Wicked Diving Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

5swimjohn18 5:00 PM Mar 31, 2016

Wonderful dive trip with Wicked Diving!
I just completed the 7d/6n Manta Liveaboard dive trip in Raja Ampat--what a great trip and relaxing vacation! I read several positive and negative reviews on TripAdvisor before selecting Wicked Diving...and post trip, I'm very happy with my decision and recommend ignoring the negative reviews. Understand, the boat accommodations cover your basic needs--its not luxury--but its a great dive trip at a reasonable price point. As for the trip, recommend getting into Sorong the day prior. The trip was well organized and well executed for everything from the initial meeting, through the ferry to Waisai, throughout the trip, and the return. The dive sites were excellent--the guides added to the experience both in the water and out. All of the diving aspects of the trip were handled safely and professionally. The accommodations were small and basic, but I spend almost no time below deck. There was plenty of good food throughout the trip. The boat crew was professional in all of their support. There was a good balance of a few land-based activities spread through the week. Overall, if you're looking for great liveaboard diving at a reasonable price, this is a good trip for you. I hope I get to come back and go on another dive trip with Wicked Diving soon.

5John S 5:00 PM Jan 13, 2016

Great experience with Wicked!
Did a 9-day liveaboard and stayed at the newly opened resort on Waigeo - had an awesome experience and can't wait to come back again! Divemasters Nick, Jess, Fareez, and Sari were amazing - excellent divers, found tons of interesting stuff on each dive, were extremely respectful of the reef, and were super friendly! I'll never forget diving Cape Kri in a ripping current (just trying to hang on) and looking over to see Sari pointing to a 3mm pygmy seahorse she had found. Also, I had an issue during a dive and did an emergency ascent - Jess was there the whole time and made me feel much calmer. The liveaboard had a great itinerary - all the big name sites, as well as some ones they had found during exploratory dives (Channel #5 was amazing!). The crew on the liveaboard was helpful, and the food was great. The crew even baked a birthday cake for another diver! The boat is not luxury by any means, but you shouldn't let that dissuade you. There's a nice sundeck to relax or look at the stars, and a sheltered lounge area to eat or play cards. If you're looking for a relaxed, hostel-like vibe, then this is the place. If you're looking for luxury, look elsewhere. The resort was awesome, especially for only being open for a few months! The bungalows are clean, air conditioned (at night), and the beds are very comfortable. You also have your own private bathroom. Diving from the resort is great! The day boat can reach all the big sites, as well as some further out ones like Manta Sandy and Arborek. The crew is phenomenal - they immediately learn your gear setup, insist on putting your fins on for you, and have tea/coffee ready for you after each dive. Max, the manager, is awesome as well. He is very helpful and fulfilled any request I had. The house reef is great for shore diving, too. During our night dives off the jetty, we found wobbegong sharks, blue-ringed octopi, squid, decorator crabs, and tons of other creatures! There were only a few cons: The food at the resort wasn't spectacular - I think this was more of a problem with getting newly hired kitchen staff on board, so I doubt this will be much of a problem in the future. The Birds of Paradise tour wasn't that great - either replace this with a dive or hire a guide who can take guests to a better viewing site. Otherwise, that was it! I would highly recommend this place to anyone, and can't wait to do another liveaboard with Wicked in 2017!