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Sea Safari VIII

Sea Safari VIII

Package Rates on Request



Construction: Phinisi Buginese Schooner
Nitrox $

Schedules & Availability


Date

spaces

Search
15 DEC2024
6 nights
Sorong - Raja Ampat - Sorong
21 available spaces
from
USD 2820.-
21 available spaces

Departure/Arrival

embark:
15 Dec 2024
12:00
Sorong
disembark:
21 Dec 2024
12:00
Sorong

Prices & Availability

Twin Bed (103 - 104 / 107 - 108)
Lower Deck
USD 2820.-
8 spaces
Double Bed (105 - 106)
Lower Deck
USD 2820.-
4 spaces
Bunk Bed (101 - 102)
Lower Deck
USD 4230.-
1 space
Double Bed (201 - 204)
Main Deck
USD 3060.-
8 spaces
 Booking Request
22 DEC2024
7 nights
Sorong - Raja Ampat - Sorong
21 available spaces
from
USD 3290.-
21 available spaces

Departure/Arrival

embark:
22 Dec 2024
12:00
Sorong
disembark:
29 Dec 2024
12:00
Sorong

Prices & Availability

Twin Bed (103 - 104 / 107 - 108)
Lower Deck
USD 3290.-
8 spaces
Double Bed (105 - 106)
Lower Deck
USD 3290.-
4 spaces
Bunk Bed (101 - 102)
Lower Deck
USD 4935.-
1 space
Double Bed (201 - 204)
Main Deck
USD 3570.-
8 spaces
 Booking Request
06 JAN2025
9 nights
Sorong - Central and North Raja Ampat - Sorong (api)
21 available spaces
from
USD 4230.-
21 available spaces

Departure/Arrival

embark:
06 Jan 2025
12:00
Sorong
disembark:
15 Jan 2025
12:00
Sorong

Prices & Availability

Twin Bed (103 - 104 / 107 - 108)
Lower Deck
USD 4230.-
8 spaces
Double Bed (105 - 106)
Lower Deck
USD 4230.-
4 spaces
Bunk Bed (101 - 102)
Lower Deck
USD 6345.-
1 space
Double Bed (201 - 204)
Main Deck
USD 4590.-
8 spaces
 Booking Request
07 FEB2025
10 nights
Sorong - Raja Ampat - Sorong
21 available spaces
from
USD 4700.-
21 available spaces

Departure/Arrival

embark:
07 Feb 2025
12:00
Sorong
disembark:
17 Feb 2025
12:00
Sorong

Prices & Availability

Twin Bed (103 - 104 / 107 - 108)
Lower Deck
USD 4700.-
8 spaces
Double Bed (105 - 106)
Lower Deck
USD 4700.-
4 spaces
Bunk Bed (101 - 102)
Lower Deck
USD 7050.-
1 space
Double Bed (201 - 204)
Main Deck
USD 5100.-
8 spaces
 Booking Request
18 FEB2025
2 nights
Sorong - Raja Ampat - Sorong
21 available spaces
from
USD 940.-
21 available spaces

Departure/Arrival

embark:
18 Feb 2025
12:00
Sorong
disembark:
20 Feb 2025
12:00
Sorong

Prices & Availability

Twin Bed (103 - 104 / 107 - 108)
Lower Deck
USD 940.-
8 spaces
Double Bed (105 - 106)
Lower Deck
USD 940.-
4 spaces
Bunk Bed (101 - 102)
Lower Deck
USD 1410.-
1 space
Double Bed (201 - 204)
Main Deck
USD 1020.-
8 spaces
 Booking Request
next trips

Sea Safari VIII
Sea Safari VIII
Sea Safari VIII
Sea Safari VIII
Sea Safari VIII
Sea Safari VIII
Sea Safari VIII
Sea Safari VIII
Sea Safari VIII
Sea Safari 8 is a Sorong-based phinisi schooner that travels to Raja Ampat, Misool, and Manokwari. With diving and non-diving itineraries, the schooner offers aquatic and land-based activities for any traveler. The ship has two aluminum speedboats, life rafts, buoys, life jackets, and oxygen tanks. The schooner accommodates up to 24 guests across 12 ensuite cabins, which range from twin to double beds. All cabins include air-conditioning, a hot and cold shower, a hair dryer, a bathrobe, towels, and a safety box. On board, there is a restaurant, bar, lounge, sun deck, and Jacuzzi.
With a dive deck, camera station, and rentable dive gear, Sea Safari 8 provides divers with a multitude of experiences. A sample itinerary for Raja Ampat boards in Sorong before setting sail to Piaynemo Island, famous for its corals and diverse marine life. Here, guests will dive at sites like Melissa’s Garden, Barracuda Reef, Galaxy, and Anita’s Garden. Another stop along the Raja Ampat itinerary includes Dampier Strait and Swing Kirai, where blacktip reef sharks, octopus, and coral thrive. Trips to Raja Ampat range from six to nine nights. The Misool itinerary also departs from Sorong, then first stops at Wayilbatan, where ghost pipefish and pygmy seahorses roam along the pristine reefs. The ship also goes to Whale Rock, a dive site along the western end of the Fiabacet chain. This reef system is known for its colonies of convict blennies, sea fans, and hawksbill turtles. Perhaps one of the most geographically exciting dives is located on the western end of Farondi, which begins as a sea tunnel and ends at a wall, leading into a cave. Here, divers spot crabs, flatworms, and clams roaming along the cave floor. Sorong itineraries last from six to ten nights. Typically, each day includes up to three dives, one night dive, and the occasional trekking opportunity. Other activities include kayaking, snorkeling, and birdwatching.
Non-diving itineraries include birdwatching on Swing Kirai Island, snorkeling along a sloping reef, and trekking through caves in Mios Kon. The non-diving itineraries typically last for four nights. Rates include accommodation, meals, compressors, regular air fills, ENOS diver emergency GPS locator, snorkeling gear, kayaks, and cruise and diving accident insurance. Flights, soft drinks, alcohol, personal travel insurance, tips, laundry service, entrance fees, EAN 32% Nitrox, and dive gear are not included. The Sea Safari VIII offers nitrox of EAN-certified divers but does not support technical diving or rebreathers.
Narrative text and photographs courtesy of the Sea Safari Liveaboards.



Dive Conditions

Conditions can make or break your trip. Temperature, visibility and the current vary greatly across this expansive country. Be sure to check the conditions of each destination you’re planning to dive before you leave. Diving is excellent year-round, but the best time is from May to September. Monsoon season is from December to June. Visibility may not be as good during the monsoon, however, certain locations like the Komodo Islands are a diver’s dream during this time due to an influx of mantas.
Most of Indonesia can be dived year-round with March to October being the most popular time of year to dive. This period of time marks the dry season in most parts of the country, with the exception of some dive areas like Ambon and southern Raja Ampat where most rainfall occurs in May/June to October/September due to the southern monsoon. It's best to visit these areas in the months of November to April for optimal dive conditions.
Generally speaking, Indonesia's climate is almost entirely tropical, with May to September as the dry season, and October to April the rainy season, and with heavier rainfall from December through February. However, the opposite might be true for certain dive areas in Indonesia like Raja Ampat and Ambon, and the best time of year to visit Indonesia really depends on where you intend to stay in the country.
The water temperatures remain quite consistent through the country, hovering at 26°-29°C (82°- 85°F) year-round. Typically, you won't need anything more than a 3-5mm wetsuit, or even a skinsuit. However, the diving conditions and difficulty in Indonesia hugely vary, depending on where and when you dive in the country.
Ambon Bay, Maluku – world class muck diving. Critters that can be seen here include rhinopias, frogfish, ghost pipefish, lots of juvenile fish, stonefish, mandarin fish, nudibranchs, harlequin and coleman shrimps, wonderpus, mimic and flamboyant cuttlefish, and even the much-sought-after psychedelic frogfish.
Alor, East Nusa Tenggara – the hidden gem. This off-the-beaten-path dive destination offers a mix of both world-class wide-angle and macro sites. Pristine coral reefs, steep walls, sloping muck sites--the diving in Alor is really diverse and would please the most discerning diver and underwater photographer.
Banda Sea, Maluku – sea snakes and hammerheads. Most of the diving around the Banda Sea involves excellent wall dives, and great macro sites, but the biggest draw is probably the resident sea snakes at Manuk and Gunung Api islands.
Bali – wrecks and mola molas. Unique critters, fascinating wrecks, beautiful walls, colorful corals, excellent muck dives, huge schools of fish, pelagics--Bali has it all. Technical diving and freediving are also possible in Bali with a good number of reputable dive operations.
Derawan Islands, Borneo – manta rays and whalesharks. Derawan is a remote group of islands in East Kalimantan (East Borneo), and is home to one of the three jellyfish lakes known to men, with the other two located in Palau and Misool Island in Raja Ampat.
Komodo, East Nusa Tenggara – drift dives and world class reefs. Komodo National Park is a group of volcanic islands with over 5,700 giant lizards known as Komodo dragons. This UNESCO World Heritage Site also hosts a world-class scuba diving scene. Imagine drift dives with colorful corals in various formations teeming with marine life, big and small. Divers can see big schools of fish pretty much year-round, as well as eagle and manta rays.
Lembeh, North Sulawesi – muck diving capital. Known as the world's capital for muck diving, Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi offers second-to-none macro biodiversity. The number species that you can cross off your list within a week of diving Lembeh is staggering.
Manado and Bunaken, North Sulawesi – wall dives and reefs. Manado Bay offers a mix of great muck and reef sites, treating divers to unique critters like mimic octopus and flamboyant cuttlefish, as well as various seahorses, squid, nudibranchs, and frogfish.
Raja Ampat, West Papua – the holy grail of Indonesia. Alongside Kaimana Regency and Triton Bay in the south, and Cenderawasih Bay in the east, Raja Ampat archipelago makes up a massive area, collectively known as the Bird’s Head Seascape. Divers can visit the Raja Ampat area many times in their lifes and discover something new each time.
Wakatobi, South East Sulawesi – beautiful coral reefs. Wakatobi's reefs are extremely healthy and offer unique large coral formations, various sea fans, and sponges which are overflowing with marine life. The underwater topography is no less unique, featuring various walls, ridges, and overhangs. While it's not the place for large pelagics, eagle rays and reef sharks can typically be seen.