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South-East Asia

THE RAJA AMPAT PHOTOQUEST

The world’s richest coral reefs with Martin and Sylvia Edge

Martin Edge considers the underwater photography potential at Misool Eco Resort to be the very best in the world, so one cannot have a higher recommendation than that!

 

Underwater images have the power to thrill the mind, to make one wonder at the marvels of the deep, the colours that nature arranges, the patterns and the shapes. And what admiration we have for the underwater photographers who have achieved these visual marvels. Can we do the same? Can we create such miracles of shape, texture, colour and light? Apply a little vision, a lot of imagination and Martin and Sylvia Edge will guide you towards ‘making’ images, not just ‘taking’ images.

 

Martin and Sylvia have worked with Divequest from the earliest days of its inception and have many years of experience on which to draw to develop the most stimulating, rewarding and enjoyable trips. Your photography skills will be propelled in leaps and bounds towards that ultimate, perfect underwater image. Martin is a great underwater photographer, for sure, but what really drives him and stimulates his interest more than anything else is teaching others. Little wonder that Martin’s students refer to him as their ‘guru’!

 

Photoquests are not about how much you know, how much equipment you use or even how much experience you have. They are about making wonderful images, about achieving your potential and, ultimately, having fun. Being amongst a group of like-minded friends who are also keen and eager to improve their photography is a huge advantage over taking a trip with the general diving public.

 

Photoquests are not about diving in large groups, following a timetable of events, attending formal talks or lectures. You dive when you want and with whom you choose. You don’t have to follow the dive guide unless you choose to! Some divers go their own way; some prefer to dive with Martin or with Sylvia and pick up ‘tricks of the trade’ by observation or by demonstration. Do things at your own pace. While as much photo dive time as possible will be provided, it will be up to you to decide how best to spend your time. Regimentation is avoided at all costs.

 

Why travel with Martin and Sylvia when you could go it alone? Firstly, Martin has no secrets. Everything he knows he will share with you. Secondly, if you chose, Martin will dive and take pictures with you, side by side: dive together, shoot together. Martin will point out both macro and wide-angle opportunities: teach you how to use your eyes, your mind, your memory and your imagination to enable to see ‘in pictures’, to see in your mind’s eye what the lens may capture.

 

Sylvia works along side Martin to compliment the work he does. Careful management of trip logistics ensures that the topside service and diving management works for each individual in as efficient manner as possible. During the ‘working’ day, Sylvia will conduct a series of modelling workshops and tutorials both in and out of the water. Topics include working with your model, selecting the right mask, fins and wetsuit to maximise the visual impact of the image and using a handlight to improve your images.

 

Sylvia is usually on hand to provide an effective buddy service or model. Her optional ‘Compositional Class’ is a popular speciality.

 

The reefs of the Raja Ampat are the richest reefs on earth, with more coral, fish and invertebrate species having been recorded here than anywhere else on our planet. Pelagic fish have not been fished out and still hunt these reefs in numbers. The condition of the coral is magnificent, the reefs pristine, the diving spectacular. Most dives are close to the resort, though some day trips to more far-flung dive sites may be offered. The house reef is there ‘at your door step’, quite literally.

 

The biodiversity of the area should provide enough photo-opportunities for everyone. There will be reefscapes and architectural dive sites to shoot, along with a very long list of species both common and rare. Most people will want to try to capture the ‘new-to-science’ bamboo or epaulette shark species that has the nickname ‘walking shark’. These amazing sharks are resident on the house reef, as are schools of magnificent Mobula Rays. There are over 700 species of molluscs to be found here as well as 1200 species of fish! The clear waters surrounding the resort are patrolled by some massive schools of hunting fish, while other special animals including Manta Rays, Wobbegong Sharks, Guitar Sharks, a number of dolphin species and also whales and turtles.

 

The journey to the resort is quite a long one, with two international flights and a long domestic Indonesian flight followed by a 4-5 hour boat trip (although the journeys are broken up by hotel nights). Fortunately, this should put a lot of divers off coming to Misool Eco Resort, but it won’t deter Martin Edge, now that he knows what is waiting for him on arrival!

 

Combine the quality of the teaching and photo support, the dive management, the comfort of the resort, the sheer exotic nature of this location and its unsurpassed marine life and you will know why you should be part of the UK’s first underwater photography expedition to this area.

 

Misool Eco Resort’s Water Cottages have the advantage of air-conditioning, are close to the dive centre and restaurant and are actually built over the resort’s house reef. Step off your veranda and land in the epicentre of biodiversity!

 

For full details of the diving and accommodation to be found at the delightful Misool Eco Resort, please see our general Raja Ampat holiday description.

 

OUTLINE ITINERARY

Tuesday 25th January: Singapore Airlines midday flight from London Heathrow, or morning flight from Manchester, bound for Singapore.

Wednesday 26th January: Morning arrival in Singapore, where we connect with an onward flight to Manado, arriving in the early afternoon. Transfer to a local hotel for an overnight stay.

Thursday 27th January: Morning flight to Sorong, arriving in the early afternoon. 

Transfer to Misool Eco Resort on Batbitim Island by boat. Lunch will served onboard.

Friday 28th January – Monday 7th February: Diving and exploring the rich reefs of Misool.

Tuesday 8th February: Morning departure from the resort by boat. Afternoon flight from Sorong to Manado. Transfer to a local hotel for an overnight stay.

Wednesday 9th February: Afternoon transfer to Manado airport. Singapore Airlines afternoon flight to Singapore where we connect with an evening flight bound for London or Manchester.

Thursday 10th February: Morning arrival at London Heathrow or Manchester.

 

£3708 Sorong/Sorong (provisional price, to be confirmed)

 

Includes:

• Transfers between Sorong airport and Misool Eco Resort.

• 12 nights full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner)on a twin/share basis in a Reef View Cottage at Misool Eco Resort.

• More than 10 days of diving (including 15 boat dives and 15 unguided shore dives on the house reef between 0700-2100).

• Raja Ampat Marine Park entry fee.

• Services of Martin Edge and Sylvia Edge as leaders.

 

Additional diving can be arranged at extra cost.

 

Nitrox Supplement: £181 (provisional price, to be confirmed)

 

Single Occupancy Supplement: £944 (provisional price, to be confirmed). Please note that, while we will endeavour to find a room-mate for those on the tour who are single travellers and would prefer to share accommodation, in the event of a room-mate not being available the single occupancy supplement will apply. Room-mates will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.

 

Most participants will need one night’s hotel accommodation in Manado before and after the flights to and from Sorong. These stays are not included in the tour cost. We can reserve rooms at the Peninsula Hotel for about £116 for two nights room and breakfast on a twin/share basis, or about £184 single occupancy, including airport transfers.

 

Deposit: Initial deposit £200, followed by a further £1000 at 12 months before departure, for Sorong/Sorong arrangements.

 

Note: Should two people travelling together apply for the last place on the tour, we may, at our discretion, increase the group size by one.

 

For details of the diving and accommodation, please see our Misool Eco Resort holiday description.

 

Flights: From about £1047 to Sorong via Manado, or from about £1246 via Jakarta.

 

Accommodation en route to Sorong: The cost is not included. We will book you a room if your flight arrangements require overnight stays in Manado or Jakarta.

 

HOLIDAY COMBINATIONS, STOP-OVERS AND ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS: Flights between London and Singapore are operated daily, so it is quite simple to stop-over in Singapore if you wish. The lovely Marina Mandarin hotel offers comfort, luxury, a chance to do a touch of shopping, explore the orchid gardens of Singapore or simply enjoy some fantastic food. It is also easy to combine a visit to the Raja Ampat with one of the other Indonesian dive destinations. Talk to us about the possibilities.