Where is Misool Eco Resort?

• We are located on our own private island in Southern Raja Ampat, West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), Indonesia. Click here to open a map of South East Asia.

How do I get to Misool Eco Resort?

• We'll collect you in Sorong for a transfer via our private speed boat, scheduled to depart at about 13:00. We recommend all our guests arrive on Express Air flight xn800 from Jakarta, departing 05:00 and arriving Sorong at 11:50. Of course you are welcome to make different arrangements, but our transfer boat can only wait for flight XN800. In the unfortunate event that you are booked on a different flight which is cancelled or delayed past our boat's scheduled departure time, we will have to make alternate arrangments to get you to the island. We will be more than happy to arrange your domestic travel.

How long does it take to reach the island?

• The speedboat transfer from Sorong to Batbitim, our resort island, is about 4-5 hours, depending upon sea conditions. The first third is a scenic passage between the Papuan mainland and small islands of the Salawati group, fringed by mangroves. The second third of the journey is an open crossing over generally calm seas. During the final leg of the journey, we enter the breathtakingly beautiful island chain to which Batbitim belongs. We'll cruise between sheer karst cliffs and innumerable small islands, often escorted by dolphins. About 30 minutes before we arrive at the resort, we'll cross the border of our 1220 sq km No-Take Zone.

What sort of boat will we travel on?

• We'll travel on Marandan, a 14 meter boat with air conditioned cabin, 20 seats, toilet, shower, and 3 x 250 HP engines. There are 20 reclining seats inside, as well as a spacious deck outside.

What if I have to spend the night in Sorong before the trip?

• We can arrange a Sorong Arrival Package for you. We will collect you at the airport, take you to your hotel and check you in. We'll collect you again the following morning and bring you to the dock for departure.

How do I book my internal flights?

• We will happily book your domestic flight for you, as well as hotel bookings in Manado, Bali, Jakarta, and Sorong.

When can I visit?

• Misool Eco Resort offers all-inclusive packages for 7 or 12 night stays. Please click here to view our 2011 schedule and here to view our 2012 schedule.

What's included in the accommodation package price?

• Package prices includes accommodation, meals and afternoon snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, juice, coffee and tea, transfer to and from the resort on scheduled transfer dates, one hotel night and dinner in Sorong following your stay at Misool Eco Resort, and all government taxes.
• Airport pick up and drop-off service in Sorong, porter fees, transport to/from the harbour
• Packages quoted are per person. You can view our rates here.

What's included in the diving package price?

• fuel, expert guides, tanks, and weights.

What's not included in the price?

• Equipment rental. To avoid disappointment, please advise us well in advance if you require any rentals (we do not rent wetsuits, mask, or fins)
• Each guest (whether diving or not) must purchase a Raja Ampat Marine Park Entry permit. This is available for 500,000 IDR (about 36 Euros) and is valid for one calendar year. We'll arrange this for you if you need it.
• Other excursions, like visits to the petroglyphs, kayaking tours, private beach picnics, etc.
• Gratuities are not included. If you are pleased with the service you've received, we'll be happy to divide any tips equally among our staff
• Private dive guide. If you would like to hire personal dive guide, we may be able to arrange it with enough notice. The fee is 80 Euros per day
• Alcoholic beverages
• Unscheduled boat transfers to or from Sorong
• Internet usage. Our satellite internet connection provides us with very limited bandwidth. You may connect to the internet with our office computer at a rate of 0.33 Euros per minute.
• Spa services
• Laundry

What sort of payment do you accept for incidentals incurred during my stay?

• Extra charges (internet, bar tabs, souvenirs, service tips, extra dives, etc) can be paid by Visa, Mastercard, or cash (Rupiah, USD, or Euros) before your departure. Please note that foreign notes must be in perfect condition - otherwise Indonesian banks will not accept them for exchange or may choose to give you a lower exchange rate. USD 100 notes receive the best exchange rate if dated 2000 or later.

What happens once I arrive in Sorong?

We will meet you at the Sorong Airport, at the 11:50 arrival of Express Air XN800 from Jakarta (let us know if you'll be making different arrangements). We will collect your baggage and transfer you to the speedboat. We'll ask for 2 copies of your passport and 2 passport photos. This is for our office staff to process your travel permit.

What should I bring with me?

Everything you'll need for the duration of your stay - we're very far from the nearest dive shop, supermarket, or pharmacy.

• Please bring proof of dive insurance as well as your dive certification card. You will need to present them to be allowed to dive with us.
• All dive equipment, including a torch, surface marker buoy, dive computer, wetsuit, and well-maintained gear.
• 2 passport photos and 2 copies of your passport for your travel permit which we will arrange for you (see above).
• You'll also need a passport valid from 6 months from the time of entry. Nationals of most countries will be granted a 30-day Visa on Arrival for 25 USD.
• Please be sure you have one full empty page in your passport in which to put the visa sticker
• You may be asked by Indonesian Immigration officials to show a copy of your airline ticket out of Indonesia within the 30-day period. Click here for a complete list of nationalities granted a Visa on Arrival
• a warm pullover or jacket. Evenings can be brisk.
• Hat and sunglasses
• insect repellant
• light coloured clothing. For some reason, light colours are generally less appealing to mosquitos than dark ones.
• Bring any toiletries you may need such as sunscreen, razors, tampons, toothpaste, medications, etc.
• Your favourite tipple. It's very difficult (and very expensive) to get alcohol in Sorong. We encourage you to bring your favorite bottle of wine or spirits from the Duty Free shop in your home country (the Duty Free shop in the Jakarta airport is not very well stocked)
• Natural, biodegradable soaps and shampoos. Our waste water treatment system relies on plant life to remove nitrogen, phosphates, and bacteria from grey water. Using harsh detergents may harm our plants, reducing the efficacy of our filtration system. If you prefer not to bring these items, we'll have some available for you.

What should I not bring with me?

• Please plan carefully to minimise your rubbish. When possible, choose rechargeable batteries and avoid bringing things like disposable razors, excessive plastic bags, plastic water bottles, etc. Any non-biodegradable and non-recyclable rubbish will have to be returned to Sorong. We are operating in a pristine environment, and we'd like to keep it that way.
• Anti-bacterial soap. This will harm our waste-water gardens
• Dive gloves. You will not be permitted to wear them.
• Fishing/spearfishing equipment

What sort of power do you have?

• 220 Volt

What is the baggage allowance for the Express Air flight between Jakarta and Sorong?

• At the time of writing, Express Air allows 20 kgs per person. Excess baggage fees are between 30,000 and 50,000 IDR per kilo. Please be advised that Indonesian airlines are rather fickle and prices tend to change without notice. Airlines sometimes make exceptions for dive equipment. You may discover that this fee is negotiable. You might let the agent know that you don't need a receipt....

When is the best time of year for diving?

• The weather is rough in July, August and early September. That's when we close for maintenance. Aside from this yearly occurence, diving in Raja Ampat is not particularly seasonal. October and November bring schools of bait fish, which attract bigger fish and Mobula rays. The south winds in May and June bring more sharks and pelagics.

How many divers per guide?

• Maximum six, but four is more likely.

How many dives can I do per day?

• There will be three scheduled boat dives per day, and night dives are generally scheduled every other night. Depending upon the dive package you choose, you may also do House Reef dives and night dives.

Can I do deco diving?

• No. Because of our remote location we dive very conservatively. We do not allow deco diving, and the maximum depth is 30 metres. We do not allow solo diving.

Is nitrox available?

• Yes.

What can I do at Misool Eco Resort if I don't dive?

• There's plenty of fantastic snorkelling around Misool Eco Resort. We also can arrange visits to a nearby ancient rock paintings, lagoon tours, kayaking excursions, and bird-watching tours. We can also organise visits to the local village. You may also enjoy our spa services. Click here to see photos of non-diving activities. Otherwise, it's lovely just to lounge in a hammock and enjoy the balmy tropical breezes, watch the hornbills flying overhead and the colour of the water change over the course of a day...

What sort of food can we expect?

• Meals are served in our beach-front restaurant. We offer a tasty, diverse, nutritious, and whenever possible, organic menu for your enjoyment.
• We serve both Western and Asian food.
• Meals are generally are served buffet-style We offer a mini-breakfast before the first dive, a giant cooked breakfast after the first dive, lunch, afternoon tea and cakes, and dinner. We do not recommend dieting during your stay with us.
• Out of respect for our Muslim hosts, we do not serve pork products.
• We serve only locally sourced, sustainable fish. We do not serve reef fish or long-lined fish.
• For similar reasons, we do not serve prawns.
• We can easily accommodate vegetarians and vegans. Please let us know about any other dietary restrictions well in advance of your arrival.
• Clean drinking water, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and juice are provided free of charge.
• We also have beer, wine, and sparkling wine available for sale

What if I get sick or hurt while I'm there?

**We're a long way away from the nearest hospital, clinic, or recompression chamber. Your safety and health are of paramount importance, and we recommend that you take all safety precautions. **

• Several members of staff are certified PADI Emergency First Aid Responders
• Oxygen is available
• In the event of a general medical emergency, you will be immediately evacuated to the nearest hospital, which is in Sorong.
• In the event of a dive emergency, your dive insurance provider will advise us on the appropriate course of action.
• You must have health insurance as well as dive insurance if you plan on diving. We recommend DAN or PADI insurance which covers emergency evacuation. You can learn more about them here.

Should I take precautions against malaria?

• Absolutely. We recommend that you always sleep under a mosquito net, wear light-coloured clothing, cover up during evening and early morning hours and use a repellent if you need to. As for malarial prophylactics, we suggest you consult with your doctor or look here for more information.

How can I stay in touch with my family while I'm at MER?

• We do not have a mobile phone signal at the resort. We do however have a satellite internet connection which you may use for a fee. If you prefer not to check your email, you may ask your friends and family to send you a message at guest@misoolecoresort.com, and one of our staff will make sure you get it.

Why do you call yourself an 'eco resort?'

• Misool Eco Resort is deeply committed to a policy of environmental and social responsibility. We seek to provide exceptional and enriching experiences in a sustainable environment. We aim to protect and revitalize both our natural surroundings and the community in which we operate. We are committed to demonstrating to our hosts, our guests, and the local government that tourism can support a local economy with much more favourable terms than mining, logging, overfishing, or shark finning. We'd love to sit down with with you and share more, or you can read our mission statement here.