Bringing together over 25 years of dive industry experience from all over the world, the management team is comprised of a team of 7 people (including 6 instructors) with a collective 12 years experience working in the Raja Ampat region.

All of the managers are passionate divers and nature enthusiasts, and they take great pride and joy in sharing the resort and the region with all of their guests. A diverse team, the managers come from Indonesia, France, Germany, Australia and Turkey, and together they work hard to ensure that the resort exceeds guest’s expectations in every way; from the restaurant, rooms, and of course the diving experience.

The Papua Explorers family also includes between 70-80 local staff, 70% of whom come from local villages, and their knowledge of the Dampier Strait and surrounding area is exceptional

Papua Explorers Resort is located in the islands of Raja Ampat, which is on the northwest tip of the Bird’s Head Peninsula of West Papua. Raja Ampat translates into English as Four Kings and gets its name from a local mythology about four kings that occupy the four big islands; Salawati, Batanta, Waigeo and Misool. It’s a stunning archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, hosting thousands of species some of which are endemic to the region.

It’s a new regency which separated from Sorong Regency in 2004. It encompasses more than 40,000 km² of land and sea, which also contains Cenderawasih Bay, the largest marine national park in Indonesia. It is a part of the newly named West Papua (province) of Indonesia which was formerly Irian Jaya.

The name of Raja Ampat comes from local mythology that tells about a woman who finds seven eggs. Four of the seven eggs hatch and become kings that occupy four of Raja Ampat biggest islands whilst the other three become a ghost, a woman, and a stone.

History shows that it was once a part of Tidore Kingdom, an influential kingdom from Maluku. Yet, after the Dutch invaded Maluku, it was shortly claimed by the Netherlands. The main occupation for people around this area is fishing since the area is dominated by the sea. They live in a small colony of tribes that spreads around the area. Although traditional culture still strongly exists, they are very welcoming to visitors. Their religion is dominantly Christian.

Raja Ampat’s Biodiversity in numbers :More than 1,300 species of coral reef fish.Five species of rare and endangered sea turtles including the hawksbill sea turtle, 600 species of hard coral within the Bird’s Head Seascape—75% of the total for the entire world, 13 marine mammal species including the dugong, 700 species of mollusk—including 7 giant clam species, 57 species of mantis shrimp within the Bird’s Head Seascape

BUNGALOWS

The Water bungalows blend traditional Papuan style with the comfort of modern design features. They are built by using local, natural materials collected from the surrounding villages. All bungalows are equipped with en-suite toilet and shower, hot water, ceiling fan, mosquito net, working desk and a comfortable seating area. The spacious veranda with direct access to the sea, allows our guests to enjoy the sun and sea in their own privacy. Other features are: 220 V electricity with European type plugs, in room tea and coffee facilities, drinking water, environmentally friendly and natural soap.

RESTAURANT

You will never miss a sunrise or sunset with the unique, round shape of the restaurant. You can enjoy the beauty of the ocean and rainforest at the same time. You will taste examples of traditional Indonesian cuisine as well as international comfort foods – all freshly prepared by the kitchen team. You can gather energy enjoying the snacks between dives and  chill out in our seating area after dinner.

PAPUA EXPLORERS SPA

Relax in paradise at the Spa. Located on the jetty, with stunning views of the islands of the Dampier Strait, the Papua Explorers Spa offers a variety of spa services.

Whether it be a relaxing late afternoon massage as the sun gets low in the sky, a rejuvenating post dive massage to sooth tired muscles, or simply a holiday indulgence, guests can enjoy the spa services while surrounded by the tranquil sounds of the sea.

RAJA AMPAT DIVING

Raja Ampat diving casts a spell on all who descend into its abundant waters – scientists, photographers, novice and lifetime divers alike.

Lying in the heart of the Coral Triangle, the Raja Ampat holds the prestigious title as the most marine bio-diverse place on earth – quite a title; but also fact. At its most recent count in 2011 the region of Raja Ampat was recognized to contain 1427 reef fishes, over 600 coral species (75% of the world’s coral species can be found here), not to mention the pelagic life that is abundant in the area.

Raja Ampat diving is breathtakingly spectacular, and truly unforgettable. Hard and soft corals compete for space on reefs that are bursting with life and colour. Swarms of small fish such as damsels, fusiliers and anthias mill about on the reef flats, while not too far away the large schools of tuna, trevally and mackerel congregate. Batfish, surgeonfish and barracuda aggregate around jettys and reef points, while angel and butterflyfish decorate both the reef flats and jagged coral towers that are home to abundant marine life. Large fish species include napoleon wrasse, bumpheads and giant sweetlips, and being in shark sanctuary not a day goes by where divers don’t spot one of the many species of reef shark in the area. And of course, there are the manta rays: reef mantas at nearby cleaning stations, the majestic oceanic manta in open water, and during the right season any given dive site may yield magnificent mantas gliding by. There are really no words to describe diving in Raja Ampat, it must be experienced and is truly unforgettable, and diving over 50 sites in the area Papua Explorers ensure all their guest visit all of the abundant highlights this region has to offer.

Located within 30 minutes of most of the dive sites, Raja Ampat’s spectacular underwater world is easily accessible by boat.

Highlights include:

Currents and Diver Experience Level

The waters of Raja Ampat are highly rich in nutrients, and the Dampier Strait (Papua Explorers location) is especially nutrient-rich due its fast moving currents. Nutrient rich water, and fast moving currents make the perfect environment for an abundance of marine life, including migrating mammals and pelagic species. However, such nutrient-rich water can mean low visibility at times (typically 15-20 m), and the majority of our dive sites will have current in varying degrees, from mild through to very strong, depending on the tides and moon. We recommend for you to bring your own reef hook, as these assist you during dives with stronger current.

Some dive sites are not suitable for beginners or anyone that doesn’t feel comfortable in currents. The resort dive guides check the current direction and strength before the divers get in the water and change the dive plan or site if necessary. The dive groups are maximum 6 people and they have a head dive guide and an assistant guide in each group.

Papua Explorers have a check dive for everyone and they make the groups according to the level of experience. They ease all divers into the currents by starting the dives with sites that get mild currents. There are enough sites with mild current to complete a week diving without going to the dive sites that get strong currents. However, you might also miss some of the highlights of Raja Ampat diving.

If you haven’t dived for 2 years or longer, we would recommend to get a refresher course to ease you back into scuba diving. We would also strongly recommend the Advanced Open Water Diver Course as it would enable you to dive to a bigger range of dive sites and maintain a perfect buoyancy to protect the pristine coral and marine life here.

Diver Safety

All divers are required to bring their own safety buoys and whistles with them when coming to the resort. It is mandatory for all divers to have dive insurance to be able to dive with Papua Explorers. Waisai (45 minutes from the resort location by boat) has a Hyperbaric Chamber, however costs for treatment and further transportation can be extremely high in case of an emergency. Therefore, all dives are planned and executed without deco stops and it is mandatory for all divers to use a dive computer. All divers are required to follow their guide and guide instructions while diving with Papua Explorers

Raja Ampat SEA Centre – Conservation and Community Support

The Papua Explorers Foundation Raja Ampat SEA Centre is a conservation initiative established by Papua Explorers Resort.  Based at the resort, Raja Ampat SEA Centre is an NGO dedicated to conserving Raja Ampat’s marine life through Science, Education & Awareness (SEA).  Working with collaborating scientists and local community members, SEA Centre serves as a platform to conduct conservation work, and valuable scientific research into the marine ecology and environment in the region.

At a local level, SEA Centre’s aim is to educate and empower both current and future generations to understand and preserve the extensive reef systems within the Raja Ampat region, upon which community livelihoods depend and are intrinsically linked.   On a broader scale, they aim to connect national and international communities with the incredible marine life in Raja Ampat; the most marine biodiverse place on earth and the cradle of marine life.

Through hands on involvement in their projects, and both formal and informal education they hope that each and every person they touch goes forward to be an ambassador for the pristine, unique and irreplaceable reefs of Raja Ampat.

Contact us to book your stay at Papua Explorers Resort.