Thank you so much for a well organised and professional trip to one of the top dive destinations in the world. The diving has been incredible with more species of fish seen on a single dive than I thought possible. The topside beauty of the islands is magnificent with countless photographic opportunities. The resort was rustic but most enjoyable, the food was good. The Passage - what a place! In 50 years of diving, that was my best dive. All in all my best dive trip ever.
Dennis King (Durban, SA) Raja Ampat, Dec 2007
Great diving all round. Greatest location on earth. Will be back sometime.
Luisa (Johannesburg, SA) Raja Ampat, Dec 2007
A great privilege to dive in such pristine conditions. A once in a lifetime experience. Thanks for being such great hosts for the trip.
Tony (Johannesburg, SA) Raja Ampat, Dec 2007
Thanks for a lovely trip, I just want to pack up and go again! Thanks once again for all your support.
Eva (Johannesburg, SA) Raja Ampat Dec 2007
Thank-you for a great time! Words cannot describe the realisation of one's adventure. Raja Ampat is a pearl in the ocean of dive sites worldwide. Thank-you for a great adventure filled with inspiring moments and several "adrenaline rushes". Kri resort is any diver's dream destination with a great ambience and impeccable service.
Griselda (Pretoria, SA) Raja Ampat, Dec 2007
Thank-you for a terrific week in Raja Ampat. Very very well organised! Excellent diving! Beautiful resort and environment! Will be back.
Claude (Pretoria, SA) Raja Ampat, Dec 2007
This was a trip we had been planning to do on our own, but you made it so much easier! Raja Ampat certainly rates as our best dive destination yet! Thank-you both for your company and hard work in organising our holiday.
Alan and Loma (Cape Town, SA) Raja Ampat, Dec 2007
NOV 2007, NEVILLE & WENDY of REEFTEACH SODWANA
I'm sorry I ever came here! I'm sorry I ever came here because nothing will ever be anywhere near like this! It has actually set the standard way up there and it is actually quite sad in a way. It's really so good! The only thing that would make it perfect would be if my daughter were here diving with us. Wow, it's the diversity, the really large numbers of all the families that we know at Sodwana Bay, but here there are probably a hundred times more of each family. The corals and the walls and the thirty degree water, and the beautiful surroundings. It is truly a stunning place, unbeatable anywhere!
Neville & Wendy (Reefteach, Sodwana Bay, SA) Raja Ampat, Nov, 2007
High praise for your kindness and utter professionalism. A wonderful holiday seamlessly organised in difficult places. All I can say is thanks! It was truly the "holiday" of a lifetime.
Linda (Zimbabwe) Raja Ampat, Nov 2007
NOV 2007 SASOL DIVE CLUB
Baie dankie vir die lekkerste vakansie ooit! Julle het dit uitstekend gereel! Dankie vir Raja Ampat...ek sal verseker weer gaan. Mooi! Mooi! Mooi! Dankie vir all julle ekstra moeite...veral met die tasse. Julle is die beste!
Marcel (Secunda, SA) Raja Ampat, Nov 2007
Dankie vie al die reelings en moeite. Alles was perfek. Raja Ampat is fantasties! Sal beslis weer terug gaan. Het nog nie die helfde gesien wat daar te sien is nie.
Bernard (Secunda, SA) Raja Ampat, Nov 2007
To the shark bait team! Raja Ampat was superb! The remote location with it's low population density was almost equal to the phenomenal reef and underwater scenery.
Your personal contact with Max enabled us to see the jungle from a different angle - something other travellers will never see.Thanks for the smooth arrangements and the enjoyable company.
Jerry and Cecile (Secunda, SA) Raja Ampat, Nov, 2007
Baie dankie vir al jul moeite en reelings om ons aan die 'paradys' bekend te stel. Ons het dit baie geniet om so na aan die natuur te wees...glo dit sal nie die laaste keer wees nie, Raja Ampat is verseker '5 'sterre werd vir duikers!
Jaco en Amanda (Secunda,SA) Raja Ampat, Nov, 2007
Baie dankie vir die reelings wat julle getref het - dit het die vakansie baie vlot laat verloop. Raja Ampat was ongelooflik, met blou been en al!!! Sal die vakansie altyd onthou. Het die vakansie baie geniet!
Olivia and Hannes (Secunda, SA) Raja Ampat, Nov, 2007
Dink julle is fantasties!! Meer as beindruk!! Van die mooiste plekke in die wereld, sal enige iets gee om dit oor te he. Het n leeftyd se ervarings gehad!! Wow dis regtig mooi en speciaal gewees!
Sjoe dit was baie mooi gewees. Ek het regtig nie gedink mens kry sulke plekke nie. Sal dit nog lank onthou. 1ste vliegtuig trip met berskillende vliegtuie. Baie Dankie!
Antoinette & Nanette (Secunda, SA) Raja Ampat, Nov, 2007
Thanks vir n great adventure! Ek is bly daar is nog plekke in die wereld wat nog heeltemal ongerep is, en dit het gevoel soos n voorreg om daar te wees. Ek onthou een ommblik waar ons gaan kyk het na die skedels was in die kante van die eiland gebere is, en dit het amper gevoel of mens 'holy ground' betree. Ek sal nooit die trip vergeet nie, en thnaks dat julle dit moontlik gemaak het. Sal verseker weer wil teruggaan, dit was die greatste vakansie van my lewe.
Minette (Secunda, SA) Raja Ampat, Nov, 2007
Thank-you for a most enjoyable time! Also the professional way in which things were handled. I hope to see you again in future, and who knows it may be sooner than we think...
Anton (Secunda, SA) Raja Ampat, Nov, 2007
Dankie vir alles, julle moeite het n speciale trip net soveel meer speciaal gemaak. Ek hoop ons kan weer in die toekoms weer saam nuwe plekke besoek. Thanks!
Corne (Secunda, SA) Raja Ampat, Nov, 2007
Wow, what an experience...getting there is of course, half the fun! The dives (slow and very fast!!!) were excellent and "The Passage" and "Fam" were most interesting, especially the jellyfish and bat caves, and of course the skulls. Thanks for your trouble in finding our luggage while we were out having a lovely dive in Manado. You made everything run smoothly and painlessly, and we really appreciate the effort put in to the preparations. Many, many thanks for the adventure of a lifetime!
Esme (Secunda, SA) Raja Ampat, Nov, 2007
I really had an excellent time! Kri is a paradise above and below the water, and Tasik Ria, what a place! Thank-you for all your personal effert to make everything so easy and nice for us. It resulted in a holiday I will remember for life!
Anton (Secunda, SA) Raja Ampat Nov 2007
Thanks for a great diving adventure holiday. It was really an awesome trip. Raja Ampat was special, very remote and rural, great diving variety, and to have guides with you who know the area, is great. I will be back!
Craig (Secunda, SA) Raja Ampat, Nov, 2007
MAY 2007
Thank-you both for an awesome trip. I had an unforgettable holiday, and will hope to get to that side of the world again.
Robert (Johannesburg, SA) Raja Ampat, May 2007
Thank-you for the great trip. It exceeded all our expectations. The only problem was that it was over far too soon. When I do this trip again, I will definitely extend by another week. It was escaping from the rush of city life. The simple accommodations and cuisine complemented the settings and having the dive guides point out all the exotic creatures - most of which I would have missed on my own - made the diving even more impressive.
Grant (Johannesburg, SA) Raja Ampat, May 2007
Claudia and Leon told us that Raja Ampat is the 'ultimate diving destination' and that we should join them to experience the true wonders of the underwater world. With places like the Red Sea, the Great Barrier Reef and many other exotic locations, we thought that it was probably a bit of an exaggeration considering we had never heard of Papua Diving or Raja Ampat! After three days of travelling, which we can say was extremely well organized and well planned, we arrived at the island and were immediately impressed. The houses were similar to those you see in magazines reserved for the rich and famous, elevated above the ever calm waters surrounding the islands and constructed on wooden stilts; houses with the best view you can ever envisage. It is difficult to describe the splendor of the underwater Eden; photos can never encapsulate the true beauty of the region. Where previously we had been excited to see a certain fish or species, hard coral or soft, at every location we dived the rare was common and the unfamiliar found in abundance. Never before have we seen such a diversity of species in such intensity. It is said that the Raja Ampat islands are the birth place of underwater life; we can verify that if ever you had any doubt of God’s existence in this world, visit Raja Ampat and see for yourself. To Max, who unfortunately we saw very little of, Maya and all the staff on the island, the guides who were exceptional (no DM can ever be the equivalent of any of these guys) we extend a very big thank you and hope to see you all again soon. To Leon and Claudia who assisted in the purchasing of cameras, always gave the best advice, taught us how to use them and take proper photographs, arranged every little detail of the trip so that none of us ever had anything to worry about. We knew exactly what to expect at every location and at all times due to the diligent manner in which everything was planned and communicated. We thank you for giving us the opportunity to see one of the last true gems this world has to offer. And last but not least we would like to thank the special group of people who shared this amazing experience with us. Until the next trip...
Thys and Michele (Pretoria, SA) Raja Ampat, May 2007
Baie dankie vie die ongelooflike 10 dae! Die organisering, keuse van hotelle en transfer tye asook die geselskap was GREAT! Leon & Claudia, from our side we would like to thank you for the memorable trip. We really enjoyed our stay, and although we were busy the whole time, the most important was that our minds had a rest. What is truly amazing about Raja-Ampat, is the unspoiltness of it all – the nature, the corals the sea-life. Even for non-divers like snorkellers, this has been a truly amazing adventure. You always see these wonderful backgrounds on computer screens that are part of the windows program, but here you actually get to see and spend some time on an even more beautiful beach and in crystal clear water. We spent a day on our “own beach” with only the boat bringing our food, disturbing the perfect ambience and quietness – what more can you ask for! With visibility this good, as snorkellers, we could even see the manta rays – something that not even all divers have seen! The only advice we have is: Go for at least 2 weeks, this is how perfect it is!
Carna and Abri (Pretoria, SA) Raja Ampat, May 2007
Many thanks for the Raja Ampat expedition, which we all agree was most successful ! Marius is back in Canada and with Carl sitting in Australia, on behalf of all three of us I wish to thank the two of you again for a wonderful trip - not only was Raja Ampat magnificent, but your company and photographic advice indispensable ! We appreciate all the planning that went into this and would love to join you in future again on another expedition, particularly to such remote areas. Thank you again for arranging such an unforgettable trip ! Beste groete
Hilmar (Cape Town, SA) Carl (Australia) Marius (Canada) Raja Ampat, May 2007
WINNING LETTER PUBLISHED IN 'SUBMERGE MAGAZINE' OCT/NOV 07
My girlfriend and I met Claudia and Leon in December 2006 whilst looking for a book on fish, We had started photography and wanted to be able to identify the fish we saw. During hte subsequent discussion, we realise that they knew a lot about underwater photography and that they had recently returned from a seven year stint in the Bahamas, where they had scuba trained film stars and assisted in filming of Hollywood movies. The bubbly twosome really have been "bittenbysharks" and they have the scars to prove it!. We quickly accepted an invitation for an evening video presentation of their Bahama experiences. The presentation was a treat. Claudia gave structure to the presentation, describing pictures and related techniques, while Leon just had a blast chatting and sharing their experiences with the attendees. At the end of the presentation they mentioned and showed Raja Ampat, Indonesia. The photographs of creatures such as Pygmy seahorses, large manatas, amonst others, was incredible. A trip to Raja Ampat Kri Eco resort, was scheduled for May 2007, and we signed up immediately! We subsequesntly did a short photography course in January with Claudia and Leon, and we were seriously bitten by the clicking bug. Just four days before the trip, the Ikelite casing and strobe arrived and I was set with my Canon 400D. I took the manuals with me, as I had had no time to aquaint myself with the equipment. The trip to Raja Ampat involves three flights and a boat trip. On the flight to Singapore I was feverishly reading the manuals, when Leon noticed and said:"Moenie worry nie, ons sal jou wys". Everything about our holiday was well handled. There was not a single hitch during our journey which involved travelling from Johannesburg to Singapore, to Manado, a hotel stay; Manado to Sorong, and then a boat trip to Raja Ampat, Kri Eco Resort. The two hour boat trip past a number of the many islands of Indonesia was breathtakingly beautiful. We also saw a few whales on the way and some flying fish. When we arrived at the resrot we were welcomed by a school of resident batfish next to the jetty. Our rooms were situated on stilts over the water.From the balcony you could see an array of fish. You have probably heard people describe similar scenarios, but Raja Ampat is different. The sheer number of sea life is vast; it is like a constant peak hour traffic for these fish, who pass by without a break! ANd this was from the topside viewing ony! THe diving was a continuation of the aforementioned. The sea creatures we saw include big Mantas, Pygmy seahorses and beautiful massive corals. I cannot describe this amazing experience in writing. The cherry on top was the value-adding professional skills and personalities of our hosts. We got constant advice and support on improving our photographic skills. This was provided at no extra cost to the trip - imagine paying for an exotic trip like Raja Ampat and then getting a bonus seven days of professional photography tutoring and practise for free - unheard of in this day and age!! Thank-you Claudia and Leon - you gave us the trip of a lifetime. The only problem now is - where to next?
Marius and Hannetjie (Pretoria, SA) Raja Ampat, May 2007
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