Raja Ampat is now at the level of the mainstream world of diving destinations. The worldwide popularity and ease of access to this island have made Raja Ampat no longer exclusive. Then where do divers look for West Papua diving spots and beach lovers set foot on this paradise earth?
Papua and West Papua have stretches of coral reefs and beautiful beaches. Papua’s waters are part of the world’s coral reef triangle. In addition, Papuan waters are home to spawning fish and part of the world’s unique fish immigration routes.
We Present 5 West Papua Diving Spots in Papua
1. Kaimana, West Papua
Each beach has its own nuances when it comes to dawn and dusk. But the underwater beauty is another story. The beauty of twilight in Kaimana became the song “Senja di Kaimana,” popular in the 1960s. But try diving in Triton Bay. It’s like entering an underwater paradise with colorful coral reefs. Ships liveaboard carrying foreign divers come to Kaimana.
Triton Bay is also a sanctuary for whale sharks in the monsoons with big waves. They look for small fish hiding around the sepia bay at dusk. Dolphins playing and occasionally jumping into the water are sights when traveling to or from this bay.
Many other tourist sites include the Iris Strait, Namatote Island, Dramai Island, Adi Island, Nusurumi Island, Mauwara Island, Semisarom Island, and Venue Island. The most fun is fishing and jetskiing on Aiduma Island. After walking through the forest for seven kilometers, we will arrive at Lake Kamaka, where the water is clear.
2. Triton Bay
Triton Bay is one of the West Papua diving spots in Kaimana District, Kaimana Regency, West Papua. This bay is famous for its underwater paradise and ancient images of prehistoric times. If you’re lucky, when the sea water is calm, tourists can witness the presence of Bryde’s whales with the naked eye.
You can also do water activities such as snorkeling to enjoy the underwater beauty of Triton Bay.
The stretch of cliffs around Triton Bay also holds a long story of human civilization in the form of prehistoric paintings, as is usually found on most cliffs in Latin America.
Getting to this place is quite tricky because you have to wait for flights or ships with a significant schedule from Kaimana to Triton Bay. After arriving at Etna Bay, you can rent a longboat or speedboat to get to the place in about 30 minutes.
3. Cendrawasih Bay National Park
The main attraction of Cenderawasih Bay National Park is the whale shark. Whale sharks are not like whales in general, which are classified as mammals rather than fish. The whale shark is the largest fish in the world. In Cenderawasih Bay National Park, tourists can dive and swim with whale sharks.
National park management applies strict rules to divers who want to interact with whale sharks. They are prohibited from touching the fish or swimming very close. Cendrawasih Bay National Park has an area of about 1.4 million hectares with clear waters. This national park is Indonesia’s largest and most significant marine conservation area.
Inside is the home of 196 types of mollusks and more than 209 types of fish. Even if you are lucky, you can find turtles, sea turtles, and dolphins.
To get to Cenderawasih Bay National Park, take a flight to Manokwari, then continue with a land trip of about three hours to Ransinki, followed by a boat for about two hours. There are many homestays in the Cenderawasih Bay National Park area.
4. Amai Beach
This is one of the unique beaches in West Papua diving spots. The location is right at the mouth of the river. As a result, the confluence of sea and river water creates warm temperatures. Amai Beach has white sand and clear water. Even though the waves are rolling, the water is not cloudy. The clarity of the water makes this beach suitable for snorkeling and diving.
Meanwhile, tourists often use the sloping beach to play volleyball and beach football. Moreover, the contours of the beach are not rocky, very safe for swimming, or used for other marine tourism activities.
5. Mansinam
Mansinam Island in Manokwari Regency is an island with 410 hectares located in Doreh Bay. From Rendani Airport, tourists continue their journey by traditional boat or long boat from Kwawi Beach.
When they arrived on Mansinam Island, tourists immediately saw the Church of Hope (Krek der Hopen), believed to be the oldest Christian place of worship in Papua. On February 5, 1855, this church was founded by German evangelists CW Ottow and Johann Gottlob Geissler when they set foot on Mansinam Island.
The underwater beauty of Mansinam Island can be enjoyed by snorkeling or diving. The view of the beautiful coral reefs can be seen starting at a depth of only 5 meters above sea level. Mansinam Island has a shipwreck for professional divers, Japanese wrecks, and planes.
Final Takeaway
West Papua diving spots stretch over coral reefs and beautiful beaches. Papua’s waters are part of the world’s coral reef triangle. In addition, Papuan waters are home to spawning fish and part of the world’s unique fish immigration routes. A never-ending gorgeous view of Bumi Cendrawasih.
