The morning onboard National Geographic Orion was filled with interesting presentations from Naturalist Heather and Certified Photo Instructor Mike Nolan. Then we made our way to the incredible home of the Asmat people.
The afternoon was truly an incredible experience. Once we were cleared into the beautiful country of Indonesia, we boarded our trusty Zodiacs and made our way to the Asmat village. Waiting to welcome us were their strongest warriors at the mouth of the river. It was a very special day.
Born in Zimbabwe, Ross grew up between a 45000-acre Game Ranch and the small town of Victoria Falls, which is situated inside of the Victoria Falls National Park. Most of his earliest childhood memories were of the wildlife that was always on his doo...
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Today, we ventured to the remote uninhabited island of Pulau Tumbutumbu on the outer edge of Triton Bay. In true expedition style, Expedition Leader Lisle adjusted the plans based on what we discovered upon arrival. It was an exhilarating mix of discovery and spontaneity! Some of us snorkelled in the crystal-clear waters, swimming alongside schools of humphead parrotfish, giant clams, and the majestic Napoleon wrasse. Others chose to explore the island, kayak, paddleboard, or even take a ride in the glass-bottom Zodiac. The island’s peaceful, untouched atmosphere made the experience feel like a real adventure. Staying flexible and going with the flow definitely paid off today! After a refreshing lunch, Naturalist Heather gave an intriguing presentation about jellyfish, one of the most remarkable creatures on earth. The afternoon continued with tea in the lounge and a cultural session with Navigator Uncle Tua, who introduced the rich traditions of voyaging and navigation. This unforgettable day of discovery combined adventure, education, and relaxation amidst the stunning beauty of West Papua. Kia Orana!
This morning, we began our day earlier than usual with the hope of seeing the illusive birds of paradise, so we left the ship at 4:00am. After boarding the Zodiacs, we landed at the small community of Waigeo. From here, the buses took us to the base of the primary rainforest where we began our hike to the display and performance area. It was a challenging walk in low light and wet conditions, but we had many sightings which made it enjoyable, including snakes, frogs, and millipedes. Once at the hide, we all got an opportunity to see the dances and even a glimpse of a mating pair. After lunch we ventured out to another fantastic reef. Once again, Raja Ampat did not disappoint. All in all, it was another fantastic day along the coast of West Papua.
Today we awoke at sea as we ventured ever closer to the renowned Raja Ampat Archipelago. We started the day off with two presentations. Firstly, Heather delivered her talk on symbiosis followed by Adam’s talk on sharks. Soon after, we arrived at our site for the afternoon. Once lunch was finished, we boarded Zodiacs and made the short transit across to the limestone cliffs which were fringed in coral. As soon as our masks hit the water it was clear we were in for a treat. There were a myriad of different fish species and healthy coral colonies as far as the eye could see. We spent two hours in the water before returning to the mothership to steam across to our next location.