Two weeks in Indonesia with rare diving on pristine reefs, and super topside fun in Bali!

When:
February 1-17, 2013

Where:
S/Y Indo Siren liveaboard
Raja Ampat/Sorong
Bali, Indonesia

Who:
16 Oceanblue Divers

Why:
Because this will be the adventure of a lifetime!

Cost:
$2,579 (PP/DO, boat only. See the "Itinerary" section below for more details. 

Oceanblue is making a return trip to Indonesia, and this time it's to right into the heart of the Coral Triangle, arguably the best diving on Planet Earth, the Raja Ampat islands. We're going to spend a week aboard the brand new, S/Y Indo Siren of the Worldwide Dive & Sail fleet.

This one of the premiere boats in the area and brand spanking new as of 2011. Through the wonders of modern technology, you can now see what the boat looks like, so have a look and you'll see why we chose this amazing vessel!

Click here to take a virtual tour of the boat!

We have space for sixteen divers and we have reserved the entire boat. Since space is limited and this is a long haul trip, we've reserved it far in advanced to allow for those who are interested to save up and go on what will unquestionably be the trip and adventure of a lifetime. Ask any of the folks that went on our last Indonesia trip how much fun it was! The coral triangle is indeed the final frontier of biodiversity and marine life in the world. If you haven't been diving in that part of the world yet, here's a great opportunity to dive and leave the arrangements to us!

Why dive Indonesia?

We all love to go diving in the Bahamas and Caribbean because it's close and you can dive beautiful blue crystalline water and see beautiful fishes and corals, from the Port Lucaya all the way down to Bonaire. Why would anyone want to travel this far in order to dive in Indo-Pacifica, and especially someplace like Raja Ampat?

Good question, and we have the answer, of course! The Caribbean Sea is the youngest and shallowest ocean, and consequently, the least diverse ocean on the planet, believe it or not. Conversely, the oceans around Indonesia are the oldest, and the biodiversity in that part of the underwater world is literally ten times what it is in the Caribbean. To illustrate this using some numbers, there are approximately sixty to seventy different kinds of corals across the Caribbean. However, there are six to seven HUNDRED types of corals in Indonesia, a stark difference. Lucky for you, we're organizing a trip aboard one of the premiere liveaboards in the area, the S/Y Indo Siren!

What you will see:

One of the most noticable differences is the sheer volume of fish present in the waters. It is not untypical to see numerous schools of fish numbering in the thousands (and even tens of thousands) on most if not every dive. There all many of the same corals you see in the Caribbean, plus tons more you have never seen, many of which are quite animated and moving. It's a lush underwater landscape unlike anything you've ever seen if you've never been to that part of the world. Also, because Raja Ampat is a remote area and protected, the corals are pristine!

Itinerary:

We will update with more details as they become available. Because this is booked so much in advance, we are unable to provide exact details for hotels and other accommodations before and after the liveaboard, but will fill them in as we make arrangements. 

We will spend two nights in Bali before boarding the Indo Siren, and will spend four nights post-liveaboard in Bali. While in Bali we will offer some optional excursions to various parts of the island that will be both adventure and culture oriented. There will also be time to spend on the beach for those who would like to. We have guides located in Bali who will arrange some of these excursions for us which will be at a reasonable price. Prices will be posted as much in advance as possible. Types of excursions include bike rides, white water rafting, hikes, tours of cultural sites and more. There is a wealth of things to do in Bali, and it will undoubtedly be super fun!

Here's what we know so far (please keep in mind that the dates refer to 2013):

Final Itinerary

2/3/12: Arrive in Bali/DPS on your own flights. We'll be staying at the Mercure*, Sanur, which is 10 minutes (-ish) from DPS.
2/4/12: Depart for Sorong via Makassar/UPG. Flight departs at 6:20pm from DPS.
2/4/12: Arrive Makassar/UPG, 7:40pm and transfers to Aryaduta Hotel*.
2/5/12: Depart Makassar/UPG for Sorong/SOQ. Flight departure time is 8:40am.
2/5/12: Arrive Sorong/SOQ, 11:40am.
2/5/12: Transfer to Indo Siren, boarding, orientation, settling in.
2/5/12 - 2/12/12: Eat, sleep, dive, chill, dive, more chilling, more diving and chilling. Oh, and diving. And eating.
2/12/12: Disembark Indo Siren and depart for airport
2/12/12: Depart Sorong/SOQ to Makassar/UPG. Flight departs at 11:40am
2/12/12: Arrive Makassar/UPG, 12:55pm
2/12/12: Depart Makassar/UPG for Bali/DPS 4:45pm
2/12/12: Arrive Bali/DPS, 6:05pm
2/12/12: Transfers to Royal Beach Seminyak* (also 10 minutes from DPS)
2/12/12 - 2/16/12: Rocking and rolling in Bali. More details to come.
2/16/12: Depart Bali/DPS for home, sweet home.

*Breakfast is included at all hotels.

Flights:

Flight arrangements will be left up to the individual, however, we will make some recommendations for potential flight itineraries as the trip approaches. Airlines only offer schedules for 12 months (+/-) in advance, so there is no way of knowing what the itinerary nor what the cost of flights will be. Currently, the cheapest round trip fare from NYC to Bali is $1,487 on Kayak (on Singapore Airlines) for February 2012 just to give you an idea. This is relatively close to what we paid in 2009 to get to Bali, but please keep in mind, with fluctuating fuel prices, it's impossible to predict what the fares will be like a year from now. We will update with information as we get it.

You will need to purchase two separate sets of flights:

1. City of origin (NYC or wherever) to Denpasar, Bali (DPS) and back (departing in the evening of Feb 1, returning Feb 16)
2. Denpasar, Bali (DPS) to Sorong, Indonesia (SOQ) and back (departing Feb 5, returning Feb 12)

What's included:

• 7 nights accommodations aboard the S/Y Indo Siren
• 5 and half days of diving
• Tanks, weights, weight belts
• Up to five dives per day
• Unlimited Nitrox (we will offer a course prior to the trip for those who are not Nitrox certified, and it is highly recommended for a trip like this).
• All meals and snacks onboard
• Round-trip airport transfers from Sorong to the vessel

• Overnight stays in Bali (price and accommodations details TBA)
• Pool Refresher Course: $50 (normally $95, NYC Only)*

Not included:

• Airfare
• Gratuities
• Gear is available for rental.

* Refreshers are required for those divers that have not been in the water in the last year. Normally $95, but reduced to $50 for those coming on the trip. Please email us to schedule a refresher

Payment:

Credit Card: Click the "Register" button below.
Check: Please make out all checks to "Oceanblue Divers" and mail to P.O. Box 1153, New York, NY 10009-1153

Payment Schedule:

Deposit: $500
First installment, due March 31, 2012:  $500
Second Installment, due June 1, 2012: $500
Third Installment, due September 1, 2012: $500 
Final Installment, due November 1, 2012: $579 

To pay installments:

 To pay installments, you can do so at the payment center here:

 https://oceanbluedivers.com/my-payments

Once there, you can click on the "Pay Now" link in the row for this trip. This will allow you to pay installments and any other payments you would like to include. It tracks your balance so you know exactly how much you have left to pay. Please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with questions should you have questions or encounter any issues.

Refunds:

There are no refunds offered.

 If for some reason there is an extreme set of circumstances that prevents you from coming on this trip, we will attempt to fill your spot once the trip is full, but there is no guarantee that we will be able to. We have obligations to the boat company, and once your spot is taken, we will have to pay for your space whether you go or not.

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance (this is different and separate from dive accident insurance and must be purchased separately). This an expensive trip and we would hate to see anyone lose their money due to an unforeseen circumstance. There is information about travel insurance below from Divers Alert Network.

Travel Insurance

Trip insurance is highly recommended to protect your travel investment, especially for a trip of this caliber. Weather events, illnesses and other eventualities that could impact your trip are covered by travel insurance providers (be sure to read the policy carefully before purchasing to see what is covered)

Our recommended provider is DAN (Divers Alert Network). This is different than your dive accident insurance that you might purchased through DAN. You can purchase trip insurance by clicking below:

Click the image above to purchase travel insurance

Required for all divers on an Oceanblue Divers trip:

Dive accident insurance (different from the above):

This type of insurance is also provided by DAN, is required for all divers on an Oceanblue trip. There are serveral providers for this type of insurance, and you will find more information about it on the Divers Alert Network site.

Dive Computers

All divers are required to use a computer on every dive they do. If you do not own a computer. If you do not own one we will provide you one that you can rent for a reasonable fee. This is for your own safety!

*If you're traveling single, we'll match you up with a roommate, or single supplements are available for an extra fee.
** Does not include airfare.
***Don't have all your own gear? No problem, there's gear for rent on-site!
****Need to do your open water checkout dives? An instructor on the trip can certify you (with proper documentation) for an extra fee.

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