Raja Ampat: The Green Labyrinth

Carlos Virgili · Issue 60, May/Jun 2011 · pp. 54–58

Products mentioned: Nikon D300, Subal housing, Inon Z-240 strobes, Inon Semi Fish eye

We have travelled to Indonesia many a time as it’s one of our favourite diving spots. And whenever we choose the live aboard system, we always opt for the Ondina, a traditional “pinisi” adapted for scuba diving. A few years back we spent some time in Papua, but in Triton Bay which we loved, and even though a lot has been written about Raja Ampat we hadn’t had the opportunity to visit it since it became a “World Class” destination. Looking down from the window of the plane at the immense mass of green forest of this great island, my imagination began to plunge into its waters and the tangled jungle. After a briefing with our Cruise Director, we raised anchor and headed north. Even though Indonesia and the Ondina are now like a second home to us, we had never been to Raja Ampat which we had heard so much about; and to be quite honest we were keen to get there. Oh, by the way we’ve forgotte…