In 2004, Steve Drogin invited me on a very special trip to Rajah Ampat on the M/V Pindito live-aboard dive vessel, with an extension to Papua Diving's Sorido Bay Resort. I am forever indebted to him! Thank you, Steve.

Trip Dates:		December 6-21, 2004 (M/V Pindito) | December 21-27 (Papua Diving)
Vessel/Lodging:		M/V Pindito (the boat), Rajah Ampat | Papua Diving (the resort), Irian Jaya
Visit Sites:		Rajah Ampat (Irian Jaya, Indonesia)
Guides:		Edi Frommenwiler (Pindito), Hausi, Annalisa, and Tomi (Pindito dive guides), Max Ammer (Papua Diving)
Participants:		Steve Drogin, Hiro Drogin

Reader Comments

Please leave me a message!

-- posted by Eric Cheng @ Sunday, June 18 2006, 01:17 am

32% Nitrox at 141 feet? It's possible?

-- posted by Jean @ Friday, June 23 2006, 03:17 pm

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-- posted by Mihaela Ozhan @ Tuesday, November 28 2006, 03:06 am

Dear, Mr. Cheng I see that you are very much in to diving as I am to. I am planning an extra ordinary dive trip this coming march, it will be about 4-5 weeks total for this trip, the diving will be world class as good or better than anything you have seen, in addition there will be some extra ordinary hiking also on this trip, one 10,000 foot mountain and several other interesting hikes. I am not selling you this trip, as it will cost no more than $3000 total, I am inviting you to join me. If interested respond.

-- posted by Richard Dayan @ Sunday, December 31 2006, 06:20 pm

You have seen the personality of God....Your photography is phenominal. You made me so happy to be able to see what I would never have seen with my own eyes yet so inspiring to my soul were your images. And your memories will be a treasure to pick through again and again. Thank you a hundred times Mr. Cheng for sharing a part of your life.

-- posted by Jewel @ Monday, January 29 2007, 08:23 pm

I loved your Raj Ampat gallery! Me and my wife were going to go there this year, but have postpoed the trip until next year. Seeing your photos keeps me inspired to get to that area!

Rob Darmanin - http://www.aquaticimages.com

-- posted by Rob Darmanin @ Monday, February 26 2007, 10:32 am

Eric, you have just robbed me of almost an entire day, as it has been spent exploring your incredible website. I found it following up on Tony's blog re the recent Bahamas trip. (Your shark pictures are simply amazing!!) It is difficult to imagine how any one person could have achieved fame and mastery in so many fields and still devote time to such as sharing your loving/frustrating adventures with the Bengals. (MUCH fun reading of the potty training!) - - I had thought at first you were primariy an underwater photograher and journalist like Tony, but here you are, Stanford over-achiever, accomplished cellist (I played the Beethoven trio excerpt as exploration background music over and over; BEAUTIFUL!), computer genius and inventor, winner of awards in all these fields, published pieces all over the place, world traveler/diver/photographer, and found time to climb Kilamanjaro! And I've only scratched the surface here. You are clearly not from this planet. - - - Tony has spoken of you, but I couldn't remember in what context, until I saw your music background. Then it clicked. You are probably the friend who composes music for his DVD, slide presentations, etc. (We had the incredible pleasure of meeting Tony at Kassawari last year, along with Chuck Micklin and Marty Snyderman :) :) :) !!!!) - - - At any rate, I am so very happy to be able to express my appreciation to you for sharing your amazing life and talents with us on this absolutely fascinating website. - - - (We're going to be on the Nautilus Explorer in November in Socorro Islands. It will be interesting to hear them tell of your adventures in Alaska. Your picture in the midst of the ice pieces in chilling!) - - - Pat Watson

-- posted by Pat Watson @ Wednesday, July 25 2007, 01:03 pm

WOW! You have some awesome photos here. I thoroughly enjoyed browsing through all of them. I started out investigating diving in Rajah Ampat and ended up on your site. We are thinking of diving again in Indonesia (Rajah Ampat, maybe), have already been to Bali and Wakatobi. Great experiences. Your comments and great photography were truly compelling. Thank you for providing this site to us. Linda

-- posted by Linda Anderson @ Wednesday, August 8 2007, 12:44 pm

Dear Eric

Wow, fantastic photography! I have been to Irian Jaya in Mai 2000. It is still - till today - the most beautiful area I have ever seen. Above and below water. Your pictures give me goosepiples. I already booked a trip to Max Ammer next year in Mai/June. I would very much like to visit the place called Sel Pelee (Dinding Selatan). How far is the spot from Kri Island? Is it possible to visit the place in a day trip? ThanX a lot, lots of greetings from Zurich, Switzerland, from Sarah

-- posted by Sarah Allemann @ Tuesday, October 9 2007, 03:09 am

Dear Eric, I'd like to thank you for such an impressive and informative site. I have been sitting here for hours wading through your wonderful pages & admiring such wonderful photos and now my eyes are red!! Thank you ever so much for all your detailed invaluable information.

This year we are planning to go to R.Empat. The choice seems to between staying in Kri or on LOB going to - Matan, Mansur,Airbore,keffam, Kawe, Urani, back to Keffam, Wai & back to Sorong (11day cruising) in Aug 09, perhaps not the best months for Raja Empat but this is the only time we can go. Any advice on these places, if you know or have heard of them, would be really great. The boat is KLM Paupua Putri.

Thx again

Simon

-- posted by Simon Mullan @ Thursday, June 18 2009, 02:58 pm

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