Raja Ampat South & Central (Sorong – Sorong)

Neptune One · Indonesia · 8 Days / 7 Nights

Duration
8 Days / 7 Nights
Embarkation
Sorong, Indonesia
Disembarkation
Sorong, Indonesia

About this route

This itinerary is designed for experienced divers, charting a course through the two definitive, yet distinct, sub-regions of Raja Ampat. Starting in the south, you will explore the labyrinthine archipelagos of Misool, a world of soft corals, dramatic topography, and endemic species set against a backdrop of steep karst islets. The second half of the journey heads north to the Dampier Strait, the high-action channel between Waigeo and Batanta where nutrient-rich currents fuel some of the most biodiverse reefs on the planet.

Day-by-day plan

  1. Day 1: Check-in and departure

    Sorong, West Papua

    Guests are met at Sorong’s airport and transferred to the vessel. Once all guests are aboard, the cruise director provides a full welcome brief. This is the time for guests to set up dive stations and camera rigs for the week ahead. Guests settle in for dinner as the boat begins its overnight steam south towards the remote and beautiful island chains of Misool. Guests rest; diving begins tomorrow.

    Dive sites: No dives

  2. Day 2: Immersion in Misool's Daram Islands

    Misool (Daram)

    Your first dives are in the Daram islands, the easternmost satellite of Misool. Sites like Andiamo and Warna Berwarna are submerged ridges blanketed in sea fans and colourful soft corals. Currents are typically moderate, attracting schools of fusiliers and batfish. After a dusk dive at Juliet, there is an opportunity to snorkel on the shallow reef flats, which shelter groups of juvenile black-tip reef sharks. This is a classic introduction to the soft coral seascapes of the south.

    Dive sites: Andiamo Daram, Warna Berwana, Romeo, Juliet

  3. Day 3: Sea Mounts and Swim-Throughs

    Misool

    Divers explore Misool’s most celebrated sites. Magic Mountain is a world-class sea mount; an offshore pinnacle that acts as a cleaning station for both oceanic and reef manta rays. The topography at Boo Window features a dramatic swim-through, while Nudi Rock and Whale Rock are classic examples of the region’s structure. Divers expect steep, vibrant walls and overhangs where they can hunt for pygmy seahorses and a wide variety of nudibranchs, with good potential for passing pelagics.

    Dive sites: Magic Mountain, Boo Window, Nudi Rock, Whale Rock

  4. Day 4: Karst Pinnacles and Lagoon Vistas

    Misool

    The day begins at Four Kings, a formation of four submerged limestone pinnacles that attract immense schools of fish. Next, Wedding Cake provides a multi-level dive on a sloping reef. In the afternoon, you will go ashore for a short but steep trek. The reward is an iconic, panoramic view over the maze of turquoise water and karst islets that comprise the Love Lagoon. It’s a signature Misool experience and a chance to stretch your legs before the steam north.

    Dive sites: Four Kings, Wedding Cake

  5. Day 5: The Gardens of Penemu

    Penemu

    Welcome to the central region. You will dive Melissa’s Garden, a famously beautiful and expansive hard coral plateau patrolled by black-tip reef sharks. Stronger currents here fuel a huge biomass of fish life. My Reef and the Keruo channel offer more dynamic drift dives along stunning slopes. After diving, you will hike to the classic Penemu viewpoint for another stunning perspective on the region's dramatic island topography, a geological signature of Raja Ampat.

    Dive sites: My Reef, Melissa's Garden, Keruo

  6. Day 6: Legendary Jetties and Cape Kri

    Yenbuba / Mansuar

    The itinerary explores the jetties of the Dampier Strait. The pilings of Sawanderek and Yenbuba jetties act as artificial reefs, providing shelter for huge aggregations of sweetlips, batfish, and jacks which divers can observe at a relaxed pace. Then divers drop in at Cape Kri. This site once set a world record for species diversity on a single tank dive. Divers expect a fast-paced drift along a corner where fish life is almost overwhelming, before a gentle dusk dive at Sapokren.

    Dive sites: Sawanderek Jetty, Yenbuba Jetty, Cape Kri, Sapokren

  7. Day 7: Action in the Dampier Strait

    Dampier Strait

    The final day of diving takes place on two of the Dampier Strait’s most current-swept sea mounts. Blue Magic and Sardine Reef are open-ocean pinnacles where divers can hook into the reef and watch the action unfold. These sites are magnets for schooling fish, grey reef sharks, wobbegongs, and large oceanic mantas that visit the cleaning stations. It is a high-voltage finale. The vessel finds a secluded sandbar to enjoy a final sunset before the overnight cruise back to Sorong.

    Dive sites: Blue Magic, Sardine Reef

  8. Day 8: Farewell and Disembarkation

    Sorong, West Papua

    The vessel will be moored in Sorong harbour. You will have a final breakfast on board with your fellow guests and the crew, giving you time to exchange contact details and say your goodbyes. Afterwards, you will be transferred to Sorong airport for your onward flight, concluding your journey through the heart of Raja Ampat.

    Dive sites: No dives

Upcoming departures

  • 2026-11-06 – 2026-11-13from 3,650 USDBook
  • 2026-11-24 – 2026-12-01from 3,650 USDBook
  • 2027-01-20 – 2027-01-27from 3,650 USDBook
  • 2027-02-08 – 2027-02-15from 3,650 USDBook
  • 2027-02-17 – 2027-02-24from 3,650 USDBook
  • 2027-02-26 – 2027-03-05from 3,650 USDBook
  • 2027-03-16 – 2027-03-23from 3,650 USDBook
  • 2027-04-03 – 2027-04-10from 3,650 USDBook
  • 2027-11-30 – 2027-12-07from 3,650 USDBook
  • 2028-01-20 – 2028-01-27from 3,760 USDBook
  • 2028-01-28 – 2028-02-04from 3,760 USDBook
  • 2028-02-15 – 2028-02-22from 3,760 USDBook

All routes of this liveaboard

Back to vessel: Neptune One