Before returning back to the States

As our time on board was drawing to a close, we began cruising south. We would continue diving everyday, up to the last day, seeing and experiencing the most of what makes Raja Ampat such a mecca for serious scuba divers from around the world.

Exploring the reef structures revealed more surprises in the coral shapes and textures. Fish and shell-less marine life varied from the sublime to the ornate. An amazing display of our Creator's imagination was present in every underwater setting.

Jorunna funebris, commonly called the dotted or "Oreo" nudibranch, is a species of sea slug. It is a dorid nudibranch, which is a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Discodorididae, which feed on a variety of sponges.

The robust ghost pipefish (Solenostomus cyanopterus), also known as the blue-finned ghost pipefish, Racek's ghost pipefish, robust-snouted ghost pipefish, or the squaretail ghost-pipefish, is a species of false pipefish belonging to the family Solenostomidae. Its appearance can vary greatly due to its ability to change colors over several hours, but the general body shape and fin shapes allow it to mimic a piece of seagrass.

Our last night aboard, before heading back into port, was spent up on the sun deck. The ship's captain and members of the crew serenaded us with local music as we enjoyed an amazing buffet dinner, prepared by the onboard chef, that we enjoyed under the evening canopy. Some of our group's bolder members even climbed up the ratlines of the mast aloft for a more dramatic view below.

Captain Arisman on guitar and Boat Engineer and lead vocal Saldi, provided the tunes.

Chef Burhan and Chef's Helper Kipli put on an extensive spread and variety of delicious foods to enjoy during our outdoor buffet.

Saturday January 18 morning eventually arrived and we got in two final morning dives before the three to four hour trip across the channel back to Sorong. The crew washed all our dive gear down with fresh water and hung up everything to dry for us. We used the travel time to re-pack our clothing, take one more short nap or hang out together and re-live the week. Once we dropped anchor in the Sorong harbor, the return to the marina commenced in earnest.

A final farewell cheer was rendered by the crew and we returned the gesture from the dinghies as we motored away.

One last look the lovely lady, Jelajahi Laut, a beautiful Phinisi-style boat constructed in 2021.

For centuries, the Phinisi yachts, also called Sulawesi Schooners, have been cruising throughout the Indonesian archipelago. The Phinisi reflects a rich maritime heritage that has been an integral part of Indonesia’s culture and history. Phinisis are made from tropical ironwood and teak. Their design includes a distinctive curved stern and bow. Phinisis are highly valued for their aesthetic qualities. The boats are often adorned with intricate carvings and brightly painted motifs, which reflect the individual style and personality of the owner.

We arrived at the dock and waited for our luggage to come from the boat. While waiting, we met the four drivers who would take us to the Aston Hotel for our remaining days before flying home.

One last look from the dock shows the numerous vessels tied up in this busy harbor.