Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. If you travel from Sorong to Raja Ampat by fast ferry and arrive at Waisai Harbor, we can pick you up and transfer you directly to your accommodation or to Olin Dive Center. Please note that our complimentary harbor pick-up service is offered exclusively for guests who have booked their accommodation directly through Olin Dive Center. Kindly share your ferry schedule and expected arrival time with us in advance so our ground team can welcome you at the pier seamlessly.

Yes. We can arrange airport transfers for guests arriving at Domine Eduard Osok Airport in Sorong (SOQ). We can coordinate your private transfer from the airport to the harbor (Pelabuhan Rakyat) and assist with your onward journey to Raja Ampat. Please send us your flight details in advance so we can arrange the most convenient transfer.

Depending on your itinerary, we can coordinate smooth pick-ups from most transit locations in Sorong and Raja Ampat, including: • Domine Eduard Osok Airport Sorong (SOQ) • Hotels in Sorong city • Sorong Harbor (Pelabuhan Rakyat) • Waisai Harbor pier • Hotels and homestays in Raja Ampat • Other agreed meeting points The exact pick-up arrangement depends on your accommodation, arrival time, and transportation schedule. For real-time arrangements, custom pick-up inquiries, and instant coordination, we invite you to contact us directly via WhatsApp (+62 822 3273 8811).

Yes. We can help coordinate your entire journey from Sorong to Raja Ampat, connecting transportation between the airport, harbor, and your accommodation. Boat schedules and seat availability may change, so we recommend arranging your transportation well in advance. In addition to the daily fast ferries, Olin Dive Center also offers private charter speedboat transfers between Sorong and Raja Ampat for travelers seeking direct, personalized, and flexible crossings. Guests can inquire about charter rates and boat availability directly via WhatsApp (+62 822 3273 8811).

Yes. We can assist with Express Bahari fast ferry or local boat ticket arrangements as part of your travel planning. Local boat schedules may change because of weather, operational reasons, or other circumstances. We therefore recommend providing your flight and accommodation details as early as possible so we can secure your seats smoothly.

Yes. We can help arrange inter-island transportation if you are moving between islands or changing homestays. Depending on your itinerary, transportation may be by local public boat or private boat transfer. We recommend giving us advance notice so we can coordinate availability and timing. If you join one of our excursions, we may also be able to drop you directly at your accommodation after the trip, provided it is along our planned route or in an area we are passing through. This drop-off is subject to the day's itinerary, weather, sea conditions, and available time. If your accommodation is outside our route, additional transportation may need to be arranged separately.

Yes. We can assist with finding and arranging accommodation in Raja Ampat. Our accommodation arrangements are specifically focused on partner homestays and resorts that Olin coordinates with directly. Because island homestays in Raja Ampat can often be difficult to reach or coordinate with independently due to remote island locations and limited communication coverage, booking through our verified network ensures reliable communication, confirmed reservations, and smooth boat logistics for your daily diving. We recommend options tailored to your budget, preferred location, comfort level, and diving itinerary, and coordinate all transfers directly with our dive boat departures.

Absolutely. You do not have to stay at the same accommodation as our dive center. We can help coordinate pick-up and drop-off arrangements depending on your location and daily itinerary, provided you stay within our diving area. Please note that if your accommodation is too far away, fewer trips or excursions may be available to you. After an excursion, we may also be able to drop you directly at your accommodation if we are passing through the area. This is subject to the day's route, weather, and sea conditions.

Yes. We can assist with more than diving! Depending on your plans, we can help coordinate airport transfers, ferry and boat transportation, accommodation, conservation card and entry ticket arrangements, and diving activities to make your trip easier to organize.

We recommend booking as early as possible, particularly during busy travel periods. Early booking gives us more flexibility to arrange boats, accommodation, guides, equipment, conservation cards, entry tickets, and dive schedules according to your preferences.

Yes. Visitors to Raja Ampat are generally required to purchase a Raja Ampat conservation card and entry ticket before visiting the region. These fees support the protection and conservation of Raja Ampat's marine and natural environment. Applicable fees and requirements may change according to local regulations.

Yes. We can help arrange your Raja Ampat conservation card and entry ticket before your arrival. Arranging these through us can save you time and help you avoid unnecessary queues at the entry point. We will explain the required information and include the applicable cost in your trip arrangements. Please contact us in advance so we can make sure everything is prepared before you travel.

Yes. Raja Ampat has dive sites suitable for beginners as well as experienced divers. We select dive sites based on your certification, experience, comfort level, weather, visibility, currents, and conditions on the day. Our goal is to make sure every diver enjoys Raja Ampat safely and comfortably.

Raja Ampat is known for its tidal currents, and some dive sites can experience moderate to strong currents. However, current strength varies depending on the location, tide, weather, and conditions on the day. Not every dive involves strong currents. We choose dive sites according to your experience and the conditions we expect.

Not necessarily. There is no single certification requirement that applies to every dive site in Raja Ampat. The appropriate level depends on the individual dive site, conditions, depth, and your experience. Some sites are suitable for Open Water divers, while more challenging sites may require greater experience and stronger current-management skills. Our guides assess the conditions and your experience before each dive.

A special certification is not automatically required to dive in Raja Ampat. However, for dives involving stronger currents, experience, buoyancy control, situational awareness, and confidence in current conditions are extremely important. We will discuss the dive conditions during the briefing and select a suitable site for your experience level.

Raja Ampat is famous for its extraordinary marine biodiversity. Depending on the dive site and conditions, you may encounter: Manta rays, reef sharks, turtles, wobbegong sharks, schooling fish, barracuda, tuna, giant trevally, colorful reef fish, pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, soft corals, and spectacular coral reefs. Marine life is wild and unpredictable, so sightings cannot be guaranteed. Our guides use their local knowledge and the conditions on the day to choose the best possible dive sites.

Every dive site in Raja Ampat has its own character. Some sites are famous for manta rays, while others are known for schooling fish, sharks, dramatic coral gardens, macro life, or extensive coral-covered reefs. Rather than following exactly the same itinerary every day, we consider: weather + tide + current + visibility + marine life activity + diver experience before selecting the day's dive sites.

Raja Ampat is one of the world's best-known destinations for manta encounters. Mantas can be seen at several sites around the region, although sightings are never guaranteed. If manta rays are one of your main priorities, let us know before your trip. We can then plan your diving accordingly, subject to current conditions and site availability.

Dugongs are wild animals, and sightings are rare and never guaranteed. There are areas of Raja Ampat where dugongs are known to occur. Their presence depends on location, season, tides, weather, and other natural conditions. If seeing a dugong is one of your priorities, please tell us before your trip so we can advise you about the most appropriate itinerary.

No. We never guarantee sightings of wild marine animals. What we can guarantee is that our team will use our local knowledge and the conditions of the day to select the most suitable dive sites and give you the best possible opportunity for encounters.

Yes. We have dive sites that can be suitable for less experienced divers, depending on the conditions. When you book with us, please tell us your certification level, number of logged dives, and recent diving experience. This allows our team to select appropriate sites and diving conditions for you.

No. Raja Ampat can be enjoyed by divers with different levels of experience. The most important thing is to be honest about your current experience and comfort level. We will help match you with dive sites that are appropriate for your ability and the conditions.

Please let us know. Depending on how long it has been since your last dive and your experience level, we may recommend a refresher or check dive before you join more challenging dives. This is not about judging your ability. It is about making sure you are comfortable, confident, and prepared before entering the water.

Raja Ampat offers magnificent diving year-round with water temperatures holding steady at 28–29°C. The peak season runs from October to April when seas are flattest and manta ray cleaning station activity is at its highest. May to September still provides fantastic diving with fewer boats and quiet dive sites.

We offer diving education and certification programs through our professional diving agency. Depending on your experience, this may include beginner, advanced, specialty, and rescue-level training. Please contact us with your current certification and goals so we can recommend the most appropriate course.

A diving course combines knowledge development, practical skills, and open-water training, depending on the certification level. You may learn and practise: • Diving theory and safety • Equipment setup and use • Buoyancy control • Underwater communication • Navigation • Dive planning • Emergency procedures • Problem management • Specific specialty skills • Real-world diving experience Our instructors focus on helping you understand why you are performing each skill, rather than simply completing a checklist.

The Advanced Open Water course is designed to help certified divers expand their skills and gain experience through Adventure Dives. The program includes five Adventure Dives, including deep diving and underwater navigation, plus additional Adventure Dives selected according to the course requirements and available options.

The Rescue Diver course focuses on becoming more aware of other divers and learning how to recognize and respond to diver problems and emergencies. Training includes rescue scenarios, problem-solving, emergency response, and developing the ability to manage stressful situations in the water and at the surface.

Course duration depends on the certification and the student's progress. Some courses can be completed within a few days, while higher-level or professional courses require more time. We do not believe in rushing students simply to finish within a fixed number of days. You must demonstrate the required knowledge and skills before certification.

After successfully completing the required training and meeting the relevant standards, you will receive your official certification from the relevant diving agency. Depending on the course, this may also include digital learning materials, certification processing, and other course materials. The exact inclusions depend on the course you choose.

Course inclusions vary by program. Depending on the course, the package may include: • Instructor • Training dives • Tanks • Weights • Scuba equipment • Course materials or eLearning • Certification processing Items such as accommodation, meals, transportation, marine park or conservation fees, entry tickets, or additional training requirements may be handled separately, depending on the course. We will provide a clear breakdown before you confirm your booking.

It depends on the course. Beginner courses such as Open Water do not require previous scuba certification, while advanced and professional courses have specific prerequisites. Please send us your current certification and number of logged dives, and we can advise you which course is appropriate.

Yes, in many cases. If you started a course elsewhere and could not complete it, send us your previous course information and training records. We can review what you have already completed and determine the appropriate way to continue your training according to the certification agency's standards.

Yes. Raja Ampat is a great place to combine diving education with real diving experience. Where possible, we can structure your course around your travel schedule while still allowing enough time to complete all required training properly.

Your safety and proper training come first. If you need additional time or training to meet the required standard, our instructor will discuss the situation with you and explain the available options. Additional training may require extra time or fees, depending on the circumstances and the course.

Safety is one of our highest priorities. Our dive boats carry essential safety and emergency equipment, which includes: • First-aid equipment and trauma supplies • Medical emergency oxygen units • Life jackets for all passengers and crew • Marine communication equipment (VHF marine radios) • Navigation equipment (GPS and compass) • Diving and surface rescue equipment (life buoys, rescue ropes) Equipment may vary depending on the boat used for your trip, with all vessels adhering to strict maritime safety protocols.

Yes. Emergency oxygen is carried for diving-related emergencies. Our dive team is familiar with emergency procedures and will respond according to the situation and established safety protocols.

Yes. Our boats carry a first-aid kit for dealing with common injuries and emergencies.

Safety always comes first. If weather, waves, wind, visibility, or currents make a dive unsafe, we may change the dive site, modify the itinerary, postpone a dive, or cancel a dive when necessary. Our team will always try to provide the best possible alternative while keeping guests and crew safe.

Not necessarily. Raja Ampat is a natural environment, and conditions can change. We may change dive sites based on weather, tides, currents, visibility, marine life activity, and diver experience. This flexibility allows us to choose the best and safest option for the day.

Return time depends on the day's itinerary, number of dives, location, weather, sea conditions, and other operational factors. For a typical full-day trip, we generally return in the afternoon, often between 15:00 and 17:00. Please keep your schedule flexible, especially if you have a flight, ferry, or other important transportation later that day.

We recommend bringing: • Swimwear • Towel • Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses) • Drinking water / reusable bottle • Personal medication • Dry clothes • An underwater camera, if desired Please also bring your certification card or digital certification information, where applicable.

Yes. You are welcome to bring your own underwater camera or photography equipment. Please inform our crew if you are bringing larger camera equipment so we can prepare suitable handling and storage arrangements.

Yes. Drinking water is always available on the boat. We recommend bringing your own reusable bottle, which you can refill during the trip.

Yes! All course packages include full gear rental (Mares/Aqualung BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins, weights, and tanks). For fun diving, gear rental is either included in package tiers or available for a modest daily fee.

Yes. You are welcome to bring your own equipment. Please tell us which equipment you are bringing when making your booking so we can arrange your equipment package correctly.

Yes. We offer a discount for guests who bring their own diving equipment. Please ask our office staff about the applicable discount. Send us your equipment list before your trip so we can confirm the discount and prepare your booking correctly.

Yes. Rental equipment is available depending on the equipment required and its availability. A typical full set includes: • BCD • Regulator • Mask & snorkel • Fins • Exposure protection (wetsuit) • Weights & weight belt A dive computer is available as an optional add-on for IDR 250,000 / day. Please let us know your sizes in advance so we can prepare your equipment properly.

Yes. We offer private diving trips for individuals, couples, families, and groups. Private trips provide greater flexibility regarding dive sites, schedule, pace, and itinerary, subject to weather, tides, currents, and site suitability.

Yes. You are welcome to tell us which sites you would particularly like to visit. However, the final selection depends on weather, tides, currents, visibility, marine conditions, diver experience, and the preferences of the majority of divers in the group. We believe the best itinerary combines your preferences with the conditions Raja Ampat offers on that particular day.

We strongly recommend having travel and dive insurance that specifically covers scuba diving and emergency medical treatment. Please check your policy before travelling to Raja Ampat and make sure the coverage is appropriate for your planned activities. We can also help you arrange diving insurance through the DAN community.

For individual divers, cancellations made at least one day before the scheduled trip are free of charge. If you cancel on the same day or on the morning of the scheduled trip, a 20% cancellation fee will be charged. This cancellation policy does not apply to group divers. Different cancellation terms may apply to group bookings and will be communicated before the booking is confirmed. For accommodation and transportation arranged through third parties, their own cancellation policies may also apply.

Please contact us as soon as possible if your flight is delayed or changed. We will do our best to adjust your airport transfer, ferry or boat connection, and diving schedule where possible. However, changes to transportation may be subject to availability and additional costs.

We offer several convenient payment options for international guests. You can pay using: • Cash • Bank transfer • Wise • Revolut • Card payment through our EDC machine Please contact us for payment details and the best payment method for your booking.

Yes. We have an EDC card machine available for card payments, including on our dive boat when a connection is available. Because mobile network and payment connectivity can vary at sea, we recommend having an alternative payment method available for your trip.

Yes. We accept payments through Wise. This is often a convenient option for international guests. Payment instructions will be provided during the booking process.

Yes. We accept payments through Revolut. Please contact us for the appropriate payment details when making your booking.

Yes. Cash payment can be arranged depending on the service and booking. Please let us know in advance if you plan to pay mainly in cash so we can advise you on the best arrangement.

A deposit may be required, depending on the type of booking. Your booking is considered confirmed once the required payment or deposit has been received and confirmed by our team. The exact amount and payment deadline will be communicated before confirmation.

Depending on your itinerary, additional costs may apply for services such as: • Transportation • Accommodation • Marine park or conservation fees • Raja Ampat conservation card and entry ticket • Equipment rental • Additional dives • Private boat arrangements • Special requests We aim to be transparent about additional costs and will inform you before confirming any service.

Yes, carrying Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) cash is strongly advised. While Olin Dive accepts bank transfers and cards (+3% processing fee), local homestays, small island cafes, and port markets in Raja Ampat only accept IDR cash. ATMs are available in Waisai town but occasionally run out of cash.

To organize your trip smoothly, we may ask for: • Full name • Certification level • Number of logged dives • Recent diving experience • Flight details • Accommodation details • Equipment requirements • Emergency contact details • Dietary or special requirements • Information required for your conservation card and entry ticket Providing this information early helps us prepare your trip properly and arrange your entry requirements in advance.

Please tell us before your arrival. Whether your requirements relate to dietary needs, equipment size, mobility, transportation, accommodation, or diving experience, we will do our best to accommodate them where possible.

Please be honest about your certification, number of logged dives, most recent dive, and comfort level in currents. This information helps our instructors and guides select suitable dive sites and plan your dives safely.

Because Raja Ampat is a natural environment. Rather than following a fixed itinerary regardless of conditions, we adapt our diving according to the ocean, tides, weather, visibility, currents, and marine life. This flexibility is an important part of responsible diving in Raja Ampat.

At Olin Dive Center, we believe diving should be far more than simply checking dive sites off a list. Our team combines deep local knowledge, uncompromising safety standards, personalized small-group guiding, and a genuine passion for Raja Ampat to create an experience that is comfortable, memorable, and responsible. Whether you are a first-time diver, an experienced underwater photographer, or a diver continuing your professional education, we aim to make your time underwater in Raja Ampat something you will remember long after you leave. Central to our approach is our strict marine life protection policy: no touching or chasing marine animals, and maintaining a respectful, safe distance at all times to protect Raja Ampat's delicate ecosystem.