From the moment when you arrive at the harbor and take the tender out to Paradise Dancer, you realize you are in for a very special holiday. Paradise Dancer dwarf’s all other yachts in the harbor and looms like a floating movie set as you slowly circle her massive structures. With her size and weight, she sits unmovable as the water laps at her sides and this rock steadiness will continue throughout the entire charter.

From the main deck, the crew of 22 give you a loud and proud ‘HALO! HALO!” as your tender slides up to the mounted steps. This greeting becomes part of the return dive ritual that you look forward to as much as the after dive shoulder and neck messages!

With her extraordinary width and length, space is never at a premium. Large, 5 star, guest cabins, two dinning areas, a comfortable salon and two sun decks give everyone as much personal space as needed. An enclosed camera room with more than ample work space for photographers helps keeps their equipment in top condition, necessary for the enormous amount of shots they will find themselves snapping during every dive.

The diving...when it has been described as the most diverse bio-marine area, that is no stretch. Our ten day charter left us with the knowledge that we did not begin to scratch the surface on everything that Raja Ampat has to offer. We could of spent numerous dives at the same dive sites without ever feeling like we were seeing the same things over and over. I cannot truly imagine how long you would have to spend in Raja Ampat to feel like you ever had a handle on most of what it has to offer. They still are finding unidentified species and behaviors and the actual exploration of the area has not even begun to cover any significant percentage of what is there. 

For photographers, we had several great shooters onboard and it was very hard to decide which lens to take as every site had something for everyone. We were never disappointed, no matter which lens, as there was more than we hoped for on every dive to ensure we were always wishing for an unlimited air supply! 10-17?, 60? 105? - every shooter came back foaming at the mouth they were talking so fast about what they had seen and photographed!

While I could write pages and pages on just this one charter, know that Paradise Dancer is the current reign of the Seven Seas in all her beauty, the service is second to none and you will be blown away with everything you see on the dives from the very large to the astonishing numbers to the strangest little creatures. 

My only recommendation is to experience this amazing adventure early as it is a place you quickly realize you must return to again and again and if you find yourself in need of a dive buddy, PLEASE call me!

Wayne B. Brown