Whale Sharks – Imagine diving alongside the ocean’s gentle giants, witnessing their graceful movements up close, and learning about their fascinating behaviors in their natural habitat. Every dive is designed to maximize whale shark encounters, offering unforgettable moments, incredible photo opportunities, and a rare chance to swim with the largest fish in the sea.
Pristine Marine Life – Beyond the whale sharks, Cenderawasih Bay is a diver’s dream. With over 500 species of corals, some of the healthiest hard coral gardens in Indonesia, vibrant sponge-covered walls, and atolls teeming with schools of fish, every dive is a new adventure. The bay remains largely untouched, with very few inhabitants and vast areas of unspoiled underwater wilderness.
Whether you’re chasing encounters with majestic whale sharks or exploring thriving coral gardens and abundant marine life, Cenderawasih Bay promises a diving experience unlike anywhere else on earth.
Date
July 8-18, 2027
Duration
10 nights/11 days on board Coralia Dua (new vessel)
Package Cost – TRIP FULL (please get in touch for the waitlist for 2028)
- Upper Deck Master Suites: (double occupancy)
$7950.00 USD per person - Main Deck Master Suites: (double occupancy)
$7950.00 USD per person - Lower Deck Double & Twin: (double occupancy)
$6950.00 USD per person (1 cabin available) - Lower Deck Twin (2 Twin beds): (double occupancy)
$6950.00 USD per person
Please note: All costs are in American Dollars (USD) for this trip.
Price Includes
- 10 nights/11 days onboard the beautiful vessel Coralia
- 3-4 dives a day (includes tanks and weights; other equipment not included). *Some days may be 2 dives, depending on land excursions and transit distances.
- 3 meals a day plus snacks, water, tea, coffee, soft drinks
- Accommodations in luxurious cabins.
- Presentations on marine wildlife – manta rays, whales, sharks, or coral
- Travel and explore with a marine biologist
- Friendly & fun atmosphere
- Certified dive guides and amazing cruise directors.
- Private charter for our group only.
- Group size limited to 10-16, including the trip organiser.
- Experience local culture
Exclusions
- Dive gear rental
- Massages
- Alcoholic beverages
- Port, Fuel, Marine Park Fees: $410 USD (paid on board)
- Airfare: International & Domestic
- Travel Insurance/DAN dive Insurance
- Crew tips
- Hotel in Manokawi, or Jakarta, prior to/after the trip if required.
- Onboard purchases
Sailing Aboard Coralia Dua (Vessel)
We’ve had THE BEST TIME aboard the Coralia over the past five years, and for our upcoming expedition, we’re excited to be sailing on her newest sister ship – Coralia Dua – before returning again in 2027.
Coralia Dua is a stunning traditional Phinisi liveaboard, built in Bira, Sulawesi, by the Konjo tribe, whose craft has been passed down through generations. The Coralia fleet has won Dive Travel Award “Best Liveaboard” in 2021, 2024 & 2025. Their newest vessel reflects the same design philosophy and attention to detail that made Coralia an award-winning vessel.
Its name is derived from “coral” and the Latin suffix “-ia”, meaning “Nation of Corals” – a fitting name for a vessel dedicated to exploring some of the world’s most vibrant reef systems. This expedition takes us into Raja Ampat during a lesser-travelled season. However, Raja Ampat is diveable year-round, with certain regions offering exceptional conditions even outside peak months.
Our itinerary also includes diving in and around Cenderawasih Bay, home to remote, rarely visited dive sites and famous for its whale shark encounters. Previous trips had multiple whale shark interactions, with some expeditions encountering 9–10 individuals, many of which were successfully identified and logged. Here, you will find extraordinary biodiversity: macro life, large schools of fish, pristine hard and soft corals, and species endemic to the area – making this expedition a true highlight for underwater explorers. Read more
How to secure your spot
Please note that this trip has limited spots, so you will need to get in quickly to secure your booking. The following payments will be required (per person):
- $1000 USD deposit to secure your spot
- The remaining balance will be split into two equal payments:
- due September 17, 2026 (45%)
- due March 17, 2027 (45%)
We would recommend purchasing your flights into Jakarta (CGK) and then onto Manokawi (MKW) as soon as possible to secure reasonably priced flights. Questions? Feel free to contact us.
How to Get There
To/From North America:
Travel to Indonesia is typically flown via Tokyo or Hong Kong, or other Asian gateway cities (depending on the airline), and connecting onward to Jakarta (CGK). Sometimes you’ll find routings from the East Coast through the Middle East (Doha/Abu Dhabi, etc)
Arrival in Jakarta by July 07, 2027 (late afternoon at the latest).
It is recommended to arrive a day prior to your flight to Manokawi. The Anara airport hotel is recommended if arriving a day or two early into Jakarta.
Flights to Manokawi:
Travel from Jakarta (CGK) to Manokwari (MKW) in West Papua. Connect onward to Manokawi (MKW). Currently, Batik and Lion Air fly nonstop to Manokawi.
You will be met by Coralia Dua staff who will bring you directly to the boat from the airport. If you’d like to arrive in Manokawi a day before, you are more than welcome to. The suggested hotel is the Aston Manokawi, close to the airport. The Coralia Dua staff will pick you up from the hotel or airport and bring you to the boat on July 08, 2027.
Departure on July 18, 2027, can be at any time. The Coralia Dua staff will bring you back to the airport for your departing flight. If you are continuing to another resort or elsewhere in the area, just let us know so we can coordinate with the Coralia Dua team.
Please keep in mind, flying on early morning flights departing from Manokawi will restrict the number of dives you will be able to do on the last full day on board. Generally, there will be two morning dives on the last day, finishing up around 12 pm.
Cenderawasih Bay Liveaboard Diving Highlights
- Whale sharks!
- Healthy and untouched
- Search for the special endemic fish
- Relax on deck while enjoying the scenery
- Common sightings – turtles, nudibranchs, leaf fish, anemone fish, reef octopus, schooling fish, ghost pipefish, plus many more amazing fish
- Special sightings – whale sharks, reef sharks, schools of barracuda, manta rays, endemic flasher wrasse, plus more endemic fish
More About Cenderwasih Bay
- The western part of the bay is protected as a Marine National Park. Cenderwasih Bay translates to “Birds of Paradise Bay” in Indonesian.
- Located in a remote corner of West Papua, Indonesia, this region is home to untouched reefs and lies at the country’s far eastern maritime boundary—go any farther east and you enter Papua New Guinea waters.
- The area holds echoes of World War II history, including an excellent wreck dive on a Japanese freighter. With the Pacific Ocean opening directly into the bay, larger pelagic species are often drawn into the region.
- Cenderwasih Bay has also gained attention among birders for its Birds of Paradise sightings. Many of the surrounding villages remain much as they were a century ago, with minimal contact with the outside world.
- Diving here offers a remarkable variety—wrecks, muck sites, deep and dramatic walls rich with marine life, and abundant hard and soft corals
- Bahasa Indonesia is the official language, though more than 300 indigenous languages are spoken across the country. Read More
Tentative Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival into Manokawi, board the Coralia Dua, settle into cabins, unpack dive gear/camera gear, boat briefing, and dive briefing. Relax and enjoy the views as we head towards Pulau Purup as our first stop.
Day 2
Diving begins! Today, we’ll start with an easy checkout dive first thing in the morning. Return after diving for a big breakfast. Mid-morning, head out for dive 2, lunch, followed by an afternoon dive, and, depending on our transit schedule, a possible night dive.
Day 3-10
Diving & snorkeling with whale sharks continues in Cenderwasih Bay. As the week progresses, we’ll make a round trip, diving and traveling to the south in the bay and visiting additional untouched dive sites on our way back north to Manokwari. We will spend ample time at Kwatisore Bay with the whale sharks, and ultimately wind up back in Manokwari Harbor to dive a couple of WWII Japanese wrecks.
Day 11
We’ll say our “Good Byes” and disembark the Coralia Dua for the Manokawri Airport. You’ll be ready to book your next trip on Coralia Dua after an amazing trip!
Dive Sites
- Pulau Amsterdam (The Junkyard): Start your adventure diving scuttled barges and small boats that have become vibrant artificial reefs. Two dives here kick off the cruise before an overnight sail.
- Manokwari: Explore WWII wrecks, including a Japanese freighter and a former coastal patrol boat, now encrusted in coral and teeming with marine life. Dive right in Manokwari Harbour.
- Pulau Purup: Critter dives featuring soft corals, elephant ear sponges, and endemic fish such as the flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus walton) and damselfish (Chrysiptera pricei). Reef sharks are often seen cruising the shallow reefs.
- Kwatisore Bay – Whale Sharks: The ultimate highlight! Whale sharks feed naturally at fishing platforms (bagans), offering close-up encounters as they glide and feed—an unforgettable experience.
- Tanjung Mangguar: Soft coral gardens attract schools of barracuda, trevally, fusiliers, and surgeonfish. Keep an eye out for manta rays, mobula rays, and sharks. Night dives here are spectacular.
- Tridacna Atoll: Deep drop-offs, fringing reefs carpeted with soft corals, giant sponges, and abundant fish life make this one of the bay’s most impressive sites.
Bookings, Payment, Cancellation Policy and Force Majeure in relation to the Tour
- Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd. highly recommends you purchase travel and dive insurance as soon as possible after confirming your travel plans. We recommend Dive Assure, or DAN, for diving insurance. Dive Assure offers dive and travel insurance, both annual and short-term (per trip). You can purchase it here.
- Evidence of adequate travel and dive insurance must be provided prior to departure.
- Bookings made more than 100 days out from the start of a trip require a deposit of $800.00 USD per passenger.
- All deposits are non-refundable.
- Bookings made less than 100 days out from tour commencement require payment in full to secure your booking.
- Payment in full is required 100 days out from the start of the trip. We will email you a final payment reminder. No refunds will be given within 100 days of the start of any trip, under any circumstances.
- If you cancel your spot more than 100 days before the start of a trip and we/you are able to resell or fill the spot, a trip credit for your remaining balance (minus a $300 USD service fee deducted) will be issued for use on another Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd. trip within 2 years of the cancellation.
- If you cancel your spot less than 99 days prior to the start of a trip, no refund or credit will be issued for deposits that have been paid.
- If our In-Country Providers cancel or if a Force Majeure Event occurs, meaning any act of God, war, terrorism, fire, flood or any other extreme weather conditions, loss of power, epidemics or pandemics, industrial disputes, slow-downs or other strike activities, riots or civil disturbances, acts of government, semi government or other authorities, inability to obtain any necessary license or consent and delays caused by sub-contractors, suppliers or other third parties (including telecommunications carriers), material shortages or other disruption to the trip beyond our control, Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd. shall not be held responsible for matters outside of our control or any failure to deliver the trip.
- The affiliated and established company, such as Coralia, holds the relevant insurance and maintains responsibility for the dive and snorkel insurance policies and procedures. As such, when in the water diving, snorkeling, or swimming, you are diving under the affiliated company’s policies and procedures and must adhere to either the captain, dive instructor, or divemaster’s instructions.
- Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd. takes no responsibility for loss, damage, or injury arising from any shortfall, error, or omission in the information passed to the customer during the course of the sale or subsequent delivery of the product. The company takes no responsibility nor can be held liable for loss, damage, or injury that occurs on a supplier’s or service provider’s premises or transport, or between two such premises.
- Participation in any of the activities involves certain risks, which may result in injury or death. This warning does not purport to describe or disclose all the risks associated with participation in the activities. There is a wide range of inherent risks when engaging in sports, particularly underwater sports; for example, with diving, there is the risk of decompression sickness, embolism, or other hyperbaric injuries that require treatment in a recompression chamber. Open-water scuba diving trips may be conducted at sites that are remote, either by time or distance, from emergency services or recompression facilities. Scuba diving, snorkeling, and tours will involve uncontrolled encounters with wild animals, which bears the risk of stings, bites, and, at the extreme end, more serious injury and death. Participants should be responsible and aware of animal behaviors and their own interactions, and they should engage in these activities entirely at their own risk.
- We will not be liable to you in respect of any personal injury (including, without limitation, serious injury or death) that you may suffer or sustain directly or indirectly as a result of attending the trip or participating in the activities. Nor will we be liable to you in respect of any other losses arising as a result of any such personal injury (including, without limitation, loss of profit or earnings or other consequential losses). We will not be liable to you in respect of any of your personal property that is lost, stolen, or damaged before, during, or after a trip.
- Please ensure you understand our cancellation policy prior to providing any deposits and agree to the booking and trip. By placing a booking with Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd., this implies that you accept these booking terms and conditions and cancellation policy.
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