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Having myriad places to see and stopover is what makes Indonesia a wonderful country to visit. The beauty of its scenic natural landscapes blend with various unique culture of its people. Enjoy the untouched beaches, mountains, lakes, and many more pleasing destinations as well as the magnificent city skylines throughout the country.

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Marit from Misool Eco Resort tells us about their work in marine conservation and the community in the remotely beautiful region of Raja Ampat, Indonesia. An area wit some of the highest marine biodiversity in the world. Marit has been actively involved both before and since the resort was opened in 2005.
Tell Us a bit about your conservation projects in and around Misool Eco Resort and the No Take Zone.
When we started this project in 2005, we knew that Raja Ampat was the centre of marine biodiversity, with more species of fish and coral than anywhere else in the world. But we saw how vulnerable this area was and desperately wanted to protect it.

The original plan was actually to start a conservation centre in Raja Ampat, but we couldn't figure out a way to fund it. Eventually we hit upon the idea to combine sustainable tourism and conservation, and Misool Eco Resort grew out of that dream.

The island, which would eventually become home to Misool Eco Resort, was an itinerant shark finning camp. Fishermen from other parts of Indonesia had removed nearly all the sharks and apex predators, which of course destabilized the entire ecosystem.

We made a contract with the local people for the exclusive right of use for our island as well as the sea and reefs around it, and now the total protected area is 1220 sq km (about twice the size of Singapore). This area is protected by our Ranger Patrol team.

The conservation wing of our project, called Foundation Misool Baseftin (or Yayasan Misool Baseftin in Indonesian), takes a broad approach to marine conservation.
How Important is the Ranger Programme in Implementing your conservation efforts.
The way we see things, the reefs are our business's best assets so we are committed to protecting them. Misool Baseftin administers our No-Take Zones, and our Rangers patrol the NTZs 24 hours a day. We've got a team of 12 Rangers and a fleet of 4 patrol vessels operating between 3 satellite Ranger Stations.

For our guests, the pay off is clear: a marine scientist surveyed fish biomass in 2007 and then again in 2013 and found an average of 250% increase inside our No-Take Zone. The diving is simply spectacular.

For the local people, the benefit is also clear. The Rangers are all local Misool community members. The Patrol is just a vehicle to facilitate the protection of their natural heritage and birthright. And of course, the fish don't know where the boundaries of the No Take Zone are. They swim out towards the villages, increasing the catch for local people.

Furthermore, the resort itself provides employment to upwards of 100 people. This is a very significant contribution to the local economy, which keeps many people employed and decoupled from the extraction of marine resources.
What other NGO's do you work with?
We partner with WildAid, Conservation International, and The Nature Conservancy.
How are you rebuilding existing damage to the reef caused by El Nino events and illegal fishing?
We're rebuilding the reefs by just getting out of the way and letting Mother Nature take care of things. Simply halting all fishing activity has allowed fish stocks to recover at an incredible rate. Just shy of a decade ago, the lagoon was a shark finning camp. Now it is a busy nursery for black tip reef sharks. We regularly see between one and two dozen shark practicing their hunting skills in the shallows, and we see sharks on every dive.
You do a lot within the local community; tell us a bit about these projects.
Another aspect of the work of Foundation Misool Basetfin, in addition to the No-Take Zones, we also have built kindergartens, sponsored local teachers, and most recently, started a community recycling project called 'Bank Sampah.' It's a simple idea that provides an economic incentive for people to dispose of their rubbish properly. This project has now expanded from Misool to the port city of Sorong, where we've collected 70 tons of rubbish in the first 4 months of operation. Exciting times!
How do you feel about the future of conservation in Raja Ampat
The rate at which fish stocks and reefs can recover was truly astounding - they just need a little bit of help in the form of active protection and enforcement. I believe our model is an effective and extremely cost efficient way to do conservation.

That being said, we can never let our guard down. Our protected waters are becoming richer while the surrounding waters continue to be depleted. As that differential increases, the pressure to maintain our vigilance becomes ever more acute.
How can people help support this invaluable work?
There are lots of ways to get involved in supporting this project and protecting the world's richest reefs. Visiting Misool Eco Resort is a simple way to not only experience it yourself, but also to ensure the conservation work continues.

If you'd like to do more, you can donate to our Foundation Misool Baseftin in Indonesia, or through our partner in the US. WildAid is a registered 501(c) 3 charity.

A donation of any size can help:

10 USD buys enough fuel to take our supply boat from our base station at the resort to the Yellit Ranger Station.

300 USD buys enough fuel for one patrol around our No-Take Zones

2000 USD covers our Ranger Patrol's monthly payroll

For more Information www.misoolecoresort.com

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Marit from Misool Eco Resort tells us about their work in marine conservation and the community in the remotely beautiful region of Raja Ampat, Indonesia. An area wit some of the highest marine biodiversity in the world. Marit has been actively involved both before and since the resort was opened in 2005.

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PREVIEW

Looking at the pics, you'd think that this stunningly whimsical over-the-water resort in remotest Indonesia was the work of a major boutique hotel brand. In fact it was built entirely from recycled wood (600 tonnes of it) over a period of years by a group of dedicated and possibly slightly insane dive friends. The resulting property is as magical as it looks - from the wooden water cottages, thoughtfully equipped with crayons and paper for amateur sketching besides all the creature comforts, to the lavish buffets that are served each day in the pavilion restaurant, from which you can watch baby sharks dabbling in the lagoon. Diving and snorkelling is world class.

STAY

Misool Eco Resort's water cottages are connected by wooden walkways - all eight are built over the reef and you can see octopus, sharks, napoleon wrasse and a myriad other coral species without even getting into the water. In addition, there are six larger villas for couples or groups looking for more space and seclusion - they can be accessed by water taxi (always on hand) or by a scenic - but steep walk. All enjoy unique design features and ocean panoramas so epic that you'll find it hard to draw your eyes away from them. The waterside restaurant pavilion is also a gathering ground for guests to swap tales of underwater derring-do - there are tables, daybeds and cushions strewn about to encourage chilling.

PLAY

Diving is obviously the big draw with a fascinating diversity of dive sites within easy reach of the resort, which is smack bang in the middle of a 1220km2 marine protected area. More than 60 of these dive sites are within an hour's speedboat ride. Misool is in the south of Raja Ampat, an area famed for its muyriad colourful soft corals and giant gorgonian fans - these are the kind of coral gardens you see in nature docs, populated with well over 1000 species of marine creature. In fact the 2014 IMAX movie Journey to the South Pacific was shot at Misool's dive sites. Besides diving and snorkelling, there are fascinating trips to see caves and paleolithic paintings, bird watching, trekking and more...Yoga and spa treatments are available at the resort.

SUSTAIN

Misool Eco Resort is one of the leading examples of tourism and conservation objectives working in perfect harmony. The owners were able to have the whole of Raja Ampat declared a shark and manta sanctuary, first by collecting over 8500 signatures on a petition and then explainign the economic value of keeping these creatures alive in terms of potential tourism revenue. The resort's Conservation Centre is a registered Indonesian charity and the 828km2 No Take Zone is not just in name only - it's regularly patrolled by local rangers to ensure no illegal fishing is taking place. Add to this scientific studies on mantas, reef restoration projects and social programmes including building a kindergarten and developing a dive guide training programme and it's clear that these guys really are at the vanguard of future, sustainable tourism development thinking.

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Looking at the pics, you'd think that this stunningly whimsical over-the-water resort in remotest Indonesia was the work of a major boutique hotel brand. In fact it was built entirely from recycled wood (600 tonnes of it) over a period of years by a group of dedicated and possibly slightly insane dive friends.

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Here's your chance to explore two startlingly beautiful worlds - beneath and above the surface of the sea - and help preserve both for generations to come.

Beneath the waves you have a world of pristine coral reefs that are home to a complete diversity of multi-coloured, multi-shaped creatures - many of whom are as curious about the strange life-form (you) that has just entered their world, as you are about them! Infact, Neil one of our Asia and diving experts, visited Misool and included it in his blog: The best places to dive in Asia.

Above the waves you have a private resort that nestles deep in an archipelago of uninhabited islands. Put Misool Eco Resort on your luxury, tailor-made holiday to Indonesia and you'll discover it's so remote that's it's not just cast away - it's flung away! Expect powder-white beaches, individual thatched bungalows built from natural, sustainable materials and conservation initiatives that benefit local people whilst being entirely decoupled from the extraction of marine resources. So this tiny corner of diving heaven will remain perfectly preserved.

Don't take our word for it... read Michelle Jana Chan's review of Misool Eco Resort in Condé Nast Traveller here >>

Misool Eco Resort, at a glance

Far-flung diving and eco resort on irresistibly beautiful Batbitim Island

Only accessible by boat

20 km from the nearest village and 165 km from the closest port

Eight rustic water cottages on stilts, accommodating just 32 guests at any one time

Four splendidly isolated villas with two or three bedrooms

Uninterrupted sea views

Restaurant on the beach of North Lagoon focussing on fresh, local and organic produce

For leisure and pleasure

Immaculate beaches fringing quiet lagoons

Unsurpassed diving on pristine coral reefs

Stilted dive centre standing in North Lagoon

Warm up veranda and wet area with massive work station for photography

Three guided dives per day

Dusk and night dives

Tailored dive packages including free Nitrox to qualified divers

Relaxing spa services

We have just returned from what was a holiday of a lifetime. I can't thank you enough. The organisation was meticulous and made our lives so much easier. When we plan another holiday we'll be sure to speak with Ultimate Travel first.
- HPB, Italy, 2013

Other itinerary suggestions in Indonesia

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Misool Eco Resort & Diving, Indonesia | Ultimate Travel Co

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Here's your chance to explore two startlingly beautiful worlds - beneath and above the surface of the sea - and help preserve both for generations to come. Beneath the waves you have a world of pristine coral reefs that are home to a complete diversity of multi-coloured, multi-shaped creatures - many of whom are as curious about the strange life-form (you) that has just entered their world, as you are about them!

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"Waking in the morning to the sound of waves lapping on the shore, I did have the singular feeling of, at last, having escaped from whatever it is we are all endlessly trying to flee with our travels." - The New York Times

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Search the world's information, including webpages, images, videos and more. Google has many special features to help you find exactly what you're looking for.

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Energy Saving Tips Misol Eco Resort | Ocean First Institute

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Our Blue Certified Candidate, Misool Eco Resort is a leader in sustainability.

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Misool Eco Resort is an exclusive dive resort and conservation centre located in remote southern Raja Ampat, Indonesia. The private resort island is nestled deep in an archipelago of uninhabited islands, in the very epicentre of marine biodiversity. One's stay at Misool Eco Resort directly supports its numerous conservation initiatives and provides sustainable employment opportunities to local people, entirely decoupled from the extraction of marine resources.

Misool Eco Resort is an intimate tropical hideaway, built on a private island in an archipelago of uninhabited islands. It is 165 km away from the nearest port and 20 km away from the nearest village by boat, blissfully secluded and largely untethered from the modern world. No light pollution, no noise pollution, no mobile phone signal... in fact there is very little to distract the guests from the surrounding natural beauty.

The resort island is leased from the local community, along with 1220 sq km of surrounding reefs. All the dive sites are inside this area, which means the reefs are just astounding... gorgeous corals, massive sea fans, patrolling reef sharks, pygmy seahorses, schooling tuna, giant manta rays etc.
Inspiration and purpose
The inspiration to open Misool Eco Resort was the spectacular natural beauty of Raja Ampat. The scenery, both above and below the water, is breathtaking. This is the heart of marine biodiversity, and there just are no richer reefs on earth. The underwater world here is still pristine, and visiting is like stepping through a portal into an different time, before the global pressures of overfishing, shark finning, and human overpopulation were rife.

The resort opened in 2008 on the site of a former shark finning camp. Owners' respect for the natural surroundings and their commitment to the local community defined the way the resort was built. No lumber was bought and instead their own sawmill

was set up. When it opened, over 600m3 of reclaimed tropical hardwood had been milled. Local labour was used as much as possible, and apprenticeship programs were created to train the staff. Many of the waiters, dive guides, and housekeepers started at the resort years ago as unskilled labourers.

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Misool Eco Resort - Indonesia - SOST International

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Misool Eco Resort is an exclusive dive resort and conservation centre located in remote southern Raja Ampat, Indonesia. The private resort island is nestled deep in an archipelago of uninhabited islands, in the very epicentre of marine biodiversity.

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Interview with Andrew Miners owner and diver

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Interview with Andrew Miners owner and diver

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Projects West Papua Shawn Heinrichs - Seventh Generation

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Andrew Miners and a small team of committed people have achieved the establishment of a marine sanctuary, a "no-take-zone", in one of the world's most bio-diverse reefs. Thanks to this the marine life will get a chance to recover and replenish. The project is financed by the income of his eco-resort and donations.

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Interview with Marit Miners, Founder and Director of Sales & Marketing

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Interview with Marit Miners, Founder and Director of Sales & Marketing

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Resort Diving Vacations in Raja Ampat - Misool - Indonesia

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Resort diving vacations in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, with Misool

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Raja Ampat, Indonesia

This chic eco dive resort is fringed with powder-white beaches that are protected by stunning clear lagoons and some of the world's richest reefs in the diving paradise of Raja Ampat.

With just 12 cottages, Misool Eco Resort offers a diving holiday like no other. There are 8 Water Cottages and 4 Deluxe Villas each stilted over the placid North Lagoon. All the furniture and fittings have been hand-crafted on site from recycled wood by their team of resident Javanese artisans and local apprentices. Each spacious cottage is equipped with air conditioning, a mini-bar and a Balinese-style en suite bathroom. They all have a private veranda on which you'll enjoy gentle tropical breezes and glorious equatorial views.

The Dive Centre and beachfront restaurant are just steps away, looking out over a shallow turquoise lagoon - the perfect place to enjoy a sunset drink while watching the black tip reef sharks hunting in the bay. Although the focus is on the diving and the location is remote to say the least the restaurant offers a broad range of Asian and Western dishes with a focus on fresh, local and organic fare. Afternoon tea on the terrace, sampling freshly baked treats like lemon and cardamom biscotti is a real treat after an afternoon of diving.
Lightfoot Travel provides tailor-made itineraries that include daily tours and excursions, restaurant recommendations and bookings, and can incorporate Raja Ampat into a greater Indonesian holiday. Take a look at Raja Ampat Aboard the Damai as an example of a bespoke itinerary that we can create for you.

Location & Getting There

This chic eco dive resort is fringed with powder-white beaches of Batbitim Island, surrounded by some of the world's richest reefs in the diving paradise of Raja Ampat, a 7-hour flight from Jakarta to Sorong.

Accommodation

With just 12 cottages, Misool Eco Resort offers a diving holiday like no other. There are 8 Water Cottages and 4 Deluxe Villas each stilted over the placid North Lagoon. Each Water Cottage is built on stilts over the water, featuring a spacious veranda with a hammock for lazy afternoons. The Villas are equipped two bedrooms, outdoor living space, a conjoined living area and huge terraces on which guests will enjoy gentle tropical breezes and glorious equatorial views.

Facilities

- Dive centre
- Camera room
- Dining: 1 restaurant

Activities

Raja Ampat is an incredibly rich place to explore, both below and above the water. Apart from the main activities of diving and snorkelling, go on village tours, visit the ancient Petroglyphs and Labyrinthine Lagoons, embark on a birdwatching cruise, or explore the shallow mangroves on Sapenipnu Island just 20 minutes away.

Children

All ages are welcome and babysitting services are available, though the resort is not recommended for toddlers.

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Raja Ampat, Indonesia This chic eco dive resort is fringed with powder-white beaches that are protected by stunning clear lagoons and some of the world's richest reefs in the diving paradise of Raja Ampat. With just 12 cottages, Misool Eco Resort offers a diving holiday like no other.

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The latest Indonesia dive resort and liveaboard reviews filed by divers from Undercurrent. including Komodo, Raja Ampat, Lembeh, Wakatobi, Papua

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"Waking in the morning to the sound of waves lapping on the shore, I did have the singular feeling of, at last, having escaped from whatever it is we are all endlessly trying to flee with our travels." - The New York Times

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Raja Ampat Eco Dive Resort | Misool Eco Resort

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Raja Ampat Eco Dive Resort | Misool Eco Resort

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The Misool Eco Resort is nestled in another string of islands below our nook in the karst maze. We've heard about this beautiful place from other cruisers who stopped by in the last few years, and were excited to spend a few days here and see it for ourselves.

The beautiful Misool Eco Resort

We hoped to arrive at slow time when there would be a mooring available (they have several used for their supply boats and dive tenders). Some email attempted to coordinate but it really came down to luck that our arrival timing coincided with a week of fewer guests, so we could visit and enjoy some of the facilities without feeling like a burden.

We could snorkel their fantastic house reef by just jumping over the side...

The resort has been instrumental in establishing conservation practices in the area and funding much of the work. It's impressive to learn about their commitment to the healthy reef- if only more places could be like this! If the underwater grandeur of the area weren't enough, the resort itself is aesthetically stunning and staffed by a sweet crew. We joined their guests for a "Manta Masterclass" presentation by the dive master, and learned so much about these spectacular creatures.

Dan treats us to dinner, so we get a beautiful meal (our veggies are thin after a week) and no dishes. The restaurant staff completely charms us, and the children are completely charmed by Darwin- a resident bird, who will happily steal your chips. I am already putty in the hands of the director's babe, who in addition to being deliciously cute is the first wee one in a while that doesn't cry at my scary white skin.

Relaxing before dinner at the resort

We only had three days to enjoy this magical place before timelines required us to press on for Ambon for Dan's flight home, although I think Dan was at least a little tempted to look at changing up his travel plans to try and squeak out an extra bit of time here. Somehow, his 10 days with us have flown by. It was really tough to depart, and we left very seriously thinking we might make a U-turn from Ambon and sail the 2-3 days back to Misool.

Our prior anchorages in Raja Ampat were conservation areas, but not no-take zones. Here there is no fishing at all, and the difference is immediately apparent. The fish weren't skittish of us, more often they were even curious. The average fish size was significantly larger than anything we have seen in a very, very long time. And oh, the turtles. So many turtles I lost count! Finally we had the routine appearance of sharks as well. They may make many people uncomfortable, but they are the essential hallmark of a healthy reef environment. Even if that one blacktip was a serious PITA and chased us out one day...

There were other pretties to enjoy. Like this gorgeous nudibranch. I love nudibranchs.

Also gorgeous, but evil: the crown of thorns

I swear I did not order this image. It just happened.

You never get tired of turtles

More underwater awesomeness on the Totem Flickr stream.

Related

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The Misool Eco Resort is nestled in another string of islands below our nook in the karst maze. We've heard about this beautiful place from other cruisers who stopped by in the last few years, and were excited to spend a few days here and see it for ourselves.

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A nonprofit environmental conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of island environments, island cultures, island ecology and island marine ecosystems.

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Misool Eco Resort: An Ecological, Sustainable Paradise

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The resort was a labor of love for Andy and Marit, as they created this sustainable and ecological oasis in the middle of truly nowhere. With white sandy beaches, a thriving colorful reef, and luxurious huts directly located on the crystal clear water, the resort feels like paradise.

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Misool Eco Resort | Travel. Explore. Dive!

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Misool Eco Resort | Travel. Explore. Dive!

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I have been struggling to write this post about our time spent at Misool Eco Resort (MER) in Raja Ampat Indonesia for awhile now. Many words come to mind (remarkable, unique, amazing, to name a few) yet still all the descriptors and synonyms in the world couldn't possibly do this magical place justice.

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"Waking in the morning to the sound of waves lapping on the shore, I did have the singular feeling of, at last, having escaped from whatever it is we are all endlessly trying to flee with our travels." - The New York Times

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By Electra Gillies

At the ends of the earth off West Papua lies Raja Ampat, a group of paradise islands, almost unimaginable in beauty. Raja Ampat means 'The Four Kings' after the majestically stunning four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Walgeo. Misool Eco Resort is nestled in the southern part of this archipelago, amongst idyllic uninhabited islands and in the most biodiverse marine area of the world within the Coral Triangle. Scattered over the island of Batbitim, it is a paradigm of barefoot luxury and natural perfection in green hills, soft white sand and glittering crystal azure waters.

The property is encircled by their own 1220 square kilometre Marine Protected Area, which is within the vast 46,000 square kilometres Raja Ampat Shark and Manta Sanctuary that Misool Eco Resort helped create. Twenty kilometres from the nearest village by boat and over a hundred to the nearest port, this really is the ultimate eco escapism retreat into one of the last great unexplored seascapes. An ethical adventure destination has been created to combine comfort and discovery.

Scattered across the velvety sand are a selection of secluded villas or over water bungalows floating above the clear azure water where you can watch the rainbows of the myriad of tropical fish darting around below. For pure Robinson Crusoe chic, retreat into Villa Kalanme, hidden away on the private South Beach of the island and accessed by water taxi. There are three large sustainably built large suites utilising hardwoods and traditional thatched roofs. All centred around open air living areas dotted with hammocks and relaxing nooks a mere metres from the clearest turquoise sea ever imaginable. With stunning views from all the rooms out across the seemingly endless ocean, this is the most serene and stunning rustic escape.

Waking up in a water cottage to the lapping and sounds of waves below you on the stilts of your room is a melodically magical way to start the day. Suspended over the sea in your hammock or jumping straight from bed into the blue, these eight rooms are perfect for ocean obsessives who love to be as close to the water as you can get. A short stroll to the diving school or the outdoor restaurant packed with fresh dishes from locally sourced products. Indulge in some homemade biscotti whilst watching swirling baby sharks in the lagoon.

This is naturally a scuba divers oasis with a new underwater excursion so spectacular every day it is hard to believe the beauty of Mother Nature can be so perfect. There is a fully equipped dive centre and a scheduled three dives a day as well as sunset or night dives, however for groups bespoke itineraries can be booked in advance.

Raja Ampat is home to the world's most biodiverse reefs. In an area equal to two football fields in this area, there are more species than in the entire Caribbean Sea. There are over 1400 species of fish, a plethora of soft and hard coral gardens and new species being discovered all the time, the most recent being the 'walking' epaulette shark that is frequently spotted on the resorts reef during night dives. The island is surrounded by a 828 square kilometre No Take Zone (NTZ) meaning inside that all fishing, cyanide and dynamite fishing, shark finning and the harvesting of turtle eggs and shellfish is prohibited. This ensures the reef will continue to grow and be safeguarded for generations to come.

There are over sixty incredible dive sites that have been explored around the island and twenty-five are within a fifteen minutes of the resort. Magic Mountain is about twenty minutes from the resort and is a Manta Ray cleaning station, for someone who has never witnessed this phenomenon it is one of the most ethereal and elegant sights in the world that plays out like a submerged ballet. The rays glide in flapping their magnificent wings and patiently wait to be cleaned by the cleaner fish who pick off parasites and clean their mouths and gills in a perfect sub aqua symbiotic symphony.

Boo Windows is an island also around fifteen minutes away and has two mysterious and dramatic swim through 'windows' that have been hewn through the reef over time, hence the name. With a through current on the south west corner this is a great spot for meandering sharks including the secretive Australasian Carpet Shark. Head off towards the pinnacle swirling with schools of fusilier fish and batfish and then turn to towards the plateau and behold the sunlight streaming through the natural wondrous windows in the rocks. Float through this water wonderland teeming with all the richness the oceans could possibly offer.

Misool Eco Resort firmly believes in the mutual benefit of sustainable tourism and community based conservation. Their Indonesian Registered charity is called Misool Baseftin that means 'Misool - we own it together' in the local dialect. The foundation maintains an all encompassing approach to conservation, combining environmental, social, and educational elements. One of Misool Baseftin's main projects is operating the Ranger Patrol and protecting Misool Eco Resort's No-Take Zone (NTZ). The resort also hires over 120 people from the surrounding community benefitting many families in the area.

The ten rangers patrol the entire 828 square kilometer NTZ in two patrol boats and through diligence have managed to greatly reduce environmental damage such as cyanide fishing, shark finning and the other threats to the delicate ecological balance of the area. In 2011 the Misool Manta Project was launched where a database was established using markings and other distinctive markings of the rays from the cleaning station. This helps monitor them and track breeding and interaction with other species in order to put forward a case for conservation in the area. Guests who are passionate about Mantas can join the 'Manta Researcher for a Day' programme to track and note down data.

The Raja Ampat Shark and Manta Sanctuary was launched in 2010 after a petition of 8500 signatures were collected and presented to the Raja Ampat Government. In collaboration with Shark Savers the government was persuaded to create a sanctuary for the entire 17,000 square miles of the archipelago, by proving the economic value of these species was worth more by preserving them and avoiding ecosystem collapse from the extinction of the top predators in the food chain. All the conservation programs are supported by increasing the ranger stations and slowly helping to restore the previous reef damage.

Within the community, apart from providing employment for many families, the property has also built a kindergarten in the Daram Islands within the NTZ. They also pay the wages of the schoolteachers for six villages and created a mobile library, the brainchild of Head Ranger Razak Tamher, and now two permanent libraries. Guests can donate easy to read English books when they visit.

Eventually it is hoped that all the dive guides will be drawn from the local community and currently a couple are on their way to being qualified. Free PADI Open Water courses are offered to all the staff at the resort. By immersing the local people in the ecosystems they are trying to protect it really becomes part of the conservation ethos for a generation and many to come.

In this magical archipelago far far away Misool Eco Resort is an amazing eco hideaway and pioneering property bringing new levels of preservation and ecotourism to not only an island but to a whole community and ecosystem. This is truly the ultimate in barefoot luxury and natural beauty.

For more information and reservations, please click here.

Electra Gillies runs the travel website The Eco Gypsy.
Photos Courtesy of Misool Eco Resort, Calvin Beale, Kevin Korpics, Juergen Freund, Steve Jenkins & Tobias Zimmer

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Diver's Paradise: Misool Eco Resort, Indonesia - Eluxe Magazine

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By Electra Gillies At the ends of the earth off West Papua lies Raja Ampat, a group of paradise islands, almost unimaginable in beauty. Raja Ampat means 'The Four Kings' after the majestically stunning four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Walgeo.

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The resort ferries guests around in its launches with instructors and guides to the different reefs in the region. (It also offers diver's training and certification.) Floating over this alternative underwater universe gives the giddy sensation of hang-gliding in a crowded sky over a large city. But, instead of planes of all sizes and descriptions circling at every altitude, there are wild profusions of different species of fish. The residents of this marine civilization have extravagant names like azure demoiselles, pewter angelfish, painted frogfish and saddle butterflyfish.

In their gaudy, Technicolor glory and exotic strangeness, these creatures outdo even the dancers of a Brazilian Carnivale. With their luscious coloration and pouting, parrotfish and diagonal banded sweetlips look like Botox jobs gone wrong; spine-cheeked anemonefish with white bands wrapped around their orange-brown bodies are like miniature war-painted New Guinea highlanders ready for a little cannibalism; and tasseled scorpionfish look like miniaturized crosses between Henry Kissinger and Jabba the Hutt. All are darting around, nibbling on succulent polyps produced by the hard-working coral, and not infrequently taking bites out of each other as well.

Not to be forgotten are the surly crustaceans, heavily camouflaged octopuses, evil-looking moray and endlessly beautiful and much under-celebrated nudibranchiae. A far cry from the black turdlike species of sea slug with which Chinese hosts tirelessly terrify Western banquet guests, Raja Ampat's nudibranchiae are the superstars of the slug family, as magnificently colored and adorned as Peking Opera masks.

And then there are the vast neighborhoods filled with fabulous Frank Gehry-like coral structures that make these submerged metropolises such architectural marvels. With evocative names - cabbage leather coral, table coral, brain coral, staghorn coral, etc., they all seem to impersonate something in the world above: someone's medulla oblongata, a satellite dish, an internal organ, even a giant ear fungus.

If, like me, you are just a proletarian snorkeler, even swimming through the clouds of bubbles exhaled by the divers far below you is still part of the almost mystical experience. Where the cheerful, sunlit coral reef slopes away to the deep and welcoming turquoise waters suddenly yielding to a dark, colder green, another more menacing world begins. Here the larger pelagic fish, the barracuda, bonitos and sharks, patrol. When these killing machines sight a school of silver anchovies, they home in on them like combat aircraft closing in on an enemy squadron. Then there are the manta rays, the B-1 bombers of the deep, that glide menacingly through the water on graceful but threatening patrols, their barbed, poisonous tails always ready to lay out all challengers.

As beautiful as life on these reefs may appear from above, it's actually like a crime-ridden neighborhood in which everyone is bullying, robbing, mugging, raping, murdering or cannibalizing someone else. And there are no cops; a citizen's only protection is natural selection, which has led some creatures to generate limited means of protection: spines, camouflage, speed, poison and sometimes plain loathsome ugliness.

This abundance of marine life wasn't impressive to just me, an occasional snorkeler who doesn't dive. Scientists have been staggered by the more than 1,300 kinds of native reef fish and untold hundreds of kinds of hard and soft coral species (70 percent of all known species) living in the waters of Raja Ampat that the underwater photographer David Doubilet has called "ultramarine."

Raja Ampat is considered ground zero by divers everywhere. "I've dived around the globe," said Gerald R. Allen, an ichthyologist who was curator of fishes at the Western Australian Museum for 25 years, "and there is absolutely nothing else that compares."

But what makes the pleasure of this underwater voyeurism all the more enjoyable is the knowledge that comfort awaits one back at the resort.

"This place is the way it actually is 'in paradise,' " said Andrew Miners, an Englishman who worked on boats in the region for six years before deciding to build Misool. "But if it's not at first actually paradise, then someone has to make it seem like paradise."

And that is exactly what he and his wife, Marit, somehow managed to do.

The azure lagoon around which most of the resort - outdoor dining room, dive center, administrative office and main dock - is arrayed like a fan was formerly a shark-finning camp where fisherman did the grisly work of supplying the demand for shark-fin soup. When he first saw the encampment after stumbling on the island in 2002, Mr. Miners was horrified by the spectacle of this beautiful lagoon littered with half-dead and rotting carcasses of finless sharks.

Some time after that first visit, he dreamed up what he calls his "crazy endeavor" - to build a full-blown eco-resort that would "raise the benchmark for sustainable tourism by demonstrating that private enterprise is a viable path to conservation." It didn't hurt that the Raja Ampat islands have some of the most healthy and spectacular tropical reefs and best diving in the world.

By 2005, he had not only negotiated a lease with the tribal communities (which hold the traditional land-use and fishing rights to these islands), but also won their agreement to establish a pathbreaking 180-square-mile "no-catch zone" where commercial fishing, especially shark finning and fishing with dynamite and poison, are banned.

What is so astounding about Misool is that, despite its remoteness and thrifty eco-sensibility, it is built to the highest standards of craftsmanship. The resort, which is closed for maintenance but reopens on Sept. 23, is well run, serves good food and offers accommodations that are luxurious, but in an understated way that helps relieve guests of the guilt involved in living too high on the food chain.

It is to the preservation of the vibrant and stunning ecologies of marine life surrounding it that Mr. Miners and his resort staff have dedicated themselves. With the help of a Wild Aid-financed boat and three rangers, the resort now patrols the vast, newly established no-catch zone, so that commercial fishing has been essentially stopped. Gone are the days when sharkers could chum the waters with meat from slaughtered green and hawksbill turtles until the lagoon was filled with dying sharks. But the challenges keep coming. Because manta-ray gills have become a popular cure for impotency in Chinese medicine, fishermen have now turned to hunting mantas. So, Mr. Miners has now also underwritten a manta study and conservation project at Misool.

As I floated above Misool's magnificent reefs, I found myself elated by the fact that here was a piece of the natural world that still cohered and was largely undisturbed by man's predations. At the same time, I could not banish feelings of unease, even sadness, that grow out of the recognition that this glorious state once characteristic of the natural world almost everywhere has narrowed to a few remaining places on the globe. Here, at least for the moment, there was not only still wholeness, but also someone to watch over it.

"Thank you for coming here," Mr. Miners said as our group prepared to leave. "If you hadn't, we would never be able to do our ecological work."

Correction: September 23, 2012

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misool eco resort (raja ampat  indonesia)

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The resort ferries guests around in its launches with instructors and guides to the different reefs in the region. (It also offers diver's training and certification.) Floating over this alternative underwater universe gives the giddy sensation of hang-gliding in a crowded sky over a large city.

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Interview with Marit and Andrew Miners owners

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Interview with Marit and Andrew Miners owners

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Misool Eco Resort in Kampung Baru, Sorong, Raja Ampat, Indonesia | Private island

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Located on a private island, Misool Eco Resort is an exclusive small hotel, dive resort and conservation centre in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. It's the ultimate tropical holiday hideaway.

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Misool, Sorong Regency. 9K likes. Misool is a dive resort and conservation centre located in remote southern Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Our private resort island is located deep in an archipelago of...

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Misool (Raja Ampat, Indonesia) - Lodge Reviews, Photos & Price Comparison - TripAdvisor

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Book Misool, Raja Ampat on TripAdvisor: See 148 traveller reviews, 227 candid photos, and great deals for Misool, ranked #4 of 53 Speciality lodging in Raja Ampat and rated 5 of 5 at TripAdvisor.

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dive "raja ampat" scuba indonesia buceo plongée tauchen

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Misool Eco Resort is an exclusive dive resort and conservation centre located in remote southern Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Our private resort island is nestled deep in an archipelago of uninhabited islands, in the very epicentre of marine biodiversity.

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