Raja Ampat

(Dive Travel Business News - February 10, 2012) -- Where can divers swim with the world’s most diverse fish and coral species, gawk as a squadron of mantas swoops overhead, or poke around World War II wrecks? In Diving Indonesia’s Bird’s Head Seascape, the sequel to their Diving Indonesia's Raja Ampat guide, authors Burt Jones and Maurine Shimlock use never-before-published images and maps to show readers where and how to dive beyond Raja and experience the reefs scientists have confirmed to be the planet’s richest.

More than 200 dive sites from Triton Bay, Cenderawasih Bay and Raja Ampat, the three regions that comprise Indonesia’s Bird’s Head Seascape, are described along with information on which camera setup to use and what animals divers can expect to encounter. Travelers will also find useful information on how to access each area’s myriad shore-based attractions. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - January 4, 2012) -- Worldwide Dive and Sail, a premier luxury diving yacht company that plies the waters of Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, has just reported an incident on board the S/Y Mandarin Siren. During a recent diving trip, in the Raja Ampat region of Indonesia, a fire broke out below decks while the guests were on a morning dive. The S/Y Mandarin Siren crew were unable to contain the blaze and were forced to abandon the vessel which was subsequently lost.

The guests were not aboard at the time and therefore were never in any danger.  Worldwide Dive and Sail's other Indonesian vessel, the S/Y Indo Siren, was very near at the time of the accident and steamed immediately to pick up the guests and crew from the tender. A speedboat was then dispatched to pick everyone up from the S/Y Indo Siren and return them as quickly as possible to Sorong where they were provided with fresh clothing, accommodation and assistance from Worldwide Dive and Sail staff. read more »

(DiveTravelBusinessNews - November 14, 2010) -- Worldwide Dive and Sail, live-aboard company that has become known for its luxury dive and sail itineraries around Southeast Asia, now has 5 vessels taking guests to the best dive sites in Thailand, Burma, India, Philippines, Indonesia, and its newest destination - the Maldives.

Since 2003,  Worldwide Dive and Sail has been expanding its fleet and destinations portfolio to include a wide range of destinations. The S/Y Siren plies the diving waters off Thailand, Burma and India including:  the Similan and Surin Islands of Phuket; Burma Banks and Mergui Archipelago and; India's Andaman Islands. The S/Y Philippines Siren offers four different itineraries around the Philippines including: South Visayas; Southern Leyte; Boracay and area and; Tubbataha Marine Park.  The S/Y Mandarin Siren travels to Northern Sulawesi and Raja Ampat (North and South). The S/Y Indo Siren conducts several journeys including: Komodo National Park; Komodo to Flores, Flores to Raja Ampat, Raja Ampat and Raja Ampat to Ambon. read more »

(DiveTravelBusinessNews.com - Nov 17, 2009) --  Located off eastern Indonesia's Bird's Head Peninsula in Papua province, the archipelago called Raja Ampat is the undisputed heart of the oceans' marine diversity. Diving Indonesia's Raja Ampat is a new guidebook by co-authors and veteran photographers Burt Jones and Maurine Shimlock who logged more than 1000 dives over 7 years on these remote reefs where more than 1320 species of fish and over 70% of the world's hard corals call home.

Created under the auspices of Conservation International Indonesia's Marine Programs, this guidebook introduces divers to more than 130 dive sites and provides facts about Raja's array of endemic fish life, GPS points and diving directions, information on land activities and valuble tips for international travelers. read more »