The Kri Eco Resort, built in 1994, was the first dive resort opened in Raja Ampat and is tradionally designed and constructed of local materials, using local craftsmen. Located in the legendary Dampier Strait, you will enjoy a range of fantastic dive sites right on your doorstep. Nitrox is free for EANx-certified divers and with the unlimited scuba package, you can spend as much time below the surface as your heart desires!
There are 12 Water Cottages built over the shallows. You can watch baby blacktip reef sharks patrol the shallows from your balcony. The simple dining area and lounge are also built out over the water so your thoughts are never far from the sea. There is a free laundry service and free WiFi in the lounge and in the cottages if you need to stay in touch with the 'real world'. There is also a computer for you to check your latest images of the underwater holiday haven that is Raja Ampat.
Kri Eco Resort is not an experience in pampered luxury but experiences such as being awoken by native Papuan bird song, admiring the tree kangaroos, or relaxing on the sun deck in the middle of this natural paradise are priceless. Knowing that the local staff consist of former shark-finning fisherman, turned guardians of the local marine environment, is another valuable thought. To get close to nature and dive one of the world's finest regions without hurting your pocket, Kri Eco Resort is a great choice.
Destinations:
The Kri islands and northern Raja Ampat (Diving environment: wall diving, drift diving, caverns, healthy reefs, advanced divers, off the beaten track; Highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/marine diversity, schooling fish/big pelagics).
No diving on days of arrival and departure.
Resort diving includes:
Dives (as detailed in the packages above), unlimited self-guided dives from the jetty (07:00-21:00 hrs on diving days), night dive (within 10 km radius of the resort), nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers, boat rides to sites, experienced English-speaking divemaster (maximum 4 divers per DM), tanks, weights and weightbelts, drinking water, hot drinks, snacks. Diving excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own):Dive insurance, scuba equipment (incl, dive computer: US$ 51 per day), Raja Ampat marine park fee (US$ 62 per year). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card). Optional extras:
Extra dives, torch, 15 litre tank. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased on site are subject to change.
Resort accommodation includes:
Bed, breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinking water, hot drinks, snacks, internet access, laundry service, scheduled Sunday and mid-week transfers (only included for packages of at least 7 nights), VAT on package prices. Accommodation excludes (mandatory):
Transfers other than those mentioned as included, single supplement (optional) on single travellers only, payable in advance. Single Supplement:
This is a compulsory additional charge on single travellers for the sole occupancy of double/twin accommodation. Optional extras:
Soft drinks, alcoholic drinks. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.
How to get there:
Kri Eco Resort is located on Kri Island, 75 km northwest off the coast of West Papua. The accommodation offers complimentary return boat transfers for Sunday arrivals (7, 10 and 21 night packages) from Sorong airport, West Papua. Complimentary transfers are also available for Thursday arrivals (10 and 17 nights stay). The journey takes about 2 hours by speedboat from Sorong at 9:30 am (arrive no later than 8:30 am). Return back to mainland arrives in Sorong at 9 am (arrange flight no earlier than 10:30 am)
Scheduled Sunday transfer for stays less than 7 nights (US$ 99 per person per way). Non-scheduled transfer boat charter from/to Sorong (rental fee can be shared between guests) (US$ 1,040 per way).
Scheduled arrival /departure day is Sunday (for weekly packages), and is Sun-Wed or Thu-Sun (for 10 & 17 days packages).
You can fly directly to Sorong from Bali or Jakarta. We recommend Sriwijaya Air SJ-598/570 departing Jakarta ~12:30 am arriving Sorong ~7:45 am; no overnight transit is necessary. Note that special private transfers can be arranged for arrival and departure from Monday to Friday at an additional cost. Please ask us for more details. For more information (including airlines) see our West Papua travel information section.
Dive clubs and group discounts:
Pay for 8+ guests and 1 extra person can join free of charge.
The cottages, dining area and lounge are all constructed on stilts above the shallow waters of the Dampier Strait, so you are never far from the gentle sound of water lapping against the shore. There are 2 Papuan water cottages along the main jetty, and 5 Superior and 5 Deluxe water cottages along the beach.
The Papuan cottages are twin bed (can be pushed together and used as a double bed) and have shared bathrooms with a western toilet and shower, and 'mandi' facilities (dip and dunk showers, which are warm after night dives).
The Superior cottages have twin or double beds and share a shower and separate toilet a few meters behind the cottages and between each 2.
The Deluxe cottages enjoy private Western style bathrooms and have king-size double beds and a single sofa bed.
All Cape Kri's cottages have:
Ceiling fans
Private bathroom with hot water shower (Deluxe only)
The diving focusses on sites around the magnificent Dampier Strait, a region of Raja Ampat so good that liveaboards travel hundreds of miles for a day or so at the sites that are right on Kri Eco Resort's doorstep. There are 30 or so sites within a 10 km radius of Kri, including Cape Kri, Sardines, Manta Sandy, Blue Magic and Mios Kon. Trips to more distant dive sites can be arranged at additional cost if requested.
The regular scuba day sees 2 morning dives (with the boat returning to the resort in between), followed by an afternoon dive and an optional sunset or night dive. The unlimited diving package means that on Saturdays (when guides take a rest from diving) you can explore the extraordinary house reef to your heart's content.
The small twin 40 HP engine eco-catamarans and faster speed boats (used for the further sites) are made locally from fibreglass. They carry up to 6 divers, with a skipper and 2 dive staff. There is equipment storage space, ladders, shade and Wenoll oxygen kits on each boat. Daily excursions leave between 7-8:00 am. Lunch (full day trips) or snacks (half day trips), and drinking water are provided on each trip.
The resort dive facilities include complimentary enriched air nitrox, jetty shower, equipment storage, camera table & rinse tank, 12 litre tanks, emergency oxygen and a first aid pack. All your scuba gear is washed by the staff and stored in the equipment room. There's no need for guests to do much at all except to enjoy the incredible diving of Raja Ampat.
Facilities at the resort include blue skies, pristine reefs bustling with diverse marine life, gentle breezes, warm Papuan smiles and beautiful sunsets. Raja Ampat generally, and Kri Eco Resort in particular, are meant for serious divers and nature-lovers since the majority of what might be called facilities come courtesy of the wonder of nature in this unique setting... But there is WiFi in the rooms and lounge area.
Resort facilities include: Dining hall - Lounge with comprehensive book library and water dispenser - Guest computer & free wi-fi internet - Complimentary laundry service - Souvenir shop
Location: Kri Island, Northern Raja Ampat, West Papua Province, Indonesia
Meals are buffet-style and served in the dining area built out over the water. You can expect Indonesian dishes such as gado-gado, as well as international favourites including dishes based on rice, pasta, seafood, soup and salad. We strongly advise you send advance notice of your dietary requirements for this particularly remote holiday diving destination.
Beer and soft drinks are available for purchase while tea coffee, fruits and cookies are available throughout the day.
Dining begins with a cooked breakfast each day including eggs, toast, fresh fruit, tea and coffee, as well as some interesting Indonesian fare.
The nearest hospital and hyperbaric chamber is in Waisai, about a 1 hour boat ride's distance away. Dive insurance is mandatory.
The dive boats have an emergency first aid kit including oxygen, toolkit and a few spares, GPS, flares, VHF radio and mobile phone. 1 guide is provided for every 3 divers. The resort has emergency Wenoll oxygen kits and a medic first aid pack. There is access to a satellite telephone for emergency use only.
Kri Eco Resort has a safety box in reception available for guest use and there is a police station 50 minutes away.