Indonesia opened its borders to tourists just over a month ago, a clear signal to us that it’s finally time to start running our full inventory of Indonesian snorkeling safaris after nearly two years of postponements! First tour up, our Misool Snorkel Week which will start on May 11th and take place at Misool Resort, the world-renowned dive and snorkel resort in the very south of Raja Ampat. This will be our first ever snorkeling safari with Misool and we/I couldn’t be more excited! I was fortunate to be able to spend nearly two weeks with the resort shooting some promotional content for them as well as for Snorkel Venture during the pandemic and after seeing how they operate and all the amazing amenities the resort has on offer, not to mention the world-class snorkeling sitting just beneath everyone’s water villas, I couldn’t wait to run a trip here! Here are ten reasons (I have so many more) why I’m so excited to be leading a trip to Misool Resort this May!
- The Food
Even though it’s arguably one of the most remote snorkeling resorts in Indonesia, the quality, taste, freshness, and presentation of the food is outstanding.
- Wandering the Grounds
Misool Resort is not the typical resort, it’s like no other resort I’ve ever seen. There are secret beaches, cliffs, jungles, lagoons, and blue holes, all of which are within a five-minute walk from your villa. Around every corner is a new jaw-dropping viewpoint.
- Exploring via Paddle-board & Kayak
If you want to explore a bit further afield, Misool Resort has a healthy inventory of kayaks & paddle-boards so you can access the other nearby islands full of their own hidden treasures!
- The Night Sky
The view of the night sky is exquisite from Misool as there is essentially no light pollution to obscure our view of the stars.
- The Rooms
With so many things to do around the resort and in the water, not to mention the fact that I’m working, I rarely spend any time in the rooms. That being said, what little time I do spend in Misool Resort’s accommodation is thoroughly appreciated as the rooms are as unique as the resort grounds.
- The Hive
The Hive is Misool Resorts’ brand new, purpose-built snorkel and dive center/gathering place/chill hub/hot spot. This massive space built right over the water is a sort of Mecca for snorkelers as it’s where we will gear up, store our stuff, meet up for presentations, chat with friends with a stunning view (there’s no shortage of them around the resort) and so much more.
- The House Reef
Honestly, you could spend the entire week snorkeling around Misool resort’s house reef and never run out of things to do. It’s so big with so many different sections you can treat it as multiple reefs or snorkel sites.
- The Other Reefs
As much as I love the house reef, I do love exploring all the other wonderful reefs in the area as each one is very different than the next, with each offering its own unique surprises from manta cleaning stations, stunning soft coral colonies, big schools of fish, to giant overhangs and unique underwater topography.
- Sharks
One thing Misool resort does not have in short supply is black-tip reef sharks. The resort has done so well in its marine conservation efforts the shark population has exploded in the area. There are so many that you’ll see them when you are eating your meals, when you are chilling on your verandah, when you are going for a walk, when you are paddle-boarding and kayaking, and of course when you are snorkeling!
- Old Friends & New Ones
Not to sound overly cheesy, but I’m really most excited to share all of these wonderful things and so many more with all of our snorkeling guests joining this epic trip. I know we have quite a few return guests from previous trips that I’ve led for Snorkel Venture, so I’m so thrilled finally re-connect with all them, while also welcoming all the new snorkeling enthusiasts to ‘the club.’