Raja
Ampat, off the coast of Papua, must surely be one of the
last frontiers of diving. It is in this area that renowned
marine author Dr. G. Allen recorded 283 fish species in
one single dive. Of the few dive operators to attempt regular
operation in the area, Papua Diving is the most knowledgeable,
with Max Ammer's many years of exploration and experiences
with the indigenous Papua people.
Dive
Sites
The
number of dive sites which can be reached from the Resort
are too many to mention individually.
Manta Rays are present almost permanently at three
locations close to the resort and guests thoroughly enjoy
seeing them from up close. Often they are at touching distance
and it is normal to see 10 to 15 Manta Rays during one dive.
Furthermore there are a great number of breathtaking reefs
that are truly teeming with life.
Most
dives are drift dives due to strong currents in the area.
The currents provide nutrients for the outstanding quantity
and variety of fish life and corals in the area. A fabulous
variety of colorful soft corals and plenty of reef fish
are found at most sites. Large schools of fish are known
to populate some areas, pelagics such as sharks, Manta and
Mobula Rays, dolphin, whales and turtles are frequent sights.
Visibility
is good, but not spectacular, and is best in the morning
dives. The water temperature is 82°-84°F (28°-29°C)
year round.
And
if that is not enough, there are the Manokwari wreck dives.
These are WW II wrecks which were only discovered relatively
recently. Since diving in this region is still in it's infancy,
the wrecks have not been plundered as in Truk Lagoon, PNG,
the Solomons, Vanuatu and other well-known wreck diving
areas. By special arrangement, Papua Diving can schedule
to dive wrecks in the Manokwari area (on the east side of
the bird's head).
Kri
Eco Resort
Kri
Island lies approximately 90 minutes by boat from the town
of Sorong. The resort is located on the shore of a spectacular
lagoon, where clear blue waters meet brilliant, white beaches.
Bungalows are overwater, which creates this beautiful South
Seas ambience.
A jetty built over the large shallow lagoon in front of
the eco-resort also leads to five of the guest houses.
Although
the accommodation at Kri Eco Resort is very basic,
it is functional and has a beautiful charme to it.
For those who don't want to be without their mod cons, the
sister property, Sorido
Bay Resort gives guests a choice of different grades
of accommodation.
Meals are served in our Restaurant, a large over-water dining
area with long tables, sheltered by a traditional palm thatched
roof, which always offers a nice, fresh breeze.
In the kitchen, coffee, tea and flavored drinks are always
available for our guests.
The kitchen is always busy with staff cooking over the gas
burners in large woks or stew pots and an oven where Yolanda
bakes fresh bread and occasionally pizza! In back of the
kitchen, the staff slice fresh vegetables and fruits in
the open air under the shade of the trees. Each meal is
prepared fresh. Ice boxes, supplied weekly from Sorong,
contain fresh meats and can chill a beer when required.
Accommodation
Kri
Eco Resort currently has 6 over-water guest bungalows. Since
accommodations are over the water, you can often see sharks,
rays and schools of fish in your "garden". Most
of the buildings contain two rooms and at least one sitting
area. Rooms are divided by partitions with doors and window
coverings that can be closed for privacy. Each room has
a mattress, pillow and mosquito net for bedding. Furnishings
are hand-made benches or lounge chairs and tables where
guests can relax, work on camera gear, talk and read.
Inland
from the beach are six Indonesian style baths ("mandi"),
walled for privacy. The
well, also located behind the resort's buildings contains
a more than adequate supply of rain water for your needs.
It provides guests and staff with bathing, toilet, camera
rinse and cooking water. Drinking water is obtained
from a neighboring island. Papua Diving has just also added
an OSMOSIS water filtering system to supply 10,000 L of
fresh water a day to both resorts.
Two
Western-style flush toilets, are located on the island near
the end of the jetty and are shared by all the guests.
Dive
Shop
Nitrox
diving is available
Each day is different and may include from 2 to 5 dives
(3 day dives + 1 night dive being the average) depending
on the divers' desires. Many sites are within 5-30 min.
of the resort, however some special sites are further away.
For Dive sites further away, the resort charges a fuel surcharge
locally. Divers may choose to return to resort between dives
(from the nearby sites). For the farthest sites from the
resort, multiple dives are planned and a packed lunch is
carried to enjoy during a surface interval on one of the
finest deserted white sand beaches you will ever experience.
Photography
Digital
camera hire (Olympus 5050) incl. CD burning available
Special
excursions/Activities
Saturday
is a day of rest for the staff. A night dive can be made
on Saturday night, but not on Friday night. There is no
Saturday daytime diving. On Saturdays there are opportunities
to explore the area with a visit to a waterfall, walk through
the jungle, visit a local village or just relax in the peaceful
resort.
Kri Eco Resort Accommodation/Dive Packages
01 January 2010 to 31 December 2010
Dbl/Twin
(per person)
Single
7 nights, all meals, transfers, plus unlimited** dives
Euro 1260
Euro 1470
14 nights, all meals, transfers, plus unlimited** dives
Euro 2270
Euro 2690
Packages need to be Sunday/Sunday
No diving/activities from Friday 6pm to Saturday 6pm
** for scheduled dives and unguided house reef dives between 7am and 9pm
Included:
Accommodation
at Kri Eco Resort as per booked duration,
with buffet style meals (a good selection of Western,
Asian and vegetarian dishes available), return Sorong
transfers (Sunday/Sunday)
boat dives, air fills, dive sites within 10km range
of resort
Not
included:
Marine
Park Fee Rp500,000 (US$55) valid for 13 months from
the 1st of each calendar year
Fuel
surcharge for dive trips more than 10km from the
resort to be paid locally.
Sorong
hotel package (transfer, dinner, breakfast Euro
60 per person)
flights
to/from Sorong
Nitrox
packages available
Note:
please e-mail
us for any additional information.