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Dive Review of Papua Explorers in
Indonesia/Raja Ampat

Papua Explorers: "Nice resort in Raja Ampat", Nov, 2016,

by Chrys Martin, OR, US (Contributor Contributor 17 reports with 10 Helpful votes). Report 9329 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 2 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments This is a lovely resort in the heart of Raja Ampat with overwater bungalows. Appears to be he nicest in the region with best dive boats from our observations.
The over water rooms were great and nicely appointed and clean. No AC but ceiling fans and a small floor fan kept temp at night OK. Nice breeze most days but quiets at night. No bugs when we were there have nets over the beds that we didn't need even with doors to patio open. Nice area for meals in rotunda building over water.
Good dive center at end of dock. Good boats for diving 6-8 per boat with 1-3 DM's and not crowded. Never have to touch your gear after day one. Two larger boats for day long trips. Most dive sites 20-25 minutes away. There are 2-3 full day trips with dive sites as far as 45- 60 minutes away and surface interval on land with an excursion of interest sometimes and lunch away, back at 3 or 4pm. We did not do these as we had already been to the farther dive sites on a liveaboard. All our local dive sites were surface intervals on a beach, jetty or small village. Very interesting and fun to interact with locals or just loll on a perfectly white sand beach with turquoise waters. House reef good for snorkeling or kayaking, all nite dives are there. Assistant dive ops manager is runnning a reef rebuilding project creating new reefs on rebar with attaching broken corals to it. A Manta researcher is also on site. Very knowledgeable DMs capable of finding little critters. All are locals or from the region so some language barriers. The resort is Laser focused on maintaining high quality of the regions waters and reefs. Very strict on proper underwater behavior of guests. Huge schools of big and little fish as well as lots of little critters not seen elsewhere. Each dive site has own feel: walls , steep and sloping, rubble areas, jettys , etc. only limit is 60 minutes dive time. Detailed briefings on dive dock before boats set out.
Very strong and changing currents at most dive sites, staff tries to
Match skills with dive site conditions.
Nearby villagers provide most of the behind the scenes help and put on a dance and music show one night. However most do not know any other languages which limits interaction and understanding of housekeeping requests.
Food was plentiful but boring. Main chef was apparently out our week but back the last day and dinner was better. Preparation could use an upgrade , but excellent soups and uninteresting but plentiful veggies and fruit. All meals buffet style and would cook eggs to order in morning along with fruit and baked goods.
Food is all that keeps this resort from getting the highest rating. Very customer service focused and welcoming staff in all departments.
Websites Papua Explorers   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Caymans, Belize, Australia, Wakatobi, Hawaii; all over Caribbean, Honduras
Closest Airport Sorong Getting There Singapore or Jakarta to Sorong

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy, cloudy Seas choppy, surge, currents
Water Temp 82-85°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility - Ft/ - M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 60 Minutes and watch depth; absolutely no touching of corals
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities 1 stars
UW Photo Comments No special facilities on or off land or in boats for cameras
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Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

Subscriber's Comments

By Blake Hottle in CA, US at Mar 15, 2017 22:48 EST  
We have stayed at Papua Explorers and this review is spot on.
By Blake Hottle in CA, US at Mar 15, 2017 22:48 EST  
We have stayed at Papua Explorers and this review is spot on.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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