Raja Empat Papua Wreck Search Expedition

Wreck search expedition:

Guest who want to participate should have a positive attitude and adventurous nature. There are few luxuries on this trip. It is a special trip and an expedition. NOT a regular trip. The trip guide started going such trips as a hobby many years ago and this trip is initiated as a request from a guest (one of the participants). We will use a fast speedboat for the diving while having a small chartered local cargo ship as base (compressor - fuel - gear). We will construct sleeping bunks in the cargo hold of this ship and arrange a new toilet interior at the back of the ship for the guest. Very simple but this is an true expedition.

Participants will need to be flexible. Some people might want to sleep in a hammock ship style. Occasionally we will overnight a leg of the trip on the ship and will thus need to sleep on the ship. At other times we can make a choice between sleeping on the ship or camping on an island (we provide tents). Again, part of the trip we stay in local hotels (see itinerary).

The itinerary is an guide only! Depending on what we find or because of weather conditions we might stay longer or shorter at the locations we visit along the route.

Main route is from Sorong's Jefan airport (former Japanese) via the Raja Ampat to Middleburg and Mar airfields (out of use former Allied airfields) to Manokwari's airfield (former Japanese).

Tuesday 28/09/04

Transfer to Wai island and stay in traditional Papua hut (camping).
Afternoon dive: Introduction dive at one of 3 P 47 D's at this island. If time second dive on a other P 47 D lost at the same mission.
Lunch and dinner camp fire style simple but healthy food (we bring a cook from our resort with us on the trip)

Wednesday 29/09/04

Morning dive 1: Search dive at same area on a location where fishermen reported a fourth aircraft.
Transfer to Jefman island area. Jefman is the airport of Sorong where one can still see pillboxes and trenches from the Japanese occupants.
Afternoon dive 1: Japanese ship 25m deep, laying on its side, 90m long, freighter with a small cannon on the back of it.
Afternoon dive 2: Search dive at Pulau Senapan Island area on a location where fishermen reported an fighter aircraft.
Overnight on ship (wooden cargo vessel) to Maylibet bay at South Waigeo Island

Thursday 30/09/04

Morning dive 1: Search for reported aircraft at Maylibet bay.
Morning dive 2: Search for an other nearby reported aircraft.
Afternoon dive: "The Devils Elbow" - current dive
Overnight on ship (wooden cargo vessel) to Amsterdam Island

Friday 01/10/04

Morning dive 1: Dive from beach on number of landing craft on white sand. This area has BIG groupers and groups of Napoleon Wrasse.
Morning dive 2: Search for aircraft.
Afternoon dive: Dive on P 38 under landing craft.

Saturday 02/10/04

Checking out the island. Visiting the former allied airfield on Middleburg, visiting the village of Mar airfield (overgrown landing craft in the jungle). possibility to try to find or buy collectible from the villagers.
Evening excursion to look for Leatherback turtles at a nearby beach ( WWF counted 3000+ nests in 2003). This beach is seldom visited by travelers as it is about 175km by boat from the nearest town.

Sunday 03/10/04

Morning dive 1: Search for aircraft.
Morning dive 2: Search for aircraft.
Afternoon dive: Dive from beach on number of landing craft on white sand. Good fish live on pontoon.
Overnight on ship (wooden cargo vessel) to Tanjung Papaya.

Monday 04/10/04

Morning dive 1: P 40N. We removed the remains of the pilot.
Morning dive 2: Pasir Putih wreck. Patrol boat with nose blown off. Shallowest at 12 while deepest at 21 meter.
Afternoon dive: Pillbox wreck. Freighter 65 meter long. Shallowest at 9 while deepest at 16 meter.
As from this day we stay at local hotel (in Manokwari town). Simple but with western luxuries.

Tuesday 05/10/04

Morning dive 1: Shinwa Maru. Freighter build in England 1904. 120 meter long. Shallowest at 16 while deepest at 34 meter.
Morning dive 2: Pillbox wreck. Freighter on right side. Wreck is falling apart but good for wide angel pictures.
Afternoon dive: Pasir Putih wreck. Patrol boat with nose blown off. Shallowest at 16 while deepest at 34 meter.

Wednesday 06/10/04

Morning dive 1: Shinwa Maru. Penetration dive.
Morning dive 2: Cross wreck. Patrol boat with nose blown open. Shallowest at 10 while deepest at 16 meter. On white sand VERY nice wreck with very good coral growth.
Afternoon dive: Critters corner. Muck dive close to Cross wreck.

Thursday 07/10/04

Morning dive 1: Search for reported wreck.
Morning dive 2: Nuni wreck. Small freighter at very shallow depth. From 3 meter to 9 meter. Upright close to coast.
Night dive: Cross wreck. One of the best night dives possible. Bumperhead Parrotfish and Napoleon sleep in or near the wreck.

Friday 08/10/04

Morning dive 1: Search for reported wreck.
Morning dive 2: Shimwa Maru.
Afternoon dive: Cross wreck.

Saturday 09/10/04

Trip to Ransiki, Momi and Waren airfields (some remains of Oscar and a burned out P 40N of which the pilot was beheaded). Interesting walk to see remains of Japanese headquarters of the area in old plantation ruins.

Sunday 10/10/04

Return flight to Jakarta - home.

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