BIG BLUE
INDONESIA

Raja Ampat, the Banda Sea and Triton Bay are still very remote places and medical facilities are limited. An evacuation to a major hospital can take up to 24 hours in good conditions. The safety of our divers is our number one concern on all dive cruises. Please read this page thoroughly as we can never be too careful.

 

 

DIVING CERTIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

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Divers should have some experience when diving in the Bird`s Head Seascape. The currents can be strong and good buoyancy control is a key factor to protect the precious reefs. We ask for our divers to have Advanced certification, a minimum of 30 logged dives and recent diving experience. Please do a refresher program and a couple of dives before you join us, if you have not dived within a year before this cruise. Your dives will be much more enjoyable, if you can focus on the fantastic underwater world and are not busy controlling yourself during the dive. It shows that you care for the environment, your fellow divers and your dive guide. The minimum age for diving on our cruises is 16.

 

We offer Nitrox for those who are certified to use it. Make sure to carry your certification card or an electronic copy of it. We cannot let you join us without proof of certification.

 

DIVING GEAR

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Check your personal diving gear well before you leave home. Gear that has worked at the end of your last trip may not work as well now. Let us know if you plan to rent gear from us. You can still travel light but bring your own mask and dive computer. Being familiar with it and sure of a good fit makes diving so much more enjoyable. We do not rent masks with optical lenses. Please note that we consider the use of a dive computer mandatory. If you do not have one, you can rent it from us.

 

INSURANCE

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Diving insurance (DAN, DiveAssure or similar) that covers evacuation and dive accidents is mandatory for all our divers. A standard travel insurance does often not cover diving! Make sure to bring proof of dive insurance in English or German language when you check in on board, otherwise we cannot permit you to join us.

We recommend travel insurance that will refund you in case you miss a plane on the way to the boat or your luggage goes missing.

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MEDICAL ISSUES

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When you wish to make a booking with us, we will send you a booking form, a waiver and a medical form. Please fill out the booking form, read the waiver and medical form and let us know, if you have any objections to sign or if any of the medical conditions mentioned apply to you. Once on board you will fill out the waiver and medical form and sign it. We will need all medical questions and concerns addressed and cleared before your arrival. Our staff or the local doctors are not qualified to decide whether an individual is fit to dive. In some cases we will ask guests to provide medical proof.

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MARINE PARK FEE

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Visitors to Marine Parks in Indonesia must purchase an entry ticket.

The current fee to visit the Marine Park of Raja Ampat is 1.000.000 IDR (70$US) per person. The ticket is valid for 1 year and available in Waisai. We will buy it for our guests in advance as it can be time consuming and may otherwise delay the departure of the ship. Be prepared to pay for it in cash when you check in on board. Please let us know if you already own a valid Marine Park ticket.

The fee for Triton Bay is 1.000.000 IDR (70$US) p.p.. This includes marine park fee as well as diving fees payable to local villages.

For diving the Banda Sea we collect 750,000 IDR (50$US) p.p. for diving fees payable to local villages.

Please inquire about marine park fee updates as these change from time to time.

Marine park and local diving fees are not included in our package rates.

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MANDATORY DOCUMENTS WHEN YOU CHECK IN ON BOARD

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• Proof of diving certification (Advanced or higher and Nitrox Diver)

• Proof of diving insurance including coverage of evacuation

• Your passport

• Waiver (we provide the form, you sign)

• Medical statement (we provide the form, you fill it out and sign)