Products / Accommodation / South East Asia / Kri Eco Resort, Raja Ampat Indonesia

Diving New Guinea's Wild West

Raja Ampat, off the coast of Papua, must surely be one of the last frontiers of diving. It is in this area that renowned marine author Dr. G. Allen recorded 283 fish species in one single dive. Of the few dive operators to attempt regular operation in the area, Papua Diving is the most knowledgeable, with Max Ammer's many years of exploration and experiences with the indigenous Papua people.

Manta Rays are present almost permanently at three locations close to the resort and guests thoroughly enjoy seeing them from up close. Often they are at touching distance and it is normal to see 10 to 15 Manta Rays during one dive. Furthermore there are a great number of breathtaking reefs that are truly teeming with life.

Most dives are drift dives due to strong currents in the area. The currents provide nutrients for the outstanding quantity and variety of fish life and corals in the area. A fabulous variety of colorful soft corals and plenty of reef fish are found at most sites. Large schools of fish are known to populate some areas, pelagics such as sharks, Manta and Mobula Rays, dolphin, whales and turtles are frequent sights.

Visibility is good, but not spectacular, and is best in the morning dives. The water temperature is 82°-84°F (28°-29°C) year round.

And if that is not enough, there are the Manokwari wreck dives. These are WW II wrecks which were only discovered relatively recently. Since diving in this region is still in it's infancy, the wrecks have not been plundered as in Truk Lagoon, PNG, the Solomons, Vanuatu and other well-known wreck diving areas. By special arrangement, Papua Diving can schedule to dive wrecks in the Manokwari area (on the east side of the bird's head).

Kri Eco Resort

Kri Island lies approximately 90 minutes by boat from the town of Sorong. The resort is located on the shore of a spectacular lagoon, where clear blue waters meet brilliant, white beaches. Bungalows are overwater, which creates this beautiful South Seas ambience.
A jetty built over the large shallow lagoon in front of the eco-resort also leads to five of the guest houses.

Although the accommodation at Kri Eco Resort is very basic, it is functional and has a beautiful charme to it.
For those who don't want to be without their mod cons, the sister property, Sorido Bay Resort gives guests a choice of different grades of accommodation.

Meals are served in our Restaurant, a large over-water dining area with long tables, sheltered by a traditional palm thatched roof, which always offers a nice, fresh breeze.
In the kitchen, coffee, tea and flavored drinks are always available for our guests.
The kitchen is always busy with staff cooking over the gas burners in large woks or stew pots and an oven where Yolanda bakes fresh bread and occasionally pizza! In back of the kitchen, the staff slice fresh vegetables and fruits in the open air under the shade of the trees. Each meal is prepared fresh. Ice boxes, supplied weekly from Sorong, contain fresh meats and can chill a beer when required.

Kri Eco Resort currently has 6 over-water guest bungalows. Since accommodations are over the water, you can often see sharks, rays and schools of fish in your "garden". Most of the buildings contain two rooms and at least one sitting area. Rooms are divided by partitions with doors and window coverings that can be closed for privacy. Each room has a mattress, pillow and mosquito net for bedding. Furnishings are hand-made benches or lounge chairs and tables where guests can relax, work on camera gear, talk and read.

Inland from the beach are six Indonesian style baths ("mandi"), walled for privacy. The well, also located behind the resort's buildings contains a more than adequate supply of rain water for your needs. It provides guests and staff with bathing, toilet, camera rinse and cooking water. Drinking water is obtained from a neighboring island. Papua Diving has just also added an OSMOSIS water filtering system to supply 10,000 L of fresh water a day to both resorts.

Two Western-style flush toilets, are located on the island near the end of the jetty and are shared by all the guests.

Dive Shop

Nitrox diving is available
Each day is different and may include from 2 to 5 dives (3 day dives + 1 night dive being the average) depending on the divers' desires. Many sites are within 5-30 min. of the resort, however some special sites are further away. For Dive sites further away, the resort charges a fuel surcharge locally. Divers may choose to return to resort between dives (from the nearby sites). For the farthest sites from the resort, multiple dives are planned and a packed lunch is carried to enjoy during a surface interval on one of the finest deserted white sand beaches you will ever experience.

Photography

Digital camera hire (Olympus 5050) incl. CD burning available

Special excursions/Activities

Saturday is a day of rest for the staff. A night dive can be made on Saturday night, but not on Friday night. There is no Saturday daytime diving. On Saturdays there are opportunities to explore the area with a visit to a waterfall, walk through the jungle, visit a local village or just relax in the peaceful resort.

Kri Eco Resort Accommodation/Dive Packages 01 January 2010 to 31 December 2010	Dbl/Twin (per person)	Single
7 nights, all meals, transfers, plus unlimited** dives	Euro 1260	Euro 1470
14 nights, all meals, transfers, plus unlimited** dives	Euro 2270	Euro 2690
Packages need to be Sunday/Sunday
No diving/activities from Friday 6pm to Saturday 6pm
** for scheduled dives and unguided house reef dives between 7am and 9pm
Included: Accommodation at Kri Eco Resort as per booked duration, with buffet style meals (a good selection of Western, Asian and vegetarian dishes available), return Sorong transfers (Sunday/Sunday) boat dives, air fills, dive sites within 10km range of resort Not included: Marine Park Fee Rp500,000 (US$55) valid for 13 months from the 1st of each calendar year Fuel surcharge for dive trips more then 10km from the resort to be paid locally. Sorong hotel package (transfer, dinner, breakfast Euro 60 per person) flights to/from Sorong Nitrox packages available Note: please e-mail us for any additional information.