It’s a really special feeling to be standing on a boat looking out over gorgeous paradise that up until now was just a dream. Just a place that I wanted to visit one day. And now, I’m here. I made it happen, and just for a moment, the scenery around me seems extra vibrant.
As I thought about the sheer awesomeness of sailing around the islands of Raja Ampat, the bell rang for our dive briefing. It was time to get into the water. I was standing on the Jaya, an old sailboat used by Wicked Diving to host budget live-aboard diving trips in one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. When the sails are open, it looks like a pirate ship but this is done only for photos. The onboard engine makes it much easier to navigate at will.
Briefings are done before each dive. It’s important that scuba divers know what to expect in the water and so one of the guides explains to the group about the next dive, the currents, and anything else that might be helpful. It takes about 10 minutes and then it’s time to slide on our wetsuits (slide makes it sound too easy. It’s much more of a struggle), prepare our masks and fins, hook up our BCD, and step into the zodiac. [Read more…] about Swimming With Manta Rays | A Raja Ampat Scuba Diving Dream Trip