Coral Reef - the Flowers of the Sea

I spend much of my time in Sorong and Raja Ampat now. I usually go snorkeling and freediving at Warduwer beach. It is located in southern region of Waigeo island. The coral reef of Warduwer beach is very beautiful. It is colorful and looks like underwater flowers. There are a lot of fish that live in them including anemonefish, butterflyfish, moorish idol, damselfish, parrotfish, wrasse, coris, and a lot more. 

Christmas Tree Worm in Raja Ampat

Christmas Tree Worms are some of the many marine creatures that are similar to flowers. They have got vivid colors such as blue, orange, yellow, red and purple. They live by catching or filtering tiny food objects or microorganism. Because of this filtering function, Christmas Tree Worms play important roles in making the sea clean. There are also sea anemone whose forms are similar to flowers. They become the "nests" for fish like Orange Skunk Anemonefish, Red and Black Anemonefish as well as Spinecheeck Anemonefish. Sea Anemone maybe harmful for other fish but not for the clownfish.

Coral Reef Environment in Warduwer Beach

 There are also burrowing clams that build their houses by sinking their shells into the surface of big rocks in a very slow rate. They filter food from the sea.
Coral reef has got functions that is similar to rainforest. It is the natural habitat of a lot of marine creatures. Therefore, they have to be preserved.

Burrowing Clams

In addition to burrowing clams, christmas tree worm, table coral, cauliflower corals, there is also Pulsating Xenid (Heteroxenia fuscescens) that visitors can see in the waters of Warduwer beach of Waigeo island. It is a species of soft coral that lives in shallow water. It has got tentacles with polyps whose appearance are similar to small flowers. The movements of tentacles in the waters are influenced by waves and sea current. Its polyps open and close in a pumping or pulsating movement to filter food or nutrients from the sea.

Pulsating Xenid

Booking
If you are interested in taking a snorkeling holiday in Raja Ampat and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Snorkeling Holiday in Manokwari

written by Charles Roring

The sea in Manokwari is calm now. It is a good time to enjoy swimming and snorkeling especially in the beaches that have coral reef. To see coral reef, fish and other marine creatures, I need snorkeling equipment such as masks, snorkel, and swimfins. I also bring a good underwater camera such as Nikon W300, or Olympus Tough TG-5 to take pictures. I usually bring my Fujifilm XQ2 that is inserted into its waterproof case.

Red and Black Anemonefish (Amphiprion melanopus)

Morning time is good because the sea is calm. Visibility can be more than 20 meters. The sunlight can reach most part of the coral reef. Before taking pictures, I swim over the reef to find fish or beautiful reef garden. When I find some interesting fish, I will dive until I am close or nearly on the same level as the fish. By doing that, I could make pictures that look brighter. Red and Black Anemonefish, Lemon Damsel, Blue Damsel, Goldhead Damsel, Blenny, and Wrasse can easily be seen in shallow water. After spending around twenty to thirty minutes snorkeling, freediving and shooting fish, I will swim back to the shore and take a rest.

Coral Reef Garden in the north coast waters of Manokwari

Sometimes, birds like Lesser Frigatebird, Black Noddy and Crested Tern can be seen flying in the area. Big butterfly such as the Ornithoptera priamus is common innthe coastal area too. I also guide tourists to the beach to enjoy snorkeling with me.
I provide life jackets, and some masks for tourists who want to visit Manokwari city as their holiday destination. The snorkeling holiday can be combined with hiking tour along the coastal forest and villages of Manokwari. In the hiking tour, tourists could see how local people live in their daily life. We can see birds, butterflies, beetles, frogs, and various kinds of tropical plants from the common coconut trees to the beautiful hibiscus flower plants.
Coral reef is similar to tropical rainforest. It is the natural habitat of hundreds of species of fish. Coral reef also turn CO2 gases into Oxygen and provide food and life in the ocean. This marine ecosystem has to be protected.

Tropical Reef Fish: Moorish Idol

Please, support this blog by purchasing the above drawing on various products of Redbubble such as t-shirts, tanktop, zip hoodie, scarf, iPhone, duvet cover, and a lot more. You could also see other artworks in my Redbubble shop at this link: Nature Art.

Marine Life Photos from West Papua

by Charles Roring
I have just uploaded several videos in my youtube account this week. They are about marine life in Raja Ampat and Manokwari. I hope that I could upload more videos covering the coastal region of Tambrauw regency too.
I often organize marine and birding tours to Vogelkop (bird's head) region of West Papua for tourists who are interested in swimming and snorkeling over coral reef and watching birds and other wild animals in rainforest environments of this province.
For swimming and snorkeling, I recommend that visitors bring their own snorkeling gear such as mask, snorkel, and flippers. A small action camera such as Gopro or a waterproof Nikon W300 is good for taking pictures of fish and other marine creatures at sea.

For rainforest tour, I suggest that visitors bring a good pair of binoculars. I personally use a pair of Visionking 10×42 mm binoculars and a Kinglux 20-60×60 mm spotting scope. For taking pictures of birds, I used Fujifilm HS50EXR. It was a powerful super-zoom point and shoot camera. Unfortunately, it stopped functioning more than one month ago.
Yesterday, I went snorkeling to test my "new camera" Fujifilm XQ2. Its size was quite small. The manufacturer put a 2/3-type X-trans CMOS sensor II and an EXR processor II inside its body. It looked like a promising specifications.
It was sunny when I arrived at the beach outside of Manokwari city. The sea surface was a little rough. The visibility in shallow water was poor. So, I decided to swim further to drop off area of the reef. There, sea water was quite clear and the visibility for coral reef was good.

I was not familiar with all the features of the camera. It was my first time to use the Fujifilm XQ2 underwater. To simplify everything, I set its shooting mode dial to automatic. Because of small waves and current, I could not easily maintain stable position in the water. I did my best by holding hard rocks near me while taking pictures. There were Blue Devil, Anemonefish, Surgeonfish, Parrotfish, Moorish Idol, Wrasse, and a lot more. I saw a sea snake was going up to sea surface when I was shooting the anemonefish. Perhaps, it was taking fresh air. Green sea grass, green hard corals and sea star could also be seen in the water.

Damselfish in Coral Reef

The coral reef and marine life was in good condition and good for snorkeling and freediving. The photos that I made that day were quite good. I hope I could make better ones when I go freediving in the near future, perhaps in Raja Ampat or Tambrauw coastal area. I will read its manual book and see the best settings for underwater photography.
If you are interested in taking a sightseeing, swimming, snorkeling, hiking and birding tour with me to Sorong and Raja Ampat, Tambrauw and Manokwari, and want me as your guide, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Birdwatching in Lowland Forest of Manokwari

Hiking and Birding in Lowland Rainforest of Manokwari

I visited lowland forest of northwest region of Manokwari yesterday. I went hiking a long the banks of a river to see its beautiful scenery and to watch birds and butterflies. I brought a pair of binoculars and an old camera of mine - the Fujifilm HS50EXR.

Riverwalk and Birding Tour

During the riverwalk, I was able to see Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Pinon Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pinon), Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus), Eclectus Parrots (Eclectus roratus), Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus), Papuan hornbills (Rhyticeros plicatus). There are some other birds that flew in the sky or perched on branches of trees which I could not identify.

Eclectus Parrots in Lowland Forest of Manokwari

Lowland Forest of Manokwari

Birds such as hornbill, cokcatoo and hawk choose big trees such as ironwood tree, strangler ficus tree, nutmeg tree and kayu perahu tree as their nests. For dwarf kingfisher, and yellow-billed kingfisher, they prefer smaller trees near the river. I used to see kingfisher that perched on a vine that was hanging over a small river. The bird chose a vine or a twig near or above a river as its waiting platform to watch and catch fish.
The lowland forest the place for visitors who want to see a lot of species of plants including giant trees with big buttresses, or small mushrooms that glow at night.

Camping tour at the bank of a river in Manokwari

Camping, Swimming and Fishing

The best way to explore the natural habitat of the forest is by installing tents near the river. I have done this with tourists fro Switzerland, the United Kingdom, China and France. These tourists enjoyed the tour very much because they could see Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, and Little ringed Plover, Willie Wagtail, Brahminy Kite, and Kingfisher.
Tourists could enjoy swimming as much as they like or fishing. Local hunters gave us some fish which they caught in the river and we fried them for our lunch.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

As a tourist guide, I provide tents, cooking and eating equipment for visitors who want enjoy hiking, camping and wildlife watching in this lowland river forest of Manokwari. Tourists do not need to brig heavy tents and cooking gear.
However, if possible, tourists bring a good pair binoculars, flashlight, camera, and clothings that are suitable for rainforest tour and swimming in the river. Insect repellent lotion and sunblock lotion will be useful during the birding tour along the banks of the river.

Rainforest Birding Tour

As a tourist guide, I could organize a tour for visitors who want to enjoy birdwatching in the lowland rainforest of Manokwari. The usual duration of the tour is 3 days/ 2 nights or 4 days/ 3 nights. Avid birdwatchers prefer at least 3 days in lowland forest and 3 days in higher montane forest.

Booking:
If you are interested in taking hiking and birding tour in lowland rainforest of Manokwari, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com if you are interested in rainforest tour in Manokwari.

SNORKELING IN MANSINAM ISLAND OF MANOKWARI

In addition to taking the jungle tour, visitors can also enjoy snorkeling and easy walking tour in Mansinam island. They can do it before or after the birding tour in lowland rainforest of Manokwari.

Don't forget to bring your own snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, and fins) if you want to enjoy snorkeling in Mansinam. Make sure you don't step on coral reef or sea urchin.

Booking
Please, contact me (Charles Roring) to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by sending text message (whatsapp is ok) to my number: +6281332245180.

Also read:
Watching Red and Black Anemonefish

Snorkeling in Dorey bay of Manokwari

I went snorkeling or freediving this afternoon. The weather was very nice with clear sky and hot. Unfortunately, the visibility underwater was not so good. I brought an underwater camera with me. It was Canon G1X inside a waterproof case.

I took some pictures of sea stars, and a lot of tropical fish that I saw at the depths between 5 to 10 meters. I also saw anemonefish, parrotfish, moorish idol, and a lot of other fish which I haven't identified.

Here are some of the pictures:

Marine Environment (Coral Reef and Tropical Fish) in the bay of Manokwari

Sea Star in the bay of Manokwari

If you are planning to visit Manokwari, and need me as your snorkeling guide at sea or trekking guide in the jungle, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Also read:

• Birdwatching in Sulawesi
• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birdwatching in Minahasa
• Manado City: Birdwatching and Sightseeing Tour

Manokwari City Tour and Snorkeling Tour

Manokwari - the Capital of West Papua Province
Manokwari is a city that is located in Dorey bay. It is the administration center of West Papua province. The city has been famous among recreational divers as the gate to Cendrawasih bay and among birdwatchers as the gate to Arfak Mountains and Tambrauw Mountains.

Nostalgic City Tour
I have just completed a tour for two Ducth tourists in Manokwari. My guests this time were Mr Janssen and his wife. We had a day tour inside the city where we visited several buildings that were used by Dutch government until 1962. The territory of West Papua was a Dutch colony. Its name was Nederlands Nieuw Guinea. Every year. Manokwari is visited by Dutch tourists who come to see their old houses or friends or enjoy snorkeling and wildlife watching.

Manokwari city

Now West Papua is under the administration of the Republic of Indonesia. During the city tour we visited hotel Arfak, Governor office and woodmill and passed by shipyard of Manokwari. We also went to Sarinah (Brunnenweg) and Kampung Ambon Atas and SD Padma 1 (formerly called St. Vincentius), and Church Elim in Kwawi area of Manokwari.
Snorkeling Tour

On the second day, I guided them to Mansinam island where we enjoyed snorkeling for a few hours. During the snorkeling tour, we saw parrotfish, moorish idol, anemonefish, surgeonfish, and a lot more. In the middle of the day, we continued our trip to see Cross Monument and Museum which explains the history of the early development of Christianity in Mansinam island, Manokwari and the whole region of West Papua.
We also had a walk through the village and drank fresh coconut juice. Mr. and Mrs. Janssen were really happy with the tour.
If you are interested in visiting Manokwari to explore its city, its forest and coral reef.

Pinon Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pinon)

Birding Tour
The tropical rainforests in Arfak mountains and along the northern coast of Manokwari is the natural habitat of various species of birds. A lot of birdwatchers have visited Manokwari to see the colorful birds that make our forest as therir natural habitat.
From my personal birding experience in lowland forest along Dopi river, I saw such birds as Gray Goshawk, Brahminy Kite, Blyth's hornbill, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Dollarbird, Western Crowned Pigeon, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Vulturine Parrot, Lesser Birds of Paradise, Pygmy Parrot, Palm Cockatoo, Beautiful Fruit Dove and a lot more.

Rainforest Tour
In addition to birds, the lowland tropical rainforest of Manokwari is the habitat of cuscus possum, soa-soa lizard, wallaby, deer, and wild pigs. To fully experience jungle tour and wildlife watching, I usually stay with tourists for several days in the jungle. Because there are no hotels, we use dome tents and built our camps near a river. Visitors who want to go to Manokwari need to know this so that they will be more prepared for the jungle tour.

Anemonefish in the waters of Manokwari city

Typical Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Manokwari
City Tour or Jungle Walk
Day 2
Snorkeling inside Dore bay Mansinam
A visit to Mansinam village and museum
Day 3
Snorkeling in Raimuti
Snorkeling in Anggresi
Day 4
Jungle walk in lowland forest of Dopi river or
Jungle walk in Warmarway forest of Arfak mountains
Day 5
Transfer to airport

Prices: 5 million rupiahs/ person (at least 2 participants)
For customized itinerary, the cost of the tour will depend on how many days you want to spend in Manokwari and the number of participants.

How to get there?

• Fly from your country to Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia)
• Fly from Jakarta to Manokwari by domestic airline such as Garuda, Xpress Air, or Sriwijaya Air
• I will be happy to meet you in this city and organize your tour.

Please, book now
If you plan to visit Manokwari, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Snorkeling and Birdwatching Vacation in Numfor

Have you decided where you want to spend your time this Christmas? I recommend that you go to Numfor island in the Geelvink bay of New Guinea. Fly to Jakarta or Denpasar of the Republic of Indonesia and then take a domestic flight to Manokwari - the capital of West Papua province. From this city, you can go to Numfor by airplane (20 minutes) or by ferry boat (5 hours).

Coral reef in Numfor is a marine environment that is high in bio-diversity. If you go snorkeling off the coastal area of this island, you will be able to see various species of fish, sea star and corals. Don't forget to bring your own snorkeling mask, fins, weights, and underwater camera if you want to explore the beauty of the underwater world of Numfor.
Another snorkeling spot near Numfor is the Manem islet. This tiny coral island is just one hour boat ride from Numfor. When the sea is calm and the weather is good, traveling to Manem islet is highly recommended.

If you are a person who likes land and forest more than the sea, then you will be able to watch various species of tropical birds in this island. From kingfisher to parrots and from blyth's hornbill to sea eagles, you can see them flying over you in the morning and in the afternoons.
Private Guided Tour
As a tour guide, I provide private guided tour services for you to explore the Numfor island that has got beautiful nature, and meet the indigenous Papuan people who have unique culture.
I also can escort you on a hiking trip to Arfak mountains of Manokwari regency where you can spend one or two nights camping in the jungle that is the natural habitat of the birds of paradise and cuscus possum. I will make sure that you will enjoy your trip with me in a more affordable cost. If you are interested, please contact me via email: peace4wp@gmail.com by Charles Roring
Related articles:
Mangrove Forest of Numfor island
Traveling to Numfor island

Snorkeling in Manokwari with ACI 2011 participants

A few days ago, I went snorkeling with some participants of ACI 2011 of Detik.com near Anggresi beach. They were Audrey, Diana, Suasti (trip coordinator), and Regi.

We went there at around 3 p.m. Manokwari time. The weather was not really good in Anggresi when we were going there by boat. Fortunately, it suddenly changed. The wind blew the clouds and the rain to the south. According to them the coral reef of Anggresi beach at the foot of Arfak mountains is not only worth snorkeling but scuba diving. They made a lot of pictures about this precious marine environment. Because each of the participants was required by detik.com to write at least 3 articles per day during their trip in West Papua, I think Manokwari and Raja Ampat will become more familiar in front of Indonesian people who know little about tourist destination in New Guinea.

Most of the tourists who visit Manokwari are from Europe, Australia and North America. Very few Indonesian tourists have come to enjoy snorkeling here. I hope that Regi, Audrey and Diana, through their articles that are posted in aci.detik.com, will be able to promote eco-tourism destination in Manokwari and Raja Ampat to readers of detik.com who are mostly Indonesian so that more domestic tourists will visit this tropical paradise. by Charles Roring
Related article:
Snorkeling along the shore off Arfak mountains
Snorkeling picture of marine fish from Manokwari bay

Snorkeling in Manokwari bay and Coral Reef Preservation

A few days ago I went snorkeling with four Dutch tourists. Our destination was the coral reef of Anggresi beach. It was around one hour boat ride from Arfai - the boat station where I usually bring the tourists to. I consider snorkeling as an alternative way for local fishermen to make money besides catching fish. I hope that through the interaction between the tourists and the fishermen, both sides can share information and experiences about the importance of coral reef preservation. 

Coral reef is a marine ecosystem that is rich of biodiversity. There are thousands of species of fish and corals in the reef. So, the preservation of coral reef is important not only for the development of sustainable tourism but also for the many functions the coral reef has both for human life and the whole environment as well.

Unfortunately, the coral reef along the shores of the Dorey bay is being destroyed by city dwellers who just throw their wastes on to the streets of Manokwari. When rain comes, these wastes will flow into the sea. They are the main threats to coral reef besides the sand mining activities that are now going on along the Maruni and Anggresi beaches.

Coral reef in southern area of Dore bay

Truck was carrying sand and gravel to be used construction materials

Angresi beach

Underwater picture such as the one that you can see above was taken using Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3 which is able to produce high quality photographs of coral reef and ornamental fish at sea. Another waterproof camera that I recommend is the newest one that has just been released by Nikon. It is a Nikon Coolpix W300. The camera can withstand water pressure of up to 10 meters below the sea surface and produce crystal clear photographs with its  5x optical zoom, Nikor lens. by Charles Roring

Also read: 

• Birding and Snorkeling Tour in Raja Ampat
• Snorkeling and Sightseeing Tour in Raja Ampat
• Snorkeling Vacation in Raja Ampat Archipelago
• Birdwatching and Snorkeling in Raja Ampat

• Birding Paradise: Exploring North Sulawesi from Manado to Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Tangkoko
• Birds in North Sulawesi
• Tangkoko National Park: A Wildlife Haven in North Sulawesi, Indonesia
• Birding and Wildlife Tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Higher Elevation Forest of Minahasa
• Birding in Paddy Fields of District Sonder in Minahasa
• Walking Tour, Birdwatching and Butterflywatching in District Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Walking Tour and Birdwatching in Minahasa Highland
• Discover Bunaken National Park
• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birdwatching in Minahasa
• Manado City: Birdwatching and Sightseeing Tour

Snorkeling picture from Manokwari bay

Coral reef is home to various species of marine fish and other marine animals. This can be seen while we go snorkeling in Manokwari. As snorkeling guide, I know some locations in this regency where the coral reefs are still in pristine condition. To reach them, we need to use outrigger boat. Bring your own snorkeling mask and fins if you want to see the beauty of the underwater paradise. The beaches are located at the foot of Arfak mountains - a world class birding and wildlife watching destination in New Guinea. The following picture shows the corals in the Dorey bay of Manokwari with some reef fish such as the butterfly fish and the white cheek surgeonfish (acanthurus nigricans).

The coral reef in Anggresi beach of Manokwari bay is still in pristine condition. It has never been listed in any travel guide book as snorkeling destination. I came to the area in 17 August with 2 Dutch tourists. When I explored the corals, and took some pictures of them, I immediately conclude that the coast of Anggresi is a nice destination for snorkeling.
Every time I go snorkeling, I will bring my waterproof camera Panasonic DMC FT3 so that I will be able to take pictures of the coral reef and the tropical fish. When I have returned home, I transfer the underwater photographs to my computer and use them for my writing project. As a matter of fact, Panasonic DMC FT3 is not the only waterproof camera that is available on the market. There are other cameras that offer similar capability too. Some of them are the Nikon Coolpix AW100 and Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS. You can buy one of them in your local camera store or order it from an online store such as the Amazon.comTo identify the names of the fish, I use a book entitled Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific. We don't need to be a marine biologist to identify the tropical fish. We can easily use the book to find the English and Latin names of the fish which we have shot while snorkeling.

Because the bio-diversity in coral reef is enormously high, more often we need some time to identify the fish. Coral reef is similar to tropical rainforest in terms of its function in absorbing CO2 emissions and in providing shelter or protection to various marine animals. Therefore, we need to preserve it. With snorkeling tour package, I hope that local fishermen can improve their living standard and at the same time respect the reef. by Charles Roring
Also read: New Snorkeling Location in Manokwari bay

Snorkeling Picture of Marine Fish from Manokwari bay

Everytime I go snorkeling in the Dore bay of Manokwari, I will always bring a camera with me. From my last trip with two Dutch tourists, I was able to shoot some marine fish that live in the coral reef area near the shore of Arfak mountains. Some of them are striped surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus), lined bristletooth (Ctenochaetus striatus), chromis, and wrasse. From the Reef fish Identification book, I found that the lined bristletooth picture does not have bright spot at its tail (see the red arrow). So, I call the fish - Arfak lined bristletooth.

The marine fish whose pictures are shown in this post were made by using Panasonic Lumix FT3 - a good underwater camera that is suitable for snorkelers. Before buying this camera, I used ordinary pocket camera that was protected by underwater waterproof case manufactured by Dicapac. In places where the reefs such as staghorn coral and table coral are still in their pristine conditions, we usually will see more fish there. Marine fish eat algae that grows on the surface of the hard corals. In order to grow well, the sea water has to be clean and free from pollution. In tropical waters where mangrove trees live, more fish will be found. As a snorkeling tour guide, I often bring tourists to several coral reef areas in Manokwari bay.

In addition to snorkeling, Manokwari is also a nice place for travelers who want to go hiking in the rainforest of Arfak mountains. This mountain range is home to birds of paradise, sulfur crested cockatoo, goliath cockatoo, blyth's hornbill, ground and tree kangaroo,  and various species of butterflies. Birdwatching is a great activities that nature lovers can do while traveling in Manokwari. Binoculars, and telephoto camera are needed for birding in the mountains. by Charles Roring

Also read:
Papua Snorkeling
Snorkeling Picture from New Guinea of Indonesia

New Snorkeling Location in Manokwari bay

I have just found a new snorkeling place in Manokwari bay. It's a 30-minute boat ride from Manokwari city. Yesterday, I guided two Dutch snorkelers to the area. They were the first tourists whom I brought to the snorkeling site. We left Arfai in the morning by an outrigger wooden boat. The boat driver was Kosal. He is a fisherman. His daughter - acted as navigator. She informs her father about floating woods or plastic wastes that can be harmful to the hull or the propeller of the boat. The surface of the sea was quite calm that morning.

The coral reef is still in pristine condition. I didn't see any broken reefs caused by dynamite fishing or fishing net. According to the fisherman, no tourists had ever been there. So, Herman and Elizabeth were the first tourists to snorkel in the area. They looked happy to know about it. They came to Manokwari for hiking, birdwatching in Arfak mountains and snorkeling in this Dore bay. Various colors of tropical fish such as wrasse, yellow tail demoiselle, blue and yellow fusilier were seen  there especially because the weather was really good. The beach is clean and protected by green tropical trees. To give you the impression of how beautiful the coral reef of this new snorkeling destination was, I add some underwater snorkeling pictures of the reef in this post. I used waterproof camera Panasonic Lumix FT3 to shoot the reef fish and the corals. For snorkeling in the bay, I wear snorkeling mask Reef Tourer that was manufactured by Tabata. It's a nice gear both for snorkelers or even scuba divers.

So far, very few tourists have visited this site. Last year, I guided four Indonesian youth on a snorkeling tour to this area. They brought underwater camera to take pictures of the fish and the corals. They were some of the participants of aci.detik.com Indonesian tour competition program. Although they didn't win the competition, their photographs about this pristine coral reef is very important in creating awareness among the city dwellers of Manokwari to stop throwing plastic wastes into the sea.

As a tourist guide, I provide (please click the link) snorkeling tour package to anybody who is interested in snorkeling in this bay. Please, contact me if you still need more information about it. by Charles Roring

Snorkeling Picture from New Guinea of Indonesia

Everytime I guide tourists for some snorkeling trips in New Guinea of Indonesia, I always ask them to make underwater picture of the tropical fish which they can find at sea. I also asked the same thing to Marko and Rita Laakonen while they were snorkeling with me in Manem islet. From the underwater pictures which they made, two of them are added in this post. Before uploading them to this blog, I tried to identify the tropical fish that are shown in the photographs. The first picture, I think, is the cromish and damsel whereas the second picture is the humphead bannerfish. There are thousands of spesies of reef fish in tropical waters. To identify them is not an easy thing to do. One needs a book for that task. With a book entitled Reef Fish identification Tropical Pacific, the identification process of the fish will be much easier to be done. Rita and Marko were really happy when they saw the fish and pristine coral reef that covers the shallow waters of the islet.

For snorkeling in this tiny islet, tourists need to fly from Manokwari to Numfor island. After that, they need to take a boat to Manem. It took around 1 hour boat ride from Numfor island to reach the coral reef area. The snorkeling picture which you see in this post was shot only by a pocket camera that has been protected by waterproof casing manufactured by Dicapac. The marine biodiversity is very high in this islet. The trip to Manem is possible if the weather is good. This tiny islet is quite isolated if I compare it with the reef area in Manokwari bay. If after snorkeling in the coral reef you become interested in learning about this precious marine environment, I suggest that you read a book entitled: Life in the Sea - The Coral Reef which is written by Palm Walker and Elaine Wood. The book is suitable for anyone whose knowledge about coral reef is very basic.

There are no diving or snorkeling shops both in Manokwari and Numfor. If you want to go snorkeling in Numfor, please, bring your own snorkeling set. Watercasing for your pocket camera can be ordered from Amazon.com. Please, check dicapac.com for the type of waterhousing that is suitable for your digital camera. With the waterproof case, you can turn your conventional digital camera into a waterproof camera.
If you want to buy a real waterproof camera, I suggest that you buy a Panasonic DMC-FT3 Lumix. It is now my favorite device for taking pictures of fish, and coral reef while snorkeling in this tropical paradise.
I started using it at sea on 17 August 2011 when I guided 2 Dutch tourists on a snorkeling trip along the shores of Arfak mountains and Arfai beach. The snorkeling site near Arfak mountains is a new destination that I am now promoting for my eco-tourism program. It is a 30-minute boat ride from our boat station that is located in Arfak beach.  If you are interested in snorkeling in this new location, you can read my blog post: New Snorkeling Location in Manokwari bay. Don't forget to contact me if you want to come to Manokwari via my email peace4wp@gmail.com.
by Charles Roring
Also read:

Papua Snorkeling

Snorkeling in Mansinam island

Snorkeling Tour Package for Manokwari

Today I have just finished writing a one page snorkeling tour package brochure. I have received requests from my friends and visitors of this blog about tour packages in Manokwari of West Papua. I will try to write more packages in the coming days hoping that they will be used as reference for travelers who want to come and enjoy snorkeling over the coral reef of Manokwari bay.

 click the following link to download the simple brochure

Snorkeling Package in Manokwari bay

Coral reef is actually the tropical rainforest of the sea. It has high biodiversity and it absorbs CO2 gas during photosynthesis. So, it is very important to note that every tourist who come for snorkeling vacation in the tropical island of New Guinea to not to stand on the corals. I also tell the fishermen who serve the tourists during their snorkeling trip to avoid throwing anchors on the corals. More works need to be done to preserve the coral reef. I believe that if properly managed and run, marine eco-tourism can bring about improvements in the standard of living of the islanders and at the same time promote efforts of coral reef preservation to local communities. Through the snorkeling trip package that I offer to tourists, I hope that we can provide additional income to fishermen so that they will not be tempted to use destructive fishing methods that will endanger the marine environment. In addition, the interaction between tourists and snorkelers will bring better understanding among us about how the coral reef can be preserved and still be exploited sustainably.For more information about snorkeling in West Papua of Indonesia and other eco-tourism activities, please, email me at charlesroring@gmail.com

Tropical rainforest of Kaki island

Kaki island is a small tropical islet located near Nuni village of the north coast of Manokwari regency. This coral island is still covered with beautiful tropical rainforest that protects it from erosion. Most of the vegetations that we can see in the Kaki island are coconut, ketapang (catappa) and barringtonia asiatica.

To help the indigenous people in the northern coast preserve the tiny rainforest of the island, I try to introduce ecotourism project. I intend to bring foreign tourists there where they can enjoy hiking through the tropical rainforest and bird watching around the coast in the island. In addition to birds, in the morning we can see butterflies eat nectar of flowers both in the Nuni village or in the surrounding forest of the mainland New Guinea.

Besides the beautiful jungle, pristine coral reef can be found thriving around the island. As the tropical rainforest of the sea, coral reef absorbs large amount of carbon dioxide while doing photosynthesis. With eco-tourism scheme, tourists who want to go snorkeling around the island will be transported by motorized outrigger boats that are operated by the local fishermen's there. This additional income will help the fishermen to improve their living condition, and send their children to school without having to exploit the coral reef and the forest of Kaki island too much.

Besides snorkeling, bird watching and hiking, another ecotourism scheme that I can introduce in Nuni village is surfing. Waves in the northern coast reach its highest point between December and February. With more nature lovers and foreigners come to the region, more money can be injected into the local economy through ecotourism project. The interaction between the local people and the tourists can bring new possibilities of raising the awareness about the importance of preserving the environment of the tropical rainforest and the coral reef. The number of tourists visiting Kaki island is not high at the present moment but I expect it to rise next year.

Also read:
Tropical rainforest picture of Numpuri islet
Tropical rainforest of Asai river

Tropical rainforest of Numfor island

Raja Ampat Coral Reef Art

One day a Papuan artist who had just returned from Raja Ampat came to me. His name was Tonci Krey. He brought his laptop containing a lot of pictures of coral reef painting that he and his friends painted on the wall of a church there. In recent years, scuba divers and snorkelers from all corners of the world come to Raja Ampat islands to see one of the best coral reef environment in the world.

According to reports from marine biologists the biodiversity of the underwater world in Raja Ampat waters is the highest in the world. The high marine biodiversity makes Raja Ampat diving sites popular among scuba divers and snorkelers. Some diving operators have even provided liveaboard diving packages to tourists who want to visit the islands of the "four kings." The Papuan artists who decorate the church want to create awareness among the Christian believers that it is very important to preserve the beauty of the coral reef for the current and future generations of Papuan people.
All of us know that coral reef is the tropical rainforest of the ocean. Algae that live in the coral reef photosynthesis during the day and absorbs CO2 gases dissolved in the sea water. Coral reef provides food and shelter to huge number of marine animals. Coral reef helps us in fighting global warming.

Alternative places

As a matter of fact, there are many places in Papua and West Papua provinces of New Guniea island where tourists can see the beauty of the coral reef environment with much cheaper cost:

Manokwari city and its surrounding islands

It is the capital of West Papua province. It is located in the bird's head region of the New Guinea island. There are three islands in the Dorey bay where Manokwari is located. They are Mansinam, Lemon, and Raimuti. In the north coast of Manokwari regency, there is also another island named Kaki. The coral reef in these islands are beautiful too. Tourists who want to go snorkeling over the coral reef can go there by public transportation and water taxi to the islands. As a tourist guide, I have been guiding a lot of tourists to these islands. The cost that they spent for snorkeling was much cheaper.

Also read my other article: The coral reef of Mansinam island

Numfor island

Beside Manokwari and its islands, another island which I recommend to tourists is Numfor island. The spelling can be Noemfoor or Numfoor. It is located between Manokwari and Biak. It takes 5 hours by ferry boat from Manokwari city to reach Numfor. Last October, I brought some Dutch tourists to this beautiful tropical island to watch birds and to snorkel around one of its islet, the Manem islet. I was amazed by the underwater beauty of the coral reef at the sourthern coast of Manem.

Read my article: Traveling to Numfor island and snorkeling over the coral reef of Manem islet

If you are interested in snorkeling around the coral reef of Manokwari and Numfor island, please contact me - Charles Roring - via my email: peace4wp@gmail.com. I'll be happy to arrange your trip and guide you around the area. I hope that you will enjoy your trip in papua.