For those that don’t know the reputation of the Samambaia, it is excellent. The trip runs from Sorong (Raja Ampat) to Kaimana (Triton Bay). Here is a link to a map if you want to see the route. Massages onboard!

Side note: this trip liveaboard connects to the next trip April 21st to Siladen (Manado) and Coral Eye (North Sulawesi). The liveaboard here is stand alone of course, but if you can’t stand to leave… it connects to the Siladen (Bunaken National Marine Park, Manado) and Coral Eye (North Sulawesi) trip.

The following is a description of the itinerary from the boat:

 

SORONG-KAIMANA

No cruise on MV Samambaia is the same. Every single trip is tailor-made to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The decision on the itinerary is made by the cruise director as we cruise along and is based on factors such as weather conditions, dive conditions, requests of guests and schedules of other liveaboards, which we are trying to stay away from.

There are however certain constants on every cruise which are:

• Three day dives of minimum 1 hour duration

• One sunset/night dive (unless we have to cover a serious amount of miles over night)

• Activities during the surface intervals such as:
• scenic rides through lagoons and coves in our tenders
• trekking to breathtaking view points
• visits of secluded perfect beaches
• excursions to traditional villages
• whale watching
• water action such as wake boarding and kayak

 

 

Day 1: Embarkation

Arrival with plane to Kaimana. You will be picked up by crew members at the airport.

Embarkation in the port of Kaimana and start to sailing to Pulau Dramai.

Day 2: Daram

This island group is one of our favourite area to dive in SE Misool. Since 2010 declared as the second no take zone in the area the marine life here is abundant and most colourful.

We will spend the whole day here and offer four world class dives. We have very nice diving spot there like “Andiamo”,”Camel Rock” and “Candy Store”. Fuziliers, batfish, black tip sharks, eagle rays and other pelagics are the possibility of meeting there and we find also a nice macrolife. 

Day 3: Sel Pele

Raja Ampat means ‘Four Kings’ and this is also the name of a dive site on the way to the island group of Sel Pele. Four pinnacles that are not only connected by their topography but also a fish soup surrounding them. After the morning dive here we will show you some of our secret spots.

Day 4: Wayil

Barracuda Rock, Wedding Cake and Dunia Kecil are the dive sites which we will spend this day at.

In the afternoon we offer a two hour speedboat ride into hidden coves to let you enjoy the stunning topside of the limestone islands. At the end we will get to a pristine white sand beach where you can cool of with a little swim.

Day 5: Boo / Warakaraket

The swim through at ‘Boo Windows’ is one of the signature dive sites of SE Misool. The surrounding reef is covered in sea fans. Even bigger sea fans you will see at our second dive here at ‘Hidung Boo’. We combine this impressive day of diving with at least one dive at ‘Magic Mountain’. Being a cleaning station for Oceanic Mantas makes this place truly magic.

Day 6: Fiabatjet

Right in the heart of the No-Take-Zone. ‘Tank Rock’, ‘Nudi Rock’ & ‘Whale Rock’ are the famous and commonly dived sites here. There is five more dive sites in the very proximity which are as good, if not even better. We prefer to go a bit off the beaten track here.

The reefs are covered in soft coral in all colours you can imagine. Surrounded by most colourful reef fish. More Fusiliers than one could possibly count. Jacks, Trevallies, Barracudas, Sharks.

And if you happen to dive here on a day with bad visibility. Just face the reef. It’s packed with macro life. Several species of Pygmy Seahorses, Nudibranchs, tiny Crustaceans – every niche in these reefs is filled with life.

Day 7: Fiabatjet

This particular area of SE Misool is just too good to only spend one day here. And the dive sites we know of here are plenty to offer a great variety of world class diving.

Day 8: Pulau Pisang

Located just half way between Triton Bay and Raja Ampat South, Pulau Pisang offer a nice diving stop on the way,the condition of the reef are very good and the marine life is plentiful. Here there are excellent condition for sighting pelagic like barracudas, eagle rays, bumphead , napoleon wrasse and sometime manta rays. We can find also many macro animals

Like hippocampus bargibanti. The diving is most along a wall, some areas are dense cover of black coral and sponges, and some big boomies witch a good cover of fans where we can find the pigmy seahorses.Close to the surface there is a spectacular cave which is full of glassfish   

Day 9: Pulau Namatota

Around Pulau Namatota, there are floating fishing platform ( bagan ) with a bright light on it. The bagan only start to operate in the night to attract fishes with the light, and trap the fishes on the net, which very early in the morning the fisherman will come and lift the full net of fishes before the sunrise. So, it is a good timing to attract the whale shark to stay around the bagan. On this day we have to wake up early before the fisherman pull out the net or the sunrise.

In the afternoon, we will move to Tanjung Papisoi, here we will dive in “335sp Pinnacle”, which means that in this place was counted 335 different species of fishes and corals.

Day 10: Pulau Aiduma

With a little navigation we will reach in “Pulau Aiduma”. Which is the most beautiful dive spot in Triton Bay. We will dive in a very famous spot of “Larry’s Heaven” North and South, once you dive in you will stunned with the colors and the biodiversity of this dive spot. “Black Forest” which has nice boulder formations covered in black coral. And night dive will be a first class dive with a good potential to see walking shark. 

Day 11: Kaimana Regency

Kaimana Regency start to declared a 6000 sq km Marine Protected Area in 2008, and it’s area is around the waters of Kaimana and Triton Bay. The marine biodiversity here is beyond fantastic and continues to surprise us with new finds every time we go diving.

Some called it “the next frontier of Indonesian Diving” or “the last best place”, Triton Bay offers something for everyone both above and below the waves.

Even though the visibility in Triton Bay is generally quite poor; due to the incredibly nutrient-rich water, means that it has tremendous soft coral growth and lots of schooling fish.

And best of all you will be one of only few divers enjoying the waters in this very remote area.

Day 12: Disembarkation in Kaimana

 

Depending on your flight schedule, our crew will check your luggage in for you in advance so you can rest on board and let us shuttle you to the airport when your plane is ready to leave

So, I (Matt) picked this one for our friend group for a few reasons. First, I have not yet been to Triton’s Bay, and that is on the list. Second, I can’t get enough of the Misool area of Raja Ampat and this trip goes there first. Finally, this boat has a great reputation. The trip only takes 14 people, and I picked a smaller boat because I’m not sure how many people will want the higher end experience especially as this will be our 3rd year in a row to include Raja Ampat in the diving schedule.

There is one Master Cabin on the main deck and six cabins on the lower deck. 2 are double beds only, 2 are single beds only, and 2 can be configured either way. All have en suite bathrooms and AC of course. Wifi everwhere.

You generally fly into Jakarta (CGK) and then connect to Sorong (SOQ) via Garuda Airlines domestic flight. There are inexpensive and convenient hotels in Jarkarta airport, which you may need if the flight times don’t line up well.

Flight from Kaimana (KNG) to Jarkarta or Manado are multi stop, but as of this writing it is too early to determine, but in early 2026 it looks doable in a day.

You can skip this section if you have been on a trip before, you know us already!

For those of you thinking about your first trip with this dive family, welcome! One of the best reasons to come along is the other people that will be there. Good people and fun – and mostly (but not all!) divers. On any given trip it is 2/3rd or more repeat travelers.

The only people that will be there for sure though are Matt and Sheila. While we do take input, but the travel plan is mostly “where do Matt and Sheila want to go?” then, “let’s invite our friends!” This leads us to the world’s best diving destinations, and some non diving trips that are bucket list worthy!

Matt grew up in Friendswood outside of Houston, went to Texas A&M, got a Ph.D in molecular biology at UCSD, then started Island Divers Hawaii in Honolulu and ran it for 25 years and is now retired except for this travel program. Sheila grew up in California, moved to Oahu at 19, worked in the tourism and maritime industry with many hats (including boat captain at Island Divers) until she retired with Matt in 2024.

We welcome everyone to try traveling with our group of dive friends. Return invitation is curated, but all reasonable people are welcome back – be nice to local staff, hold off on political rants, dive reasonably safely, no incessant complaining if things don’t go your way. We call our return guests/friends Dive Travel Alumni. We keep a special email list for them. Would love to put you on it!