The White Manta is a beautiful liveaboard that provides a wonderful home to explore the rich, biodiverse area of Raja Ampat. The cabins were so spacious and I often felt I was in a luxury hotel and not on a boat in the middle of the Coral Triangle The decks gave us wonderful options to sunbathe or relax under a covered canopy watching the islands float by. This was easy to do because we had good weather and calm seas as we transited and explored this beautiful region of Indonesia.
White Manta
We enjoyed two long snorkel sessions in the water each day. There was so much variety in the sites we explored and we gained a true sense of the diversity that was surrounding us. Whether it was the excitement of majestic manta rays gliding past or the quiet delight of discovering nudibranchs hiding in the rubble; these sites kept us enthralled. Specific highlights of our trip included touring a pearl farm and discovering a quiet lagoon filled with stingless jellyfish. We also spent a peaceful afternoon watching a near-total solar eclipse – not too many people can say they’ve done that in the middle of the ocean!
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- Jelly fish, Photo by Carol May
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- Raja’s soft coral. Photo by Carol May
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- Nudi. photo by Carol May
None of this can overshadow the biggest highlight of all which is sharing these experiences with such good company. When you travel on a SnorkelingEtc trip you also gain lifelong friendships. Sharing these adventures with like-minded people is such a joy and the ultimate highlight of each trip. These opportunities and discoveries have created memories of a lifetime and I can’t wait to return.
~Carol May April 2023
