Take a Vacation in Raja Ampat Papua

Review this paradise on the east side of Indonesia in an article is not endless. Natural wealth, location, and incredible natural potential, always make admiration for anyone who saw it. Moreover, the associate directly with nature in this region of Eastern Indonesia. In fact, for me that is just reviewing them in this short article was Raja Ampat dazzling fantasy world unlike me.

Raja Ampat is one of 14 districts in the province of West Papua. Raja Ampat which has more than 610 islands and four large islands, namely the island Waigeo, Misool, Salawati, and Batanta Island, is composed of 17 districts. Located in the heart of the Coral Triangle (the coral triangle) between the islands of the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific islands such as Fiji and the Solomon and northern Australia, Raja Ampat into one location with the natural wealth of the richest in the world under the sea.

In a survey of The Nature Conservancy, a leading international conservation organization that has a soil and water protection programs that are ecologically important for natural and man, it is said that Raja Ampat has a number of coral diversity reaches more than 553 (75% of all known coral species in worldwide) and more than 1,320 species of fish. The area is also one of the most important habitat for the leatherback turtle or turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).

The strong appeal of Raja Ampat the preservation of diversity The maritim evidenced by National Geographic Traveler survey online through a questionnaire in March-April 2009. The survey results were published in National Geographic Traveler 3 edition Vol 1 2009 where Raja Ampat is ranked first in the category 'Diving location location Based Sustainability '.

Table Rating Based Sustainability Location Location Diving

	Location	Score
1	Kep. Raja Ampat	4.35
2	Komodo, Rinca	4.24
3	Wakatobi	4.21
4	Tulamben	3.98
5	Nusa Penida, Lembongan	3.95
6	Menjangan, Bali Barat	3.92
7	Kep. Bunaken, Manado	3.90
8	Selat Lembeh, Bitung	3.74
9	Derawan, Kalimatan	3.63

In a fairly wide area coverage, Raja Ampat has several dive sites are quite attractive and quite facilitated with adequate access. The dive sites are located mostly near Waiwo (about 10 minutes away by speedboat [speedboat] of Waisai, Raja Ampat Regency / City). Some of these places include Kri Island, Sardine Reef, The Passage, Fam Island, Misool, and the Gulf Kabui.

Actually, the development of new infrastructure in this area began to increase in 2003, after the Raja Ampat inaugurated on May 9, 2003. Since 2003, the development of this area as a tourist area began rapidly. Many entrepreneurs who then began to invest to make the resort and diving services in this area. However, it is unfortunate that most of the entrepreneurs come from outside Indonesia. Similarly, when seen from the number of visits to this area. Of the approximately 7,000 tourists who come to Raja Ampat in 2010, only about 200 tourists in the country.

It happened due to several factors, which are generally handcuff domestic tourists, namely about the high cost, difficulty of access, and the mindset of those who tend to still choose traveled outside Indonesia since seen more prestige both tinimbang only to objects that exist in the archipelago. In addition to the access is quite difficult because to do several times a transit flight and followed by a fast boat, indeed when viewed from the nominal issued towards Raja Ampat, the numbers are far above the cost of the person (Indonesia) to spend to go to some Asian countries such as China , Macau, Thailand, Vietnam and some other Asian countries. For comparative information, that the average package tours provided to tour here in 7 to 12 days is approximately € 1.600 - € 3.200 per person. Meanwhile, if we choose both to Macau or Thailand for example, we only costs around € 600 - € 800 per person. High rate for domestic tourists, is not it?

Once we know the range of costs for travel to Raja Ampat, we would need to know the picture of the access to the area of Raja Ampat, following the route is a little information:

Flights from Jakarta to Sorong, via Manado (about 6 hours). There are daily flight schedule, with flights: Silk Air, Garuda Indonesia, Pelita Air and Merpati;

To get to the dive site, you can contact the organizers of professional diving in Sorong;

Before heading to the dive site, you need to apply for a permit to the local police station. Files that are required are 3 copies of identity (passport with visas for overseas travelers Indonesia);

From Sorong, you can choose two types of vessel namely Speed Boat (40 minutes - 1 hour drive, with a capacity of 15 passengers); Long Boat (2-3 hour drive with a capacity of 10 persons). Ships can also be rented exclusively when you bring the group.