Route Description - 11D10N Whale Shark Festival
CRUISE KEY
Whale-sharks, WW2 wrecks diving, Coral reefs, Drop off's, Muck dives, Rare critters, Sharks, Manta rays.
SEA CONDITIONS
Our cruises have been programed during the best possible season of the year. The sea is generally very calm as Cenderawasih is a bay almost closed at the entrance and protected from ocean swells
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Tropical climate. Tropical weather, sunshine and nice sea breeze that can be windy at nighttime, light jacket is ideal
NATURE OF DIVES & CURRENTS
Certain stationary dives in mid water to observe the whale-sharks under the fishing platforms. Dives normally conducted on reef edges with wrecks, around coral atolls, some sand based diving and some drop offs. Currents and visibility can be varied.
WATER TEMPERATURE
Avg. 27° to 30°C
Day 01 Manokwari
transfer to the airport or hotel between 06.00am and 11.00am at the latest
Check Dive
Manokwari's shipwrecks
(only for trips starting or ending in Manokwari)
Many Japanese shipwrecks from the 2nd World War lie on the bottom in the Manokwari area. Bombed by the Americans in May 1944, these old warships are now the main attraction for divers in this part of Cenderawasih bay. The most popular ones are:
"Shinwa Maru” (The Good Ghost), is a huge, 120-meter-long cargo ship, lying in 35 meters of water. It sank near the port of Manokwari after having been hit by two bombs, leaving it with two holes in the bow. In one of the cargos are still cables and machinery once used to move bombs. There are also empty bomb shells around. There is a resident school of mackerel, who seem to be the caretakers of this wreck. The sides are nicely decorated with soft coral, hard coral and rock oysters.
Day 2 Mansinam’s shipwrecks
(only for trips starting or ending in Manokwari)
"Cross”, a former patrol vessel is 35m long and is lying at a depth of 18 meters, parallel to the coast of Mansinam Island, right in front of a cross symbolizing the arrival of the first missionaries in the mid-19th century to that area, hence the wreck’s name. This wreck and its surrounding slope is well known for good critter diving, especially at night.
"Pillbox”, This cargo ship was carrying ammunition and is roughly 60-65 meters long. It is lying on its starboard side in around 16 meters of water, just off the Coast of Mansinam Island. It is in good condition and well preserved.
"Pasir Putih” (The White Sand), a former military patrol vessel of 30-35 meters long, lies on a sandy bottom between 13 to 22 meters with its bow pointing towards the shoreline.
Day 3 Numfoor
A wall and steep slope with good coral growth surrounded by clear, blue water and big fish. Baby Grey reef sharks, white tips, barracudas, tunas, big groupers, jacks, snappers can easily be spotted. The fish life is particularly good with some current running.
Day 4 Manim Island
On Manim Island are more than 7 Landing crafts from the war. They all sit on a white sand slope and each one is decorated with different corals, at different depths between 40+ meters to a shallow 5 meters.
Day 5 Roon Island
Pulau Auri features a shallow ridge, visible at low tide. Large rocks and boulders covered in both soft and hard coral. Some of the most prolific green Tubastrea hard corals of Cenderawasih grow here. Schools of Fusiliers along with hump head parrotfish, or the occasional small grey reef shark can be seen here. Tanjung Ayami is nice boulder dive with good coral growth and lots of Fusiliers and Barracudas.
Day 6 The Bagans
Now that is the reason why most people come this far… To dive under and around these floating fishing huts where Whale-Sharks congregate!
Day 7 Mangguar and outer atolls
Tanjung Mangguar is a beautiful and interesting site. Huge soft coral and sea whip colonies adorn this reef which attracts a large number of fish including Barracudas, rainbow runners, jacks and even sharks, manta rays and mobula rays can be spotted regularly! Huge barrel- and elephant ear sponges, giant clams, gardens of Acropora hard corals and lots of fish, all in crystal clear water.
Day 8 Yapen Island
Dry Yapen is an underwater seamount where the currents can become strong. Starting at 8 meters and sloping down to 35 meters and more. Beautiful and huge soft corals decorate an intact reef full of life. Right next to Yapen is a big plateau extending the beach as a ridge, with sandy slopes falling to the deep, or single standing bommies, with nice corals.
Day 9 Padaido Island
The Padaido Islands offer diverse diving ranging from walls to slopes, pinnacles, plateaus and even wrecks. Fish life such as small critters, reef fish, schools of jacks and barracudas as well as juvenile sharks. There is a great muck or night dive under the concrete pier from Mios Wundi village with many critters to be found.
Day 10 Biak
The "Flying Catalina" is a plane wreck in good condition just outside of Biak and easy to dive. Shallowest depth is 19 meters and the deepest at 30. The plane is in one piece, in a good shape with big black corals, gorgonians, big lion fish, glassfish, shrimps and many more. The "Pasar Ikan" (Fish Market) Is a good muck dive with critters such as Cockatoo waspfish , ghost pipefish etc
Day 11 Biak
Check Out