Join This 13 Day Group Snorkeling Adventure to the Abundant Coral Triangle
January 24 – February 5, 2025
January 9-21, 2026
February 6-18, 2026
This Triton Bay and Raja Ampat snorkeling trip is based at two wonderful resorts, from which you can snorkel some of the most abundant reefs in the world. Starting at the Triton Bay Resort in West Papua, Indonesia, you will have a few days snorkeling the stunning reefs in the area along with having a couple chances to swim with whale sharks. Next you will stay in an overwater bungalow at Papua Explorers Resort in Raja Ampat, which is one of the most bio-diverse marine environments in the world. You will have several more days exploring this incredible area.
You will get your fill of snorkeling extremely diverse and healthy coral reefs, with unprecedented numbers and varieties of fish and other wonderful sea creatures. This will be an incredible guided snorkeling trip that 16 lucky snorkelers can join!
This trip is being run by our partner and friend Ben and his team. Based in the U.K., they are experts in the Coral Triangle, run amazing excursions, and have a great appreciation for the underwater world.
This group tour is exclusively for snorkelers. Ben has run the Triton Bay and Raja Ampat Snorkeling Trip a couple times before, and it sounds like a simply stunning experience, above and under the water.
Watch This Video to See What This Trip Will Be Like
Where Are Triton Bay and Papua Explorers Resorts?
Both resorts are located in Indonesia and part of a broader marine area known as the Bird’s Head Seascape, which is considered the epicenter of the Coral Triangle, the most bio-diverse marine environment on earth.
Triton Bay and Aiduma Island are part of Indonesia’s West Papua Province (Kaimana Regency).
Raja Ampat is a regency of over 1,500 stunning islands, the primary islands being Salawati, Batanta, Waigeo, and Misool, and includes Cenderawasih Bay. Raja Ampat translates as Four Kings in English, referring to the four largest islands.
First you fly into Jakarta and have some time to freshen up in a comfortable hotel and have dinner with your group. Then you will take an overnight flight as a group to Kaimana Airport in West Papua, via Sorong. From there you will travel by car and boat to the Triton Bay Resort, which is located on Aiduma Island.
After your four night stay at Triton Bay, you will fly to Sorong, and transfer by boat to the Papua Explorers Resort, where you will spend the next seven nights. You will then be transferred back to Sorong for your final flight back to Jakarta, where the trip ends.
What Will Triton Bay Snorkeling Be Like?
Snorkeling from Triton Bay Resort offers both stunning and unique coral reefs and the chance to swim with whale sharks. You will explore the lively reefs in this region both by boat and from the house reef.
The whale sharks in the area are attracted to local fishing platforms where they feed on small bait fish. During two days of your stay you will venture from the resort, early in the morning by boat, to hopefully swim with the whale sharks. It is important to note that sightings are not guaranteed, although the possibility is high.
After your two whale shark snorkels, you will have a snack and be taken to a wonderful reef to explore, then back to the resort for lunch. On the third day, you will have two reef snorkels by boat with a snack between. Your afternoons will be left open for exploring the house reef or just relaxing at the beautiful resort.
The excellent house reef is large and full of enough fish, critters, and corals to keep you happy for a long time. There are even resident Psychedelic Mandarinfish that are active at dusk on the house reef. At least one night snorkel will be offered, if conditions permit, and you could see creatures like octopus, cuttlefish, squid, crabs, the endemic Triton Bay Walking Shark.
What Is Triton Bay Resort Like?
Located in a beautiful bay, on a sandy palm tree adorned beach, there are eight bungalows, and your group will occupy them all. Each bungalow has an ensuite bathroom, bed mosquito nets, ceiling fans, and 24 hour power. Note that there is no air-conditioning in these rooms. Ben has run tours to this resort for years. Some guests find the lack of A/C a little uncomfortable initially, but normally they become acclimated to the temperatures within a few days.
There are three types of bungalows. There are two Garden View Bungalows which have partial sea view, are large, and set a bit behind the beach front bungalows. There are two smaller Standard Sea View Bungalows, set right on the beach. And there are four Deluxe Sea View Bungalows, set right on the beach, that are the same larger size as the Garden View Bungalows.
When you are not out snorkeling with the group it is a relaxing place to take in the beauty.
There is an open air restaurant where the group will be served their delicious meals, and it makes a nice place to relax and socialize in the evenings. Triton Bay is very isolated so it is requested to let them know if you have any dietary requirements in good time. Options may be limited.
What Is Raja Ampat and the Snorkeling Like?
You may have heard of the incredible underwater biodiversity of the Coral Triangle area of Indonesia. Well, Raja Ampat is known to have the most species of marine life in all of the Coral Triangle. There are nearly 1,500 species of reef fish, 600 species of hard corals, seven giant clams species, seven species of sea turtles, and 57 species of mantis shrimp. And pelagic life is abundant in the area.
On both the house reef, and the many other reefs close by that you will visit by boat, you can expect to see healthy coral gardens dense with hard and soft corals in perfect snorkeling depths. In fact Raja Ampat is known for excellent snorkeling in particular because of the amount of life on the shallow reefs. You will find large volumes and varieties of fish schools, and will have good chances seeing bigger fish such as manta rays, reef sharks, and schools of barracuda and jacks.
Why is there so much life around the Papua Explorers Resort? The resort is located on the edge of the Dampier Strait, in the central region of a marine protected area. The strait pumps nutrient rich waters through the area which supports an abundance of marine life, large and small.
You will experience a great variety of underwater ecosystems, all close to the resort, from shallow fringing reefs to sea mounts, walls, and manta cleaning stations.
Beneath the surface swarms of small fish such as damsels, fusiliers, and anthias mill about on the reef flats, while not too far away large schools of tuna, trevally and mackerel congregate. Spadefish, surgeonfish, and barracuda gather under docks and around reef points, while angelfish and butterflyfish decorate both the reef flats and jagged coral towers. Expect fields of soft corals like you’ve never seen them before, and hard coral reefs are healthy and abundant as well.
There are strong currents in the area, but the guides are experts at picking snorkeling spots at the right time, and there are a myriad of snorkeling spots that are protected in almost all weather conditions. So, although you should have a good level of fitness, you should not expect to have to swim against a current for any length of time, and instead will float with the currents.
Above the water the scenery is just stunning, both at the resort, and through the islands you will be going by and stopping at on the boats.
Weather permitting, there will be a full day tour to the famous Fam Islands, with two snorkel sessions on spectacular reefs with gorgeous sea fans, soft corals, and abundant sea life. There will also be a visit to the iconic viewpoint of the karst islands and turquoise lagoons.
A comfortable covered speed boat will be used for the short trips out to each snorkel site daily, and it has two motors for redundancy. There will be snorkel guides and a captain on each boat.
You will drop into the water from the side of the boat, after the guide checks the conditions and currents. Re-boarding the boat is via a wooden ladder that is lowered over the side. So some strength is required for getting back in the boat, although you will be assisted as needed.
What Is the Papua Explorers Resort Like?
Papua Explorers is a highly regarded destination and is very eco-friendly, both in how it was created and how it is run. They also created the Raja Ampat SEA Center, which is an NGO dedicated to conserving Raja Ampat’s marine life through Science, Education, and Awareness.
They won the 2019 Sustainability Award first place prize from the ADTO (Association of Dive Tour Operators). They are a good place to support.
Your overwater bungalow is built in traditional Papuan style with local materials, but with modern comforts. All bungalows are equipped with a bathroom, including a shower with hot water, a ceiling fan, a mosquito net, a working desk, and a comfortable seating area.
The rooms do not have air-conditioning, but with the rooms being over the water and with the ceiling fans, they are cool. Enjoy sunsets and sunrises on your spacious veranda, with a hammock and comfortable lounge chairs. You also have your own stairs down into the sea. There is satellite based WiFi internet available in the common areas.
The resort restaurant also sits over the water, and is an excellent place to view the stunning surroundings. You will be served traditional Indonesian cuisine as well as international comfort foods and snacks between snorkels. The resort can accommodate most special diets such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and so on. But, it is a remote destination and specific food items may not be available.
In addition to your spacious rooms and the restaurant there are also some common areas that are great for chatting with new friends and for relaxing.
There is even an open air spa where you can get a massage to relax those snorkeling legs!
Trip Details and How to Sign Up
We expect this trip to fill quickly. Your spot is reserved with your deposit. Contact Ben below for deposit instructions.
Trip Dates and Prices:
January 24 – February 5, 2025 – Trip full, request to be waitlisted below.
2025 Trip Price:
$7200 US per person sharing a Garden View or Standard Sea View Bungalow at Triton Bay and Overwater Bungalow at Papua Explorers
$7350 US per person sharing a Deluxe Sea View at Triton Bay and Overwater Bungalow at Papua Explorers
If you are traveling alone you can be paired up with another solo traveler (same gender) to share a twin room with, or you can pay a single supplement of $1250 for the first option above.
January 9-21-2026 – Available.
February 6-18, 2026 – Trip full, request to be waitlisted below.
2026 Trip Price:
$7600 US per person sharing a Garden View or Standard Sea View Bungalow at Triton Bay and Overwater Bungalow at Papua Explorers
$7750 US per person sharing a Deluxe Sea View at Triton Bay and Overwater Bungalow at Papua Explorers
If you are traveling alone you can be paired up with another solo traveler (same gender) to share a twin room with, or you can pay a single supplement of $1500 for the first option above.
The initial deposit for this trip is $800 US per person. At 12 months before departure there is a $600 US per person interim deposit. At six months before departure there is a $1000 US per person interim deposit. The final balance will be due three months before departure. A few payment options are available including debit and credit cards.
Inclusions:
- 1 day stay at a Jakarta hotel with dinner
- Round trip domestic flights, transfers, and connections (Jakarta – Kaimana – Triton Bay – Sorong – Papua Explorers – Jakarta) with 20 kg/44 lbs checked baggage
- 4 nights accommodation and full board (all meals) at Triton Bay Resort
- 3 boat snorkeling sessions at Triton Bay – 2 sites visited each session
- Unlimited house reef snorkeling and night snorkeling at Triton Bay
- 7 nights accommodation and full board (all meals) at Papua Explorers Resort
- 3 boat snorkeling sessions per day at Papua Explorers for 6 days, including the full day trip to Fam Islands, weather permitting
- Unlimited house reef snorkeling at Papua Explorers
- Guide from Ben’s team
- Marine Park Fees
- Snacks, tea, coffee, refill water, and WiFi internet
Exclusions:
- International flights (booking available on request)
- Snorkeling equipment rental
- Tips
- Travel and health insurance
- Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, general sundries
Trip Organizers
Ben and his U.K. based team are the organizers of this trip (more about them below). Galen & Nicole from TropicalSnorkeling.com are promoting this trip, but all sign ups, trip organization and payments are made to and managed by Ben’s team. TropicalSnorkeling.com does receive a referral fee in exchange for promoting the trip, at no extra cost to attendees.
How to Sign Up or Learn More?
Use the contact form below to contact Ben and his team to request more information about them and express your interest in signing up. They will get back to you shortly with full details.
More About Ben and Our Partnership
Ben (pictured with Nicole) is our friend and snorkeling trips partner. He and his team are based in the U.K. and have over 20 years of experience guiding in Asia and beyond. He has been running his own business since 2010 and is primarily offering guided snorkeling trips, but he started with diving. He began offering snorkeling specific trips because he was aware that snorkelers often get the short end of the stick when thrown in with divers. He and his team love the freedom and low stress of snorkeling, and are very aware of the different needs of snorkelers versus divers, in terms of the reef depth, and calm surface conditions needed.
From our experience going on some of his snorkeling trips we found them very well organized, the guides were fantastic and very helpful, and the underwater experiences were exceptional. Snorkeling groups really get the benefit of all of Ben and his guides’ years of experience in the water, and with different resorts and liveaboards.
All of his trips are small groups of 12-18 guests, or with a similar ratio of snorkelers to guides. These are premium trips including nearly everything you will need, accommodation, meals, transportation, and more.
His company is licensed and insured. Barring extreme circumstances they do not cancel trips.
Learn More About the Resorts
Completed Trip Dates
December 2-14, 2022
December 1-13, 2023