Turneffe Island Resort

Papua Explorers Resort is located in the heart of Raja Ampat. The region is the crown jewel of the Coral Triangle and the epicenter of global marine biodiversity. Located on the northwest tip of the Bird’s Head Peninsula of West Papua. Raja Ampat translates into English as Four Kings and gets its name from a local mythology. It is about four kings that occupy the four big islands: Salawati, Batanta, Waigeo and Misool. As stunning archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, it hosts thousands of species some even endemic to the region.

Raja Ampat eco resort uses traditional Papuan construction methods and local, natural materials from Raja Ampat. The large overwater bungalows are designed to be in perfect harmony with the exotic surrounding, allowing the guests to feel the breeze from the rainforests, enjoy the songs of the tropical birds and soothe their souls with the flutter of the waves.

The spacious over-the- sea restaurant and lounge is designed to offer a relaxing environment to enjoy various international and local dishes freshly prepared in our restaurant and to unwind and relax between the dives.

After a long day of diving or snorkeling the sundeck and spa on the main jetty is another great place to enjoy the sunset and beautiful tropical scenery of Raja Ampat.

Discover your Raja Ampat overwater bungalows! They blend traditional Papuan style with the comfort of modern design features. We built them using local, natural materials collected from the surrounding villages. For instance the walls are made from Daun Bobo, roofs are made from Daun Nipa. Floors as well as window and door frames are made from iron wood. These are the typical materials Papuans use for traditional houses.

How it all started

The construction of our in total 15 Papua Explorers overwater bungalows started as a community project. Accordingly we commissioned it directly to different families in our neighbor village. Consequently income was distributed to a wider population in the community. Every department appointed one trade professional as well as two local apprentices from the village. The model worked with a good success rate. So we have many senior workers that have been fishermen before and now have much higher incomes in different sustainable roles and different trades.
Amenities

All the Raja Ampat overwater bungalows are built on the water. They are equipped with en-suite toilet and shower, hot water, ceiling fan, mosquito net, working desk as well as a comfortable seating area. The spacious veranda with direct access to the sea allows our guests to enjoy the sun and sea in their own privacy. Additionally sunloungers and a hammock invite you to linger and admire breathtaking sunsets of Raja Ampat. Further, a stairway straight into the ocean makes it easy to take a dip and cool off.

Plenty of towels as well as environmentally friendly natural shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and soap are provided free of charge.

Further amenities are in room tea and coffee facilities, drinking water and a room safe. They also provide 220 V electricity 24 hours a day with European type plugs.

Raja Ampat Overwater Bungalow Types

Deluxe Water Bungalow

The deluxe overwater bungalows are very spacious with the total size of approximately 72 square meters. We have in total 12 deluxe water bungalows. They are suitable for one, two or three persons. Accordingly we can set them up for single, double/twin or triple occupancy.

In the following we list the detailed amenities of the deluxe water bungalows:

Private bathroom, hot water, private veranda, mosquito net, ceiling fan, desk, chair, seating area coffee/tea amenities, safety deposit box, 24h electricity, sun loungers, hammock, stairs into the ocean, towels, daily housekeeping, environmentally friendly bathroom amenities are provided free of charge.

Superior Water Bungalow

The superior overwater bungalows are slightly smaller with a size of 55 square meters. We have 2 superior water bungalows at our resort. They are suitable for one or two persons. Accordingly we can set them up for single or double/twin occupancy.

In the following we list the detailed amenities of the superior water bungalows:

Private bathroom, hot water, private veranda, mosquito net, ceiling fan, desk, chair, seating area coffee/tea amenities, safety deposit box, 24h electricity, sun loungers, hammock, stairs into the ocean, towels, daily housekeeping, environmentally friendly bathroom amenities are provided free of charge.

Family Villa

We also have one large family villa, built on the water, and we recommend it for families, but also two befriended couples or a group of friends will feel very much at home here. The family villa has two spacious bedrooms, two en-suite bathrooms, as well as large living room in the middle and an extra-large private veranda on the outside.

Detailed amenities of our family villa:

Two private bathrooms, hot water, extra-large private veranda, mosquito nets, ceiling fans, desks, chairs, seating area coffee/tea amenities, safety deposit boxes, 24h electricity, sun loungers, hammock, two-level sundeck into the ocean, towels, daily housekeeping, environmentally friendly bathroom amenities are provided free of charge.

Raja Ampat is certainly a place for many exciting activities. Spending a week or longer in this beautiful paradise, we assure you, it won’t get boring. At Papua Explorers Eco Resort you can experience many special Raja Ampat adventures together with us.

Activities in Raja Ampat – Daily Boats for Diving and Snorkeling

We offer daily boats for diving and snorkeling for our guests. As we are located right at the heart of Raja Ampat, the boat rides to many amazing (around 50 in total) dive sites are very short.

Apart from scuba diving, snorkeling and our full day excursions, there are plenty more things to do available in Raja Ampat. For example, photography and bird watching are great things to do.

RAJA AMPAT DIVING

Raja Ampat diving casts a spell on all who descend into its abundant waters. Scientists, photographers, novice and lifetime divers alike. Raja Ampat lies in the heart of the Coral Triangle. It holds the prestigious title as the most marine biodiverse place on earth. Quite a title; but also a fact. At its most recent count in 2011 Raja Ampat was recognized to contain an abundance of marine life. 1427 reef fishes and over 600 coral species (75% of the world’s coral species can be found here). Not to mention the pelagic life that is abundant in the area.

What to see when diving in Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat diving is breathtakingly spectacular, and truly unforgettable. Hard and soft corals compete for space on reefs that are bursting with life and color. Swarms of small fish such as damsels, fusiliers and anthias mill about on the reef flats. Not too far away the large schools of tuna, trevally and mackerel congregate. Batfish, surgeonfish and barracuda aggregate around jetties and reef points. While angel and butterflyfish decorate both the reef flats and jagged coral towers that are home to abundant marine life.

Larger Species

Large fish species include napoleon wrasse, bumpheads and giant sweetlips. Being in shark sanctuary, not a day goes by where divers don’t spot one of the many species of reef shark in the area. And of course, there are the manta rays. You can encounter reef mantas at nearby cleaning stations, the majestic oceanic manta in open water. During the right season any given dive site may yield magnificent mantas gliding by. This makes West Papua diving such an incredible underwater adventure. There are really no words to describe Raja Ampat scuba diving, it must be experienced and is truly unforgettable. We dive at over 50 sites in the area regularly. That way we ensure all our guest visit all the abundant highlights this region has to offer.

Raja Ampat Dive Sites

Located within 30 minutes of most of our dive sites, Raja Ampat’s spectacular underwater world is easily accessible by boat from our Papua Explorers Eco Resort.

Raja Ampat Diving – Currents and Diver Experience Level

The waters of Raja Ampat are highly rich in nutrients, and the Dampier Strait (our location) is especially nutrient-rich due to its fast-moving currents. Nutrient rich water, and fast-moving currents make the perfect environment for an abundance of marine life, including migrating mammals and pelagic species. However, such nutrient-rich water can mean low visibility at times (typically 15-20 m), and the majority of our dive sites will have current in varying degrees, from mild through to very strong, depending on the tides and moon. We recommend you to bring your own reef hook, as these assist you during dives with stronger current.

Beginners

Some dive sites are not suitable for beginners or anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable in currents. Our dive guides check the current direction and strength before the divers get in the water and change the dive plan or site if necessary. Our dive groups are maximum 6 people and we have a head dive guide and an assistant guide in each group.

We have a check dive for everyone, and we make the groups according to the levels of experience. Moreover, we ease all divers into the currents by starting the dives with sites that get mild currents. There are enough sites with mild current. So it is possible to complete a week diving without getting in strong currents.

If you haven’t dived for two years or longer, we would recommend getting a refresher course to ease you back into scuba diving. Additionally we would also strongly recommend the Advanced Open Water Diver Course. Firstly it will enable you to dive to a bigger range of dive sites. Secondly it will help you to maintain a perfect buoyancy to protect the pristine coral and marine life here.

Raja Ampat Diver Safety

All divers are required to bring their own safety buoys and whistles with them when coming to our resort. Further, It is mandatory for all divers to have dive insurance to be able to dive with Papua Explorers. There is a basic hospital in Waisai (45 minutes from our location by boat), however costs for treatment and further transportation to a hyperbaric chamber can be extremely high in case of an emergency. Therefore, all dives are planned and executed without deco stops and it is mandatory for all divers to use a dive computer. All divers are required to follow their guide and guide instructions while diving with Papua Explorers.

Snorkelers Welcome

Although Raja Ampat scuba diving is very popular, it is the snorkeling that had put it on the map and made it famous in the first place. Many of the dive sites we visit with our daily boats are also suitable for snorkeling, as they have shallow, colorful reef tops with lots of marine species to see. We provide experienced snorkeling guides with you in the water. Surface currents are manageable, and we will drop you with the guide at the right spot, so you don’t miss the underwater attraction, and comfortably drift with the current. The snorkel guides and boat crew will take care of you when you get tired or you want to have another look at the reef.