Nov.2023 Raja Ampat 　　　

Summary

I have wanted to go west part of Raja Ampat since I was able to go east part last time 4 years ago.
First of all, I tried to find dive centers. Then I chose the Arborek Dive Shop from some of them.
There are church and school in the Arborek Island.
I chose Sehati homestay related by dive cente from around 10 homestays in the island.

Itinerary

We are able to transfer in Jakarta, Denpasar and Makassar to Sorong Airport nearest to Raja Ampat.
Though I considered to transfer in Jakarta at mid night at first.
I found out affordable ticket to Kuala Lumpur by Vietnam Airlines.
To Makassar by Air Asia, to Sorong by Lion Air.
However it needed to stay one night each in Kuala Lumpur and Makkasar.

To Kuala
Lumpure

Continueing previous of Vietnum Airlines, I recieved ship change by email.
Fortunately it was not narrow boky but from B787 to A350.
I entered Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur and one night at the Tune Hotel KLIA Aeropolis.

To Makassar

There are many flights from Makassar to Sorong in midnight.
One night at the Ibis Budget Makassar Airport.

To
Arborek
Island

I went to the Waisai Port by myself by taxi and ferry, and dive center took me to the homestay 4 years ago.
I asked the way to the island by email as I didn't find out get there.
They arranged a driver, then he took me to the Sorong Port.
I have checked to use the visa card for payment of diving and homestay.
But only cash for fee of round trip between the Sorong Port and the island.
However I had severral cash of IDR, it was not enough for payment of transfer.
So I needed to exchange money from JPY to IDR.
I tried to find money changer at the Makassar and Soron Airpor.
I found a few those seemed money changer, but all were closed probably not day time.
I had to exchange money at a bank in Sorong,, it kept me to get a 9A.M. ferry.
The bank opened at 11A.M., I have waited two hours exchanged at 1P.M.
I was just in time for the 2P.M. ferry.
The fee between Sorong and Arborek is relatede by number of people.
It took IDR one million both ways, because no one else but me on the boat

Sorong Airport	Arborek Island	Gate of the island
Dive Shop	In the island	From Jetty
From Jetty	Homestay next door	Homestay I stayed
Homestay next door	Inside of the homestay	at dusk
at dusk	at dusk	Liviaboard off coast, more wooden taste

Diving	Arborek Dive Shop	1st day	1	Manta Sandy	2	Arborek Tip	3	Arborek West
		2nd day	1	Lalosi	2	Manta Sandy	3	Arborek Tip
		3rd day	1	Citrus Reef	2	Arborek Jetty	3	Mambarayub

1st day

We are not allowed to use flash at Manta Sandy. Two mantas were hovering kept still.
Two Wobbegong Sharks and Big Bowmouth guitarfish: couldn't take picture.