June 2010    Download the Entire Issue (PDF)

Vol. 25, No. 6   What's this?

At Indonesia’s Triton Bay, the Locals Are Restless

from the June, 2010 issue of Undercurrent  

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We’ve heard rumors of liveaboards being waylaid by residents of Triton Bay, in the West Papua province of Indonesia, and a letter from reader Michael Emerson (Minneapolis, MN), who dived in nearby Raja Ampat this spring, explained that there is indeed trouble in paradise.

“Our boat, the Damai, had been in the Triton Bay area and crew members were approached by locals, who demanded a high fee for diving in the area. The boat paid the fee but was then told passengers could not dive there anyway. The locals attempted to take one of the dive dinghies by force but were unsuccessful. As a result, our boat would not dive that area because of the risk. Later, we met the captain of the Arenui, who had similar encounters with the locals. Their interactions were more intense. The boat pilots threatened to harm passengers if a large fee was not paid. ...