2007 Diving Raja Ampat & Beyond!
Join Michael Aw on his 2007 Expedition to Raja Ampat & Beyond
After three scientific surveys conducted by teams from Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy in 2001, 2002 and 2006 respectively, Raja Ampat can claim to have the highest density of coral species than elsewhere in the world. “Never before in the world have researchers found 400 coral species in one dive, as they did in Raja Ampat,” coral expert John Vernon has said. Collectively, coral experts documented 600 different corals species and from the recent 2006 trip another 20 specimens suspected as new to science.
World top ichthyologist Dr. Gerry Allen has broken his own record twice in Raja Ampat for numbers of species recorded on a single dive.
Before diving in the Raja Ampat area his record was 204 different species recorded in Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea. In 2001, during his Raja Ampat expedition, he documented 283 species of coral fish at Cape Kri, an experience he had never previously encountered. Then, during the 2002 Nature Conservancy expedition, near the island of Kofiau, he set a new personal record by documenting 284 species during one dive, which equates to one species every five seconds!
From a recent tele-conversation, Gerry spoke of an area beyond Raja Ampat with even more excitement - Fak Fak, a brand new area that has not been explored before - Gerry whispered of surprises after surprises in this new area, the epic centre of bio-diversity.
Inspired by Gerry’s enthusiasm, Michael Aw is leading another trip to Raja Ampat - to revisit some familiar sites in Wageo, Fam, Misool and divers will venture to Fak Fak to explore the final frontier!
Liveaboard: MV Odyssea 1 (See pics of MV Odyssea 1 here)
Dates: Mar 03-14, 2007
Number of days: 10 diving days
Number of dives: Up to 40 dives
Cost: US$3180 per diver
Deposit: US$1000 per diver, non-refundable
Balance payable: Jan 15, 2007
Inclusions
* Return airport transfers, ex-Sorong
* 11 nights full-board stay on MV Odyssea 1
* Up to 05 dives a day except on arrival/departure days
* Diving in the environs of Raja Ampat including Wageo, Fam, Misool and Fak Fak
* Photography tips by Michael Aw
Exclusions
* Airfare in/out of Sorong, and airport taxes
* Visa, where applicable
* Insurance
* Equipment rental
* Personal expenditure
* Port fees & fuel surcharge
Please make your Enquiry using the Form below
