Ultimate Raja Ampat: Luxury Resorts and Liveaboards

Later, you'll be picked up and transferred to the harbour for the two-hour boat ride to Papua Explorers Dive Resort. As you cruise through the glittering water, you'll be treated to views of past uninhabited emerald islands, jagged karsts and even cute dolphins playing in the boat's wake.

When you arrive, you'll be greeted and shown to your beautiful overwater villa, your home for the next two days. Spend the rest of the day settling in and enjoying all that Papua Explorers has to offer, from spotting baby sharks congregating under your villa and soaking up the sun on the powdery beach to feasting on a delicious fresh meal at the overwater restaurant.

Be sure to visit Blue Magic, an underwater pinnacle that sees pelagics such as giant trevally, bumbling barracuda and rainbow runners, as well as giant mantas, who regularly come in for their daily 'bath' at the cleaning station. If you happen to be visiting between October and April, you can also head to Manta Sandy, where large numbers of these gentle giants gather in the plankton-rich waters.

Not quite enough wildlife for you? Fear not: nearby Cape Kri is said to be one of the most biodiverse sites on the planet. With a record 283 species recorded here, look out for everything from teeny nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses to reef sharks and even the elusive dugong.

When you're not busy diving, simply relax on the beach, snooze on your veranda or enjoy a sundowner with your feet in the sand.

After a quick safety briefing and a few hours spent settling into your cabin, the boat will begin to sail down to Misool, in southern Raja Ampat. Head out to the deck for a delicious dinner overlooking the incredible natural scenery before heading back to your cabin for a peaceful night's sleep, ready to reach Misool tomorrow morning.

For an insight into the region at its best, visit the Candy Store dive site, where the abundance of marine life left the first divers here feeling like 'children at a sweet shop'. Next, head to the nearby Andiamo, home to steep reef walls, a pinnacle covered in corals and shoals of fish gliding through the blue.

More Misool must-sees include Boo Window, where its two unusual arched coral formations resembling windows shelter thousands of fish, and Magic Mountain, a large underwater pinnacle with a sloping drop off - perfect for watching marine critters swim by.

After more wonderful wildlife? Head to Nudibranch Rock for teeny-tiny nudibranchs, mantas and turtles, Whale Rock for hammerhead sharks or even Romeo at night for a glimpse of the nocturnal epaulette 'walking' shark.

As your fourth day comes to a close, the Mermaid I will begin its journey north towards your next adventures.

As you travel further north, dive around Kawe Island, beginning at Black Rock. If you're after a spot of fish action, you're in luck: the site is home to several small pinnacles covered in black corals, which schools of sweetlips and snappers like to hide between. Next, head to Eagle Rock, thought to be home to one of the largest populations of manta rays in northern Raja Ampat.

Nearby, pay a visit to Aljui Bay, home to a number of pearl farms perfect for picking up a pretty souvenir. Once you're back in the water, you'll find steep walls coated in soft corals and a variety of macro critters.

Finally, begin the journey back down the Dampier Strait, where manta rays, mangroves and macro life will be waiting. After stops at the islands of Yanggefo and Gam, known for its kaleidoscopic coral, you're free to dive wherever you fancy - including some of your favourites from your stay at Papua Explorers (Cape Kri, anyone?).

Fancy yourself a marine photographer? You've come to the right place as the tiny islands of Arborek and Sawanderek offer fantastic snorkelling and beautiful macro life below their jetties, including signal gobies, pipefish and blue-ringed octopus.

After a day of snorkelling, surface for a delicious dinner and toast to your fantastic diving trip as the boat begins the journey back to Sorong this evening.

When you arrive, you'll be transferred back to a nearby hotel for a few hours of relaxation before your overnight flight back to the UK. With a quick stopover at a Middle East hub airport, the journey will take around 20 hours, touching down in the UK the following day.