1

Theres an Indonesian backpacker group leaving for RA via Sorong on 18th May.
Another group I know of is in the preparatory stage.

2

there's a homestay with very basic accommodation (named saleo home stay) and it's quite cheap (usd 20 - usd 40/person), but they dont have dive center, that's aresort near this home stay named raja ampat dive resort www.rajaampatdiveresort.com, this resort have complete equitment for diving. hoply this information useful. thank you

3

Recently I found this link: http://www.stayrajaampat.com , if I remember correctly it was even in a thread in this board. Maybe it helps to plan your trip.

4

It may have been mentioned earlier, but the search function and archives seem to not be working well these days...

5

google your search word followed by lonely planet

stayrajaampat lonely planet.....I am having good luck planning my next trip this way
.

6

Go to Waisai by public boat from Sorong, and dive with the nearby Waiwo Dive Resort, by far the cheapest of the Raja Ampat resorts.

7

More info on Raja Ampat

8

Well....we'll probably be in Papua between May 21st and June 7th. Wanna spend a week max around Raja Ampat. Would be nice to see whether we could form a group somehow...
Cheers

9

to Anoor:
As we'll be around Raja Ampat same period as u're referring to a group...I wanted to ask u maybe contacts of these guys. However, can't send u a private msg, so I ask here.
Can I maybe get in contact? As we could be interested in joining if that would be a possibility...
Thx

10

We have been there for 20 days in last November .The best way to get there is by public boat to Waisai, then by speed boat to Mansuar kecil (Kris island) In Mansuar kecil , there are 3 p omestays, but the only "honest " one is Koranu Fyak bungalows.I think they will pick up you in waisai if you call Robben , the ownwer. But they dont have diving equipments. We were diving with the crew od Mangur Kodon homestay , but we can not recomend them (horrible people, horrible experience), neither the Yenkoranu homestay (Yenkoranu and Mangur Kodon are all members of the same family and in fact they operate like a " mafia" in Mansuar Kecil .)Now, there is a new dive center in Gam ,(just in front of Mansuar Kecil ) i think now they are ready to take divers .The accomodation is expensive, but they cna pick up you from Mansuar kecil every day if you are diving with them.here you have the link : http://rajaampatbiodiversity.com/
Dont forget to go to sardine Reef , is the best place for diving there
Pulau Airborek is also a perfect place to stay, but there is not any dive center there yet...anyway, there you have the mantas just in front of the islands to do snorkell, and nice day snorkelling trips to incredible places near Airborek.There is also a wonderful island for diving and snorkelling between Mansuar and Batanta , the name is Wai, but is dificult to arrive there by your own and there is is not a " homestay " at fact, only a family home, but they would be pleased to host you for two or three days if you get there and you bring some food with you ...They have two dive equipments and a dive master in the island , the place is amazing .

11

Hi, thx a lot Anoor and Karmakolos!!!
Sorry for 'high jacking' this post...hope it's also valuable info for you ctwillard....
Thx

12

Waiwo Dive Resort seem to offer a good package for diving and accommodation, much less expensive than the other 'upmarket' resorts and the place looks nice on the pics. Also there is a good review somewhere on that world wide web.

The problem is that we wrote them both in bahasa and in english through 3 different channels several times (email, website form and facebook - which they update regularly) in order to book with them and we never got an answer back. Nothing. Null. Kosong. We didn't try the telephone though, maybe that's the only way.

Edited by: ibagur

Edited by: ibagur

13

The Waiwo Resort is nice, cheap, and it is rarely full.
Do you have the owners' cell number?
Try these: +62811488561 or +6281344390180

14

Thanks Laszlo,

We already booked with another new place we found called Hamueco, also good price. Do you have any extra info on that one? I will try by phone next time though, as Waiwo resort seems a nice place indeed.