Route Description - The Birdshead Peninsula & Cenderawasih Bay
For a single cruise during her busy season, Dewi Nusantara begins this journey across the north coastline of North Papua, before arriving at the far-flung eastern Indonesian region of Cenderawasih Bay. This gives our guests exclusive access to some of the very best dive sites that the bay has to offer.
The Birdshead Peninsula & Cenderawasih Bay
Located along the northern coastline of West Papua, Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia’s largest marine national park, makes up part of what is known as the Bird’s Head Seascape. Relatively new to the Southeast Asian scuba diving community, Cenderawasih Bay is one of the latest additions to the Indonesian archipelago’s already outstanding portfolio of cruise itineraries.
The remote islands and strikingly colourful coral reef systems scattered inside the bay are astonishing areas to explore. Rising from the deep blue sea, the crystal-clear waters and sparkling reefs teem with marine life. The picture-perfect beaches that surround many of the tiny tropical islands appear to have been man-made for some grand advertising campaign, creating unbelievable locations for a wide range of watersports and other exciting activities.
The bay harbours a natural beauty, becoming a south-Pacific paradise. The surrounding Papuan mainland and islands are home to a host of rare creatures. Some of them are endemic to the region, such as forest wallabies, possums, and bandicoots, as well as the sleepy and secretive cuscus, which inhabit the lowlands, gorges, and hilly forests. The continental-sized island of Papua, along with the Amazon, has the largest concentration of bird species on the planet, and Cenderawasih Bay is home to many of them, including the rare and elusive “Birds of Paradise.”
The list of native species is not limited to land-based animals; the bay is also home to numerous indiginous marine species. Cenderawasih Bay is geologically separated from the south-west reaches of the Pacific Ocean by a deep marine ridge stretching across its northern border. It features many creatures not found at other destinations, making it a unique and unusual cruising ground for adventurous scuba diving exploration and budding marine biologists.
The main attraction, however, and the stars of a Cenderawasih Bay expedition, are the awe-inspiring, up-close-and-personal whaleshark encounters deep inside the bay at Kwatisore. Snorkelling with these impressive creatures in the wild is a humbling experience, and Cenderawasih Bay features an excursion second to none. At night, the local fishermen sling nets underneath their tethered fishing platforms to catch baitfish. This activity has attracted the attention of the local whaleshark population. These gigantic fish like to gather below the nets to suck up a free meal. Numerous whalesharks are often observed during a single excursion, creating a truly spectacular experience for snorkellers and divers alike.
Get On-Board with Dewi Nusantara
For a single cruise during her busy season, Dewi Nusantara begins this journey across the north coastline of North Papua, before arriving at the far-flung eastern Indonesian region of Cenderawasih Bay. This gives our guests exclusive access to some of the very best dive sites that the bay has to offer.
Begin your next scuba adventure on board the Indonesian archipelago’s premier liveaboard and experience the best that Indonesia has to offer, along with Dewi Nusantara’s outstanding service, exceptional facilities, and her highly experienced crew
Cruise Notes
• The suggested itinerary is not fixed. During the cruise, the captain and cruise director assess the prevailing sea, weather, and tide conditions. Where possible, our guest’s preferences for certain dive sites will be taken into account.
• The locations included in this itinerary are by no means the only points of interest along the route. There are many more anchorage and activity options available.
• The destinations and anchorages in this presentation are not necessarily in the order the cruise might follow. They are there solely to make the routing easier to understand.
• At times, guests may wish to stay longer at certain anchorages to fully take advantage of what is on offer in that area. The captain and cruise director have discretion over this as long as it fits within the cruise timeline.
• Between anchorages, there can be longer passages, mostly undertaken during the night.
• Aside from the arrival and departure destinations, our itineraries avoid densely populated areas and busy ports.
• Some of these anchorages offer a variety of activities besides scuba diving and snorkelling, such as kayaking or SUP/paddle boarding. Occasionally, we offer village and cultural visits along with other wonderful topside attractions.