? How was viz and currents and pristineness of the reefs compared to Raja or other parts of Indonesia? Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you!!
Hi y'all!
I am planning my Raja liveaboard and probably will go spring 2017. Since it is a real long way out there it would be a pity to skip cenderawasih (the whalesharks). I have read some reviews of people who tried it on their own or via some kind of land operation and it sounded a lot of trouble and hassle and money. The liveaboards I checked do cenderawasih only in summer. Anybody has more up to date info on land or LOB based operations who do a decent job in cenderawasih?

I am also still looking for a (budget) live-aboard option, any good reviews are welcome!

marije
I had a trip planned on Aggressor for Raja Ampat for June 2017 which included a trip to Cenderwasih Bay. As of a few days ago, we were told that that part of the itinerary is gone now due to safety concerns.

Apparently all liveaboard owners have pulled the Cenderwasih Bay from their itineraries immediately.
 
I had a trip planned on Aggressor for Raja Ampat for June 2017 which included a trip to Cenderwasih Bay. As of a few days ago, we were told that that part of the itinerary is gone now due to safety concerns.

Apparently all liveaboard owners have pulled the Cenderwasih Bay from their itineraries immediately.

Interesting
 
I had a trip planned on Aggressor for Raja Ampat for June 2017 which included a trip to Cenderwasih Bay. As of a few days ago, we were told that that part of the itinerary is gone now due to safety concerns.

Apparently all liveaboard owners have pulled the Cenderwasih Bay from their itineraries immediately.

According to this website: Pearl of Papua

POP is still going to CB in 2017. Any way, I sent email to Irvan, Sales & Reservation Manager of POP to inquire about POP schedule to go to CB in 2017. We'll see what he says.
 
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According to this website: Pearl of Papua

POP is still going to CB in 2017. Any way, I sent email to Irvan, Sales & Reservation Manager of POP to inquire about POP schedule to go to CB in 2017. We'll see what he says.

The Aggressor website is not even completely accurate in all places about CB, but they did remove it from the actual schedule. The itinerary now includes Lembah as well as another place (I can't recall right now) and, the June 2017 trip shorter by 2 days than it was when I first booked it.
 
Reply from Irvan, below.

Hello Pak Daniel,

I'm glad to hear from you again. Hope you're doing good and in health condition as always.
We're planning to sail to Cendrawasih Bay during June - Aug 2017, pls kindly find below the trip date:

7 June 2017 - 15 June 2017 (8N9D)
18 June 2017 - 26 June 2017 (8N9D)
28 June 2017 - 5 July 2017 (7N8D)

8 July 2017 - 18 July 2017 (10N11D)
21 July 2017 - 28 July 2017 (7N8D)
30 July 2017 - 6 Aug 2017 (7N8D)

9 Aug 2017 - 19 Aug 2017 (10N11D)
22 Aug 2017 - 29 Aug 2017 (7N8D)

The price for individual trip is:
Seahorse Standard Cabin USD 330 per pax per night
Trevally Deluxe Cabin USD 350 per pax per night
Manta Suite Cabin USD 360 per pax per night
(Exclude Marine Park Fee and Port Clearance USD 150 per pax per trip)

We have attached the potential itinerary for 7N8D trip. Pls remind that we will have a minimum guarantee for departure 7 pax.

If I can be of any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

Thank you
Best regards,

Irvan
Sales & Reservation

____________________________________________
PT. Haniar Mutiara Prima
Pearl of Papua

Perumahan Bank Niaga C 12-14
Semarang, Central Java. Indonesia
P & F: +6224-7620230 / +6224-7603689
www.pearl-of-papua.com
www.pearl-of-papua.co.id
 
Cendrawasih Bay
Potential itinerary for 7 nights 8 days Pearl of Papua
Check in: Manokwari - Indonesia Check out: Manokwari - Indonesia

Taman Nasional Cenderawasih Bay Marine National Park consists of 20 habitable Islands and many more uninhabitable smaller islands. The Park is 14,000 sq. kilometres and consists of about 1⁄4 of the Cenderawasih Bay.

Day One: Manokwari
When you arrive at Manokwari (Rendani Airport) our Cruise Director / Dive Manager will be waiting for you outside the arrival hall, after collecting your luggage we will escort you to the harbour where our tender boats will take you out to the Pearl of Papua and our friendly crew will greet you with a cold refreshing drink. This will be followed by cabin allocation and boat orientation. When all guests are on board the Cruise Director will give you a presentation about the Pearl of Papua and diving recommendations. After Lunch you will have your check dive at Pulau Mansinam immediately after the dive we will depart to Pulau Roon and dinner will be served on route.

Day Two: Pulau Roon
Tanjung Ayami is a sloping reef with huge slabs of rock and Pulau Auri is a cluster of small islands with a similar topography but Groovy Passage is a sloping reef but has no slabs of rock.
Dive 1. Tanjung Ayami ‘WIDE ANGLE’ (huge blocks of rock & hard / soft corals)
Dive 2. Pulau Auri ‘WIDE ANGLE’ (huge blocks of rock & hard / soft corals)
Dive 3. Groovy Passage ‘WIDE ANGLE’ (fan corals, soft corals, sponges, turtles, Cenderawasih endemic Caitlin’s dottyback / Pictichromis caitlinae)
Dive 4. Groovy Passage ‘MACRO’

Day Three: Mangguar
Tanjung Mangguar is a cape on the main island of Papua. There are several small islands formed from volcanic rock making interesting dives, with slopes, walls, small caves, cut backs and overhangs.
Dive 1. Tanjung Mangguar ‘WIDE ANGLE / MACRO’ (soft corals, whip corals, fusiliers, snappers, reef sharks, rays)
Dive 2. Rock’n’Roll ‘WIDE ANGLE / MACRO’ (soft corals, whip corals, fusiliers, snappers, reef sharks, rays)
Dive 3. Kwatisore ‘WIDE ANGLE’ (whale sharks)
Dive 4. Lemon Slope ‘WIDE ANGLE / MACRO’ (Cenderawasih endemic Epaulette Shark / Hemicyllium galei)

Day Four: Kwatisore
Welcome to Kwatisore, the high light of diving in Cenderawasih. This is where you shall see whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), normally they are seen on their own when they are feeding and when they are not feeding they live in more than 1,200 meters below the surface of the water. But here we see them together (adults and juveniles) below the bagans (fishing platforms). Originally when the locals brought up their nets in the early morning catching millions ikan puri (small bait fish) the whale sharks followed the nets and were seen sucking on the nets. This is strange behaviour for the world’s largest fish which normally only eats plankton is truly unique to Kwatisore, it is believed that they get nutrients and oils from the bait fish. So now liveaboards buy the bait fish from the bagan fishermen and then we ask them to slowly throw them back in (on top of the whale sharks), then the whale sharks swim around taking the bait fish in their mouths but the bait fish come back out again via their gills. The whale sharks stay within 10m of the surfaceso it is really easy to snorkel with them.

Dive 1. Bagan ‘WIDE ANGLE’ (whale sharks)
Dive 2. Bagan ‘WIDE ANGLE’ (whale sharks)
Dive 3. Lemon Slope ‘MACRO / WIDE ANGLE’ / (Cenderawasih endemic Epaulette Shark / Hemicyllium galei)

Day Five: Tridacna Atoll
Small caves, cut backs, overhangs, this area is where we can find some of the best hard corals in the Cenderawasih Bay National Park.
Dive 1. Tridacna Wall ‘WIDE ANGLE / MACRO’ (hard corals, sponges, fan corals, endemic fusiliers)
Dive 2. Spag Point ‘WIDE ANGLE / MACRO’ (hard corals, barrel sponges, vase corals, jacks, barracuda, surgeon fish)
Dive 3. Boomerang Atoll ‘WIDE ANGLE / MACRO’ (hard corals)
Dive 4. Boomerang Atoll ‘MACRO / WIDE ANGLE’

Day Six: Pulau Purup
A group of small islands / islets close to mainland Papua.
Dive 1. PP1 ‘WIDE ANGLE’ (hard corals, fusiliers, snappers, Cenderawasih endemic Damsel Fish /
Chysiptera pricei)
Dive 2. PP2 ‘WIDE ANGLE’ (hard corals fusiliers, snappers, red tooth trigger fish, reef sharks)
Dive 3. PP3 ‘WIDE ANGLE’ (elephant ear sponges, fan corals, whip corals, fusiliers, Cenderawasih
endemic flasher wrasse / Paracheilinus walton)

Day Seven: Sungai Omi
Black quartz sand beach mixed with small stones and here there is a small river that enters the sea creating different bottom marine life.
Dive 1. Tanjung Mupi ‘MACRO’ (Cenderawasih endemic mantis shrimps / Odontodactylus)
Dive 2. Sungai Omi ‘MACRO’ (nudibranchs, estuarine sea horse)
Potential Itinerary at Cendrawasih Bay - Indonesia | Pearl of Papua 2015

Day Eight: Manokwari
After breakfast the Cruise Director will escort the guests to either the airport / hotel and will assist with checking in. Sorry to say that your Pearl of Papua trip has come to an end and we look forward to welcoming you on board again.

Notes:
* Cruising itineraries and daily programs are subject to change due to weather / sea conditions and dive site / anchorage availability. Every effort will be made to complete the program as planned and the Cruise Director will update the guests at meal times

* Experience level: Advance/intermediate plus, currents: can be strong, water temperature: 27 C – 30 C, visibility: 10 m – 20 m, depth: 5 m – 30 m
* We strongly advise you to bring your own dive equipment with dive torch for comfort and familiarization. The Pearl of Papua has a strict NO GLOVE POLICY and ALL DIVERS MUST HAVE DIVE INSURANCE

Flight Itinerary From/to Jakarta (CGK)
Manokwari (MKW) – Rendani Airport
Sriwijaya Air

Jakarta – Soekarno Hatta (CGK) 9.45 PM – Makassar (UPG) 01.00 AM Makassar (UPG) 03.00 AM – Manokwari (MKW) 06.50 AM

Manokwari (MKW) 07.05 AM – Makassar (UPG) 08.35 AM Makassar (UPG) 1.30 PM – Jakarta (CGK) 2.35 PM

Price: Start from Rp. 4.250.000,- (Return)
Garuda Indonesia

Jakarta (CGK) 01.50 AM – Makassar (UPG) 05.20 AM Makassar (UPG) 09.10 AM – Manokwari (MKW) 1.55 PM

Manokwari (MKW) 08.40 AM – Jayapura (DJJ) 10.05 AM Jayapura (DJJ) 11.40 AM – Jakarta (CGK) 2.40 PM

Price: Start from Rp. 6.000.000,- (Return)

* The schedule and prices may changes without any notice from the airline, please check to their website or your travel agency for the update
* Pearl of Papua could assist you to purchase the airfare ticket without any fee, please just let us know when you need our assistance
 
Hi Priskilly, I dove there in November 2015 and we had a very nice trip from Manokwari to Biak.
More than 15 whalesharks together under the bagans (south of the bay). That was just amazing !
Beautiful WW2 Japanese wrecks close to Manokwari and Mansinam Island.
Despite the fact that fishlife and colors are not as rich as in Raja Ampat, I really enjoyed that one. We had many macro stuff, schooling baraccudas, sponge barrels, some nice corals, reef sharks (we even had a big bullshark), mantas and big stingrays (in Yapen Island and the tiny islands situated South-East from Biak).
Almost no currents during our dives. Viz was OK (from 15 to 40m)
The whalesark is the main interest of that cruise, for sure, but that itinerary was really complete, compared to the varied comments I heard about that area.
Trip was onboard WAOW, which was absolutely perfect. They sail there in November and January.
if you are looking for something similar to Raja Ampat, try Misool and Triton Bay (South West of West Papua). More colors, corals and fishlife than in Cenderawasih, and some bagans are around (good possibilities to see whalesharks as well).

I'm back home. Below are the map with sailing passages & itinerary. The first week we went to Bali. Basically, it's 2 week trip.

Visibility was about the same as Raja Ampat (40'-80') We had 100+ visibility in Pulau Wairundi. Not much current to speak of, far from what I have experienced in Raja Ampat & Komodo. They were all like swimming in the pool. Temperature was about 84F. It's a good safe place to dive for newbies.

View attachment 382456 View attachment 382457
Thanks for all the detailed info! Very helpful indeed :)
 
I went last year and we are going back next year. It is amazing. Macro was surprisingly good as well.
Whalesharks of Cenderawasih Bay 2015
Cenderawasih 2015

This rumor surfaces every couple years. Boats pull out not because of safety concerns but usually due to costs. The fisherman and villages that control the Bagans tend to "extort" exorbitant amounts of money from dive operators. This becomes difficult for cheaper boats with short trips.

@priskilly and @marijev I would go sooner rather than later since the way they do business makes it difficult for boats to operate and wouldn't be surprised to see other boats pull out too.
 
Hi, I am the Ops manager for Dive Damai. We have been active in the area for over 5 years and have been leading promoters of the area. I have personally spent several weeks there each year, most recently throughout most of July and August this year.
There is no doubt that a lot of what is said above is true, it is great diving, both macro and wide angle and the Whale Shark experience is hands down the best in the world. However it is not an easy place to operate and boats who enter the area for the first time do have problems with local villages and this is the reason for citing safety concerns. Our boat has been boarded several times by locals seeking money or donations of deisel or gasoline, on occasions this has been quite aggressive and I can understand that this is enough to put operators off. We have learnt where we can go and where we cannot. also how to deal with local visitors (info I have shared with other operators) we do not feel that it is unsafe and we intend to continue with our plans for 2017 in the area.
There is another threat to the diving in this area that concerns us more. This is the efforts of an International NGO to "protect" the area. In effect they have closed much of the bay to all activities, including diiving. We will be approaching the local representatives of this NGO to discuss the science behind their decision as they will in effect be leaving the reefs open to the illegal fishermen who certainly will not be following any such regulations and can bomb at will! If we fail then there are still many areas not in the red zones and we will doubtless be exploring more of them.
The island of New Guinea- PNG, Triton Bay and Cenderawasih Bay in particular- is still the wild frontier of diving and I doubt it will ever been tamed, in fact I hope it isnt as it keeps the experience fresh and exclusive. :)
 
Each diver is already paying $50 more to dive in Cendrawasih Bay than that of in Raja Ampat for marine park fee. It sounds like the money is not going to the appropriate organization that is supposed to "protect" the area.
 

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