Damai I Itinerary
Cenderawasih Bay and Mapia13 days / 12 nights
About Damai I
- Indonesia's most diverse selection of liveaboard diving itineraries
- Explore some of Indonesia's remote regions like Cenderawasih and Triton Bay
- Make the most of unlimited diving, superb camera facilities, and small groups
- Little luxuries like master cabins, gourmet cuisine, and spa services
Dive Damai’s original vessel, the Damai I liveaboard is a luxurious traditional phinisi custom-built for scuba diving. This liveaboard offers a staggering variety of itineraries visiting classic destinations including Komodo and Raja Ampat, as well as remote and seldom visited areas like Cenderawasih Bay and Triton Bay. Dedicated divers will love this boat's fantastic facilities and outstanding service underwater, including unlimited dives and small guide-to-guest ratios.
Itinerary details
Length of trip 13 days / 12 nights
Number of dives 35
Experience Open Water - Minimum 10 dives
Insurance Required
Highlights
- One-way trip from Nabire to Biak in the famed Cenderawasih Bay
- Dive the remote and protected waters of Mapia
- Explore ghostly remains of WWII shipwrecks
- Visit the northern waters of Biak, reaching depths of up to 5,000 metres
- Search for Denise's pygmy seahorse in Roon
- Swim with whale sharks of Cenderawasih Bay National Park
- Night dive with the largest fish in the sea
Day 1: Arrive into Nabire
The flight usually arrives in Nabire in the morning, and you will go directly to Damai and make yourselves comfortable. We will start moving late in the afternoon towards our first destination.
No. of Dives: 0
Days 2 and 3: Teluk Wororomi
This is the whale shark bay, and the local fishing platforms attract many of the ocean's largest fish. After local reporting is complete, divers will be offered an open dive deck so that they may spend as much time as possible in the water with these amazing creatures.
The whale sharks here are a resident population of pre-adolescents, mainly males, who come to the platforms to feed on the small bait fish that sit in the nets that hang beneath. They are apparently unconcerned by divers and tirelessly circle back again and again to feed upon morsels of fish hand-fed to them by the fishermen, who regard them as good luck.
No. of Dives: Unlimited dives/snorkeling + 1 night dive
Day 4: Tanjung Mangguar/Pulau Nusir
Tanjung Mangguar is an extensive dive site with a wall on one side and a plateau of hard corals on the other. There are some magnificent sponges and lots of plump, soft corals to add some colour to the reef. This is a good chance to see some of the endemic fish species, and there is a school of resident blackfin barracuda.
No. of Dives: 4
Day 5-6: Roon
Two dive sites here offer the chance for some nice critter diving with a chance to see boxer crabs, colourful Notodoris nudis and maybe a popcorn shrimp or two. Also, here is an impressive Tridacna clam sitting in the middle of a sand patch.
After lunch there is an opportunity to visit a local village, and later two more dives in the area where guests might find the ever-elusive Denise pygmy seahorse or maybe see a downed Japanese fighter aircraft.
No. of Dives: 4/day
Day 7: Manim
Manim is home to calm waters and 7 sunken landing craft left behind after WWII. These are in a variety of depths from 5 to 25m and are covered in a variety of hard and soft corals.
No. of Dives: 2
Day 8-9: Mapia
The last atoll in Indonesian waters, very close to the border with Palau, too remote for fishermen to go, and protected by a small navy post, The combination of all these factors means only one thing: superb diving—pristine waters, hard corals and drop-offs, and a tremendous amount of fish. Rare opportunity to see reefs in the way they were many years ago and a delight to all our senses.
No. of Dives: 3 and 2
Day 10-11: Outer Atolls
The outer atolls of Cenderawasih Bay are some of the fishiest sites in the area, located inside the national park. Wild Fish Ridge and Spag point are two particular favourites. It is here that we can view so many of the endemic species that led this to be called the “Galapagos of the East.”
No. of Dives: 4 and 2
Day 11: Tanjung Manguar/Pulau Nusir
Tanjung Mangguar is an extensive dive site with a wall on one side and a plateau of hard corals on the other. There are some magnificent sponges and lots of plump soft corals to add some colour to the reef. This is a good chance to see some of the endemic fish species, and there is a school of resident blackfin barracuda.
No. of Dives: 2
Day 12: Crossing
The last day we will be in the ocean crossing back from Mapia to our final destination; it's time to wash and dry gear and, with certainty, talk about the great experiences of the trip.
No. of Dives: 0
Day 13: Departure
Guests will be escorted to the airport in Nabire and assisted with check-in procedures, no doubt full of talk about the wonders of the most popular dive destination in the world.
Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.
Transfer details
Departure
11:00am
Nabire
Nabire Airport: NBX
Return
10:00am
Nabire
Nabire Airport: NBX
Current availability and prices: https://www.zubludiving.com/itineraries/damai-i/itn-2505300411531-cenderawasih-bay-and-mapia