Global Conservation invites you to join us to dive and explore the islands of Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia aboard the Emperor Harmoni, custom-built from Sulawesi ironwood with five-star luxury for 20 guests.

Global Conservation is assessing two locations for deploying Global Park Defense and Community Marine Protection in Raja Ampat. Rob and Melani Walton and the Walton Family Foundation have invested over $60 million into the conservation of Raja Ampat and organizing communities to designate No-Take areas to better manage their fisheries.

Our current Marine Protection work in Asia is focused on Komodo National Park, Indonesia, as well as Palau Northern Reefs, Micronesia. GC Assessments are underway in Derawan, East Kalimatan, Indonesia, and East Timor.

The 10-night liveaboard itinerary on the Emperor Harmoni explores the North and South regions of Raja Ampat in Indonesia and is all about diversity—not only diversity of species but also of dive sites. There are some areas where soft corals and sea fans dominate, and other areas with an amazing range of hard corals, seagrass beds, mangroves, shallow reefs, drop-offs, caves, black sand, and white sand. Then there are an unbelievable amount of fish in more shapes and sizes than anywhere else in the world.

Proposed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Sorong: Cruise to Waisai and dive Mioskon (check dive). Anchor At Friwin.
Day 2: Mansuar: Dive Blue Magic / Sardine Reef / KRI / Mansuar Reef.
Day 3: Arborek: Manta Sandy, Manta Ridge, and Arborek Jetty.
Day 4: Gam: Dive Sawandarek / Mayhem / Citrus. Anchor At Gam.
Day 5: Penamu / Keruo: Dive Melissa / Keruo / Myreef.
Day 6: Balbulol: Dive Love Potion / Batu Tajam / J Nose.
Day 7: East Misool MPA: Dive Boo windows / Karang Bayangan / Boo West.
Anchor at Wayilbatan.
Day 8: West Misool MPA: Dive Four Kings / Wedding Cake / Barracuda Rock.
Day 9: Fiabacet, Central Misool MPA: Dive Neptune / Nudi Rock / Tank Rock.
Day 10: Daram Islands: Dive Andiamo / Candy Store, then cross to Sorong.
Day 11: Disembarkation at Sorong and flights out to USA, Europe, and Asia

Situated off the northwest tip of Bird’s Head Peninsula on Papua, the most eastern island of the Indonesian Archipelago, Raja Ampat (literally meaning ‘The Four Kings’) is an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati, and Misool.

The name Raja Ampat itself is believed to derive from a legend where a woman found seven eggs, with four of them hatching and becoming the kings of the four main islands, while the other three became a woman, a ghost, and a stone.

For underwater enthusiasts, Raja Ampat definitely offers some of the world’s ultimate experiences. The territory within the islands of the Four Kings is enormous, covering 9.8 million acres of land and sea, home to 540 types of corals, more than 1,000 types of coral fish, and 700 types of mollusks. This makes it the most diverse living library for the world's coral reefs and underwater biota.

Manta Rays and wobbegongs will glide right by you. Schools of Tuna fish, giant trevallies, snappers, batfish, and even barracudas are there to complete your underwater "meeting list". Not to mention being able to see the friendly dugongs and three different species of sea turtles. Down at the sea floor, giant sea clams measuring over one meter in length truly offers one-of-a-kind close encounters.

For more information, contact Jeff Morgan: jmorgan@globalconservation.org