3 minute read
Discover the Coral Triangle
Discover the world’s richest reefs!
Dive into the richest reefs on the planet – choose from our selection of holidays to the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the Solomon Islands, all of which lie within the Coral Triangle.
The Coral Triangle covers an imaginary area in the western Pacific Ocean identified by scientists as having the highest diversity of corals (almost 800 species) in the world, 2,000 species of reef fish including numerous endemics, plus whales, dolphins, porpoises, dugongs and whale sharks … not to mention some of the most beautiful jungleclad islands and clear turquoise seas the world has to offer.
Stretching from the Philippines, Borneo and Indonesia in the west to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in the east, the Coral Triangle is remote and still relatively untouched by tourism. We offer liveaboard and resort-based holidays to many of these destinations, and highlight some of our favourites below.
Indonesia’s Raja Ampat Islands lie in West Papua, in the epicentre of the Coral Triangle, and this area is generally accepted by scientists as being the ‘bull’s eye’ of world coral diversity. Resorts are accessed by boat transfer and can be visited throughout the year. Alternatively, join a liveaboard for the ultimate Raja Ampat experience. Elsewhere in Indonesia, we offer trips to the lesserknown destinations of Alor, Kalimaya, Sali Bay and Ambon (which can be twinned with Raja Ampat). Expect vibrant and colourful reefs, plenty of macro life, schooling barracuda, countless schools of fish (over 1,200 known species are found here), manta ray encounters and plenty of drift diving in the fast currents which help feed the nutrient-rich waters. We offer a range of holiday options in Papua New Guinea and its islands of New Britain and New Ireland. Best known are Kimbe Bay (Walindi Plantation Resort) and Tufi – with over 200 dive sites to explore (including WWII wrecks), divers will be amazed at the vivid colours, vibrant, healthy and beautiful reefs waiting to be discovered. Recommended for underwater photographers and divers who enjoy pristine reefs.
The Philippines can be dived at any time of the year and are very good value for money. The dry season offers the best all-round diving conditions and marine life encounters as well as ideal conditions on Apo reef. March to May offers the best chance of whale shark encounters at Donsol, while if you’re after mantas as well as thresher sharks in Malapascua, September’s your best bet. With fabulous resorts and a range of liveaboard options (such as to Tubbataha), the Philippines is excellent for marine diversity, critter action, thresher sharks and pelagics. It’s also a popular and relatively accessible destination within the Coral Triangle.
The exceptional dive sites around the Solomon Islands can be reached and enjoyed equally through resorts, or liveaboard, visiting renowned dive sites in the Florida and Russell Islands, as well as the world’s longest lagoon, Marovo. A combination of both resort-based diving and liveaboard will ensure you get the best out of this incredible Pacific outpost.
Tufi & Walindi
Dive the famous locations of both Tufi and Walindi which offer remarkable biodiversity, 70% of all coral species in the Indo-Pacific region are found here. Explore pristine reefs, untouched wrecks and incredible marine life.
20 days from £5,395 Jan-Dec
NEW GROUP TOUR SEE PAGE 7
Discover the Visayas
A popular Philippines itinerary in the Visayas region which offers the chance of thresher shark encounters in Malapascua, and a unique dive in Moalboal around Pescador Island with its resident sardine baitball.
13 days from £2,175 Jan-Dec Dive Raja Ampat
Resort-based diving in Raja Ampat offers divers and snorkellers a world-class experience and plenty of reward both on the reefs and islands in this remote location at the heart of the renowned Coral Triangle.
14 days from £4,325 Jan-Dec Solomon Islands Liveaboard
Famed as much for their pristine reefs as well as their wrecks, the Solomon Islands are best dived by liveaboard. Discover the vast array of dive sites, an outstanding biodiversity of marine life and plenty of adventure.
