Why and When to Visit Triton Bay

Marine Protected Area
Triton Bay is located in a designated Marine Protected Area. As well as its incredible diversity of fish and coral life, Triton Bay also offers a variety of types of dive including walls, pinnacles, sloping reefs and huge boulders, all teaming with soft and hard corals.  Triton Bay offers unlimited opportunities for both macro and wide angle photography, from pygmy seahorses to whale sharks.  There is something for everyone.

When is the Best Time of Year to Visit?
West Papua’s climate is tropical with air temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius throughout the year. The area has two main seasons and it is best to visit during the dryer months from October to Early June.  Mid June to August is the Eastern Monsoon season and during this time weather conditions and water conditions are not conducive to enjoyable diving. Please bear in mind that this part of Indonesia boasts the second largest rain forest in the world, so expect rain at some point during your stay.

What You Need to Know When Traveling to Indonesia

Visa
Recently the Indonesian Government has changed the rules as to who is required to apply for a Visa on Arrival into Indonesia.  Although the visa requirements for Indonesia have become much less complicated over the years, there is still a bit of confusion.

Depending on your passport and citizenship, these are the most common options visitors choose when they come to Indonesia, provided that main purpose is travelling as a tourist and not work or engage in any form of business:

  • Free Visa (more than 140 countries can now enter for free for up to 30 days but can NOT extend)
  • Visa on Arrival is valid for 30 days.

If you’re travelling to Indonesia for more than 30 days, you should apply for a visa before you travel.

It is now possible to apply for your Visa on Arrival online before you enter the country. Check out the links on https://tritonbaydivers.com/travel-document-requirements-for-foreigners-arriving-in-indonesia/.  

On entry into Indonesia you may be required to show a copy of your return flight ticket within the maximum number of days you are allowed to stay in the country.   Should you be planning on staying longer then 30 days then we recommend you visit your local Indonesian Embassy where you can arrange a 60 day visa.

COVID entry requirements:

It is now very easy to enter Indonesia.  You only need to have had 2 vaccinations within 14 days of arrival into the country.  You will need to bring proof of vaccination.  You no longer need to do any PCR tests before arrival.

Do I Need Inoculations When Visiting Indonesia?
No inoculations are really required for Indonesia.  However, we recommend you consult your doctor for advice!  It is also advisable to have an up to date tetanus shot before you travel to any remote tropical country.

Is there Malaria in Papua?
Yes, malaria is present in Papua and it is recommended that you take care and exercise common sense, particularly at dawn and dusk.  The liberal use of mosquito repellent is highly recommended.  Please consult your doctor / travel clinic before you leave home and note that some malaria medication can cause adverse reactions in divers e.g. Lariam, so please let your physician know your travel plans.

Hospital and Medication:
The nearest Hospital is in Kaimana but it is still extremely basic.  Quality pharmaceuticals are not readily available in Kaimana and the resort only has basic medical/first aid supplies, so you must bring any special medication you may need during your trip.  We also recommend you pack essential medication in your hand luggage where possible (needles are an exception) to avoid any issues in case of late or missing luggage.

Religion:
West Papua is a mix of Muslim and Christian.

Where Are We Located and How Do I Get There?

Under the Location & Flights page you will see a step-by-step guide to traveling to Triton Bay Divers and what you can expect along the way.

Booking Domestic Flights
Some people find that their credit cards are not accepted for some reason on the Lion Air/Wings website so you may want to use a travel agent to make this booking for you. Below is a company that we have used, which you are welcome to contact.  Agents usually charge approximately 10% of the listed ticket price.  Alternatively you can check out a couple of new websites offering flight tickets both internally in Indonesia and international and they accept most forms of payment.  Check out Nusatrip.com and Traveloka.com.

Norberto Rodríguez Sánchez
www.come2indonesia.com
[email protected]
HP: +62 813 4174 6311
PH/FAX: +62 3 6172 6163
Facebook: venaindonesia cometoindonesia
Skype Id: norbertorodriguez
Yahoo msn Id: ini.norberto

Money – Currency

The national currency of Indonesia is the Rupiah (IDR).  We recommend you bring Rupiah from home or use an ATM in Jakarta or Bali International Airports on entry into Indonesia.  There are money-changing facilities at these airports but please make sure you check the amount before leaving the counter.  There are no ATMs at Kaimana  airport, but there are ATM bank machines in Kaimana town where you can withdraw cash.  The maximum you can withdraw in one transaction is IDR 2,500,000.

Do I need Indonesian Rupiah?
You will need to pay for excess luggage and any porters you may require with IDR and we suggest you try to get some smaller denominations to help with this.

Marine Park Fee
This needs to be paid by both divers and non-divers alike and the cost is Rp 1,000,000.  Unfortunately, we don’t accept foreign currency for the payment of this fee.  This fee needs to be paid in IDR at the resort.

How Much Money Do I Need to Bring?
This very much depends on what you plan to do during your stay.  If you are keen to do additional dives, then the amount will be higher.  Of course if you already know what you want then you can arrange to pay for the more expensive items before you arrive, thus reducing the amount of cash you are carrying around.  The following is an idea of the sorts of costs you may incur, but excludes any personal expenses or gratuities you may wish to leave.

– Marine park fee: 1,00,000 Rp
– Excess Luggage: approximately 30,000 – 150,000 Rp/kilo depending on your destination/airline.  Please see the Location & Flights page for more information.

Additional Charges
Any incidentals at the resort should be paid in cash (ideally IDR but we also accept EUROs and USD) before departure (e.g. bar tabs, souvenirs, gratuities, extra dives, rentals and specialized services).  USD notes must be in pristine condition, un-torn, un-marked and printed after 2006, or they may not be accepted in Indonesia.  We regret to advise there are no Credit cards facilities available at the resort and we can’t take traveler’s cheques.

What is Available at the Resort

What You Need on Arrival at the Resort:

Unless already provided to us before your arrival, we will need:

– Passport (for photo-copies, it will be returned to you as soon as photo copies have been made)
– Outbound domestic flight details – unless already provided
– IDR 1,000,000 in cash per person for the Marine Park Tag (IDR 500,000 for Indonesian nationals; free of charge for children under 12 years of age)

– Scuba diving certification card
– Diving Insurance card or certificate that covers emergency evacuation
– For divers who have previously experienced DCS: A letter from a hyperbaric doctor clearing them for diving.
– A big Smile – You’ve arrived!

What Kind of Electricity Do We Have?
220-230V/50Hz with round two prong plug.  An adapter can be provided.

What is Included in the Dive Packages

Included are:

– 3 meals per day plus afternoon snack
– Coffee, Tea and Drinking water
– Transport from and to Kaimana Airport – during scheduled days
– Up to 3 boat dives per day depending on package purchased
– Tanks, weights.
– Dive & Beach Towels

What is NOT included:
Not included in your package are any additional drinks such as soft drinks or alcohol; Additional Dives – sunset or night dives; rental equipment; excursions.

Please click here for more information on rates and packages.

What Should I Pack:
– Your own shampoo (though body wash and hand soap is provided)
– Any prescription Medication
– Malaria medication
– Basic First aid
– Mosquito spray/cream
– Sun Protection: sun cream; hat; sunglasses
– Lightweight clothing
– Dive Gear
– Cameras & Housing
– A good book
– Small land torch as well as dive torch if you are planning on doing any night dives
– No need to bring your own towel

What Else is There to Do Besides Diving?
Kayaking, jungle walking, snorkeling, village tours, whale sharks!

Communication
There is currently no phone signal on the island or in the immediate area but we hope that will soon change.  There is free Wi-Fi in the restaurant but it is extremely slow and should be used for basic email and online messaging.  In the meantime just sit back and relax!

Diving

How Many Dives Can I Do Per Day/Week?
We offer up to 3 dives per day as part of your package, so over your 7 night stay with us you will have the opportunity to dive up to 15 times.  Sunset or night dives will be charged separately.  You will be required to “off gas” for at least 18 hours before your onward flight.

How long can I dive for?
We hate to limit your time in the water but for your safety and in order for us to be able to manage the dive schedule as well as meals etc., we ask you to be on the surface after 60 mins unless otherwise agreed.

Can I Do Deep and Deco Dives?
There is NO Deco Diving permitted due to the extreme remoteness of the resort.

Is Nitrox available?
Unfortunately we do not offer Nitrox at this time.  However most of our dive sites are very shallow so this shouldn’t be a problem.

What Dive Equipment Should I Bring?
We have a limited range of equipment available to rent, but we strongly recommend you bring all of your own equipment so that you feel familiar and comfortable from day one.  There can sometimes be strong currents and although we try to dive in more protected areas it may also be advisable to bring an SMB if you have one.

What Valves Do We Use?
We use 12 liter aluminum DIN tanks with INT adapters.

What Happens If I Have a Diving Incident During My Visit?
In the case of a diving emergency, we will contact your assigned dive insurance company and after consultation with their doctors, appropriate action (including evacuation if necessary) will be taken.

There are a number of Dive Insurance organisations around including Divers Alert Network’s (DAN).  Some organisations also cover Non-diving emergencies such as DAN TravelAssist.  For more information check out:

Whomever you decide to go with we insist that all visitors must have dive insurance before coming.

What If I Have to Cancel My Trip?

Travel insurance is strongly advised for all guests, and should be purchased well in advance of their trip in order to cover for any situations beyond the guest’s or operator’s control including, but not limited to, ill health, bad weather, airline strikes, flight delays/cancellations and all other general mishaps which might affect a scheduled trip in any adverse way.  Triton Bay Divers is not responsible in the event of any of the above.

Rates and information are subject to change without notice. Terms and Conditions apply and available on request.  All rights reserved.  Imagery is copyrighted and may not be used without expressed permission and written consent.