The questions people actually ask

We recommend a minimum of 4–5 weeks if you need dive training, since that takes the first one to two weeks, with reef check science training following straight on, meaning it's really week three or four onwards where you get into full survey diving and community work. If you're already a qualified diver, our shorter 2–3 week option is available in limited numbers (see the Expeditions section above). You can also extend week to week once on site, and the longer you stay, the cheaper it gets per week.

Expeditions run year round, starting roughly every four weeks. Dive trainees and already qualified divers sometimes have different start dates, so check current dates when booking.

Please send us your international and domestic flight details, your travel and dive insurance policy, your completed PADI medical form, a completed PADI liability form, and (if you're already a qualified diver) a copy of your certification card. The sooner these are in, the smoother your arrival.

A £200 deposit is required to secure your place and is not refundable in all circumstances. Cancel within 4 weeks of your start date and there's no refund; earlier cancellations are handled case by case. Once you've joined the project, there's no refund for leaving early. We strongly recommend trip cancellation insurance. Please read our full Terms & Conditions, especially the cancellation section, before booking.

See the Expeditions section above for headline costs. Included: accommodation, three meals a day, all dive training up to Advanced Open Water, tanks/weights/air, science training, all survey and fun dives (up to 12/week when possible), a free EFR training (PADI course fees still apply), transfers from Sorong ferry port to basecamp, 24hr field support, and full community project involvement. Not included: flights, in transit accommodation, visas, park/tourism fees, insurance, PADI manuals/certification, personal dive gear, extra courses, and personal spending money.

The bulk covers the day to day running of the project: food, accommodation, fuel, local wages. The rest funds community projects directly: school books, medical supplies, renovation materials, teacher and science staff wages, and support for local university students conducting research with us. We're big on transparency, you'll see exactly where it goes.

Not for the essentials, but budget for the odd treat. On site, expect to spend around 500,000 to 750,000 IDR a week (roughly £25 to £38) depending on how much beer, soft drinks, and snacks from the village shop you get through, plus laundry (around 100,000 IDR a load). Before you arrive, also budget roughly £185 for in transit costs (transfers, meals and a night's hotel in Sorong). See the Dive Training section for optional course pricing.

No, there's no ATM on the island, so bring enough cash for your stay (including settling any outstanding balance). The nearest ATMs are in Sorong at the airport or hotels.

Yes, and it's worth budgeting for. You'll need around 1,000,000 IDR cash for the Raja Ampat Tourism ticket, purchased in Waisai on arrival (we'll help you with this), plus a 1,000,000 IDR Marine Park tag fee paid to BLUD, the body that manages the marine park; this can be paid online in advance at kkprajaampat.com/marine-park-fees/. Neither fee is included in your expedition cost.

Fly into Jakarta, then book a domestic flight to Sorong (airport code SOQ) on an airline like Lion Air, AirAsia, Batik Air or Garuda. Domestic flights in Indonesia can be unreliable, so we recommend arriving in Sorong the day before your expedition start date. On the morning your expedition begins, you'll be collected at 8am from the Fave Hotel lobby near Sorong airport. We're happy to advise on flights, and a site like Skyscanner is a good way to compare options.

From the Sorong meeting point, you'll be taken to the ferry terminal for the crossing to Waisai (around 2 hours), and from there it's a final boat ride to our basecamp on Arborek Island. A taxi from Sorong airport to the meeting hotel typically costs between 50,000 and 100,000 IDR, and the ferry costs around 140,000 IDR. Full timings and meeting point details are confirmed closer to your departure date.

Yes. Two main options: a Visa on Arrival (VOA), which costs around US$35 if you're staying more than 30 days and is easily obtained on arrival (or in advance as an eVOA via Indonesia's official immigration website), and covers 30 days extendable once for a further 30. Or a B211a 60 day tourist eVisa, arranged in advance (we can put you in touch with a visa agent), which is extendable twice for up to 6 months total in Indonesia and typically takes 5 to 7 working days to process once you have all paperwork ready. If your start date is far off, it's best to sort your visa closer to departure, as regulations can change. If you extend your visa while you're with us, the extension is done in person at the immigration office — you'll need to organise the trip and cover the costs yourself, and any project days missed for a visa extension are your own responsibility. Talk to us and we'll point you in the right direction.

Both travel insurance (covering cancellations) and scuba diving insurance covering you for the full expedition, diving to 30m, medical evacuation and decompression chamber treatment. This is not negotiable, you won't be allowed to join without it. We recommend Divers Alert Network (DAN), who offer a good combined package.

Since our island doesn't have an official postal address, put the name and address of your hotel in Sorong on any immigration cards or forms — using an address elsewhere (such as Bali) can cause problems when you come to extend your visa. We'll confirm the exact details closer to your trip.

No. Most volunteers arrive as complete beginners and are trained up in week one.

BCD, regulator, mask, snorkel, wetsuit, fins, dive boots, dive slate, dive computer, reef hook, torch and delayed SMB. Tank, weights and weight belt are provided. Most other gear can be rented on site (see Dive Training section for costs); just flag it when booking, as availability isn't guaranteed on arrival. Note that dive torches can no longer be rented, so this one you'll need to bring yourself.

Safety is the top priority: conservative, survey specific dive profiles, experienced local boat crews who know the currents, on site medical kit (oxygen, first aid, AED).

No problem. Equivalent qualifications from other agencies (to PADI Advanced Open Water level) are accepted.

Two dives a day when conditions allow, Monday–Friday for surveys, Saturday for fun dives, Sunday off entirely. Night dives roughly every 1–2 weeks. There's no guaranteed dive count: weather, tides and community events can affect the schedule, and safety always comes first.

Yes. Rescue Diver and Divemaster are both available on site. See the Dive Training section above for costs and recommended timings.

Classroom sessions and in water dives teaching fish, coral and invertebrate ID, followed by written and in water tests in fish and substrate ID. The training covers all our science programmes, depending on your length of stay. You must pass your dive tests (Open Water and Advanced Open Water) and your science tests before joining survey dives, because accuracy matters: this data goes to real decision makers.

If you're doing PADI training with us, get started on your eLearning theory and knowledge reviews as early as you can. For science training, we'll send you our species slides and Reef Check fish and substrate lists in advance; a thorough read before you land will make passing your tests, and getting onto survey dives, much faster.

In between dives, there are opportunities to get involved in community activities: teaching English at the local school, beach clean-ups, and environmental education and youth engagement activities. Projects are designed with Arborek's government, elders and community groups — never imposed on them.

We'll send you a full kit list before you travel, but a few essentials are easy to forget: your own dive torch (we no longer rent these, and you'll want one for the night dive at Arborek jetty), a delayed SMB and reef hook, and the health items listed above. Bring cash too. See "Will there be a cash machine?" below.

27–30°C year round. Hot and muggy on the coast, but the basecamp gets a nice cooling breeze. Wettest around September, though showers are usually short.

Yes, to a point. Telkomsel is the only network with coverage, and there's a mobile tower on Arborek giving decent 4G for calls, texts and basic internet. Buy a Telkomsel SIM in Jakarta, Sorong or Waisai; you'll need to register your phone for it to work, which our team can help with. No phones during science/dive lectures or community project time though. Power sockets on site are the two round pin type, the same as continental Europe.

Not freely, for safety and logistical reasons, but occasional trips to Waisai can usually be arranged (especially on Wednesday supply runs). If you want to leave the project early, our cancellation policy applies. See Terms & Conditions.

Our onsite team, especially in your first week while you're settling in. They can resolve the vast majority of issues on the spot, much faster than head office can from a distance. If something's wrong and we don't know about it, we can't help fix it, so please speak up early.

See your doctor 4–8 weeks before travel for the vaccinations they recommend, plus general malaria precautions (avoid Lariam/mefloquine, as side effects can mimic decompression sickness).

The tropics are wonderful but unforgiving on small wounds, so pack plenty of plasters, antibiotic cream and antibiotic ear drops (ear infections are common if ears aren't rinsed with fresh water after diving). Wearing sandals or flip flops around basecamp helps avoid the small cuts that can get infected easily in this climate. Bring a strong mosquito repellent (DEET based) plus long sleeves and trousers for evenings; all beds have mosquito nets. Medical talcum powder is also handy for staying dry and avoiding rashes after a full day of diving. Our onsite team will walk you through our full health guidance on arrival.