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Misool
Misool is a private island resort and conservation centre located in remote southern Raja Ampat.
Hidden deep in an archipelago of uninhabited islands, 165 km from the nearest port, and 20 km from the nearest village, Misool is surrounded by the richest reefs in the world, at the very heart of marine biodiversity. There simply are no richer reefs on earth.
The island and dive sites are surrounded by a 1220 sq. km Misool Marine Reserve, which was established in 2005. The resort is also inside the Raja Ampat Shark and Manta Sanctuary.
With a maximum capacity of just 40 guests and a staff-to-guest ratio of 4 to 1, Misool offers exclusive adventure holidays and transformative experiences in pristine nature.
Misool is reached by direct flight from Jakarta to Sarong, from where it's a 4-hour private speedboat journey to the resort.
What’s so Special?
There is greater biodiversity — that is to say, a larger number and greater diversity of fish, coral, and mollusks — on these reefs than anywhere on earth. A single football field-sized patch of Misool’s reefs has nearly five times the number of coral species as the entire Caribbean Sea.
A stay at Misool directly supports numerous conservation initiatives and provides sustainable employment opportunities to local people, entirely decoupled from the extraction of marine resources.
Misool is the result of the passion, energy and commitment of Marit and Andrew - a German and English couple who founded Misool as a conservation project to convert an old shark finning base into a conservation resort.
Misool has been awarded the highest accolades in the Tourism World for its conservation efforts.
Water Cottages - North Lagoon
The Water Cottages are built on stilts over the water.
For lazy afternoons with a good book, there is a hammock built right into the veranda.
The view from your veranda is framed by a traditional grass roof, offering a high degree of privacy as well as shade.
Stairs lead down from your veranda to the North Lagoon, and the House Reef is just a few fin kicks away.
Getting There and Back
There are daily flights from Jakarta to Sarong arriving early in the morning. We recommend the Garuda flight direct from Jakarta.
On arrival you will be met and transferred to Misool's private speedboat for the journey to the resort.
The first leg of the journey leads out of busy Sorong Harbour and through a mangrove-lined strait with unbroken swathes of jungle on either side. Approaching the mouth of the strait, you'll see some traditional Papuan villages along the banks.
The sea slowly shifts from brown to green and finally to vibrant cerulean blue during the second part of the journey.
Crossing open water, you will likely see massive schools of bonito tuna feeding at the surface. Whale and dolphin sightings are not uncommon.
The last leg of the journey is through the breathtaking scenery particular to southern Raja Ampat and the Misool area.
There are myriad tiny karst islets and lagoons. About 45 minutes before reaching the island, enter Misool Private Marine Reserve, where the boat is often escorted by pods of playful dolphins.
We recommend guests arrive in Sorong with Garuda Indonesia GA 682 from Jakarta, arriving at about 06:35 in Sorong. Please check with us for updated times and schedules as these often change.
One night off-gassing in Sorong after your stay at Misool is necessary and your hotel night in Sorong after your 7, 9, or 12 night stay is included.
We arrange your room as well as all breakfast, baggage services, and transfers to Sorong's airport in time for your flight the following morning.
House Reef
Misool's House Reef is a shore dive, easily accessed at any time from either the end of the jetty, the Dive Centre, or the steps leading down from your Water Cottage accommodation.
On a rising tide, jump off the end of the jetty and enjoy an easy drift North through the channel, which is exposed to variable current.
Schooling horse-eyed jacks congregate under the pier, joined by massive schools of fusiliers and shoals of passing anchovies.
Several very large groupers make their home in the depths under the jetty, and they often appear to inspect visitors to their reef.
Large black tip reef sharks patrol the deeper areas, as well as grey reef sharks.
As you drift north through the channel, the topography shifts from a gentle slope to steep wall, festooned with colourful soft corals, huge gorgonian sea fans, and sea squirts and tunicates in a multitude of sizes and shapes.
Careful inspection of the many rocky outcroppings, coral bommies, and overhangs is always rewarded with a treasure.
A close look at Muricella and Annella sea fans often reveals the elusive Bargibanti and Denise pygmy seahorses.
Large and colourful crinoids often cling to the fans as well, hosting a menagerie of colour-coordinated cling fish, crinoid shrimp, and arrowhead crabs.
If you time your dive just right, you'll have a good chance of seeing the stunning Mandarin Fish, who make their appearance just before sunset.
A little patience will be rewarded with a display of their wildly psychedelic courtship ritual. They are joined by the spectacular displays of several species of Flasher Wrasse.
The newly-discovered 'walking' Epaulette Shark is also often seen in the shallows, scooting along with their pectoral fins and hunting for their next meal.
You'll also find innumerable species of nudibranchs and flatworms. These range from the gaily coloured black and orange spotted Nembrotha to the huge white Ardeadoris egretta, edged with a lemon yellow frill.
It's not unusual to spot up to 10 different species of nudibranchs and flatworms on a single dive.
The reef wall is also home to an unrivalled variety of soft corals, hard corals, and sponges, in all colours of the spectrum. There are even fluorescent hard corals!
The House Reef is particularly well suited to photographers and those who enjoy observing unusual animal behaviour.
Inspect holes in the sandy substrate and you may find the unlikely duo of goby and shrimp.
These two share a burrow: the goby keeps a look out on behalf of himself and the blind shrimp, alerting it to danger with a wiggle of its tail. In exchange, the shrimp keeps the burrow tidy.
Stop to watch it bulldoze the sand and pebbles away from the burrow with its claws. Octopus are often seen hunting or mating in the shallows, and the occasional blue-ringed octopus flashing its vibrant spots in warning.
If you haven't seen it already, we recommend the 'Shallow Seas' episode of the BBC series 'Life.'
Peter Schoons and his team spent 6 weeks filming on our House Reef to capture the sequence of anemone fish tending their brood!
2019 - 20 Price Guide:
- 5 nights from £1,775 pp
Includes:
- International Flights from the UK
- All taxes
- 7 nights accommodation
- Daily Breakfast
- All Transfers
This is a guide price only, based on travel in low season.
Prices will vary according to availability of airfares on the dates of travel and seasonal hotel and airfare surcharges.
Please ask us for any current special offers.
Jasmine Bonus:
- Breakfast Included
Contact Us:
All of our Indonesia Holidays are completely tailor made and we can put together any kind of itinerary to suit your interests and budget.
Call us to speak to an Indonesia expert about your Indonesia holiday or honeymoon to Indonesia.
Call us now on 0333 7000 747
We're open from 9 until 9 daily and our 0333 number is a local rate number included in most call packages.
