Kokas, McClure Gulf, West Papua Province

Teaching the kids of Kokas to do the “live long and prosper” hand sign

Map of the region showing our heading - Google map link

We have been sailing all night and at one point had reached the western most point in our journey along the coast of the island of New Guinea. We are on course for McClure Gulf and the village of Kokas in Fak Fak province.

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Pulau Gam and Pulau Jerief, Raja Ampat Islands

I’m close to heaven in the warm waters and afternoon sun

Map of the region showing our heading - Google map link

Our destination today takes us from Mapia Atoll, southwest across the top of the “birdhead” to an island called Pulau Gam in the Raja Ampat, or “Four Kings” archipelago. The archipelago encompasses more than 3.6 million hectares of land and sea off the north-western tip of Indonesia’s West Papua Province.

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Mapia Atoll - Middle of Nowhere

Our first view of the Mapia Atoll, looks to me like it's inhabited!

Map of the region showing our heading - Google map link

Overnight we have travelled almost due north heading toward Mapia Atoll.  Urbanasi, where we snorkelled yesterday sits at 1˚16’S by 134˚40’E and Mapia Atoll is located at 0˚51’N by 134˚18E, only 22 minutes difference heading West. To those of you taking notice, yes Mapia Atoll is north of the Equator, the first time during this voyage that we have crossed the Equator and all that it implies.

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Urbanasi, West Papua - Coral Triangle

Urbanasi, the ultimate deserted island

Map of the region showing our heading -  Google map link

When you come across Urbinasi Island, in the Papadio Island group, you know straight away that its one of those classic tiny islands with white sand beaches surrounded by coral. A classic island made famous by Alexander Dumas in Robinson Crusoe.

The area we are in is called the Coral Triangle so named because it refers to a roughly triangular area of the tropical marine waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste that contain at least 500 species of reef building corals in each ecoregion. The Coral Triangle comprises the highest coral diversity in the world: 76% (605) of the world’s coral species (798) and we get to snorkel in the reefs today!

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