Dr. Gerald Allen,
Conservation International, Leading marine scientist (fishes) with 38+ years experience
and author of over 25 books, 2003:
“No
doubt about it, the Raja Ampat is definitely the richest place for fish, that I have ever
been”.
In 2001 Dr. Allen made the 2 highest
fish counts (283 and 281 species of fish) ever recorded by him. The 283 count was at “Cape
Kri” which is our house reef!!!
Dr. JEN Veron, Leading
marine scientist (hard coral), 2002:
“Never
before in the world have researchers in one dive found 400 coral species in one dive, as
they did in the Raja Ampat”.
There are worldwide 465 known species
of hard coral. Dr. JEN Veron is author of “Corals of the World”, the most comprehensive
study written on the subject. Dr
“Charlie” Veron, is chief scientist of the Australian Institute of Marine
Science (AIMS), Townsville and personally identified 14 per cent of the worlds known coral
species.
Dr. Emre Turak, Conservation International,
Leading coral reef ecologist, 2003:
“The Raja Ampat has over 60% of the known
reef building corals, which is by far the richest anywhere known to date”.
Dr. Fred E. Wells, Senior Curator, Aquatic Zoology Museum
of Natural Science Western Australian Museum Perth, 2001:
“Mollusk
diversity was higher than for any previous RAP expedition and similar surveys conducted by
the Western Australian Museum in Australia”. BBC news, 15 May 2002: “Coral
researchers have revealed what they think is the most valuable cluster of reefs in the
world”.
The Nature Conservancy, 13 December 2002:
“Some of the worlds most experienced tropical marine scientist led by the Nature
Conservancy have just completed a three-week expedition to the Indonesian islands of Raja
Ampat, where they confirmed that the area contains the richest coral reefs in the
world”.
Michael Aw, Dive professional, author, photographer, Asian
Geographic, March 2003:
“If you are inclined to doubt the marine scientists claim that
the region harbors the richest diversity of corals and fishes, take it from me, the Raja
Ampat are, the healthiest I have seen in the Indo Pacific realm ”.
Larry and Denise Tackett, Dive professionals, authors,
photographers. Skin Diver August, 2001:
“I couldn’t remember ever seeing so many fish so
consistently at so many dive sites. In terms of fish life, color and lush reefs Irian Jaya
is destined to become the standard against which all diving is measured.”
It is no wonder that the Raja Ampat is considered for being
nominated for a World Heritage Status.
Kri
Eco Resort