Waow, my new diving princess boat
ENI returned from Indonesia three days before the terrorist carnage in Paris on November 13, 2015. I had started writing this light, happy, carefree article about my dive-cruise aboard the Waowlong before the horror of these attacks...
But how to celebrate the beauty of the world, after the horror of that bloody Friday? How can we talk about joie de vivre, travel and diving?
In the end, I decided to publish this article anyway. To be on the side of life. To put some blue in the darkness. Because the motto of Paris, Fluctuat NEC mergitur, really makes sense in such a sad context...
Maluku to Raja Ampat
So here it is. I lived a fabulous adventure, on distant seas, on board a ship as beautiful as a pirate princess' ship: the Waow.
Wow? This is the acronym for World Adventure Ocean Wide. That's the exclamation you let out when you discover this bird-thin three-master (as in the song), "Waow!"
Updated February 2018. The Waow, this magnificent liveaboard dive boat which sailed the waters of the Indonesian archipelago and aboard which I waas lucky enough to embark in 2015, no longer exists... 😢 She caught fire and sank in Cenderawasih Bay during the night of January 31 to February 1, 2018.er February 2018. To find out more, I refer you to the post published on Facebook page and on the Waow. A new vessel is planned for 2026 or 2027.
60 meters long, 11 wide and 10 high, 800 tons. It was built between 2008 and 2012, while ironwoodThis rot-proof "steel wood", modelled on the traditional Indonesian transport boats called Pinisis.
I had already mentioned this boat in my "practical" article on Raja Ampatmore than two years ago (in the chapter on liveaboard cruises). At the time, I only knew the Waow a luxury ship, specially fitted out for divers, carrying out crazy itineraries in the Indonesian archipelago, in the heart of the "Coral Triangle. A dream come true...
The dream has come true! I'm going home. of a twelve-day cruise in Indonesia on the Waowin the Banda and Seram seas. Below is the map summarizing the trip and the dives.
From Ambon to Sorong, from the Moluccas to Raja Ampat, far from the hustle and bustle of the world, you can't help but marvel at the beauty of nature and the underwater world.
Of course, I had a lot of fun with it...
On the road of spices
October 27, 2015. First night on board. In the half-light of my cabin, I watch for unknown noises. The boat creaks and sighs as it splits the waves. There is the muffled hum of the engines in the distance and the shuddering of the nearby water against the wood of the hull. I tame the sounds around me.
But the sea is calm and the roll will remain moderate throughout the crossing. We're heading for the legendary Banda Islandsthe spice islands (nutmeg, cinnamon, clove) that made the VOC's fortune, the Dutch East India Company in the 17the and XVIIIe century. There's something exhilarating about following in the wake of the great navigators of yesteryear.
Read also → Banda, the fabulous spice islands
That first evening, having just left the port of Ambon, the gentle rocking of the Waow rocks me.
I feel the boat is alive. I can almost hear her breathing with every wave she splits. It's a reassuring, soothing sensation that helps me slide gradually into sleep.
Underwater
But I can't wait to go back under the surface. The diving equipment is ready. And my camera already in its chamber, ready for the first immersion planned in the early morning. I still don't know, this first evening, what I will see under water...
There will be massive hammerhead sharks and swirls of silver jacks. Swarms of blue triggerfish and yellow-backed fusiliers, glittering cascades of glass fish, multicolored twirling butterflyfish... And then there are the graceful green turtles, enormous humpback parrotfish and majestic napoleons. The bright yellow schools of snapper and the delicate interlacing of giant gorgonian sea fans...
I brought back tons of pictures, which I finally find the time to sort out, now that I'm back under the grey Breton sky. I'll be back to show you all of them very soon!
😉
Thank you for giving us one of your escape bubbles in the heart of this tragedy
@Laurence: Thank you for your little message. We all have heavy hearts ...
Thank you Corinne for this corner of blue bubbles in a dark day. Kisses
@Aj: Thank you Amélie, for taking the time to leave a little note. Terrifying black Friday... Joann Sfar's drawings finally convinced me to publish anyway...
It is with a heavy heart that I say bravo for this magnificent trip that transports us into another dimension ... I leave soon for Raja ( March 2016 ) not the Waow ( although I would have liked ) but on the Calico Jack for my second stay but before a small trip to Martinique and Egypt just to wet my flippers ,,, in any case thank you and a thought to the victims and their families of this November 13 🙁
Hello. I also want to experience Raja in March, I just had a look at the phinisi calico jack, which unfortunately offers cruises too long for my budget (11-12 days for 2500-3000€). By any chance, do you know a cruiser that offers a 6-7 days trip?
@Julo: You can go take a look at this site which lists a lot of boats making liveaboards: http://www.liveaboarddiving.net/
I have compiled a lot of information about Raja Ampat here :
https://petitesbullesdailleurs.fr/plonger-raja-ampat-voyage-20130303/
@ Gisèle: yes, so many bereaved families... I have a heavy heart too.
Thank you Corinne
You realize dreams that I share ... I'm leaving in a few days ...
Fluctuat nec Mergitur ... I miss words ...
@Manta: Words fail me too, I confess... Thanks for leaving a little note.
Well, here!
We all have compassion when an attack happens far from home, even 500km away. But yesterday we were a group of friends following a ceramology course between amateur underwater archaeologists when one of us learned that his son was one of the victims of the Bataclan.... To take the reality in full face.... it hurts! And here I think of you Corinne for your reports, because I would have liked to be elsewhere....
Good bubbles and continues to make us dream
Eric
@Eric: So many grieving families... There are no words to express this pain... Thank you for taking the time to leave a message.
Just want to follow you in the blue to forget the madness of men ...
You were right to publish your post (top, as usual!), Above all, don't stop living, don't be afraid, keep hope and don't abandon the fight for more justice and peace.
All we need is love!
@Pit: thank you for your message. I will continue the flow of publications ... And continue to show the beauty of the underwater world ...
Hello Corinne!
Great blog 🙂 Thanks for this nice description.
I hesitate to do this cruise but in the opposite direction: Sorong to Ambon in March but the price 3000€ remains dissuasive. I was wondering what would be your recommendation between such a cruise in March and 15 days in Raja Ampat (Kri island) in August
it would help me to have the opinion of someone who knows both 🙂
Thank you !
Pauline