About

About Papua Explorers

Papua Explorers is located on the beautiful island of Gam at the very heart of Raja Ampat’s best diving and less than 15 minutes away from famous dive sites like Manta Point and Cape Kri. The resort faces the Dampier Strait and is built on a jungle-clad peninsula that is home to birds of paradise and other incredible wildlife. Papua Explorers was constructed using traditional Papuan techniques and local, natural materials whenever possible, and makes every effort to reduce its environmental impact and run the business in as sustainable manner as possible.

The resort’s 15 water bungalows are built along the edge of the island where the jungle meets the sea and designed to be in perfect harmony with the stunning surroundings of Gam. Guests are free to relax and explore the natural environment around the resort, or meander through the local village of Yenwaupnor. And with the Raja Ampat SEA Centre on site, guests can help to support the conservation of Raja Ampat’s extraordinary marine environment. The resort is committed to creating sustainable human-nature experiences while conserving one of the world's last remaining tropical reef strongholds - the epicentre of marine biodiversity.

Explore the resort

Papua Explorers resort is built at the edge of the jungle and combines traditional Papuan design with modern Western comforts. The spacious and comfortable water bungalows provide the perfect environment to simply relax, enjoy the view of the Dampier Strait, and listen to the sounds of the sea and the forest. Each bungalow is built using local, natural materials that emphasise natural cooling, and come equipped with fans. Within their bungalow, guests will also find ensuite bathrooms with hot water, a desk for working on cameras, mosquito nets, and a veranda with hammock - along with stunning views and direct access to the sea.

The resort’s beautiful, circular restaurant and lounge is built over the water, right at the edge of the beach where the forest meets the sea. Guests can enjoy stunning panoramic views whilst dining on Indonesian and Western food - all freshly prepared at the resort - as well as snacks between dives. And, for those who would like something a little different, the Papua Explorers Spa on the jetty provides an amazing mix of Indonesian treatments along with beautiful views out over the Dampier strait - a great way to relax after a long day of diving. Papua Explorers Resort offers free use of kayaks, twice weekly yoga sessions on the sun deck and scheduled transfers to the island from Sorong every Sunday and Wednesday.

Diving from Papua Explorers

The team at Papua Explorers includes both Indonesian and International staff, with 11 guides, four trainees, five dive instructors and a free-diving and yoga instructor. The PADI 5-Star dive centre offers a range of dive courses, including a six month Divemaster Marine Ecology internship programme. Guests at Papua Explorers are offered three boat dives a day as well as unlimited diving on the house reef and free nitrox is available for anyone suitably qualified. Snorkellers are also well catered for and are free to join the dive boats, or if in a group of five or more, are allocated a boat of their own.

Papua Explorers take safety very seriously and the dive centre, all seven dive boats, two transfer boats and resort buildings are fitted with modern and well-maintained safety equipment. The boats also carry satellite phones when out on day trips. The rental equipment is up-to-date and well looked after and the staff undergo regular training updates.

Conservation

Conservation and sustainability are at the heart of Papua Explorers. As the resort states, “it is our belief that as divers, we have a duty of care to do what we can to conserve the areas in which we dive, and be ambassadors for healthy marine ecosystems the world over.”

Raja Ampat SEA Centre is a conservation initiative established by Papua Explorers Resort and dedicated to conserving Raja Ampat’s marine life through Science, Education and Awareness - SEA. The SEA Centre serves as a platform to conduct conservation work and valuable scientific research.

Papua Explorers Resort lives in harmony with the local environment and communities, starting with the natural appearance of the resort, which was designed to blend in with the local scenery. Guests are also provided with environmentally-friendly soap and shower gel free of charge and water is reprocessed by natural bacteria. Fish served in the restaurant is bought from the locals who employ sustainable fishing techniques and vegetables are bought from the local farming families.

Over 50% of the resort employees are from the Raja Ampat area and the resort also tries to give back as much as possible to the surrounding villages, donating fuel, clothes and stationery.