Meridian Adventures : Why Raja Ampat is changing the way Scuba Divers Dive
Indonesia, 1st December, 2020 - Raja Ampat, Indonesia is the epicenter of the planet’s richest marine biodiversity and is host to over 80% of all the world’s coral species. Photos and videos do not do Raja Ampat’s vast underwater paradise justice.
While some of the world’s rarest sightings make their way through the cyan color nuances of water, the reef is boundlessly alive and continually in motion with tiny fish scampering across the tops of soft corals, weaving along with the current in this untouched jewel of a dive destination.
A few words describe diving in Raja Ampat - INCOMPARABLE, AMAZING, EXCEPTIONAL, INCREDIBLE, EXTRAORDINARY, BREATHTAKING!!
A different type of scuba diver
Raja Ampat is drawing a different kind of diver, one that invests in diving to make a difference. This MAD bunch of divers are serious about doing their research on the type of dive operators and resorts that they book – realizing that the crowded sites of the Great Barrier Reef, where you are more likely to bump into another diver or smelly dive boat than an epaulette walking shark, is not worth repeating.
The different ways Raja Ampat scuba divers are doing it right
Anchoring yourself at a resort instead of a liveaboard has become more appealing and popular with divers who visit Raja Ampat.
One such example is Meridian Adventure Dive Resort’s first-of its kind eco-conscious, customized, low-emission dive boats and tenders that will get any tech junkie and reef lover giddy Our boats include reef radars, chart plotters and no anti-fouling which enables scuba divers to visit a vast amount of dive sites in hours instead of days.
Our dive boats do not anchor near dive sites as anchors can cause considerable damage to the coral reefs, which are slow growing and can take years to recover fully.
After an eventful day of visiting dive sites with zero footprint, exploring mangrove channels and reefs, watching out for stingrays, manatees and even saltwater crocodiles, take a dip in the pool with a freshly made cocktail and enjoy our modern bare-foot luxury resort.
The difference scuba divers are making in the local community
Investing in local businesses will become key to future tourism, ensuring the people who reap the profit are also custodians of the region – having the prosperity of both the people and the natural area at the heart of everything they do. We are merely visitors to their home and we need to ensure we leave nothing of ourselves behind, whether that be waste, unwanted traffic or damage to their way of living.
How to ensure you are staying where it matters?
Our hotel has been built with low traffic in mind, with only 30 rooms, we’ve never been focused on bringing the masses to Raja Ampat. Small, intimate groups bring forth a more enriching experience and allow us to take you to those unknown hidden dive spots in Raja Ampat, without disrupting the eco-system that surrounds us.
Meridian Adventure has been focused on eco-tourism since its inception in 2017 but has still taken this time during lockdown to reflect on ways to enhance the message, better the ways we work and find more sustainable operations to help our future generations avoid the same mistakes we have made in the past.
About Meridian Adventure Dive Resort:
Situated in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, Meridian Adventure Dive is a PADI 5 Star Resort and winner of the PADI Green Star award. Scuba divers enjoy our professional services that have become synonymous with both the PADI and Meridian Adventure names.
The sweeping spine of Indonesia’s archipelago is an underwater treasure trove, and the Raja Ampat Islands are often- overlooked. Raja Ampat is one of Indonesia’s most captivating diving grounds and is truly a paradise on earth.
Please visit our online platforms:
https://dive.meridianadventures.com/
https://www.facebook.com/meridianadventuresdive