Unexplored Raja Ampat
February/March 2025 - Field Notes
Expedition Overview
Dates: February 21 - March 4, 2025
Duration: 11 nights, 12 days
Route: Round trip from Sorong, West Papua
Vessel: Dewi Nusantara
Leaders: Dr. Richard Smith & Wendy Brown
Itinerary Highlights
Our 12-day expedition explored Indonesia's legendary Raja Ampat Islands, hunting for rare and unusual marine life in the heart of the world's most biodiverse waters. Despite Raja Ampat's growing fame, our expert team continued to make new discoveries throughout the region.
Key Destinations:
Raja Ampat's iconic and pristine dive sites
Remote corners of the Four Kings archipelago including: Kofiau Island & northern Misool
Hidden reefs and seamounts off the beaten track
Diving Experience
Marine life talks by Dr. Richard Smith focusing on rare species identification
Expert guidance from experienced dive masters with extensive regional knowledge
Small group exploration aboard the luxurious 57-meter three-masted schooner
State-of-the-art diving equipment and facilities
The Dewi Nusantara Experience
Our floating sanctuary provided five-star comfort with eight spacious air-conditioned staterooms, each with en-suite facilities. The 57-meter vessel's grace and stability, complemented by 2000 square meters of sail, offered unparalleled luxury in Indonesia's remote archipelago.
Vessel Features:
Spacious lounge and restaurant-quality dining
Attentive crew of 18 plus, cruise director (and great friend of Wendy and Richard: Yann Alfian)
Images from this sold-out expedition showcase the incredible marine biodiversity and pristine conditions that continue to make Raja Ampat a world-class diving destination.
Exciting sightings
Ammer’s dottyback (Pseudochromis ammeri) - endemic to Raja Ampat and described in 2012.
Ellen’s Demoiselle (Chrysiptera elleni) - endemic to Raja Ampat and described in 2015. This rarely seen, and new to science species, was exciting find indeed!
I found several cryptic sponge shrimps, which are some of my absolute favourites.
Pair of Noumeaella sp. nudibranchs and their eggs feeding on a bright red sponge. Not a species I had encountered before.
Xenia swimming crab (Caphyra sp.)
Range Extensions
Nursalim Fairy Wrasse (Paracheilinus nursalim) - described in 2008 we extended the known range of this species to the islands north of Misool. It was previously only known from the south east of the island. We spotted just a few of these amongst the clouds of Blue flasherwrasses.
