reubencahn
Contributor
The food at Papua Explorers was good but the food at Papua Paradise was a definite step up. I remember thinking that it was as good as or better than any other dive resort I'd been at and particularly good for the remote location. Both resorts served a mix of Indonesian and European food. Papua Paradise's house reef has very good macro, crocodile fish, tiny frog fish, pygmy seahorses, flamboyant cuttlefish. I don't remember Papua Explorer having a house reef as such but perhaps they did. Their advantage was proximity to the famous high current Dampier Straits sites. It was only a 15-20 minute ride to Cape Kri, Mioskon, Blue Magic. From Batanta, those sites are a 40-45 minute ride. When we went there from Papua Paradise, the trip was a full day, three dive trip with no return at lunch. I'd say service is superior and more personalized at Papua Paradise but not a huge difference. I don't remember much about the transfers except Papua Paradise is a bit closer to Sorong so a shorter ride. However, on our way back from Papua Explorer, we encountered a pod of several hundred spinner dolphin.
In the end, when I think about the two resorts, what stands out are the differences in diving (with Papua Paradise having greater access to good macro and Papua Explorers having better access to wide angle, high current diving) and the different feel of the two resorts with Papua Explorers feeling more regimented and less personal. However, I should add that we visited Papua Paradise in low season, July or August, so very few visitors. We visited Papua Explorers at the end of October and it was relatively full.
FWIW, we're doing a liveaboard this coming December and adding on a land stay at the beginning. We've decided on Papua Paradise. But if we were coming from Ambon or Lembeh, I would probably forego PP and go for Explorers--or go to MER which seems like the best of both worlds. And my thanks to JudyPots. I think your post allowed me to finally convince my wife that its worth the expense. I've been trying for years and she's always balked at the cost.
In the end, when I think about the two resorts, what stands out are the differences in diving (with Papua Paradise having greater access to good macro and Papua Explorers having better access to wide angle, high current diving) and the different feel of the two resorts with Papua Explorers feeling more regimented and less personal. However, I should add that we visited Papua Paradise in low season, July or August, so very few visitors. We visited Papua Explorers at the end of October and it was relatively full.
FWIW, we're doing a liveaboard this coming December and adding on a land stay at the beginning. We've decided on Papua Paradise. But if we were coming from Ambon or Lembeh, I would probably forego PP and go for Explorers--or go to MER which seems like the best of both worlds. And my thanks to JudyPots. I think your post allowed me to finally convince my wife that its worth the expense. I've been trying for years and she's always balked at the cost.
