Features
- English speaking
- Sleeps 10 or more
- Reef dropoff
- Seagrass
- Good phone signal
- Coral
- Good house reef
- Calm beach
- Sandy Beach
- Has raised beds
- Western style toilet
- IDR 500,000 to 600,000
- On site dive centre
- Diving available
Details
Corepen Dive Homestay occupies a great beach in a fabulous southern Gam location.
Six private bungalows are located on the beach and are over water at high tide.
All rooms sleep two on raised double beds which include sheets, pillows and mosquito nets. Each room is supplied with a pair of chairs and a small table which can be used in the room or to take advantage of verandah ocean views.
Meals are served in a beachside dining room and drinking water, tea and coffee are always available there.
Corepen Dive Homestay bathroom and toilet facilities are housed in a four-room, tiled bathroom building. A shower is provided in one room. Bucket bathing is available in the other three. There are two western style toilets and a squat toilet.
Good mobile phone reception is available at Corepen and electricity is provided by generator from sunset to around midnight.
Basic supplies can be purchased in Yenbeser village which is a ten minute boat ride away.
Rubbish disposal is a problem at Corepen, as everywhere else in Raja Ampat. Please do take all inorganic trash like plastic and dead batteries away with you when you leave.
English is spoken at Corepen Dive Homestay.
Transport / Getting there
Waisai - Corepen Dive Homestay longboat transfers cost IDR 500,000 each way (per trip, not per passenger). Speedboat transfers are available, and cost IDR 800,000 (shared by passengers).
Read more about Raja Ampat boat transport prices here.
Activities
There's a lot to do at Corepen Dive Homestay. Located in a private cove on one of Raja Ampat's best beaches, Corepen has great snorkelling at the door. Entry to the water is easy due to the sand bottom, which transitions to rich coral gardens with bountiful sea life.
Yenbeser village is close by, as are the attractions of Kri, Friwen, Arborek and Kabui Bay.
Diving
Sunday Diving: No diving on Sundays
Corepen Dive Homestay has an on site dive center. Dive prices below are per person, in Indonesian Rupiah.
| DIVES | Hire gear | Own gear |
|---|---|---|
| 1 dive | 600,000 | 500,000 |
| 10 dive package | 5,800,000 | 4,800,000 |
| 20 dive package | 11,000,000 | 9,000,000 |
| Night dive by boat | 700,000 | 600,000 |
Dore Dor Mangrove Exploration
A sightseeing tour that explores the rich mangrove habitat that separates Corepen's beach from the island of Gam, passing through mangrove tunnels rich with birdlife. The trip costs IDR 300,000, shared by passengers (maximum of six).
Corepen Homestay snorkelling and sightseeing tours
Snorkelling and sightseeing tours can be arranged as desired. The table below shows prices in Indonesian Rupiah for the most commonly requested tours. The prices are per boat and are shared by passengers. The longboat used can accommodate a maximum of six passengers.
| TOUR TO | PRICE |
|---|---|
| Friwen Wall | 300,000 |
| Sauwandarek | 700,000 |
| Piaynemo (by longboat) | 3,000,000 |
| Piaynemo (by speedboat) | 5,000,000 |
Pulau Gam
See our Gam Island page for an overview of Gam and its attractions.
Corepen Dive Homestay Location Map
Corepen Dive Homestay Reviews
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521 Reviews
This is my second stay at Corepen, as it’s a simple homestay with only 7 bungalows, recently revamped communal baths and toilet, much cleaner and with flush toilets.
Room is spartan, clean, airy, with electricity from 5-10 pm.
Food is good and enough.
But the reason to stay at Corepen is the outstanding professional diving service provided in Raja Ampat, excellent guides who show you all the amazing finds, and they catered to your every need, quite difficult trying to please everyone. Their equipment is well maintained and their guides are outstanding.
Maria and Sandy have done consistently good job with their place, and if all you want to do is eat, sleep, and dive, this is the pla.
My husband and I had the most amazing stay here for 6 nights. The rooms were basic but had everything we needed for our stay, and it was complete bliss to hear the gentle sea beneath you every morning and to watch the sun rise from your hammock. All of the dive guides were amazing and really informative!
We stayed at Corepen for 6 nights in Feb. We had such a great time. The huts are awesome, clean, well built with little extras such as a plastic snack box and tables to unpack stuff. They also have a nice high vantage point into the water to see fish and sharks right outside your door. There were also regular cuscus’ that live in the trees around the homestay which were so cute.
The house reef was great and there is also some easy to reach snorkelling from homestay with a gorgeous shallow section and a steep drop off for some deeper water. We saw loads of turtles, sharks, and even nudibranchs on the home reef.
Sandi was so well organised and they accommodated us on the dive boat even though we were only freediving. We went on dive trips everyday with such great guides and yummy packed lunches. From here we went to all the bigger dive sites around the area. Sandi also arranged for us to go with a local guide to see birds of paradise nearby the homestay.
The food was always enough and was delicious. The homestay super well kept including dining and bathroom areas. Sandi and Maria running a really amazing place. Professional while still feeling like a home. Definitely recommend Corepen and hope to be back soon.
Loved our stay at Corepen! It was extremely well run, with english spoken and lots of options for vegetarians. The house reef was unreal, we loved snorkelling around the jetty, the water is crystal clear and we even spotted turtles and sharks! Lots of people come back here and it’s not hard to see why, thank you to Maria, we had a lovely time!
Wir waren im Januar 2026 für 7 Nächte im Corepen und waren ganz zufrieden damit.
Das Bungalow hat eine gute Grösse und ist sauber. Die 2 Toileten und 2 Duschen wurden mehrheitlich auch sauber gehalten.
Das Essen war gut, wenn auch manchmal etwas knapp für alle zusammen.
Für Taucher ist Corepen ideal und das Equipment in Schuss. Für Schnorchler wie uns, hätte ich mehr Hausriff gewünscht.
Der schöne intakte Teil war zwar gut, aber nicht so gross.
This is the fifth or sixth time we have stayed at Corepen Homestay.
Their seven bungalows are all well maintained and comfortable, and they have no plans to build any more.
We particularly appreciate this, as we feel that too many resorts are building excessively, spoiling the landscape.
They now have a second dive boat. Both are equipped with 50hp engines… which is great!
The diving equipment for hire is very well maintained. The same can be said for their compressors and diving tanks.
In high season, Sandy and Maria are assisted by a team of highly trained, efficient and friendly Indonesian dive masters. The boat pilots are just as good.
Sandy and Maria let their guests choose the dive sites and divide the divers according to their preferences.
The food is perfectly adequate and better than elsewhere.
All the staff are great.
Thank you to them for our wonderful stay.
We stayed at Corepen Dive Homestay on Gam Island in March 2025, and we were very happy with our experience. The accommodation was simple, with basic bungalows and no private bathroom, but everything was clean and well looked after. The shared bathroom area had a simple shower, which worked well for us.
The food was tasty and always served in generous portions. We enjoyed every meal and appreciated that there was always enough for everyone.
A major highlight of the stay was the dive center. We could dive whenever we wanted, and the team was professional, friendly, and well organised. The equipment was in good condition, and we felt safe and comfortable on every dive.
In front of the bungalows there is a beautiful reef that is perfect for snorkeling. There is also a long jetty that gives easy access to deeper water, which we used often.
Another thing we really liked was the central dining room. It was a great place for all the divers to meet, talk about the day’s dives, and share experiences. There were also books available about ocean flora and fauna, which helped us identify the species we saw underwater.
The host, Maria, is extremely helpful and runs the place with great care. We appreciated her warm attitude and the way she looks after her guests.
Overall, we were very satisfied with our stay at Corepen Dive Homestay. It is a simple but clean and welcoming place, perfectly located for diving and snorkeling. We would gladly return.
We stayed here for a week in January 2026 and had the best time. Very impressed with Sandy, Maria and their whole team. Dive guides and support team behind the scenes take care of everything! Very professional and organised.
Big shoutout to the chef – 3 delicious meals a day with fried banana snacks inbetween meals. You never go hungry here. Showers and toilets are basic but they are well maintained and cleaned regularly. They even stock a cold beer fridge should you want a drink in the evenings… spoilt. It is absolute paradise. We will be returning again.
Thank you Corepen!
We stayed here for a week in January 2026 and had the best time. Very impressed with Sandy, Maria and their whole team. Dive guides and support team behind the scenes take care of everything! Very professional and organised.
Big shoutout to the chef – 3 delicious meals a day with fried banana snacks inbetween meals. You never go hungry here. Showers and toilets are basic but they are well maintained and cleaned regularly. They even stock a cold beer fridge should you want a drink in the evenings… spoilt. It is absolute paradise. We will be returning again.
Thank you Corepen!
Corepen really feels like home ❤️ My wife and I stayed here for 8 days in January of 2026 during our honeymoon.
Sandy, Maria and the whole staff speak excellent English. They are very warm, generous and helpful. The bungalows are clean, beautiful and well-kept. Our bungalow stayed 100% dry despite the daily rainshowers. We enjoyed the hammock on our balcony in front of our bungalow and the gorgeous views of the ocean. There are 7 bungalows, accommodating up to 14 guests.
The electricity runs in the evening from around 6pm-11pm. There is a strong 4g signal available throughout the area. They allow you to pay by cash, wise transfer or credit card.
The dive shop is outstanding. They are professional and make sure everyone is safe and cared for throughout the dives. We always had a maximum ratio of 3:1, guests to dive masters and it was often 2:1. They have newish, well-maintained equipment and two fully functioning dive boats that can take 4-8 divers all over Raja. They provided refresher dives in the house reef and they give discounts for diving with your own equipment.
Each evening after dinner, Sandy came and the group of guests planned out the diving for the next day. Sandy is an encyclopedia for diving, he knows everything about the currents, fish migration and when to go to which dive sites. We usually just went with his recommendations for the next day’s diving and had outstanding experiences! We each dove about 15 times over the 8 days we spent here and loved all of them!!
They usually plan 2 morning dives and optional afternoon/night dives. You can dive as much or as little as you want and they arrange the afternoon/night dives during lunch. The dive intervals are thoughtfully planned, they have watermelon, coffee, tea and cake, shout-out to the coconut cake! We always spent the hour somewhere nice, in a village, a Manta viewpoint, sandbar or a nice beach.
The staff really care about keeping the place beautiful. The grounds are well maintained, and the shared bathroom is basic, but clean. The food is very very good. Lunch and dinner alternate between a chicken or fish main dish, tempe, vegetables and usually some kind of fresh fruit. Breakfast is ok, toast with some spreads, fruit and sometimes fried rice. There is also a 16:30 banana-centered snack that becomes dinner’s dessert.
The staff also showed us all kinds of wildlife around the area, like cuscus es, coconut crabs, and the various sea creatures in the house reef whenever they were spotted. There are minimal insects and mosquitoes which was a pleasant surprise.
As with almost everywhere around Raja, diving is not available on Sundays and you can either relax, enjoy the house reef or do one of the tours that they arrange. We did a nice mangrove tour and it is also possible to go birdwatching for the birds of paradise, but that starts early, 4am. There is also a short hike you can do (20-30 minutes) for a viewpoint of Gam bay.
Everything is done with care here and the staff really make you feel like you are at home. The group atmosphere was also exceptional during our stay. Everyone we met also agreed that this was the best Homestay they experienced in Raja. My wife and I came here on our honeymoon and can’t wait to come back!!
Corepen really feels like home ❤️ My wife and I stayed here for 8 days in January of 2026 during our honeymoon.
Sandy, Maria and the whole staff speak excellent English. They are very warm, generous and helpful. The bungalows are clean, beautiful and well-kept. Our bungalow stayed 100% dry despite the daily rainshowers. We enjoyed the hammock on our balcony in front of our bungalow and the gorgeous views of the ocean. There are 7 bungalows, accommodating up to 14 guests.
The electricity runs in the evening from around 6pm-11pm. There is a strong 4g signal available throughout the area. They allow you to pay by cash, wise transfer or credit card.
The dive shop is outstanding. They are professional and make sure everyone is safe and cared for throughout the dives. We always had a maximum ratio of 3:1, guests to dive masters and it was often 2:1. They have newish, well-maintained equipment and two fully functioning dive boats that can take 4-8 divers all over Raja. They provided refresher dives in the house reef and they give discounts for diving with your own equipment.
Each evening after dinner, Sandy came and the group of guests planned out the diving for the next day. Sandy is an encyclopedia for diving, he knows everything about the currents, fish migration and when to go to which dive sites. We usually just went with his recommendations for the next day’s diving and had outstanding experiences! We each dove about 15 times over the 8 days we spent here and loved all of them!!
They usually plan 2 morning dives and optional afternoon/night dives. You can dive as much or as little as you want and they arrange the afternoon/night dives during lunch. The dive intervals are thoughtfully planned, they have watermelon, coffee, tea and cake, shout-out to the coconut cake! We always spent the hour somewhere nice, in a village, a Manta viewpoint, sandbar or a nice beach.
The staff really care about keeping the place beautiful. The grounds are well maintained, and the shared bathroom is basic, but clean. The food is very very good. Lunch and dinner alternate between a chicken or fish main dish, tempe, vegetables and usually some kind of fresh fruit. Breakfast is ok, toast with some spreads, fruit and sometimes fried rice. There is also a 16:30 banana-centered snack that becomes dinner’s dessert.
The staff also showed us all kinds of wildlife around the area, like cuscus es, coconut crabs, and the various sea creatures in the house reef whenever they were spotted. There are minimal insects and mosquitoes which was a pleasant surprise.
As with almost everywhere around Raja, diving is not available on Sundays and you can either relax, enjoy the house reef or do one of the tours that they arrange. We did a nice mangrove tour and it is also possible to go birdwatching for the birds of paradise, but that starts early, 4am. There is also a short hike you can do (20-30 minutes) for a viewpoint of Gam bay.
Everything is done with care here and the staff really make you feel like you are at home. The group atmosphere was also exceptional during our stay. Everyone we met also agreed that this was the best Homestay they experienced in Raja. My wife and I came here on our honeymoon and can’t wait to come back!!
We recently stayed for seven nights, and thoughly enjoyed our stay..The Bungalows are good and right on the beach. Three good meals day and free tea and coffee all day.
The diving was very well organised, dive equipment was of a good standard and dive guides were experienced.
Maria and Sandi are great hosts.
Thanks for making our stay very comfortable.
We recently stayed for seven nights, and thoughly enjoyed our stay..The Bungalows are good and right on the beach. Three good meals day and free tea and coffee all day.
The diving was very well organised, dive equipment was of a good standard and dive guides were experienced.
Maria and Sandi are great hosts.
Thanks for making our stay very comfortable.
Our family of 4 stayed here for 8 days and had a great time. We will definitely return and stay here again. Maria and Sandy are super helpful, friendly people. Dive guides did a great job working with our family of divers, age 11-51, and adapting to our various experience and comfort levels. Most other guests staying at Corepen when we were there were return guests, and I see why. The bungalows are very nice, the beach is beautiful and the dock is a great place to jump in or just hang out. Thank you for everything Maria and Sandy, we look forward to seeing you again!
Our family of 4 stayed here for 8 days and had a great time. We will definitely return and stay here again. Maria and Sandy are super helpful, friendly people. Dive guides did a great job working with our family of divers, age 11-51, and adapting to our various experience and comfort levels. Most other guests staying at Corepen when we were there were return guests, and I see why. The bungalows are very nice, the beach is beautiful and the dock is a great place to jump in or just hang out. Thank you for everything Maria and Sandy, we look forward to seeing you again!
We spent four nights at Corepen and would highly recommend staying here. Of the five homestays we visited, this was the most professionally run, with consistent daily dive and meal times, regular bathroom cleanings, and fluent English widely spoken by many of the hosts. Thank you so much to Sandy, Mariama, and the rest of the staff for all your help!
The location is excellent for diving as you are only a short boat ride from many of the most popular sites, including Cape Kri, Mike’s Point, and Friwen Wall. For Blue Magic you need to book in advance as the number of daily divers is limited, so if you are keen to dive this site please talk to Sandy when you arrive. Corepen runs two morning dives plus an afternoon and evening dive for interested guests, except on Sundays when the Sabbath is observed, and the prices were very reasonable at 480k IDR per dive.
The huts are in good shape, the food is decent by homestay standards, and they sell Bingtang out of the kitchen which is a nice bonus. All in all if you’re coming to Raja for the diving you would do well to camp out here for a while.
We spent four nights at Corepen and would highly recommend staying here. Of the five homestays we visited, this was the most professionally run, with consistent daily dive and meal times, regular bathroom cleanings, and fluent English widely spoken by many of the hosts. Thank you so much to Sandy, Mariama, and the rest of the staff for all your help!
The location is excellent for diving as you are only a short boat ride from many of the most popular sites, including Cape Kri, Mike’s Point, and Friwen Wall. For Blue Magic you need to book in advance as the number of daily divers is limited, so if you are keen to dive this site please talk to Sandy when you arrive. Corepen runs two morning dives plus an afternoon and evening dive for interested guests, except on Sundays when the Sabbath is observed, and the prices were very reasonable at 480k IDR per dive.
The huts are in good shape, the food is decent by homestay standards, and they sell Bingtang out of the kitchen which is a nice bonus. All in all if you’re coming to Raja for the diving you would do well to camp out here for a while.
Diamo stati 10 giorni al Corepen ad inizio dicembre e sono stati giorni magnifici.
Le cabanas sono state tutte rinnovate ed i letti e cuscini sono davvero comodi.
Avevo un generale timore di non riuscire a dormire bene per la luce ed eventuali insetti, ma ho dormito divinamente cullata dal suono del mare (senza visitatori in camera).
Cibo semplice ma squisito, con sempre una merenda nel pomeriggio e qualche volta le torte fantastiche di Maria a deliziarci tra un’immersione e l’altra.
Cambio asciugamani e lenzuola a metà soggiorno.
Elettricità dalle 5pm alle 11pm circa.
Il diving e i ragazzi che vi lavorano sono super! La sera prima si decide insieme dove si vorrebbe/potrebbe andare l’indomani. Le immersioni con loro sono sempre stupende!
Ho letto altre recensioni in cui si parla di inconvenienti con i topi, per fortuna a noi non è capitato nulla, solo gli ultimi due giorni ne abbiamo visti un paio correre nella natura.
Una nota speciale alla gentilezza e disponibilità dello staff a risolvere anche un “piccolo” problemino con il mio bagaglio rimasto a Jakarta.
Il giorno dopo siamo riusciti ad averlo grazie anche al loro aiuto.
Che dire, io consiglio davvero Corepen se volete un’esperienza reale, lenta, local e che vi lasci la voglia ti tornare.
Diamo stati 10 giorni al Corepen ad inizio dicembre e sono stati giorni magnifici.
Le cabanas sono state tutte rinnovate ed i letti e cuscini sono davvero comodi.
Avevo un generale timore di non riuscire a dormire bene per la luce ed eventuali insetti, ma ho dormito divinamente cullata dal suono del mare (senza visitatori in camera).
Cibo semplice ma squisito, con sempre una merenda nel pomeriggio e qualche volta le torte fantastiche di Maria a deliziarci tra un’immersione e l’altra.
Cambio asciugamani e lenzuola a metà soggiorno.
Elettricità dalle 5pm alle 11pm circa.
Il diving e i ragazzi che vi lavorano sono super! La sera prima si decide insieme dove si vorrebbe/potrebbe andare l’indomani. Le immersioni con loro sono sempre stupende!
Ho letto altre recensioni in cui si parla di inconvenienti con i topi, per fortuna a noi non è capitato nulla, solo gli ultimi due giorni ne abbiamo visti un paio correre nella natura.
Una nota speciale alla gentilezza e disponibilità dello staff a risolvere anche un “piccolo” problemino con il mio bagaglio rimasto a Jakarta.
Il giorno dopo siamo riusciti ad averlo grazie anche al loro aiuto.
Che dire, io consiglio davvero Corepen se volete un’esperienza reale, lenta, local e che vi lasci la voglia ti tornare.
Bungalows, and location are nice, good snorkeling as many places in Raja, and food more or less at the same level than many others homestays. Possibility to organize diving, and to go on the main good dives sites. Two points should be improved with at low cost : the rodents are a real problem. For sure they are presents in many homestays, but here, even without leaving any food, the rodents made holes in our clothes and in our trvels bags, what is a bit costly. Hire one or two cats should be usefull. Second point is about the showers, that are very desaster. That won’t cost a lot to improve a little bit, and for sure improve the global visitors apreciations.
Bungalows, and location are nice, good snorkeling as many places in Raja, and food more or less at the same level than many others homestays. Possibility to organize diving, and to go on the main good dives sites. Two points should be improved with at low cost : the rodents are a real problem. For sure they are presents in many homestays, but here, even without leaving any food, the rodents made holes in our clothes and in our trvels bags, what is a bit costly. Hire one or two cats should be usefull. Second point is about the showers, that are very desaster. That won’t cost a lot to improve a little bit, and for sure improve the global visitors apreciations.
Of the three homestays I used in Raja Ampat, this one was the best.
The homestay itself was as comfortable as it gets in Raja, with cabins in good condition, enough showers and toilets and good food. The people there clearly care about the comfort of their guests and it shows.
However, if you consider staying here, it is probably to go diving. And the dive shop delivers too. The rental gear is in good shape and you can do from 1 to 4 dives everyday. The location is really strategic with all the best sites within a short ride. Only Mayhem and Pianemo incur surchages but even those are rather reasonable. Since there are 2 boats, you always get to choose your destination too.
If you are looking to dive in central Raja Ampat, this could be the only place you need to visit.
Of the three homestays I used in Raja Ampat, this one was the best.
The homestay itself was as comfortable as it gets in Raja, with cabins in good condition, enough showers and toilets and good food. The people there clearly care about the comfort of their guests and it shows.
However, if you consider staying here, it is probably to go diving. And the dive shop delivers too. The rental gear is in good shape and you can do from 1 to 4 dives everyday. The location is really strategic with all the best sites within a short ride. Only Mayhem and Pianemo incur surchages but even those are rather reasonable. Since there are 2 boats, you always get to choose your destination too.
If you are looking to dive in central Raja Ampat, this could be the only place you need to visit.
Really enjoyed my stay, I stayed 8 days and I wish it was longer. If you and avid diver in a budget it is a great place to stay. Great room and matress. There is a close reef for snorkeling, coral is in bad shape but there is full of life, including sharks and turtles. I hope to be back soon! Thanks Maria and Sandy!
Really enjoyed my stay, I stayed 8 days and I wish it was longer. If you and avid diver in a budget it is a great place to stay. Great room and matress. There is a close reef for snorkeling, coral is in bad shape but there is full of life, including sharks and turtles. I hope to be back soon! Thanks Maria and Sandy!
My first night here was not good because I got the farthest room nearest to the woods, where the rats nesting. So the next morning, I requested to move to other room far from the woods, and then I felt really happy for staying here. The room was clean (except when the rats disturbed my peaceful time here), comfortable with lots of space to put my belongings. The bathroom was basic, cleanliness depends on how the other guests use it because it was shared. The owner provided my lunch even though I arrived there after lunch time finished, which I really appreciated.
I did scuba diving with them, the price was reasonable, the facility was simple but it provided everything I needed. The house reef was beautiful although there was some rubbles around the pier area. I found a turtle there.
So overall, I am really satisfied to have stayed here. And I hope Maria and Sandy can solve this rats issue immediately so no more guests would have same problem with me.
My first night here was not good because I got the farthest room nearest to the woods, where the rats nesting. So the next morning, I requested to move to other room far from the woods, and then I felt really happy for staying here. The room was clean (except when the rats disturbed my peaceful time here), comfortable with lots of space to put my belongings. The bathroom was basic, cleanliness depends on how the other guests use it because it was shared. The owner provided my lunch even though I arrived there after lunch time finished, which I really appreciated.
I did scuba diving with them, the price was reasonable, the facility was simple but it provided everything I needed. The house reef was beautiful although there was some rubbles around the pier area. I found a turtle there.
So overall, I am really satisfied to have stayed here. And I hope Maria and Sandy can solve this rats issue immediately so no more guests would have same problem with me.
Best bungalows they really feel like luxury in comparison to all others. And you can feel a woman manages it – very clean and comfortable and also toilets well maintained.
Bed is big and comfortable with comfortable pillows
Big mosquito nets and you have a big terrace and big glass doors with view of the ocean from your bed. Very comfy!
Dive Center on site with great equipment
Always felt safe and well taken care of (some places in Raja are dodgy)
Really fair prices for diving and guides very experienced but I was hoping they interact more and show you stuff and just take off …
in the evening you sit together and can pick the dive spots for the next day (2 boats)
Downside was the food for sure. Quite disappointing very repetitive and several people left hungry. Seems to be the same amount even though 10 or 14 people and it’s kinda always the same no flavour worst are the beans.
Tempeh if you’re unlucky is coated in greasy batter and veggie fritters contain 99 percent batter. Breakfast is toast eggs and banana if you don’t eat any of this you’re unlucky
I would really appreciate some better food and it’s not difficult to cook healthy and with flavour even though not having many ingredients .
Also if you’re not there on time you might go to bed hungry.
Beautiful place though and if you’re lucky you get so see a kuskus in the trees. Two hammocks each bungalow. Very comfortable and felt luxurious to sleep in the bungalows. Diving very safe which is the most important thing and experienced. English very good too
Best bungalows they really feel like luxury in comparison to all others. And you can feel a woman manages it – very clean and comfortable and also toilets well maintained.
Bed is big and comfortable with comfortable pillows
Big mosquito nets and you have a big terrace and big glass doors with view of the ocean from your bed. Very comfy!
Dive Center on site with great equipment
Always felt safe and well taken care of (some places in Raja are dodgy)
Really fair prices for diving and guides very experienced but I was hoping they interact more and show you stuff and just take off …
in the evening you sit together and can pick the dive spots for the next day (2 boats)
Downside was the food for sure. Quite disappointing very repetitive and several people left hungry. Seems to be the same amount even though 10 or 14 people and it’s kinda always the same no flavour worst are the beans.
Tempeh if you’re unlucky is coated in greasy batter and veggie fritters contain 99 percent batter. Breakfast is toast eggs and banana if you don’t eat any of this you’re unlucky
I would really appreciate some better food and it’s not difficult to cook healthy and with flavour even though not having many ingredients .
Also if you’re not there on time you might go to bed hungry.
Beautiful place though and if you’re lucky you get so see a kuskus in the trees. Two hammocks each bungalow. Very comfortable and felt luxurious to sleep in the bungalows. Diving very safe which is the most important thing and experienced. English very good too
Exceptional service and friendly atmosphere. Maria and Sandy helped me a lot during my stay, lending me a converter to charge my devices and letting me use the washing machine. They’re very accommodating and give you helpful advice for your dives. Bungalows and toilets were maintained very well.
Miss the dive crew they were so fun to be with and make you feel comfortable while diving.
Had the best dive ever at chicken reef would definitely stay again!
Oh and chocolate cake as a post dive snack was divine☺️
Exceptional service and friendly atmosphere. Maria and Sandy helped me a lot during my stay, lending me a converter to charge my devices and letting me use the washing machine. They’re very accommodating and give you helpful advice for your dives. Bungalows and toilets were maintained very well.
Miss the dive crew they were so fun to be with and make you feel comfortable while diving.
Had the best dive ever at chicken reef would definitely stay again!
Oh and chocolate cake as a post dive snack was divine☺️
Divecenter bien organisé, petit groupe, à l’écoute pour choisir les plongées, les divemasters très pro et te montrent beaucoup de macros. Côté homestay. Très nature, confortable, sanitaire basique, nourriture suffisante mais pas très variée. Bon endroit pour faire un maximum de sites différents.
Divecenter bien organisé, petit groupe, à l’écoute pour choisir les plongées, les divemasters très pro et te montrent beaucoup de macros. Côté homestay. Très nature, confortable, sanitaire basique, nourriture suffisante mais pas très variée. Bon endroit pour faire un maximum de sites différents.
Petit homestay à taille humaine ce qui facilite les rencontres.
Personnel sympathique.
Les bungalow sont mignons et les lits confortables. Les sanitaires sont propres mais basiques (exemple : pas de lunettes sur les WC).
La nourriture est en quantité suffisante mais nous l’avons trouvée trop fade et peu originale comparée à d’autres homestays. Le petit déjeuner est toujours le même.
Le dive center est de bonne qualité et les plongées à bons prix. Facilité pour accompagner en tant que snorkeler si le bateau n’est pas complet.
Petit homestay à taille humaine ce qui facilite les rencontres.
Personnel sympathique.
Les bungalow sont mignons et les lits confortables. Les sanitaires sont propres mais basiques (exemple : pas de lunettes sur les WC).
La nourriture est en quantité suffisante mais nous l’avons trouvée trop fade et peu originale comparée à d’autres homestays. Le petit déjeuner est toujours le même.
Le dive center est de bonne qualité et les plongées à bons prix. Facilité pour accompagner en tant que snorkeler si le bateau n’est pas complet.
Fantastic views, great snorkeling straight from the jetty. Amazing hosts and staff, always went over and beyond to make our stay memorable! Thanks so much, we hope to return for a longer stay!
Fantastic views, great snorkeling straight from the jetty. Amazing hosts and staff, always went over and beyond to make our stay memorable! Thanks so much, we hope to return for a longer stay!
Amazing week long stay at Corepen!
Everyone there is great, they really make you feel at home. Sandi, Kun, Kur, Tonno, Risal, & co. are a great group of dive masters and take care of all your needs.
Bungalows are beautiful and the view is amazing.
Food is good and served in great quantities.
Amazing week long stay at Corepen!
Everyone there is great, they really make you feel at home. Sandi, Kun, Kur, Tonno, Risal, & co. are a great group of dive masters and take care of all your needs.
Bungalows are beautiful and the view is amazing.
Food is good and served in great quantities.
Me and my son had an unforgettable stay at Corepen Homestay in Raja Ampat – truly a little slice of paradise! We stayed here for 1 week in the first week of August. The location is breathtaking, with a nearly private beach just steps away from our beachfront hut. The boat trip from Waisai took a little over 30 minutes, and from the moment we arrived, we felt completely at peace.
Relaxing in the hammock, listening to the sound of the waves, or snorkeling right in front of the homestay – it was pure bliss. The meals were tasty and satisfying, and the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful throughout our stay.
Corepen also has its own dive school, and we had a fantastic experience diving with instructors Maria, Kurniawan, and Kunio – all of whom were highly professional and skilled. Although the underwater visibility wasn’t ideal during our visit, diving in Raja Ampat has always been a dream of ours, and it was still an amazing experience.
We are already looking forward to coming back again soon!
Me and my son had an unforgettable stay at Corepen Homestay in Raja Ampat – truly a little slice of paradise! We stayed here for 1 week in the first week of August. The location is breathtaking, with a nearly private beach just steps away from our beachfront hut. The boat trip from Waisai took a little over 30 minutes, and from the moment we arrived, we felt completely at peace.
Relaxing in the hammock, listening to the sound of the waves, or snorkeling right in front of the homestay – it was pure bliss. The meals were tasty and satisfying, and the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful throughout our stay.
Corepen also has its own dive school, and we had a fantastic experience diving with instructors Maria, Kurniawan, and Kunio – all of whom were highly professional and skilled. Although the underwater visibility wasn’t ideal during our visit, diving in Raja Ampat has always been a dream of ours, and it was still an amazing experience.
We are already looking forward to coming back again soon!
We had an excellent experience at Corepen! We saw beautiful birds, ate great food and did awesome dives! I fell very save with them in the water, they ask where you want to go and are going slowly and with no stress.
We loved our bungalow and the little balcony. We would come back to this stunning place.
We had an excellent experience at Corepen! We saw beautiful birds, ate great food and did awesome dives! I fell very save with them in the water, they ask where you want to go and are going slowly and with no stress.
We loved our bungalow and the little balcony. We would come back to this stunning place.
Il nostro soggiorno al corepen Homestay è stato molto piacevole, è stato il nostro primo homestay quindi abbiamo usufruito del transfer da waisai ( all’incirca 35 min). Al nostro arrivo ci accolgono calorosamente e ci danno una mano con i bagagli. I bungalow sono grandi e di buona costruzione, terrazzo vista mare con 2 amache per rilassarsi, il letto è il più grande che abbiamo trovato a Raja Ampat e la zanzariera è posizionata in maniera intelligente, senza che ti venga addosso. Viene fornita anche una scatola di plastica per riporre eventuale cibo. Essendo vegetariani abbiamo informato l homestay e non abbiamo avuto problemi con il cibo, anzi era squisito e non solo uova, ma anche molto Tempeh buonissimo. I bagni sono 3 wc e 2 docce, sempre puliti e riforniti di carta igienica. La corrente è presente dalle 18 alle 23 circa. La barriera corallina di fronte alle capanne è raggiungibile con qualsiasi marea e offre uno snorkeling mozzafiato senza alcuna corrente (abbiamo visto squali pinna nera tartarughe, barracuda ecc…)
La sera dopo cena I proprietari del homestay Marie e Sandy vengono al tavolo per discutere le attività e le richieste del giorno seguente, noi abbiamo immerso con il loro centro Diving, l’attrezzatura è buona le guide sono esperte e molto preparate, ci siamo trovati molto bene. È possibile anche fare immersioni in autonomia nel house reef alla metà del prezzo. Un grazie va a Marie e Sandy che sono ottimi padroni di casa, fanno di tutto per accontentare ogni singola richiesta, hanno uno staff molto preparato e gentile. Il nostro soggiorno era stato di 3 notti ma alla fine della nostra vacanza abbiamo chiesto all’ultimo di tornare per altre 2 notti e ci hanno accolto a braccia aperte. Esperienza bellissima non vediamo l’ora di tornare!
Il nostro soggiorno al corepen Homestay è stato molto piacevole, è stato il nostro primo homestay quindi abbiamo usufruito del transfer da waisai ( all’incirca 35 min). Al nostro arrivo ci accolgono calorosamente e ci danno una mano con i bagagli. I bungalow sono grandi e di buona costruzione, terrazzo vista mare con 2 amache per rilassarsi, il letto è il più grande che abbiamo trovato a Raja Ampat e la zanzariera è posizionata in maniera intelligente, senza che ti venga addosso. Viene fornita anche una scatola di plastica per riporre eventuale cibo. Essendo vegetariani abbiamo informato l homestay e non abbiamo avuto problemi con il cibo, anzi era squisito e non solo uova, ma anche molto Tempeh buonissimo. I bagni sono 3 wc e 2 docce, sempre puliti e riforniti di carta igienica. La corrente è presente dalle 18 alle 23 circa. La barriera corallina di fronte alle capanne è raggiungibile con qualsiasi marea e offre uno snorkeling mozzafiato senza alcuna corrente (abbiamo visto squali pinna nera tartarughe, barracuda ecc…)
La sera dopo cena I proprietari del homestay Marie e Sandy vengono al tavolo per discutere le attività e le richieste del giorno seguente, noi abbiamo immerso con il loro centro Diving, l’attrezzatura è buona le guide sono esperte e molto preparate, ci siamo trovati molto bene. È possibile anche fare immersioni in autonomia nel house reef alla metà del prezzo. Un grazie va a Marie e Sandy che sono ottimi padroni di casa, fanno di tutto per accontentare ogni singola richiesta, hanno uno staff molto preparato e gentile. Il nostro soggiorno era stato di 3 notti ma alla fine della nostra vacanza abbiamo chiesto all’ultimo di tornare per altre 2 notti e ci hanno accolto a braccia aperte. Esperienza bellissima non vediamo l’ora di tornare!
If you are lucky to get a free bungalow at Corepen don’t think twice to take it. Corepen homestay was the most professionally run place I Came in three weeks in the most positive way. The bungalows are very well constructed, everything is clean and taken care of and all together it’s a peaceful hideaway.
Maria and Sandi are great hosts which know the Maritim life excellent. Every evening after dinner they come to discuss the plans for the next day, give explanations to the sites and recommendations where to go. Even though I’m not diving I joined the group every morning to go to the sites where I was able to snorkel while the group was diving. Even on difficult spots with currents in open water I always felt safe and the boat driver did an amazing job to pick me up several times and drop me on different places at the reefs.
After five nights I had to leave due to full bookings. Otherwise I would have been staying longer.
If you are lucky to get a free bungalow at Corepen don’t think twice to take it. Corepen homestay was the most professionally run place I Came in three weeks in the most positive way. The bungalows are very well constructed, everything is clean and taken care of and all together it’s a peaceful hideaway.
Maria and Sandi are great hosts which know the Maritim life excellent. Every evening after dinner they come to discuss the plans for the next day, give explanations to the sites and recommendations where to go. Even though I’m not diving I joined the group every morning to go to the sites where I was able to snorkel while the group was diving. Even on difficult spots with currents in open water I always felt safe and the boat driver did an amazing job to pick me up several times and drop me on different places at the reefs.
After five nights I had to leave due to full bookings. Otherwise I would have been staying longer.
We stayed at Corepen Homestay for the second time, and once again, it exceeded all expectations. Among all the homestays we’ve experienced in Raja Ampat, Corepen stands out as the most special.
Maria and Sandi are wonderful hosts – warm, attentive, and always available. Everything is well-organized, from the daily routines to the diving trips, and the staff is consistently helpful and friendly. The location itself is simply stunning: the homestay is nestled in a quiet, picturesque bay surrounded by lush jungle and turquoise water.
The huts are simple but charming, located right on the beach with a fantastic view and a hammock on the porch – perfect for relaxing after a day of diving or snorkeling.
The diving is superb and very professionally run. Safety is clearly a top priority, and the dive equipment is in great condition. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or just getting started, you’ll feel completely comfortable and well taken care of.
We can’t recommend Corepen enough and are already looking forward to our next visit.
We stayed at Corepen Homestay for the second time, and once again, it exceeded all expectations. Among all the homestays we’ve experienced in Raja Ampat, Corepen stands out as the most special.
Maria and Sandi are wonderful hosts – warm, attentive, and always available. Everything is well-organized, from the daily routines to the diving trips, and the staff is consistently helpful and friendly. The location itself is simply stunning: the homestay is nestled in a quiet, picturesque bay surrounded by lush jungle and turquoise water.
The huts are simple but charming, located right on the beach with a fantastic view and a hammock on the porch – perfect for relaxing after a day of diving or snorkeling.
The diving is superb and very professionally run. Safety is clearly a top priority, and the dive equipment is in great condition. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or just getting started, you’ll feel completely comfortable and well taken care of.
We can’t recommend Corepen enough and are already looking forward to our next visit.
I stayed 4 days, everything was amazing and beyond. The bungalows feets in the sand, calm and tranquility at its peak.
The diving is surreal, even if the weather was not good, I still enjoyed every moment.
The staff is very professional, the guests were great (around ten people total so the vibe is one of a family-ran place).
The price very reasonable.
I hope I have the chance to come back on day during dry season.
Long life to Corepen !
I stayed 4 days, everything was amazing and beyond. The bungalows feets in the sand, calm and tranquility at its peak.
The diving is surreal, even if the weather was not good, I still enjoyed every moment.
The staff is very professional, the guests were great (around ten people total so the vibe is one of a family-ran place).
The price very reasonable.
I hope I have the chance to come back on day during dry season.
Long life to Corepen !
I stayed 12 nights, doing two or three dives per day, except on Sundays (when the instructors rest). The place is quiet, with no Wi-Fi, and electricity available from 6 pm to 11 pm. Good food, small rustic cabins, but excellent value for money — 10/10. Your not paying for a five star diving ressort, dont forget it.
Good diving equipment and not too far from many dive sites. I recommend it to anyone looking for a little piece of paradise about 30–45 minutes by boat from Waisai port.
Day trip to pyainemon* for no scuba diving or to go see the blue river in Waisai (realy cool). Maybe bring a book and enough sun screen.
I stayed 12 nights, doing two or three dives per day, except on Sundays (when the instructors rest). The place is quiet, with no Wi-Fi, and electricity available from 6 pm to 11 pm. Good food, small rustic cabins, but excellent value for money — 10/10. Your not paying for a five star diving ressort, dont forget it.
Good diving equipment and not too far from many dive sites. I recommend it to anyone looking for a little piece of paradise about 30–45 minutes by boat from Waisai port.
Day trip to pyainemon* for no scuba diving or to go see the blue river in Waisai (realy cool). Maybe bring a book and enough sun screen.
Corepen is so lovely. Food was fantastic and plentiful. The staff are awesome, helpful and friendly and above all, it seems like they really enjoy working there. Hence there is a very good vibe.
Rooms are good and on the shoreline , I loved that but my partner struggled with the loud waves ( we did go in rainy season so a bit stormy). Bathrooms are cleaned a few times a day.
The house reef is not the best but after 3 weeks in RA I’ve been spoilt. It is perfectly positioned for getting to many incredible dive sites.
I’d go back to Corapen in a heartbeat. Thank you!
Corepen is so lovely. Food was fantastic and plentiful. The staff are awesome, helpful and friendly and above all, it seems like they really enjoy working there. Hence there is a very good vibe.
Rooms are good and on the shoreline , I loved that but my partner struggled with the loud waves ( we did go in rainy season so a bit stormy). Bathrooms are cleaned a few times a day.
The house reef is not the best but after 3 weeks in RA I’ve been spoilt. It is perfectly positioned for getting to many incredible dive sites.
I’d go back to Corapen in a heartbeat. Thank you!
For me this place was really amazing, starting from family vibe (that was thanks to guests present at time as well), overall atmosphere. Food was good, only issue may arrive if you have greedy guests who will not have mentality to share. Dive guides where friendly, they helped find us a lot of good stuff. And most of all I have to thank to Maria, because she was so helpful and forthcoming
For me this place was really amazing, starting from family vibe (that was thanks to guests present at time as well), overall atmosphere. Food was good, only issue may arrive if you have greedy guests who will not have mentality to share. Dive guides where friendly, they helped find us a lot of good stuff. And most of all I have to thank to Maria, because she was so helpful and forthcoming
This place is a little paradise. The best comment I can make is that all three groups I met there (myself included) extended their stay longer than expected. Everything is perfect.
This place is a little paradise. The best comment I can make is that all three groups I met there (myself included) extended their stay longer than expected. Everything is perfect.
We stayed in Core Open in May. The stay was fine, the mosquito net is really good so as the bed, you have some tables to put your stuff and chlothesline on the balcony. The view among the sea is also wonderful. The bathroom are really clean.
About the food it was really good but the quantity will depend on the other guests… some were thinking only about themselves so we had to be on exact time at table otherwise we did not have enough.
We did one dive with core open. The gear is in perfect condition which is rare on RA. We did not dive with the manager so we wont blame the center itself, only the guide. He did not ask our level, at the briefing he talked about a dive between 20-25m and we had to tell him that we were OW so that we will refuse to dive that deep considering we are not trained for. He did not check the air at all… We had to run to him to keep him update. So we were not really in confidence.
We stayed in Core Open in May. The stay was fine, the mosquito net is really good so as the bed, you have some tables to put your stuff and chlothesline on the balcony. The view among the sea is also wonderful. The bathroom are really clean.
About the food it was really good but the quantity will depend on the other guests… some were thinking only about themselves so we had to be on exact time at table otherwise we did not have enough.
We did one dive with core open. The gear is in perfect condition which is rare on RA. We did not dive with the manager so we wont blame the center itself, only the guide. He did not ask our level, at the briefing he talked about a dive between 20-25m and we had to tell him that we were OW so that we will refuse to dive that deep considering we are not trained for. He did not check the air at all… We had to run to him to keep him update. So we were not really in confidence.
Staying at Corepen was a great experience and I would definitely come back. The bungalow is clean and comfortable, the view amazing, the mosquito net is big but while we stayed, there were not many mosquitos at all. The food is ok, a little repetitive and lacking flavor. This could be improved. The diving is stunning and well organized, the gear is in good condition and it always felt safe. Just don’t expect extensive briefings from all the guides or having them check everything for you, you need to be an independent diver in this region. But they are great at finding all those macro-love creatures!
Staying at Corepen was a great experience and I would definitely come back. The bungalow is clean and comfortable, the view amazing, the mosquito net is big but while we stayed, there were not many mosquitos at all. The food is ok, a little repetitive and lacking flavor. This could be improved. The diving is stunning and well organized, the gear is in good condition and it always felt safe. Just don’t expect extensive briefings from all the guides or having them check everything for you, you need to be an independent diver in this region. But they are great at finding all those macro-love creatures!
Enjoyed an epic stay at Corepen! The diving was all time, the staff were wonderful, the food was good and plentiful and the bungalows were dreamy. Big thank you to Sandy, Maria and the entire staff for making the experience so superb. Highly recommend this place to fellow travellers!
Enjoyed an epic stay at Corepen! The diving was all time, the staff were wonderful, the food was good and plentiful and the bungalows were dreamy. Big thank you to Sandy, Maria and the entire staff for making the experience so superb. Highly recommend this place to fellow travellers!
We loved our stay at corepen and would 100% recommend!
The diving was incredible – well organised and we always had multiple dive masters who made you feel safe and comfortable. As a new diver this was really reassuring and my diving confidence improved so much during our stay.
The huts were spacious and comfortable, with amazing balconies with hammocks overlooking the sea.
The food was delicious and plentiful. One of us has coeliac disease, and they took care to make gluten free alternatives that were safe for us to eat.
Thanks so much to everyone at corepen homestay and all the dive team! Everyone was so kind, and we had the best experience.
We loved our stay at corepen and would 100% recommend!
The diving was incredible – well organised and we always had multiple dive masters who made you feel safe and comfortable. As a new diver this was really reassuring and my diving confidence improved so much during our stay.
The huts were spacious and comfortable, with amazing balconies with hammocks overlooking the sea.
The food was delicious and plentiful. One of us has coeliac disease, and they took care to make gluten free alternatives that were safe for us to eat.
Thanks so much to everyone at corepen homestay and all the dive team! Everyone was so kind, and we had the best experience.
I made a very good experience, the bungalows are in a good shape, food is very tasteful, the family is very friendly, diving experience was also very good.
I made a very good experience, the bungalows are in a good shape, food is very tasteful, the family is very friendly, diving experience was also very good.
A stay in Paradise at Corepen Homestay!!! Our accommodation, situated over the water, was clean and comfortable with a spectacular view overlooking the sea! The bed was very comfortable and surrounded by mosquito netting. Our front deck had 2 comfy hammocks , great for relaxing in after a day of diving. The house reef is great for snorkeling and has beautiful coral, cuddle fish, a few resident sharks and many other fish. The meals were varied and very tasty. Especially enjoyed the 4:30 fried banana snack.
The dive centre was also great! It was well organized, had well-maintained equipment and always had enough dive masters per group according to everyone’s experience. Being a new diver, I felt comfortable knowing I was in good hands with dive masters Mario, Maria and Kur. The entire dive crew were all so kind, helpful and intuitive to our needs. Diving in Raja Ampat was a dream come true! I totally recommend Corepen Homestay for your Raja Ampat adventure!!!
A stay in Paradise at Corepen Homestay!!! Our accommodation, situated over the water, was clean and comfortable with a spectacular view overlooking the sea! The bed was very comfortable and surrounded by mosquito netting. Our front deck had 2 comfy hammocks , great for relaxing in after a day of diving. The house reef is great for snorkeling and has beautiful coral, cuddle fish, a few resident sharks and many other fish. The meals were varied and very tasty. Especially enjoyed the 4:30 fried banana snack.
The dive centre was also great! It was well organized, had well-maintained equipment and always had enough dive masters per group according to everyone’s experience. Being a new diver, I felt comfortable knowing I was in good hands with dive masters Mario, Maria and Kur. The entire dive crew were all so kind, helpful and intuitive to our needs. Diving in Raja Ampat was a dream come true! I totally recommend Corepen Homestay for your Raja Ampat adventure!!!
We loved our stay with Corepen. The dive shop and homestay are very well organized together by Maria and Sandi and we absolutely loved our dive masters (Mario, Kur). Meals were great, and served in one long family style table which was great for getting to know the other guests staying there. On top of 3 meals per day (always rotating between chicken and fish) they also privided morning and afternoon snacks (banana bread/chocolate cake, fried bananas). Each night as dinner was finishing, Sandi and Maria would come to the table and ask us where we wanted to dive the next day. The rooms were basic but very pretty set on the water so at night the waves come right up to the balcony (each balcony has a hammock and chairs). Bathrooms are shared and basic (no toilet seats) but that is very much the norm for raja ampat. I found them to be as clean as possible, although there are no sinks so bring your own hand soap and sanitizer. The property is beautifully taken care of and we would love to stay with them again.
We loved our stay with Corepen. The dive shop and homestay are very well organized together by Maria and Sandi and we absolutely loved our dive masters (Mario, Kur). Meals were great, and served in one long family style table which was great for getting to know the other guests staying there. On top of 3 meals per day (always rotating between chicken and fish) they also privided morning and afternoon snacks (banana bread/chocolate cake, fried bananas). Each night as dinner was finishing, Sandi and Maria would come to the table and ask us where we wanted to dive the next day. The rooms were basic but very pretty set on the water so at night the waves come right up to the balcony (each balcony has a hammock and chairs). Bathrooms are shared and basic (no toilet seats) but that is very much the norm for raja ampat. I found them to be as clean as possible, although there are no sinks so bring your own hand soap and sanitizer. The property is beautifully taken care of and we would love to stay with them again.
I stayed 5 nights at Corepen and should have stayed longer.
It is a well organized, clean homestay with a professional dive shop and very professional crew.
Staff speaks good English and communication is clear.
The cabin is spacious, comfortable and open to the beach and sea.
The communal bathroom and toilets are clean.
Everyone eats at a communal table and post dinner Sandy will review dive plan for the next day.
They tried to accommodate everyone’s wish.
Equipment is good and guides are supportive, attentive and highly professional. I would dive with them again.
Food is good and varied, which is nice. There is cold beer and sodas for sale.
If there is enough interest they will do Piaynemo or farther site dive trips which saved me from island hopping all the way to Fam.
On premise, one can see cuscus and the jetty at night will have squids and sharks come in for visit, with an occasional dugong passing by during the day.
Maria and Rachel do an excellent job overseeing and Sandy and his crew especially Kroor and Kuni are excellent at taking care of their dive guests.
It cannot be emphasized that this is the place to stay and dive in central RA.
Book your stay longer than you think because Maria’s place is very popular, rightly so.
I stayed 5 nights at Corepen and should have stayed longer.
It is a well organized, clean homestay with a professional dive shop and very professional crew.
Staff speaks good English and communication is clear.
The cabin is spacious, comfortable and open to the beach and sea.
The communal bathroom and toilets are clean.
Everyone eats at a communal table and post dinner Sandy will review dive plan for the next day.
They tried to accommodate everyone’s wish.
Equipment is good and guides are supportive, attentive and highly professional. I would dive with them again.
Food is good and varied, which is nice. There is cold beer and sodas for sale.
If there is enough interest they will do Piaynemo or farther site dive trips which saved me from island hopping all the way to Fam.
On premise, one can see cuscus and the jetty at night will have squids and sharks come in for visit, with an occasional dugong passing by during the day.
Maria and Rachel do an excellent job overseeing and Sandy and his crew especially Kroor and Kuni are excellent at taking care of their dive guests.
It cannot be emphasized that this is the place to stay and dive in central RA.
Book your stay longer than you think because Maria’s place is very popular, rightly so.
Stayed there from end of February to beginning of March. Very nice and cozy place. Food was great and plenty, and they had a good dive operation with good guides. I brought my own dive gear but the rental gear seemed very good. As a single traveler it was also easy to connect with other travelers/divers here. This is a homestay I would like to visit again, and rent the dive gear. Highly recommended.
Stayed there from end of February to beginning of March. Very nice and cozy place. Food was great and plenty, and they had a good dive operation with good guides. I brought my own dive gear but the rental gear seemed very good. As a single traveler it was also easy to connect with other travelers/divers here. This is a homestay I would like to visit again, and rent the dive gear. Highly recommended.
I have waited bit to write this review, but after having stayed in 4 other homestays in Raja Ampat, Corepen Dive Homestay is most def my favourite one, especially for diving. The diving is very well organised and safe. You can dive up to four times a day with guides, or you can rent a bottle and go diving yourself on the house reef. When diving in group, there were always at least 3 guides so if anyone ran out of air a bit sooner than others, it didn’t affect the group. During the interval, there was always freshly baked cake and fruits available. Compared to the other on-site dive schools I dived with in Raja Ampat (Dayan and Gloria), Corepen is a very professionally run organisation and they take a lot of pride in what they do. The bungalows are spacious and seem very solid. There was always plenty of food and an afternoon snack available. I would like to thank Maria and Sandi, and the whole team of Corepen for their incredible hospitality and friendliness.
I have waited bit to write this review, but after having stayed in 4 other homestays in Raja Ampat, Corepen Dive Homestay is most def my favourite one, especially for diving. The diving is very well organised and safe. You can dive up to four times a day with guides, or you can rent a bottle and go diving yourself on the house reef. When diving in group, there were always at least 3 guides so if anyone ran out of air a bit sooner than others, it didn’t affect the group. During the interval, there was always freshly baked cake and fruits available. Compared to the other on-site dive schools I dived with in Raja Ampat (Dayan and Gloria), Corepen is a very professionally run organisation and they take a lot of pride in what they do. The bungalows are spacious and seem very solid. There was always plenty of food and an afternoon snack available. I would like to thank Maria and Sandi, and the whole team of Corepen for their incredible hospitality and friendliness.
I stayed for 10 nights and really enjoyed my stay. The transport to & from went smoothly & communication with Maria was smooth and prompt.
The diving was wonderful, well organised, punctual, and the dive guides were knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
The accommodation was simple, but l felt comfortable.
The meals were freshly made and there was plenty to eat, however there was not a lot of variety. As a vegetarian, we only had tofu/tempeh once or twice, otherwise the only protein was eggs. More variety in the meals, using locally available ingredients, would be a good, and relatively easy, improvement to make.
I stayed for 10 nights and really enjoyed my stay. The transport to & from went smoothly & communication with Maria was smooth and prompt.
The diving was wonderful, well organised, punctual, and the dive guides were knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
The accommodation was simple, but l felt comfortable.
The meals were freshly made and there was plenty to eat, however there was not a lot of variety. As a vegetarian, we only had tofu/tempeh once or twice, otherwise the only protein was eggs. More variety in the meals, using locally available ingredients, would be a good, and relatively easy, improvement to make.
I just spent the last 9 days at Corepen and had such a wonderful stay. I loved every minute and would go back in a heartbeat. It’s a bit like camping, but you’re staying in a hut right over the water. There’s no internet, no mirrors and electricity only at night. It forces you to really unplug and connect with where you are. Dive center was really organized and they do a good job checking in with everybody on what their needs are. And the food is great too.
I was so sad to leave!!!
I just spent the last 9 days at Corepen and had such a wonderful stay. I loved every minute and would go back in a heartbeat. It’s a bit like camping, but you’re staying in a hut right over the water. There’s no internet, no mirrors and electricity only at night. It forces you to really unplug and connect with where you are. Dive center was really organized and they do a good job checking in with everybody on what their needs are. And the food is great too.
I was so sad to leave!!!
I had the best time in this homestay! From pickup til drop-off perfectly organized. The bungalows are amazing and the view on the ocean is 10/10. For anyone who is here for diving every day this is the place. Thank you so much for accommodating me Sandy and Maria. I will be back for sure.
I had the best time in this homestay! From pickup til drop-off perfectly organized. The bungalows are amazing and the view on the ocean is 10/10. For anyone who is here for diving every day this is the place. Thank you so much for accommodating me Sandy and Maria. I will be back for sure.
Ich war im Anfang Februar im Corepen Homestay und hatte eine wunderbare Zeit. Die Bungalows sind sauber und das Bett bequem. Die Gemeinschafts-WC‘s und Duschen waren sauber und wir hatten immer genug Wasser um zu Duschen. Es gibt genug Platz und auf der Terrasse mit einer gemütlichen Hängematte. Das Essen war sehr gut und es hatte immer mehr als genug. Maria und Sandi haben jeweils am Abend nach dem Abendessen die Wunsch-Tauchplätze koordiniert, dass alle Taucher auf ihre Kosten gekommen sind. Der lange Steg ist einladend um auch mal Calamare und Fische zu beobachten. Sonnatgs werden keine Tauchgänge angeboten (Ruhetag), aber wir haben Tanks bekommen um selber am Hausriff tauchen zu gehen. Sie fahren viele tolle Tauchplätze an und auf Wunsch bieten sie auch Tagesausflüge mit Tauchplätzen etwas weiter weg an. Die Guides sind sehr erfahren und finden auch die Makro Tiere. Ich hatte eine wirklich sehr tolle Zeit und werde sicher wieder gehen! Kleiner Tipp noch: genug früh buchen, denn sie sind oft ausgebucht. Die Homestays rechts und links davon tauchen auch mit dem Corepen Dive Center – also kann auch ein Homestay daneben gebucht werden.
Ich war im Anfang Februar im Corepen Homestay und hatte eine wunderbare Zeit. Die Bungalows sind sauber und das Bett bequem. Die Gemeinschafts-WC‘s und Duschen waren sauber und wir hatten immer genug Wasser um zu Duschen. Es gibt genug Platz und auf der Terrasse mit einer gemütlichen Hängematte. Das Essen war sehr gut und es hatte immer mehr als genug. Maria und Sandi haben jeweils am Abend nach dem Abendessen die Wunsch-Tauchplätze koordiniert, dass alle Taucher auf ihre Kosten gekommen sind. Der lange Steg ist einladend um auch mal Calamare und Fische zu beobachten. Sonnatgs werden keine Tauchgänge angeboten (Ruhetag), aber wir haben Tanks bekommen um selber am Hausriff tauchen zu gehen. Sie fahren viele tolle Tauchplätze an und auf Wunsch bieten sie auch Tagesausflüge mit Tauchplätzen etwas weiter weg an. Die Guides sind sehr erfahren und finden auch die Makro Tiere. Ich hatte eine wirklich sehr tolle Zeit und werde sicher wieder gehen! Kleiner Tipp noch: genug früh buchen, denn sie sind oft ausgebucht. Die Homestays rechts und links davon tauchen auch mit dem Corepen Dive Center – also kann auch ein Homestay daneben gebucht werden.
We stayed here for 3days ,and dived twice a day. Theyhave
a well run Diveshop,with good equipment, and dive masters.The food was good and plenty of it.The cabins were very well build with a nice outdoor sitting area. The only thing I would say is that the rooms could use fans,when the air goes still it’s a sweat box.thanks to the whole team 👍
We stayed here for 3days ,and dived twice a day. Theyhave
a well run Diveshop,with good equipment, and dive masters.The food was good and plenty of it.The cabins were very well build with a nice outdoor sitting area. The only thing I would say is that the rooms could use fans,when the air goes still it’s a sweat box.thanks to the whole team 👍
Corepen Dive Homestay looks good. The bungalows are spacious, have a comfortable bed, and a large outdoor area with two hammocks overlooking the sea. We could enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets from our bed, which was truly fantastic! However, we did not receive a warm welcome, unlike at other homestays. During the day, construction work was ongoing on a new building, which caused a lot of noise. We reported this, but it was not well-received. After all, we are on vacation, not here to listen to construction sounds.
Additionally, there are more bungalows than listed on the Stay Raja Ampat website. This is not a big issue, but we had specifically chosen accommodations that are small-scale. The diving was not always well-organized. We often dived at the same spots, and there was no briefing in the afternoon; people just went diving. This was a bit strange. Be aware that you might visit the same dive spots as when staying on the island of Kri. Furthermore, the food was a bit monotonous, and we were served almost the same meals every day. Despite these points, we enjoyed our stay, the beautiful bungalow, and the diving experience in Raja Ampat.
Corepen Dive Homestay looks good. The bungalows are spacious, have a comfortable bed, and a large outdoor area with two hammocks overlooking the sea. We could enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets from our bed, which was truly fantastic! However, we did not receive a warm welcome, unlike at other homestays. During the day, construction work was ongoing on a new building, which caused a lot of noise. We reported this, but it was not well-received. After all, we are on vacation, not here to listen to construction sounds.
Additionally, there are more bungalows than listed on the Stay Raja Ampat website. This is not a big issue, but we had specifically chosen accommodations that are small-scale. The diving was not always well-organized. We often dived at the same spots, and there was no briefing in the afternoon; people just went diving. This was a bit strange. Be aware that you might visit the same dive spots as when staying on the island of Kri. Furthermore, the food was a bit monotonous, and we were served almost the same meals every day. Despite these points, we enjoyed our stay, the beautiful bungalow, and the diving experience in Raja Ampat.
Wunderschöner Aufenthalt im Corepen Homestay. Bungalows wesentlich netter als auf Bildern der HP, gutes, reichhaltiges und abwechslungsreiches Essen. Die gemeinsamen Bäder und Toiletten;))))
Tauchbasis bestens organisiert, 2 Tauchboote , Santi und die Guides checken schnell, was jedem Taucher gefällt. Riffe an manchen Tauchplätzen leider vom Bleaching betroffen. Vom Macro bis Hai / Mantas alles vorhanden. Auch tolle Muck Nachttauchgänge und Tagesausflüge gemacht.
Santi und Maria führen das Homestay mit viel Liebe, man muss sich hier wohlfühlen! Danke!
Wunderschöner Aufenthalt im Corepen Homestay. Bungalows wesentlich netter als auf Bildern der HP, gutes, reichhaltiges und abwechslungsreiches Essen. Die gemeinsamen Bäder und Toiletten;))))
Tauchbasis bestens organisiert, 2 Tauchboote , Santi und die Guides checken schnell, was jedem Taucher gefällt. Riffe an manchen Tauchplätzen leider vom Bleaching betroffen. Vom Macro bis Hai / Mantas alles vorhanden. Auch tolle Muck Nachttauchgänge und Tagesausflüge gemacht.
Santi und Maria führen das Homestay mit viel Liebe, man muss sich hier wohlfühlen! Danke!
Maria is a great host, very communicative, friendly and quick in responding to lessegases and requests .The huts are spacious, well appointed and quite new. These is fresh water (not brackish) in the showers which is not always the case in RA. Food is always good. Dive center is well organized and accommodating. There is a resident cuscus showing up almost every evening. They have just built a long jetty this year which made diving and snorkeling even more comfortable. Would definitely recommend – especially to divers!
Maria is a great host, very communicative, friendly and quick in responding to lessegases and requests .The huts are spacious, well appointed and quite new. These is fresh water (not brackish) in the showers which is not always the case in RA. Food is always good. Dive center is well organized and accommodating. There is a resident cuscus showing up almost every evening. They have just built a long jetty this year which made diving and snorkeling even more comfortable. Would definitely recommend – especially to divers!
We had an unforgettable time staying here and had the privilege of experiencing some truly exceptional dives. Maria and Sandi are experts, guiding us to remarkable spots while being highly attentive to every detail, ensuring safety was always paramount.
The bungalows are exquisite, immaculate, and offer breathtaking vistas, providing the perfect sanctuary for relaxation between dives. The cuisine was superb—abundant, varied, and thoughtfully prepared—and the dining area fosters a warm and inviting atmosphere where guests can enjoy meals together. We were fortunate to meet some wonderful people during our stay.
The house reef was great, and we were fortunate enough to spot a couple of turtles and blacktip sharks.
We wholeheartedly recommend this extraordinary place!
We had an unforgettable time staying here and had the privilege of experiencing some truly exceptional dives. Maria and Sandi are experts, guiding us to remarkable spots while being highly attentive to every detail, ensuring safety was always paramount.
The bungalows are exquisite, immaculate, and offer breathtaking vistas, providing the perfect sanctuary for relaxation between dives. The cuisine was superb—abundant, varied, and thoughtfully prepared—and the dining area fosters a warm and inviting atmosphere where guests can enjoy meals together. We were fortunate to meet some wonderful people during our stay.
The house reef was great, and we were fortunate enough to spot a couple of turtles and blacktip sharks.
We wholeheartedly recommend this extraordinary place!
We spent 5 nights in lovely Corepen. It was all we needed and quite above our expectations. Sandi, Maria were so kind. Our diveteam, Iklhan and Kuni (sorry for the misspelling) were friendly and they improve the experience so much, they were very funny and create an amazing atmosphere. The food was good. The room was perfect. If I had to go afain to raja ampat
We spent 5 nights in lovely Corepen. It was all we needed and quite above our expectations. Sandi, Maria were so kind. Our diveteam, Iklhan and Kuni (sorry for the misspelling) were friendly and they improve the experience so much, they were very funny and create an amazing atmosphere. The food was good. The room was perfect. If I had to go afain to raja ampat
I had a wonderful time staying here and we did some amazing dives.
The bungalows are super nice and tidy with and amazing view where you can chill out in-between dives. The food is also very good and varied with a nice dining area where all the guests eat together.
The house reef was also very nice and we managed to spot a couple of turtles and black tips. But unfortunately the corals there have started to bleach.
I had a wonderful time staying here and we did some amazing dives.
The bungalows are super nice and tidy with and amazing view where you can chill out in-between dives. The food is also very good and varied with a nice dining area where all the guests eat together.
The house reef was also very nice and we managed to spot a couple of turtles and black tips. But unfortunately the corals there have started to bleach.
Corepen homestay was all we could have hoped for. The diving was beautiful, the staff and other guests were friendly, and we had a lovely stay. A big thank you to Sandi, Maria and the team. A simple homestay with everything we needed- Thank you!
Corepen homestay was all we could have hoped for. The diving was beautiful, the staff and other guests were friendly, and we had a lovely stay. A big thank you to Sandi, Maria and the team. A simple homestay with everything we needed- Thank you!
Ein toller Ort um zu schnorcheln, tauchen und die Zeit zu genießen.
Die Bungalows sind super schön und haben eine tolle Terrasse mit Hängematten. Das Essen war top und man bekommt auch als Vegetarier dort separat etwas. Das Hausrif ist sehr schön und das Tauchen mit Ihnen ist mehr als empfehlenswert. Flexibel und preislich top.
Hätte auf jeden Fall gerne noch mehr Zeit dort verbracht und empfehle diesen Ort total und komme gerne wieder. Es ist einfach alles stimmig, Preis-Leistung ist mehr als fair, die Betreiber sind unheimlich nett und das Tauchen sehr gut organisiert und man fühlt sich total sicher. Auch der Trip nach Pyanemo inkl. Tauchen war einfach wunderbar mit Ihnen. Danke für alles.
Ein toller Ort um zu schnorcheln, tauchen und die Zeit zu genießen.
Die Bungalows sind super schön und haben eine tolle Terrasse mit Hängematten. Das Essen war top und man bekommt auch als Vegetarier dort separat etwas. Das Hausrif ist sehr schön und das Tauchen mit Ihnen ist mehr als empfehlenswert. Flexibel und preislich top.
Hätte auf jeden Fall gerne noch mehr Zeit dort verbracht und empfehle diesen Ort total und komme gerne wieder. Es ist einfach alles stimmig, Preis-Leistung ist mehr als fair, die Betreiber sind unheimlich nett und das Tauchen sehr gut organisiert und man fühlt sich total sicher. Auch der Trip nach Pyanemo inkl. Tauchen war einfach wunderbar mit Ihnen. Danke für alles.
What could we add that Not have beeing sayd yet? We loved our stay at Corepen. 2 hammocks – so we both could enjoy the amazing fiew. From the bed we could see the sunrise. Great snorceling just infront of the Bungalow.
Food was enough and very delicious.
Maria ist such a warm-hearted person.
She rescued a cute Cat kitten. And i heard that after we left, she took another kitten from an Island nearby where Cats have been abandonned a few years ago. We cant wait to see them grown up when we come back! Of course we would stay in Coropen again.
We booked for the 2 of us 2 dives at one of the days WE where staying. My husband felt sick before the second dive and skipped it. At the end when we payd the bill we saw that she did not count this Dive! This is something we really appreciated! It makes you feel as a welcomed guest. All the people at Coropen are very friendly. We where thrilled with the service of the dives. We did not Dive for a long time and we where beginners about Diving in Currents. So we where a bit nervous. Instead of Putting US with other divers in one group, we had our own phantastic Dive Guide who was preparing us for this with very helpful tips.
When you are there, i would recommend you to do the Mangrove Tour! And bird lovers will be happy with a tour of red bird of paradise which also can be Organised.
Cant wait to come back !
What could we add that Not have beeing sayd yet? We loved our stay at Corepen. 2 hammocks – so we both could enjoy the amazing fiew. From the bed we could see the sunrise. Great snorceling just infront of the Bungalow.
Food was enough and very delicious.
Maria ist such a warm-hearted person.
She rescued a cute Cat kitten. And i heard that after we left, she took another kitten from an Island nearby where Cats have been abandonned a few years ago. We cant wait to see them grown up when we come back! Of course we would stay in Coropen again.
We booked for the 2 of us 2 dives at one of the days WE where staying. My husband felt sick before the second dive and skipped it. At the end when we payd the bill we saw that she did not count this Dive! This is something we really appreciated! It makes you feel as a welcomed guest. All the people at Coropen are very friendly. We where thrilled with the service of the dives. We did not Dive for a long time and we where beginners about Diving in Currents. So we where a bit nervous. Instead of Putting US with other divers in one group, we had our own phantastic Dive Guide who was preparing us for this with very helpful tips.
When you are there, i would recommend you to do the Mangrove Tour! And bird lovers will be happy with a tour of red bird of paradise which also can be Organised.
Cant wait to come back !
Corepen Homestay is one of the best of Raja Ampat. The bungalows are beautiful, the food really good and I had really good dives with there inhouse diving school. In a couple of days it felt like home. Maria and Sandi are very helpful, funny en making the place a warm place.
Corepen Homestay is one of the best of Raja Ampat. The bungalows are beautiful, the food really good and I had really good dives with there inhouse diving school. In a couple of days it felt like home. Maria and Sandi are very helpful, funny en making the place a warm place.
I had an amazing stay at Corepen. Maria and Sandi did an amazing job in creating a spirit of community and in organizing the diving trips according to the guests’ wishes. Every evening they came by at dinner time and asked us which diving places we wanted to visit on the next day. Being a relatively unexperienced diver, I got all the support I needed to enjoy the experience to the fullest.
All that said, you will mostly enjoy Corepen if you are a diver, as this homestay is focused on diving.
I had an amazing stay at Corepen. Maria and Sandi did an amazing job in creating a spirit of community and in organizing the diving trips according to the guests’ wishes. Every evening they came by at dinner time and asked us which diving places we wanted to visit on the next day. Being a relatively unexperienced diver, I got all the support I needed to enjoy the experience to the fullest.
All that said, you will mostly enjoy Corepen if you are a diver, as this homestay is focused on diving.
Ich war Anfang November in diesem Homestay.
Insgesamt war ich während meines Raja Ampat Aufenthalts auf 3 Inseln und 3 homestays.
Dieses hier war mit Abstand das Beste !
Tolles Essen, toller Bungalow, perfekt organisiertes Dive Center !
Absolute Empfehlung von Herzen !
Ich war Anfang November in diesem Homestay.
Insgesamt war ich während meines Raja Ampat Aufenthalts auf 3 Inseln und 3 homestays.
Dieses hier war mit Abstand das Beste !
Tolles Essen, toller Bungalow, perfekt organisiertes Dive Center !
Absolute Empfehlung von Herzen !
Vert beautiful part of the gam island. The homestay is super nice and looks modern. And is super nice to sleep because its not as hot as in other islands. The food was very good, especialy the grilled trevalley
We also went diving with them, and they always took us to the good diving spots and always choose spots where were not a lot of divers.
Infront of the homestay its a super nice house reed for snorkelling, and also for diving. There is also a viewpoint to mangroves. They are offering mangrove tour which i recommend you take!
The only cons that i would expose is, that there could be a little better briefing of the dive sites before the dive.
And sometimes there was not enough food, at least proteins. Probably if we would say, they would bring more, but it was a bit uncomfortable with other guests. I always had to count how much i can eat (2 small pieces of chikcken or fish per person)
I would come again to corepen. Nice place and nice people!
Vert beautiful part of the gam island. The homestay is super nice and looks modern. And is super nice to sleep because its not as hot as in other islands. The food was very good, especialy the grilled trevalley
We also went diving with them, and they always took us to the good diving spots and always choose spots where were not a lot of divers.
Infront of the homestay its a super nice house reed for snorkelling, and also for diving. There is also a viewpoint to mangroves. They are offering mangrove tour which i recommend you take!
The only cons that i would expose is, that there could be a little better briefing of the dive sites before the dive.
And sometimes there was not enough food, at least proteins. Probably if we would say, they would bring more, but it was a bit uncomfortable with other guests. I always had to count how much i can eat (2 small pieces of chikcken or fish per person)
I would come again to corepen. Nice place and nice people!
Very nice place to stay. Maria and Sandy are very nice. The food is excellent and the Dives were wonderful. We spend 3 days and it was great. Thanks to the Corepen team to welcome us so warmly. I hope we will come back again.
Very nice place to stay. Maria and Sandy are very nice. The food is excellent and the Dives were wonderful. We spend 3 days and it was great. Thanks to the Corepen team to welcome us so warmly. I hope we will come back again.
Wij verbleven in november bij Corepen homestay, waar we 2 dagen 2 duiken hebben gedaan. Het eten was er lekker, en samen met de andere gasten was het erg gezellig. Ook de duiken waren erg leuk! Wij raden dit verblijf aan! Dankjewel Sandi
Wij verbleven in november bij Corepen homestay, waar we 2 dagen 2 duiken hebben gedaan. Het eten was er lekker, en samen met de andere gasten was het erg gezellig. Ook de duiken waren erg leuk! Wij raden dit verblijf aan! Dankjewel Sandi
In our three-week trip to Raja, Corepen was hands down our favourite homestay. Having a dive centre on site made accessing the mind-boggling reefs so easy. As snorkelers, we felt so welcome piggybacking on the scuba activities. We even had our own long-boat chauffeur to take us to our own snorkel spots. On that note, Friwen Wall is a must! And at Melissa’s Garden, ask to be taken to Fam Wall, rather than Napoleon’s Wall. We found the former even more magical. The accommodation is simple, but having double doors that can be flung open to a view of the calm bay is mwah! The food was the best we had — the tofu triangles are delicious — and you get a generous breakfast of eggs, rice and bread instead of the usual cake. Dive masters Handy and Kun are so lovely, and Sandi and Maria are organised and on top of everything. The chef! The most humble kitchen whizz. I can’t recommend Corepen enough. At our more dodgy homestays, we dreamt of returning to Corepen. But not surprisingly, it was fully booked. 💙💙💙
In our three-week trip to Raja, Corepen was hands down our favourite homestay. Having a dive centre on site made accessing the mind-boggling reefs so easy. As snorkelers, we felt so welcome piggybacking on the scuba activities. We even had our own long-boat chauffeur to take us to our own snorkel spots. On that note, Friwen Wall is a must! And at Melissa’s Garden, ask to be taken to Fam Wall, rather than Napoleon’s Wall. We found the former even more magical. The accommodation is simple, but having double doors that can be flung open to a view of the calm bay is mwah! The food was the best we had — the tofu triangles are delicious — and you get a generous breakfast of eggs, rice and bread instead of the usual cake. Dive masters Handy and Kun are so lovely, and Sandi and Maria are organised and on top of everything. The chef! The most humble kitchen whizz. I can’t recommend Corepen enough. At our more dodgy homestays, we dreamt of returning to Corepen. But not surprisingly, it was fully booked. 💙💙💙
Tom and Amanda summed up exactly what I was going to say :0) Except they left out the fab crew of people we got to hang out with!!! By far the best place we’ve stayed, we’ve been at 2 more home stays consequently. Everything you need is there with care and attention to detail. It is a simple setup but so carefully thought about and backed up by the most wonderful team of people. We are keen snorkellers and could join the dive boats at appropriate dive sites or hire our own long boat to go to snorkel friendly sites. It was our first stop in Raja and we were lucky enough to stay for 8 days and so far it’s the best place we’ve been. Let’s see what Batanta holds next for us!
Tom and Amanda summed up exactly what I was going to say :0) Except they left out the fab crew of people we got to hang out with!!! By far the best place we’ve stayed, we’ve been at 2 more home stays consequently. Everything you need is there with care and attention to detail. It is a simple setup but so carefully thought about and backed up by the most wonderful team of people. We are keen snorkellers and could join the dive boats at appropriate dive sites or hire our own long boat to go to snorkel friendly sites. It was our first stop in Raja and we were lucky enough to stay for 8 days and so far it’s the best place we’ve been. Let’s see what Batanta holds next for us!
COREPEN IS THE BEST!
Accommodation: beautiful sturdy bungalows, no mosquitoes, new mosquito nets that covers the entire bed frame up high which makes it feels so spacious when I’m in bed! Perfect breathable hammocks on the balcony, with sunrise right in front of the bungalow. Basic toilets and showers but always clean with fresh water, not salty water like other accoms!
Night snorkel on house reef: epaulette shark, lobsters!
Day snorkel: turtles and school of bump head parrotfish!
Food: the BEST food on our Raja Ampat trip! Quality and quantity are both up there, nasi goreng for breakfast!! And that chocolate spread + banana combo, fuels you up for the day and just made us so happy.
Diving: VERY PROFESSIONAL. The whole operation is smooth like Kerrygold butter. It is one of the smoothest dive operations we’ve encountered, especially in Raja Ampat. No faffing around, always on time, eagle-eyed dive guides, dives are always very calm and chill, with opportunities to take photographs of macro. Every day after dinner , dive sites are decided on consensus of guests. If you only have 1 dive in you, do Cape Kri! Hands down the best site for us. They stick to 24 hours of no diving before flying – Sandi brought us diving earlier so we would finish the dive with 24 hours to rest, and still able to complete 3 dives that day 🙂
My partner and I shortened our stay at Arborek to come back to Corepen due to their amazing accom and dive services. I cannot speak more highly of them and if we had more time in Raja Ampat, you’ll find us in Corepen smiling in our hammocks.
Big thanks to the whole Corepen team, especially to Handy for managing everything when Sandi and Maria were away and being the most incredible dive guide and coordinator, Kun for amazing guiding, big boss Sandi for being an incredible dive guide in the strongest current I’ve ever been in, the chefs at Corepen for feeding us so well.
COREPEN IS THE BEST!
Accommodation: beautiful sturdy bungalows, no mosquitoes, new mosquito nets that covers the entire bed frame up high which makes it feels so spacious when I’m in bed! Perfect breathable hammocks on the balcony, with sunrise right in front of the bungalow. Basic toilets and showers but always clean with fresh water, not salty water like other accoms!
Night snorkel on house reef: epaulette shark, lobsters!
Day snorkel: turtles and school of bump head parrotfish!
Food: the BEST food on our Raja Ampat trip! Quality and quantity are both up there, nasi goreng for breakfast!! And that chocolate spread + banana combo, fuels you up for the day and just made us so happy.
Diving: VERY PROFESSIONAL. The whole operation is smooth like Kerrygold butter. It is one of the smoothest dive operations we’ve encountered, especially in Raja Ampat. No faffing around, always on time, eagle-eyed dive guides, dives are always very calm and chill, with opportunities to take photographs of macro. Every day after dinner , dive sites are decided on consensus of guests. If you only have 1 dive in you, do Cape Kri! Hands down the best site for us. They stick to 24 hours of no diving before flying – Sandi brought us diving earlier so we would finish the dive with 24 hours to rest, and still able to complete 3 dives that day 🙂
My partner and I shortened our stay at Arborek to come back to Corepen due to their amazing accom and dive services. I cannot speak more highly of them and if we had more time in Raja Ampat, you’ll find us in Corepen smiling in our hammocks.
Big thanks to the whole Corepen team, especially to Handy for managing everything when Sandi and Maria were away and being the most incredible dive guide and coordinator, Kun for amazing guiding, big boss Sandi for being an incredible dive guide in the strongest current I’ve ever been in, the chefs at Corepen for feeding us so well.
I only have compliments for the team at Corepen. The location of the homestay is stunning. The cottages are simple, but feel luxurious. The dive guides are extremely professional and skilled. Supporting staff tends to all your needs. They know which equipment you need and make sure it is ready for you on the boat. The only thing you need to do is wake up, have some breakfast, and put on your scuba diving suit. Meals are tasty and always on time. When your dive is running late, they make sure lunch is waiting upon arrival. Of course the divesites are absolutely mindblowing. In a week we have seen everything we could have dreamed for: from manta rays, to dolphins, and the peculiar mantis shrimp, and even more corals than my field guide describes. I feel very lucky to have stayed here for a week. 10/10 would recommend.
I only have compliments for the team at Corepen. The location of the homestay is stunning. The cottages are simple, but feel luxurious. The dive guides are extremely professional and skilled. Supporting staff tends to all your needs. They know which equipment you need and make sure it is ready for you on the boat. The only thing you need to do is wake up, have some breakfast, and put on your scuba diving suit. Meals are tasty and always on time. When your dive is running late, they make sure lunch is waiting upon arrival. Of course the divesites are absolutely mindblowing. In a week we have seen everything we could have dreamed for: from manta rays, to dolphins, and the peculiar mantis shrimp, and even more corals than my field guide describes. I feel very lucky to have stayed here for a week. 10/10 would recommend.
We stayed here the first time in January and loved it so much we came back in the same year. It’s amazing how much work they have done to improve things in the 8 months between our visits (over what we thought was pretty perfect already!). Most of the overwater bungalows have been rebuilt and are new, with super comfy beds and fresh smelling sheets and towels on arrival. We were given a new hammock, big enough to fit 2 people which was a nice touch and they even offered 2 if we each wanted one. There is also a new jetty, not only making it easier to on and off board boats, but really awesome for hanging out on to watch the sunset and the bioluminescence in the water at night. Already found juvenile bat fish, a barracuda, and lots of small fish hanging out underneath, and suspect more will become residents in due time! The food is plentiful and varied and everything is kept clean and tidy. Maria’s cakes during surface intervals are super soft and moist and delicious! I also couldn’t believe it when I saw that on their day off (Sunday), the divemasters spent the day servicing regulators and cleaning the air tanks! I never found the air to taste funny here whereas at other places I did, so they must also change the filters on their compressors regularly. I really trust Sandi, Maria, and team for diving in Raja Ampat and can’t wait to return!
We stayed here the first time in January and loved it so much we came back in the same year. It’s amazing how much work they have done to improve things in the 8 months between our visits (over what we thought was pretty perfect already!). Most of the overwater bungalows have been rebuilt and are new, with super comfy beds and fresh smelling sheets and towels on arrival. We were given a new hammock, big enough to fit 2 people which was a nice touch and they even offered 2 if we each wanted one. There is also a new jetty, not only making it easier to on and off board boats, but really awesome for hanging out on to watch the sunset and the bioluminescence in the water at night. Already found juvenile bat fish, a barracuda, and lots of small fish hanging out underneath, and suspect more will become residents in due time! The food is plentiful and varied and everything is kept clean and tidy. Maria’s cakes during surface intervals are super soft and moist and delicious! I also couldn’t believe it when I saw that on their day off (Sunday), the divemasters spent the day servicing regulators and cleaning the air tanks! I never found the air to taste funny here whereas at other places I did, so they must also change the filters on their compressors regularly. I really trust Sandi, Maria, and team for diving in Raja Ampat and can’t wait to return!
I was blessed to spend 6 nights at Corepen, with 6 days of diving. Bungalows are spacious, clean and well built with comfortable beds and storage space. Best of all was the deck over the water, where I spent my evenings enjoying the view in the hammock. The dive center (of 4 I’ve tried in the past 2 years) is the best in Raja Ampat. The food was well above your typical homestay fare: fresh, varied, delicious. Chicken, fish, curry, tempe – yum! Washrooms are very basic and typical of homestays. Maria and Sandii run a great operation in an absolute paradise!
I was blessed to spend 6 nights at Corepen, with 6 days of diving. Bungalows are spacious, clean and well built with comfortable beds and storage space. Best of all was the deck over the water, where I spent my evenings enjoying the view in the hammock. The dive center (of 4 I’ve tried in the past 2 years) is the best in Raja Ampat. The food was well above your typical homestay fare: fresh, varied, delicious. Chicken, fish, curry, tempe – yum! Washrooms are very basic and typical of homestays. Maria and Sandii run a great operation in an absolute paradise!
Corepen Homestay is the gold standard of homestays. The rooms are spacious and clean. The bathroom buildings are clean. There’s plenty of water pressure in the shower. The food is plentiful. The dive center is top notch. It’s a great dive center with knowledgeable guides. And, the people are friendly, welcoming, and nice.
I wish I had stayed longer than eight days.
Corepen Homestay is the gold standard of homestays. The rooms are spacious and clean. The bathroom buildings are clean. There’s plenty of water pressure in the shower. The food is plentiful. The dive center is top notch. It’s a great dive center with knowledgeable guides. And, the people are friendly, welcoming, and nice.
I wish I had stayed longer than eight days.
We stayed for 4 nights in May 2024 and we LOVED our stay. The homestay consists of six beach bungalows, a communal area, showers & toilets, a dive hut and their own house. It’s surrounded by a lovely garden where you can see lovely birds in the trees. Everything is clean and well-maintained, including the shared bathrooms and the dining area. The wooden bungalows are perfect, a good bed and a clean mosquitonet. The deck has a chair and the perfect hammock for chilling and enjoying the breeze. I really liked how with low tide the bungalow are on the beach and with high tide it’s an overwater bungalow where you can see fish swimming below you. The food is good too: you get breakfast, lunch, a tasty afternoon snack & dinner.
The people are amazing and good communication: every evening the (diving) plan for the next day is made together with the guests. They accommodate for snorkelers too.
We stayed for 4 nights in May 2024 and we LOVED our stay. The homestay consists of six beach bungalows, a communal area, showers & toilets, a dive hut and their own house. It’s surrounded by a lovely garden where you can see lovely birds in the trees. Everything is clean and well-maintained, including the shared bathrooms and the dining area. The wooden bungalows are perfect, a good bed and a clean mosquitonet. The deck has a chair and the perfect hammock for chilling and enjoying the breeze. I really liked how with low tide the bungalow are on the beach and with high tide it’s an overwater bungalow where you can see fish swimming below you. The food is good too: you get breakfast, lunch, a tasty afternoon snack & dinner.
The people are amazing and good communication: every evening the (diving) plan for the next day is made together with the guests. They accommodate for snorkelers too.
Tuvimos la suerte de poder disfrutar de este paraíso desde el 11 de Agosto hasta el 19 de Agosto de 2024. El lugar es una auténtica maravilla y belleza, con aguas super cristalinas, y un arrecife en muy buenas condiciones y lleno de vida, en la misma puerta de los bungalows.
Los bungalows son espaciosos y limpios con unas vistas impresionantes. La comida es deliciosa, abundante y siempre hay disponible, cafe, te, agua y fruta.
Pero si algo destaco de nuestra estancia es a los anfitriones. Maria, Sandi y Eddi son de 10. Lo hemos pasado genial con ellos y nos han hecho sentir como en casa.
Nosotros hicimos 18 inmersiones y tuvimos la suerte de ver un Dugongo en Mike´s point. Todas las inmersiones fueron impresionantes, con mucha vida, y una biodiversidad inigualable. Chicken Reef es una pasada. Es una autentica pecera de todos los tamaños.
Sin lugar a duda, y después de la experiencia de otros huéspedes en otros homestays, podemos decir que Corepen fue la mejor selección, y estratégicamente para el buceo esta muy bien situado para bucear en cualquier punto.
Han pasado 30 dias desde nuestra estancia y los echamos mucho de menos.
Gracias en especial a Eddi que nos acompañó y guió en todas las inmersiones (UN CRACK) y a Maria por esos deliciosos bizcochos que nos preparaba para las paradas entre inmersiones.
Esperamos volver pronto!
P.D. Aunque era época de viento y lluvias, pudimos bucear todos los dias, tomar el sol y hacer todo lo planeado, ya que el tiempo nos acompañó durante toda la estancia
……………..
We were lucky enough to be able to enjoy this paradise from August 11 to August 19, 2024. The place is a true wonder and beauty, with super crystalline waters, and a reef in very good condition and full of life, right at the door of the bungalows.
The bungalows are spacious and clean with stunning views. The food is delicious, plentiful and there is always coffee, tea, water and fruit available.
But if there is one thing that stands out from our stay, it is the hosts. Maria, Sandi and Eddi are 10. We had a great time with them and they made us feel at home.
We did 18 dives and were lucky enough to see a Dugong at Mike’s point. All the dives were impressive, with lots of life, and unmatched biodiversity. Chicken Reef is amazing. It is an authentic fish tank of all sizes.
Without a doubt, and after the experience of other guests in other homestays, we can say that Corepen was the best choice, and strategically for diving it is very well located to dive at any point.
It has been 30 days since our stay and we miss them very much.
Special thanks to Eddi who accompanied us and guided us on all the dives (A CRACK) and to Maria for those delicious biscuits she prepared for us for the stops between dives.
We hope to return soon!
P.S. Although it was a windy and rainy season, we were able to dive every day, sunbathe and do everything we had planned, since the weather was with us throughout the stay.
Tuvimos la suerte de poder disfrutar de este paraíso desde el 11 de Agosto hasta el 19 de Agosto de 2024. El lugar es una auténtica maravilla y belleza, con aguas super cristalinas, y un arrecife en muy buenas condiciones y lleno de vida, en la misma puerta de los bungalows.
Los bungalows son espaciosos y limpios con unas vistas impresionantes. La comida es deliciosa, abundante y siempre hay disponible, cafe, te, agua y fruta.
Pero si algo destaco de nuestra estancia es a los anfitriones. Maria, Sandi y Eddi son de 10. Lo hemos pasado genial con ellos y nos han hecho sentir como en casa.
Nosotros hicimos 18 inmersiones y tuvimos la suerte de ver un Dugongo en Mike´s point. Todas las inmersiones fueron impresionantes, con mucha vida, y una biodiversidad inigualable. Chicken Reef es una pasada. Es una autentica pecera de todos los tamaños.
Sin lugar a duda, y después de la experiencia de otros huéspedes en otros homestays, podemos decir que Corepen fue la mejor selección, y estratégicamente para el buceo esta muy bien situado para bucear en cualquier punto.
Han pasado 30 dias desde nuestra estancia y los echamos mucho de menos.
Gracias en especial a Eddi que nos acompañó y guió en todas las inmersiones (UN CRACK) y a Maria por esos deliciosos bizcochos que nos preparaba para las paradas entre inmersiones.
Esperamos volver pronto!
P.D. Aunque era época de viento y lluvias, pudimos bucear todos los dias, tomar el sol y hacer todo lo planeado, ya que el tiempo nos acompañó durante toda la estancia
……………..
We were lucky enough to be able to enjoy this paradise from August 11 to August 19, 2024. The place is a true wonder and beauty, with super crystalline waters, and a reef in very good condition and full of life, right at the door of the bungalows.
The bungalows are spacious and clean with stunning views. The food is delicious, plentiful and there is always coffee, tea, water and fruit available.
But if there is one thing that stands out from our stay, it is the hosts. Maria, Sandi and Eddi are 10. We had a great time with them and they made us feel at home.
We did 18 dives and were lucky enough to see a Dugong at Mike’s point. All the dives were impressive, with lots of life, and unmatched biodiversity. Chicken Reef is amazing. It is an authentic fish tank of all sizes.
Without a doubt, and after the experience of other guests in other homestays, we can say that Corepen was the best choice, and strategically for diving it is very well located to dive at any point.
It has been 30 days since our stay and we miss them very much.
Special thanks to Eddi who accompanied us and guided us on all the dives (A CRACK) and to Maria for those delicious biscuits she prepared for us for the stops between dives.
We hope to return soon!
P.S. Although it was a windy and rainy season, we were able to dive every day, sunbathe and do everything we had planned, since the weather was with us throughout the stay.
Our stay at the homestay was excellent! The views of the sea were breathtaking, and the food was delicious. The staff was incredibly kind and attentive, making us feel right at home. We also went diving, and the experience was top-notch—the team was highly professional, and the equipment was in excellent condition. We had a fantastic time and would definitely recommend it to others!
Our stay at the homestay was excellent! The views of the sea were breathtaking, and the food was delicious. The staff was incredibly kind and attentive, making us feel right at home. We also went diving, and the experience was top-notch—the team was highly professional, and the equipment was in excellent condition. We had a fantastic time and would definitely recommend it to others!
We had the best time here at Corepen!
Rooms:
Rooms are basic but spacious. Beds are above the ground with good mosquito nets, there are some places to lay or hang your clothes and every bungalow has 2 hammocks on the the front veranda facing the beautiful ocean. They are renewing the bungalows step by step and the new ones even look better and bigger. We had an older one which still was amazing. The facility is clean and the toilets and showers are basic but also clean. They have running water so you do not only have classic bucket showers, you do have a pipe coming out the wall providing you with a good amount of water.
They try to collect all trash and keep the spot as clean as possible so we didn’t see any rats like other places have.
Food:
The taste of the food is amazing and enough so everyone can get satisfied.
Given that we are on an island away from shops and everything the food selection is quite similar but they managed to create different tastes every day. Breakfast is Toast, Egg, Jam and Chocolate. Lunch and Dinner is Rice with vegetables, tempeh and chicken or fish. If you are vegetarian they even provide you with another option.
Diving:
I am a Diver and my wife isn’t so we can review both sides. Diving is amazing and it’s so nice that they have their dive center on the facility. The equipment is well maintained and the dive guides Maria, Eddi and Sandi are always looking after you during the dives. They show you the aquatic life and it’s very fun to dive with them. Every evening you plan your dives for the next days where either you can tell your wishes or ask them for recommendations. My favorite was chicken reef so maybe you also want to go there. Just for your information: there is no diving on Sundays as it is their day off.
Snorkeling & Beach:
The house reef is big and healthy in the back part. You can see turtles, sharks and a lot of fishes. It is beautiful and easy to access. There is a small sand beach to the left of the bungalows where my wife was sunbathing and swimming. In our situation (diver + no-diver) my wife could even join our dive boat and went snorkeling in the reef where we were diving. Simply ask the evening before if it is possible at this location and they help you out.
Conclusion:
Thanks you Maria, Sandi, Eddi and all others working there to make our trip feel like we are in paradise. This Homestay is for everyone who want to have a familiar atmosphere with great diving and relaxing vibes in the beautiful paradise of Raja Ampat
We had the best time here at Corepen!
Rooms:
Rooms are basic but spacious. Beds are above the ground with good mosquito nets, there are some places to lay or hang your clothes and every bungalow has 2 hammocks on the the front veranda facing the beautiful ocean. They are renewing the bungalows step by step and the new ones even look better and bigger. We had an older one which still was amazing. The facility is clean and the toilets and showers are basic but also clean. They have running water so you do not only have classic bucket showers, you do have a pipe coming out the wall providing you with a good amount of water.
They try to collect all trash and keep the spot as clean as possible so we didn’t see any rats like other places have.
Food:
The taste of the food is amazing and enough so everyone can get satisfied.
Given that we are on an island away from shops and everything the food selection is quite similar but they managed to create different tastes every day. Breakfast is Toast, Egg, Jam and Chocolate. Lunch and Dinner is Rice with vegetables, tempeh and chicken or fish. If you are vegetarian they even provide you with another option.
Diving:
I am a Diver and my wife isn’t so we can review both sides. Diving is amazing and it’s so nice that they have their dive center on the facility. The equipment is well maintained and the dive guides Maria, Eddi and Sandi are always looking after you during the dives. They show you the aquatic life and it’s very fun to dive with them. Every evening you plan your dives for the next days where either you can tell your wishes or ask them for recommendations. My favorite was chicken reef so maybe you also want to go there. Just for your information: there is no diving on Sundays as it is their day off.
Snorkeling & Beach:
The house reef is big and healthy in the back part. You can see turtles, sharks and a lot of fishes. It is beautiful and easy to access. There is a small sand beach to the left of the bungalows where my wife was sunbathing and swimming. In our situation (diver + no-diver) my wife could even join our dive boat and went snorkeling in the reef where we were diving. Simply ask the evening before if it is possible at this location and they help you out.
Conclusion:
Thanks you Maria, Sandi, Eddi and all others working there to make our trip feel like we are in paradise. This Homestay is for everyone who want to have a familiar atmosphere with great diving and relaxing vibes in the beautiful paradise of Raja Ampat
La mejor Homestay del mundo para Bucear! Las cabañas son muy bonitas, cama comoda doble con buena mosquitera, tienen un arrecife enfrente lleno de vida en el que hacer snorkel y ver tiburones, tortugas… la comida es buena y en gran cantidad, ademas preparan merienda. Pero lo mejor sin duda, son Maria, Sandi y Eddy, sin olvidarnos del gran conductor del barco. Son un equipo estupendo! Amables, simpaticos, y sobre todo super profesionales. Nos hemos sentido muy cuidados en muestras inmersiones, ya que somos principiantes.
Volveremos seguro.
La mejor Homestay del mundo para Bucear! Las cabañas son muy bonitas, cama comoda doble con buena mosquitera, tienen un arrecife enfrente lleno de vida en el que hacer snorkel y ver tiburones, tortugas… la comida es buena y en gran cantidad, ademas preparan merienda. Pero lo mejor sin duda, son Maria, Sandi y Eddy, sin olvidarnos del gran conductor del barco. Son un equipo estupendo! Amables, simpaticos, y sobre todo super profesionales. Nos hemos sentido muy cuidados en muestras inmersiones, ya que somos principiantes.
Volveremos seguro.
We’ve been in Corepen one week ago.The location is amazing with the reef in front of our overwater bungalow and really close to the main diving spots.The diving is really well organized and snorkeling too.The big surprise has been the food because every day we had different delicious food.
A special thanks to Maria that help us during our staying in Corepen
We’ve been in Corepen one week ago.The location is amazing with the reef in front of our overwater bungalow and really close to the main diving spots.The diving is really well organized and snorkeling too.The big surprise has been the food because every day we had different delicious food.
A special thanks to Maria that help us during our staying in Corepen
Our stay at Corepen was very pleasant.
The house reef is really amazing for snorkeling, the huts are basic but very nice over the water and the beds were comfortable (the mosquito net had a couple of holes). The hammocks were a great addition, used every day by us.
The food at corepen was very nice. Lunch and dinner had a lot of variation which was good because we were there for 7 days. Breakfast was always toast with eggs, some variation in that would have been nice but it was ok. My partner celebrated his birthday during our stay and Maria made a great cake, which was really kind and we loved!
The dives we did with Corepen were great. We were there in high wave season, but with their new boat, the diving boatrides were very comfortable. Sandi gave us advice on which dive sites were possible depending on our preference, we would have liked some more in depth information on the dive sites beforehand, but they all turned out really great and he really accommodated to our preference and where we had been already.
We did 3 homestays in Raja Ampat, of which the sanitary facilities of Corepen were the most basic. They were well working and clean, but very basic.
The only thing we didn’t enjoy was the boatride back from Corepen to Waisai. We had to go by longboat in high wave season which resulted in a 1 hour boatride with immense high waves, we were soaked, our luggage was wet, a lot of backpain and honestly, we were very scared and we are used to adventurous traveling . We realise it’s normal practice to go to the port by longboat, but this didn’t feel safe to us with all our luggage and no safety measures in case anything went wrong. Logistically, this is something that maybe in the future may be handled differently.
Overall, we enjoyed our stay. Maria and Sandi are very welcoming, there were other guests to mingle with, the diving was professional, the house reef was really nice.
Our stay at Corepen was very pleasant.
The house reef is really amazing for snorkeling, the huts are basic but very nice over the water and the beds were comfortable (the mosquito net had a couple of holes). The hammocks were a great addition, used every day by us.
The food at corepen was very nice. Lunch and dinner had a lot of variation which was good because we were there for 7 days. Breakfast was always toast with eggs, some variation in that would have been nice but it was ok. My partner celebrated his birthday during our stay and Maria made a great cake, which was really kind and we loved!
The dives we did with Corepen were great. We were there in high wave season, but with their new boat, the diving boatrides were very comfortable. Sandi gave us advice on which dive sites were possible depending on our preference, we would have liked some more in depth information on the dive sites beforehand, but they all turned out really great and he really accommodated to our preference and where we had been already.
We did 3 homestays in Raja Ampat, of which the sanitary facilities of Corepen were the most basic. They were well working and clean, but very basic.
The only thing we didn’t enjoy was the boatride back from Corepen to Waisai. We had to go by longboat in high wave season which resulted in a 1 hour boatride with immense high waves, we were soaked, our luggage was wet, a lot of backpain and honestly, we were very scared and we are used to adventurous traveling . We realise it’s normal practice to go to the port by longboat, but this didn’t feel safe to us with all our luggage and no safety measures in case anything went wrong. Logistically, this is something that maybe in the future may be handled differently.
Overall, we enjoyed our stay. Maria and Sandi are very welcoming, there were other guests to mingle with, the diving was professional, the house reef was really nice.
I stayed with my mum at Corepen for 5 days and we had a blast! Maria and Sandi are terrific hosts, the food is amazing, the vibe at dinner with other guests is friendly and there’s always a lot to eat! Bungalows are spacious and on the water, hamac was my place to be at all times.
Regarding diving, I had great sightings and very safe and fun experiences at the different spots (equipment is great which is a relief in this remote part of Indonesia!)
Definitely would love to come back for longer
I stayed with my mum at Corepen for 5 days and we had a blast! Maria and Sandi are terrific hosts, the food is amazing, the vibe at dinner with other guests is friendly and there’s always a lot to eat! Bungalows are spacious and on the water, hamac was my place to be at all times.
Regarding diving, I had great sightings and very safe and fun experiences at the different spots (equipment is great which is a relief in this remote part of Indonesia!)
Definitely would love to come back for longer
Spencer and I stayed at corepen for 2 weeks in April/may 2024. Can honestly say this was one of the best trips of our lives and it was thanks to corepen for making it so great.
The location of corepen is fantastic. It is nestled right up against the jungle and every morning we had parrots and other birds flying between the trees. The house reef is also great. We saw 5 species of sharks snorkeling on the house reef alone. We’d have walking sharks swimming below our bungalows at high tide. We also had great cell phone service through telkomsell at the homestay.
The food was great. Breakfast we’d have eggs and toast, lunch we’d have chicken, veggies, Tempe, rice and other things, and dinner usually grilled fish with lots of sides.
The diving was awesome. Mariama and Sandi would check in with everyone after dinner to determine what dive sites to go to and they did a great job making sure everyone got to go where they wanted. The dive boats were nice and the dive gear was new so we had no problem renting gear.
While at corepen we also did a birdwatching tour and a mangrove cruise which were both really fun.
Overall corepen is a fantastic place to stay, I will absolutely be back and wouldn’t consider staying anywhere else in raja ampat!
Spencer and I stayed at corepen for 2 weeks in April/may 2024. Can honestly say this was one of the best trips of our lives and it was thanks to corepen for making it so great.
The location of corepen is fantastic. It is nestled right up against the jungle and every morning we had parrots and other birds flying between the trees. The house reef is also great. We saw 5 species of sharks snorkeling on the house reef alone. We’d have walking sharks swimming below our bungalows at high tide. We also had great cell phone service through telkomsell at the homestay.
The food was great. Breakfast we’d have eggs and toast, lunch we’d have chicken, veggies, Tempe, rice and other things, and dinner usually grilled fish with lots of sides.
The diving was awesome. Mariama and Sandi would check in with everyone after dinner to determine what dive sites to go to and they did a great job making sure everyone got to go where they wanted. The dive boats were nice and the dive gear was new so we had no problem renting gear.
While at corepen we also did a birdwatching tour and a mangrove cruise which were both really fun.
Overall corepen is a fantastic place to stay, I will absolutely be back and wouldn’t consider staying anywhere else in raja ampat!
We came to Raja Ampat for 10 days of full diving, we had booked a liveaboard but unfortunately it sank a few weeks before our trip (go figure!!). We found ourselves with a last minute change of plans so we just head to Raja and tried our luck with land based diving.
After some research we decided to dive with Corepen which was a great decision. We were able to stay with Corepen for only 3 nights but they kindly recommended Efenli Homestay for the remaining 6 nights of our trip which ended up being even better in terms of accomodation and food.
We did 26 dives in total with Corepen, 3 dives per day normally with an occasional night dive here and there. Can’t really fault anything, Maria runs a smooth operation, very organised, diving gear is in good conditions and the boats are good enough for the area.
Commuting between Corepen and our homestay (Efenli) was all perfectly coordinated with pick ups at 7:45AM and drop us at the end of the day.
Highly recommended if you are scuba junkies as us …. and the home reef highly recommended.
We came to Raja Ampat for 10 days of full diving, we had booked a liveaboard but unfortunately it sank a few weeks before our trip (go figure!!). We found ourselves with a last minute change of plans so we just head to Raja and tried our luck with land based diving.
After some research we decided to dive with Corepen which was a great decision. We were able to stay with Corepen for only 3 nights but they kindly recommended Efenli Homestay for the remaining 6 nights of our trip which ended up being even better in terms of accomodation and food.
We did 26 dives in total with Corepen, 3 dives per day normally with an occasional night dive here and there. Can’t really fault anything, Maria runs a smooth operation, very organised, diving gear is in good conditions and the boats are good enough for the area.
Commuting between Corepen and our homestay (Efenli) was all perfectly coordinated with pick ups at 7:45AM and drop us at the end of the day.
Highly recommended if you are scuba junkies as us …. and the home reef highly recommended.
Nous avons séjourné 12 jours à Corepen. Maria était présente à notre arrivée et nous a accueilli très chaleureusement. Le logement était très agréable au bord de la mer. La restauration était très bonne.
Nous avons plongé tous les jours avec la super équipe de Maria, formée des divers Master Sandi et Ray et des différents capitaine de bateau. Tout était parfait.
Nous les remercions encore pour leur disponibilité, leur professionnalisme et leurs sourires.
Nous reviendrons les voir.
Véronique et Luc
Nous avons séjourné 12 jours à Corepen. Maria était présente à notre arrivée et nous a accueilli très chaleureusement. Le logement était très agréable au bord de la mer. La restauration était très bonne.
Nous avons plongé tous les jours avec la super équipe de Maria, formée des divers Master Sandi et Ray et des différents capitaine de bateau. Tout était parfait.
Nous les remercions encore pour leur disponibilité, leur professionnalisme et leurs sourires.
Nous reviendrons les voir.
Véronique et Luc
We absolutely loved our stay at Corepen. The bungalows are simple but spacious and have everything you need. The food was good and plenty. Each afternoon a homemade snack was provided. The house reef is very nice, for snorkeling and also for diving. We could see sharks from our bungalow terrace!
Diving with the Corepen Team was amazing! Every day all the homestay guests were able to dive. So you never had to worry whether you would get a spot at the boat. At other homestays that was not always the case because of lacking diving capacities.
We absolutely loved our stay at Corepen. The bungalows are simple but spacious and have everything you need. The food was good and plenty. Each afternoon a homemade snack was provided. The house reef is very nice, for snorkeling and also for diving. We could see sharks from our bungalow terrace!
Diving with the Corepen Team was amazing! Every day all the homestay guests were able to dive. So you never had to worry whether you would get a spot at the boat. At other homestays that was not always the case because of lacking diving capacities.
My girlfriend and I stayed at Corepen Homestay for a week in April 2024. We chose this homestay because of the good reviews for the cottages, food and diving. After our holiday we can only confirm the good words about this place. We loved our cottage on the beach with lots of space, a terrace and a hammock. We enjoyed every dive with Maria, Sandi, Ray or Hari. Very friendly and knowledgeable crew. They know exactly when and where to go to get the best of these wonderful dive sites! These are actually the very best dive sites in the world with lots of life, healthy coral gardens, schools of fish, sharks, turtles, rays. Incredible marine life.
Back to the homestay, the food was simple but very tasty. The place was clean and the rental diving equipment was well maintained (my girlfriend doesn’t have her own equipment). The dives and dive requests were discussed with all the guests the day before. On your last dive day you can even choose where you want to go 😉
We also had a very nice group of guests who helped to make our holiday more enjoyable.
An international mix of divers interested in more than just diving, if you know what I mean 😉
This homestay is very well organised and comfortable. When we return to Raja Ampat (and I hope that will be sooner rather than later) we will return to Corepen. For sure.
Greetings from Berlin
Ninette & Felipe
My girlfriend and I stayed at Corepen Homestay for a week in April 2024. We chose this homestay because of the good reviews for the cottages, food and diving. After our holiday we can only confirm the good words about this place. We loved our cottage on the beach with lots of space, a terrace and a hammock. We enjoyed every dive with Maria, Sandi, Ray or Hari. Very friendly and knowledgeable crew. They know exactly when and where to go to get the best of these wonderful dive sites! These are actually the very best dive sites in the world with lots of life, healthy coral gardens, schools of fish, sharks, turtles, rays. Incredible marine life.
Back to the homestay, the food was simple but very tasty. The place was clean and the rental diving equipment was well maintained (my girlfriend doesn’t have her own equipment). The dives and dive requests were discussed with all the guests the day before. On your last dive day you can even choose where you want to go 😉
We also had a very nice group of guests who helped to make our holiday more enjoyable.
An international mix of divers interested in more than just diving, if you know what I mean 😉
This homestay is very well organised and comfortable. When we return to Raja Ampat (and I hope that will be sooner rather than later) we will return to Corepen. For sure.
Greetings from Berlin
Ninette & Felipe
This is a well-run place with lots of staff and an active diving program with two covered dive boats (people from other homestays go out with Corapen’s divers too).
The 7 beach bungalows, which are over water at high tide, are sturdy and fairly clean, with nice raised beds, good mosquito nets, lots of outlets for power in the evening (when the generator is turned on), and good hammocks. Mostly the sound of the water is relaxing, but waves can be noisy when they crash on the beach and hit the stilts of the bungalows at high tide. Sand gets everywhere at Corapen, so it’s nice that each bungalow comes with a foot bath and a broom.
There’s good snorkeling from the beach, and it’s easy to arrange boat trips to terrific reefs at Friwen, Kri, Mansuar, etc.
The food is good and plentiful, including more breakfast than we got at other homestays (toast, fruit, fried eggs or fried rice). The dining hall is set back from the beach, so it gets hot in there.
The bathrooms are in good shape and include tubes set high in the wall for showers. There are some biggish spiders around the bathrooms and under the bungalows, so spider-phobes should keep an eye out for them.
Corapen no longer arranges bird-watching tours, which was disappointing.
This is a well-run place with lots of staff and an active diving program with two covered dive boats (people from other homestays go out with Corapen’s divers too).
The 7 beach bungalows, which are over water at high tide, are sturdy and fairly clean, with nice raised beds, good mosquito nets, lots of outlets for power in the evening (when the generator is turned on), and good hammocks. Mostly the sound of the water is relaxing, but waves can be noisy when they crash on the beach and hit the stilts of the bungalows at high tide. Sand gets everywhere at Corapen, so it’s nice that each bungalow comes with a foot bath and a broom.
There’s good snorkeling from the beach, and it’s easy to arrange boat trips to terrific reefs at Friwen, Kri, Mansuar, etc.
The food is good and plentiful, including more breakfast than we got at other homestays (toast, fruit, fried eggs or fried rice). The dining hall is set back from the beach, so it gets hot in there.
The bathrooms are in good shape and include tubes set high in the wall for showers. There are some biggish spiders around the bathrooms and under the bungalows, so spider-phobes should keep an eye out for them.
Corapen no longer arranges bird-watching tours, which was disappointing.
Sorry took me a while to write this review. I like the cottages on the beach. Really nice to dooze off listening to the waves at night. Plenty of birds and occasionally a few ducks that flew in most mornings.
The boys did a great job trying to make everyone happy. From the cooks to the boatman to the dive master’s.
Thanks for everything guys. Shall make a return definitely! Nijo Naboyer…
Sorry took me a while to write this review. I like the cottages on the beach. Really nice to dooze off listening to the waves at night. Plenty of birds and occasionally a few ducks that flew in most mornings.
The boys did a great job trying to make everyone happy. From the cooks to the boatman to the dive master’s.
Thanks for everything guys. Shall make a return definitely! Nijo Naboyer…
I had a wonderful stay at Corepen. The location is an absolute dream, the bungalows are really comfy (great beds) and falling asleep in the hammock is an extra bonus. The food was extremely good and also we enjoyed variation (and the Spaghetti were fantastic)! Maria and Sandi and the entire team made you be part of the family. In addition the dive operations are very professional and the equipment is top notch.
I had a wonderful stay at Corepen. The location is an absolute dream, the bungalows are really comfy (great beds) and falling asleep in the hammock is an extra bonus. The food was extremely good and also we enjoyed variation (and the Spaghetti were fantastic)! Maria and Sandi and the entire team made you be part of the family. In addition the dive operations are very professional and the equipment is top notch.
What a lovely place. Maria is taking care about everything. Best dive sites ever. I had a great time with Corepen homestay.
What a lovely place. Maria is taking care about everything. Best dive sites ever. I had a great time with Corepen homestay.
The Corepen Dive Center is truly the best homestay and dive center I’ve ever experienced!
Starting with the dive center, everyone, from the owners, Maria and Sandi, to the dive masters, boatmen, and other staff, is really reliable, responsive, and is genuine caring for their jobs and customers.
Whether on land or underwater, they are super awesome, ensuring that every diving experience is exceptional. My buddy and I spent 5 weeks diving with them and we all were super satisfied and had a wonderful time there.
Regarding the homestay itself, there’s nothing to complain about. The room is fantastic, complete with a comfortable bed, mosquito net, and even a hammock where you can observe walking sharks during high tide at night. The food and snacks are equally outstanding, with Maria’s homemade cakes during surface intervals being an absolute delight. Additionally, the public areas, including the restaurant, showers, and bathrooms, may be basic, but they are practical and very clean.
I wholeheartedly recommend Corepen Dive Center to any diving enthusiast. I’m already planning my return!
The Corepen Dive Center is truly the best homestay and dive center I’ve ever experienced!
Starting with the dive center, everyone, from the owners, Maria and Sandi, to the dive masters, boatmen, and other staff, is really reliable, responsive, and is genuine caring for their jobs and customers.
Whether on land or underwater, they are super awesome, ensuring that every diving experience is exceptional. My buddy and I spent 5 weeks diving with them and we all were super satisfied and had a wonderful time there.
Regarding the homestay itself, there’s nothing to complain about. The room is fantastic, complete with a comfortable bed, mosquito net, and even a hammock where you can observe walking sharks during high tide at night. The food and snacks are equally outstanding, with Maria’s homemade cakes during surface intervals being an absolute delight. Additionally, the public areas, including the restaurant, showers, and bathrooms, may be basic, but they are practical and very clean.
I wholeheartedly recommend Corepen Dive Center to any diving enthusiast. I’m already planning my return!
Cozy and comfortable homestay with a great dive center. We truly enjoyed our stay. beds were most comfortable we had on Raja, food was great, house reef beautiful and dive operation well equipped and organized and very flexible. Payment for diving and extras could be made by Wise (comfortable). Definitely recommended!
Cozy and comfortable homestay with a great dive center. We truly enjoyed our stay. beds were most comfortable we had on Raja, food was great, house reef beautiful and dive operation well equipped and organized and very flexible. Payment for diving and extras could be made by Wise (comfortable). Definitely recommended!
We loved our four night stay at Corepen. Maria does a great job of managing the homestay, very organised and ready to help however she can. The grounds are well maintained and clean. The food is varied and tasty, post dive snacks were delicious. The cabins are super nice, very comfortable with hammocks looking out to sea. The on site dive centre is well run with experienced and friendly Indonesian dive guides. Homestay guests get priority and it was all very relaxed and adaptable. If you want to do lots of diving this is the perfect place (possibly essentaily in high season as it can be hard to find space with dive centres), you can easily reach most of the popular dive spots from here. Most of the other divers we encountered were very experienced whilst we were there, as beginners we felt a little out of our depth (strong currents, limited handholding). If you’re a beginner, make sure you make that clear and discuss different options with the dive guides.
We loved our four night stay at Corepen. Maria does a great job of managing the homestay, very organised and ready to help however she can. The grounds are well maintained and clean. The food is varied and tasty, post dive snacks were delicious. The cabins are super nice, very comfortable with hammocks looking out to sea. The on site dive centre is well run with experienced and friendly Indonesian dive guides. Homestay guests get priority and it was all very relaxed and adaptable. If you want to do lots of diving this is the perfect place (possibly essentaily in high season as it can be hard to find space with dive centres), you can easily reach most of the popular dive spots from here. Most of the other divers we encountered were very experienced whilst we were there, as beginners we felt a little out of our depth (strong currents, limited handholding). If you’re a beginner, make sure you make that clear and discuss different options with the dive guides.
Corepen is a lovely homestay!
The bungalows are spacious, clean and have a great veranda with a hammock right at the waters edge.
Snorkelling is good right out the door and one can join the diving boat to snorkel different locations, or hire a boat.
The staff are sweet ,kind and very hospitable. The food was delicious!
I would highly recommend Corepen and enjoyed my 10 days there very much! Big thankyou to all the staff!
Corepen is a lovely homestay!
The bungalows are spacious, clean and have a great veranda with a hammock right at the waters edge.
Snorkelling is good right out the door and one can join the diving boat to snorkel different locations, or hire a boat.
The staff are sweet ,kind and very hospitable. The food was delicious!
I would highly recommend Corepen and enjoyed my 10 days there very much! Big thankyou to all the staff!
We loved our 8 days diving at Corepen.
Maria & Sandi are delightful hosts and the meals were good.
Rooms have lovely views over the house reef to Mioskun & Kri.
The location is perfect for the famous dive sites around Cape Kri.
Corepen also dive sites further south such as Manta Ridge, Mayhem & Citrus Reef (all recommended)
They have 2 small boats which can each accommodate 8 divers but when we were there it was
mostly 1 boat with 4-6 divers & 2-3 guides.
Maria & Sandi discuss each night after dinner plans for the next day’s diving.
They were good at meeting the different interests of guests.
The changing currents make choosing when to dive sites, the dive plan, and where exactly to drop on the site very important. The Corepen dive team has many years of experience diving these sites and is expert at this. Even diving the more challenging sites we felt safe with them. We saw expensive liveaboards diving the same sites and I thought we were better off with the Corepen team.
There is pleasant snorkelling on the house reef but keen snorkellers will want to arrange trips to other sites perhaps with the divers.
Short walks are possible into the jungle behind the homestay. Waigeo Cuscus can be seen at night in trees at the homestay.
A beautiful 1-hour boat ride through nearby mangroves can be arranged at high tide.
It is possible to see Dugongs at a tiny island near Friwen a short boat ride away, but they are shy so views may be distant.
We loved our 8 days diving at Corepen.
Maria & Sandi are delightful hosts and the meals were good.
Rooms have lovely views over the house reef to Mioskun & Kri.
The location is perfect for the famous dive sites around Cape Kri.
Corepen also dive sites further south such as Manta Ridge, Mayhem & Citrus Reef (all recommended)
They have 2 small boats which can each accommodate 8 divers but when we were there it was
mostly 1 boat with 4-6 divers & 2-3 guides.
Maria & Sandi discuss each night after dinner plans for the next day’s diving.
They were good at meeting the different interests of guests.
The changing currents make choosing when to dive sites, the dive plan, and where exactly to drop on the site very important. The Corepen dive team has many years of experience diving these sites and is expert at this. Even diving the more challenging sites we felt safe with them. We saw expensive liveaboards diving the same sites and I thought we were better off with the Corepen team.
There is pleasant snorkelling on the house reef but keen snorkellers will want to arrange trips to other sites perhaps with the divers.
Short walks are possible into the jungle behind the homestay. Waigeo Cuscus can be seen at night in trees at the homestay.
A beautiful 1-hour boat ride through nearby mangroves can be arranged at high tide.
It is possible to see Dugongs at a tiny island near Friwen a short boat ride away, but they are shy so views may be distant.
We had the best time at Corepen. The bungalows are nice and clean, over the ocean and have everything you need. The food was nice and plenty. The best was the diving. Maria, Sandi, Ray and the others were simply amazing. We are real beginners and we always felt safe with them. They are super accommodating and always try their best to make sure everyone has options that fit their experience and wishes. There are always several divemasters with the group so we always had someone taking great care of us! 🙂 Really good people, in diving and in life. We’ll come back in a heartbeat if we come to dive again in Raja Ampat.
We had the best time at Corepen. The bungalows are nice and clean, over the ocean and have everything you need. The food was nice and plenty. The best was the diving. Maria, Sandi, Ray and the others were simply amazing. We are real beginners and we always felt safe with them. They are super accommodating and always try their best to make sure everyone has options that fit their experience and wishes. There are always several divemasters with the group so we always had someone taking great care of us! 🙂 Really good people, in diving and in life. We’ll come back in a heartbeat if we come to dive again in Raja Ampat.
We stayed a week at Corepen and wished we had booked more time there (note to self for next time). Our beach bungalow had beautiful views of the sea, sunrises, and pink lights of sunset with a comfortable hammock and chairs for enjoying this view. The bed was big and the most comfortable we had on our trip. Was surprised to have 2 showers and 3 very clean toilets at this homestay. The food was plentiful and delicious (and you can always ask for more), and Maria helped organise a surprise birthday cake on short notice! Maria makes magic happen. Thank you, Maria!
Corepen is a diver’s paradise. They have 2 dive boats that can go out if there are many divers, with 2-3 divemasters/guides on a boat so that divers of all levels are taken care of. You can have up to 2 morning dives, 1 afternoon dive, and a night dive daily with up to 1 hour bottom time on each dive. They have plenty of equipment for rental and if you are unsure about something they provide alternative choices, just remember to speak up. Maria and Sandi come to chat with everyone after dinner so that the group can plan the dive spots for the next day. This was really nice because you can ask about different dive sites as well as have input on where to go. Divers always take care of each other and we were grateful when on our last day of diving they all agreed to go to a site we hadn’t been to even though some had been there already. Overall, this is a perfect base for exploring ALL the dive sites in Raja Ampat. We learned about how the moon phases and tides affect the currents and the dive sites and Corepen also has a great collection of books for looking up fish and creatures from the dives…or you can always ask Sandi who knows everything!
We focused on diving during our week there, but were given the options of going on other tours that were organised through external guides, so do ask if you want to do other things. One evening, we even took a night walk through the jungle on a path that goes behind the homestay. We saw birds, bats, and all sorts of creepy crawlies (scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, stick insects, tarantula…) if that’s your thing! If not, the grounds of the homestay were always clean and safe with lovely birds singing and we also saw some Cous Cous one night.
Don’t hesitate to book here and enjoy!
We stayed a week at Corepen and wished we had booked more time there (note to self for next time). Our beach bungalow had beautiful views of the sea, sunrises, and pink lights of sunset with a comfortable hammock and chairs for enjoying this view. The bed was big and the most comfortable we had on our trip. Was surprised to have 2 showers and 3 very clean toilets at this homestay. The food was plentiful and delicious (and you can always ask for more), and Maria helped organise a surprise birthday cake on short notice! Maria makes magic happen. Thank you, Maria!
Corepen is a diver’s paradise. They have 2 dive boats that can go out if there are many divers, with 2-3 divemasters/guides on a boat so that divers of all levels are taken care of. You can have up to 2 morning dives, 1 afternoon dive, and a night dive daily with up to 1 hour bottom time on each dive. They have plenty of equipment for rental and if you are unsure about something they provide alternative choices, just remember to speak up. Maria and Sandi come to chat with everyone after dinner so that the group can plan the dive spots for the next day. This was really nice because you can ask about different dive sites as well as have input on where to go. Divers always take care of each other and we were grateful when on our last day of diving they all agreed to go to a site we hadn’t been to even though some had been there already. Overall, this is a perfect base for exploring ALL the dive sites in Raja Ampat. We learned about how the moon phases and tides affect the currents and the dive sites and Corepen also has a great collection of books for looking up fish and creatures from the dives…or you can always ask Sandi who knows everything!
We focused on diving during our week there, but were given the options of going on other tours that were organised through external guides, so do ask if you want to do other things. One evening, we even took a night walk through the jungle on a path that goes behind the homestay. We saw birds, bats, and all sorts of creepy crawlies (scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, stick insects, tarantula…) if that’s your thing! If not, the grounds of the homestay were always clean and safe with lovely birds singing and we also saw some Cous Cous one night.
Don’t hesitate to book here and enjoy!
Mariam and all the staff were absolutely wonderful! I was a snorkeler but went along on the dive trips and the snorkeling was great! The food was plentiful and delicious. The house reef was very nice as well.
Mariam and all the staff were absolutely wonderful! I was a snorkeler but went along on the dive trips and the snorkeling was great! The food was plentiful and delicious. The house reef was very nice as well.
Upon arrival, a disappointing feeling at the sight of floating plastic and other junk in front of the door, under the house. Nature that humans certainly have influence on! The mess was not cleaned up in the days that followed and was largely washed back into the sea, while the garden was raked. Nearby homestay removed carts of plastic! As a snorkeler on the dive boat, but I am not going to snorkel in a place with tons of jellyfish around, then you will have to wait an hour for the boat. Unfortunately I was not offered an alternative snorkeling spot. Two days later a great snorkeling trip, simple boat, 2 people, 3 snorkeling spots a short distance away, 1 million IDR per boat, the sea 20 butts richer again thanks to the boatman. Excellent bed, good mosquito net, communal shower/toilet and clean, simple and tasty food. The smile on the owner’s face is hard to find, we don’t feel very welcome. House reef is of little use to you as a snorkeler.
Upon arrival, a disappointing feeling at the sight of floating plastic and other junk in front of the door, under the house. Nature that humans certainly have influence on! The mess was not cleaned up in the days that followed and was largely washed back into the sea, while the garden was raked. Nearby homestay removed carts of plastic! As a snorkeler on the dive boat, but I am not going to snorkel in a place with tons of jellyfish around, then you will have to wait an hour for the boat. Unfortunately I was not offered an alternative snorkeling spot. Two days later a great snorkeling trip, simple boat, 2 people, 3 snorkeling spots a short distance away, 1 million IDR per boat, the sea 20 butts richer again thanks to the boatman. Excellent bed, good mosquito net, communal shower/toilet and clean, simple and tasty food. The smile on the owner’s face is hard to find, we don’t feel very welcome. House reef is of little use to you as a snorkeler.
A beautiful stay at Corepen! This homestay was our most comfortable and the bungalows were the most modern we had.
The highlight for us was the onsite dive shop / instructors. Maria and Harry were so incredibly helpful. The dive master comes to talk to you each night at dinner to see what everyone wants to do the next day and we collectively agreed on some amazing dive sites. This was my first time diving and Harry was so wonderful and made me feel very safe. He also was incredible at filming on the GoPro!
We also met some incredible travellers at this homestay that contributed to a great stay.
Food was fabulous, and the nutella was a real luxury!
Thank you Maria for making our stay so wonderful.
A beautiful stay at Corepen! This homestay was our most comfortable and the bungalows were the most modern we had.
The highlight for us was the onsite dive shop / instructors. Maria and Harry were so incredibly helpful. The dive master comes to talk to you each night at dinner to see what everyone wants to do the next day and we collectively agreed on some amazing dive sites. This was my first time diving and Harry was so wonderful and made me feel very safe. He also was incredible at filming on the GoPro!
We also met some incredible travellers at this homestay that contributed to a great stay.
Food was fabulous, and the nutella was a real luxury!
Thank you Maria for making our stay so wonderful.
I stayed 8 nights at the Corepen. It was great! They have a own Dive Center and all the dive guides are very skilled – Sandi, Harry, Handi and also Mariama who runs the homestay is a local Dive Guide – one of the very few women in Raja Ampat. The food was one of the best in Raja Ampat – we stayed in other homestays – but at Corepen it was always plenty, varied and delicious! The beds are very comfy and the Bungalows are clean.
The coral reef in front of the homestay is a good spot for snorkeling and behind the homestay there are Kakadus and Parrots on the trees, also some Couscous.
I enjoyed it very much and I wished I would have stayed the whole time at Corepen. If you like it more busy then you should go to Kri but for me it was perfect on Gam.
I can’t wait to go back! Thank you Mariama, Sandi and all the others from the team.
I stayed 8 nights at the Corepen. It was great! They have a own Dive Center and all the dive guides are very skilled – Sandi, Harry, Handi and also Mariama who runs the homestay is a local Dive Guide – one of the very few women in Raja Ampat. The food was one of the best in Raja Ampat – we stayed in other homestays – but at Corepen it was always plenty, varied and delicious! The beds are very comfy and the Bungalows are clean.
The coral reef in front of the homestay is a good spot for snorkeling and behind the homestay there are Kakadus and Parrots on the trees, also some Couscous.
I enjoyed it very much and I wished I would have stayed the whole time at Corepen. If you like it more busy then you should go to Kri but for me it was perfect on Gam.
I can’t wait to go back! Thank you Mariama, Sandi and all the others from the team.
We just spendere nine nice day at Corepen homestay. Mariama, Sandy and the rest of the team are running a nice homestay and an excellent dive center.
The food is great and variated. Rooms are spacious, clean and they all have an amazing sea view from the hammocks on the terrace.
Dive center and dive masters are excellent. Everyday, except Sunday’s, there are morning trip with to dives, and in the afternoon there is a “one dive” trip.
Most of the many dive sites are within 30 min. boat ride.
We can highly recommend the day trip to Pianyemo and if conditions are rught, a dive at the beautiful “Mallisa garden”.
We just spendere nine nice day at Corepen homestay. Mariama, Sandy and the rest of the team are running a nice homestay and an excellent dive center.
The food is great and variated. Rooms are spacious, clean and they all have an amazing sea view from the hammocks on the terrace.
Dive center and dive masters are excellent. Everyday, except Sunday’s, there are morning trip with to dives, and in the afternoon there is a “one dive” trip.
Most of the many dive sites are within 30 min. boat ride.
We can highly recommend the day trip to Pianyemo and if conditions are rught, a dive at the beautiful “Mallisa garden”.
We stayed here 5 nights in one of the 6 bungalows which are completely above water at high tide. The mandi house which is cleaned every day, offer 3 toilets and 2 really powerful showers. Maria and her team provide the most delicious food we had during our one month’s stay in RA.
We stayed here 5 nights in one of the 6 bungalows which are completely above water at high tide. The mandi house which is cleaned every day, offer 3 toilets and 2 really powerful showers. Maria and her team provide the most delicious food we had during our one month’s stay in RA.
10 nov We loved Corepen!!!!! Although we had some doubts about the shared toiled everything has been better than expected. Maria, who is in charge of diving is amazing!!! If you are a diver is very important to have a diving center (a good one) to get the most of your experience. Food was perfect, even for me that i m vegetarian. I don t dive and i went snorkeling, everything perfect. The cabin in fron of the sea, wordless, incredible. Nice coral reef. Corepen works as a family with other travellers that visit the place, we do recommen it, you will love it!!!!! Paradise exists!!
10 nov We loved Corepen!!!!! Although we had some doubts about the shared toiled everything has been better than expected. Maria, who is in charge of diving is amazing!!! If you are a diver is very important to have a diving center (a good one) to get the most of your experience. Food was perfect, even for me that i m vegetarian. I don t dive and i went snorkeling, everything perfect. The cabin in fron of the sea, wordless, incredible. Nice coral reef. Corepen works as a family with other travellers that visit the place, we do recommen it, you will love it!!!!! Paradise exists!!
My girlfriend and I stayed at Corepen for 2 nights in the End of October 2023. Unfortunately was already fully booked for the next days so that we had to move to the next place and couldn’t stay there longer.
We stayed there at the beginning of our trip in Raja Ampat.
Coriana was a very nice place where to chill and relax after our very long flights. We also dove two times with Maria and Harry, since Coriana have their own Dive Center. We rented some equipment which was great, as well as the organisation (Dive sites were Mioskun and Lao Lao Reef).
Food were great, maybe the best we had during our stay in Raja Ampat 🙂
We also had the pleasure to meet some interesting and nice guests with whom we shared some amazing time during the 3 meals Coriana serves.
Quality-Price just great, really to recommend!
My girlfriend and I stayed at Corepen for 2 nights in the End of October 2023. Unfortunately was already fully booked for the next days so that we had to move to the next place and couldn’t stay there longer.
We stayed there at the beginning of our trip in Raja Ampat.
Coriana was a very nice place where to chill and relax after our very long flights. We also dove two times with Maria and Harry, since Coriana have their own Dive Center. We rented some equipment which was great, as well as the organisation (Dive sites were Mioskun and Lao Lao Reef).
Food were great, maybe the best we had during our stay in Raja Ampat 🙂
We also had the pleasure to meet some interesting and nice guests with whom we shared some amazing time during the 3 meals Coriana serves.
Quality-Price just great, really to recommend!
I have been at Corepen for 6 nights in november 2023. It was a highlight during my 3 weeks diving trip.
My stay was simply great:
-good food: enough, tasty and with variety
-good accomodation: comfortable rooms, view on the sea, good mosquito net, toilet on another place so that there was no stench
-not a very big homestay so that the divingteams are not too big and more familial
-not far from the best divesites. Choice of dive site in consultation with the guests and diving manager
-good and helpful diving team, bootskippering,… Well organised divingtrips. Maria (mngr homestay) and Sandi (responsable divingtrips) are top dive guides !
Don’t hesitate to book here, after speaking with all the other divers about their home stay experiences : Corepen is highly recommended.
I have been at Corepen for 6 nights in november 2023. It was a highlight during my 3 weeks diving trip.
My stay was simply great:
-good food: enough, tasty and with variety
-good accomodation: comfortable rooms, view on the sea, good mosquito net, toilet on another place so that there was no stench
-not a very big homestay so that the divingteams are not too big and more familial
-not far from the best divesites. Choice of dive site in consultation with the guests and diving manager
-good and helpful diving team, bootskippering,… Well organised divingtrips. Maria (mngr homestay) and Sandi (responsable divingtrips) are top dive guides !
Don’t hesitate to book here, after speaking with all the other divers about their home stay experiences : Corepen is highly recommended.
Been there for 4 nights. The accommodation is really basic but enough. Amazing beach and reef in front of the homestay. Very delicious food and very versatile. Friendly and helpful stuff. Compared to other homestays we know just by stories from other people we met, this is one of the best homestays in Raja ampat. Diving was also very well organized and arranged. Fair price also.
Been there for 4 nights. The accommodation is really basic but enough. Amazing beach and reef in front of the homestay. Very delicious food and very versatile. Friendly and helpful stuff. Compared to other homestays we know just by stories from other people we met, this is one of the best homestays in Raja ampat. Diving was also very well organized and arranged. Fair price also.
We loved our stay at Corepen at the end of October 2023. The bungalows are amazing, with high tide just above the water, chilling in our hammock or snorkel in front. The seagarden is full of beautiful fishes, we saw turtles and even a walking shark. The food was really good! Thank you Maria for the wonderful stay. My partner dived and I snorkeled. It was the best diving experience of his life and we have to give a huge thank you to Harry for that. Harry knew exactly what he was doing, checking the spots before going in and taking care of the divers. He also made sure we visited spots where I could go snorkel, and I had the best time. Harry is hilarious and friendly so that made it even better. Moreover, Musa really looked out for me while I was in the water. Musa was an awesome boatdriver for real and caring.
We just loved our stay, would 100% recommend.
We loved our stay at Corepen at the end of October 2023. The bungalows are amazing, with high tide just above the water, chilling in our hammock or snorkel in front. The seagarden is full of beautiful fishes, we saw turtles and even a walking shark. The food was really good! Thank you Maria for the wonderful stay. My partner dived and I snorkeled. It was the best diving experience of his life and we have to give a huge thank you to Harry for that. Harry knew exactly what he was doing, checking the spots before going in and taking care of the divers. He also made sure we visited spots where I could go snorkel, and I had the best time. Harry is hilarious and friendly so that made it even better. Moreover, Musa really looked out for me while I was in the water. Musa was an awesome boatdriver for real and caring.
We just loved our stay, would 100% recommend.
Was here early October, 2023, the first of four homestays. First, a shout-out to Mariama, who is the reason this place functions as well as it does. She is the dive shop owner and de facto mgr. of Corepen. I dive and snorkel and was here with a friend who only snorkels. The house reef was really nice – there are dead spots, but also lots of life. This was the only home reef where I saw cuttlefish. As elsewhere, there were bumphead parrotfish, white-tips and turtles, a few nudibranchs.
My friend was not happy with the inattention to snorkelers on the boat trips; she’d checked ahead of time, but still, she was pretty much dumped in the water and left to her own devices except when I was with her. This is not unusual for a dive-oriented place, but still not cool.
Corepen is near many of the best dive sites, and rates are reasonable. The dive guide had a good eye and good dive habits, and Mariama was always present as well – this was one of my best recent experiences anywhere in terms of safety and care.
The bungalows were comfy, I liked the three different toilet options (!), food was plentiful and tasty (I am gluten-free and did fine). The one reason I am unlikely to return to Corepen is that at night when the tide comes in, the waves hitting the posts of the bungalows sounds like cannonballs. For hours. Really really loud. So I did not sleep much. The two people there who were hard of hearing fared better. If that sort of thing does not bother you, then I can highly recommend Corepen.
Was here early October, 2023, the first of four homestays. First, a shout-out to Mariama, who is the reason this place functions as well as it does. She is the dive shop owner and de facto mgr. of Corepen. I dive and snorkel and was here with a friend who only snorkels. The house reef was really nice – there are dead spots, but also lots of life. This was the only home reef where I saw cuttlefish. As elsewhere, there were bumphead parrotfish, white-tips and turtles, a few nudibranchs.
My friend was not happy with the inattention to snorkelers on the boat trips; she’d checked ahead of time, but still, she was pretty much dumped in the water and left to her own devices except when I was with her. This is not unusual for a dive-oriented place, but still not cool.
Corepen is near many of the best dive sites, and rates are reasonable. The dive guide had a good eye and good dive habits, and Mariama was always present as well – this was one of my best recent experiences anywhere in terms of safety and care.
The bungalows were comfy, I liked the three different toilet options (!), food was plentiful and tasty (I am gluten-free and did fine). The one reason I am unlikely to return to Corepen is that at night when the tide comes in, the waves hitting the posts of the bungalows sounds like cannonballs. For hours. Really really loud. So I did not sleep much. The two people there who were hard of hearing fared better. If that sort of thing does not bother you, then I can highly recommend Corepen.
Basic accomodation with lovely hosts. Beds are really comfortable and the mosquito net in good shape. Food was good (just not so varied) and plenty. Diving and the trips were ok.
For the price totally fine.
Basic accomodation with lovely hosts. Beds are really comfortable and the mosquito net in good shape. Food was good (just not so varied) and plenty. Diving and the trips were ok.
For the price totally fine.
Our favorite homestay in Raja Ampat.
Maria and Harry made the stay unforgettable.
While we were eating all together you got to know everyone directly and we felt directly comfortable and like at home.
The dive trips were great and the food delicious!
At the dive boats we were always small groups which made it even more enjoyable.
We have also made a bird watching tour, which we can highly recommend (we have seen about 10 birds of paradise, but that is of course a matter of luck). The mangrove tour is also highly recommended.
Our favorite homestay in Raja Ampat.
Maria and Harry made the stay unforgettable.
While we were eating all together you got to know everyone directly and we felt directly comfortable and like at home.
The dive trips were great and the food delicious!
At the dive boats we were always small groups which made it even more enjoyable.
We have also made a bird watching tour, which we can highly recommend (we have seen about 10 birds of paradise, but that is of course a matter of luck). The mangrove tour is also highly recommended.
Corepen Homestay has been one of the highlights of our trip to Indonesia. It will become a core memory for us. Both Harry and Mariama made our stay in Raja Ampat absolutely exceptional, we stayed 4 nights at the homestay and not only did we do 6 dives with them, but we also visited Piaynemo and the Mangrooves, which were amazing. We did not have much diving experience (only 5 dives before going to Papua) and both Harry and Maria took care of us and showed us all the skills needed to dive with currents. We dived with green turtles, reef sharks, manta rays, lots of coral, etc.
As for the accommodation and food everything was exceptional, so 100% recommendable.
Corepen Homestay has been one of the highlights of our trip to Indonesia. It will become a core memory for us. Both Harry and Mariama made our stay in Raja Ampat absolutely exceptional, we stayed 4 nights at the homestay and not only did we do 6 dives with them, but we also visited Piaynemo and the Mangrooves, which were amazing. We did not have much diving experience (only 5 dives before going to Papua) and both Harry and Maria took care of us and showed us all the skills needed to dive with currents. We dived with green turtles, reef sharks, manta rays, lots of coral, etc.
As for the accommodation and food everything was exceptional, so 100% recommendable.
it was an absolutely amazing 2 weeks stay! 😍 we felt so comfortable…thw hit is simple but you already see and expect from the picture…the staff is so friendly ans helpful, also we had a lot of fun together! :-)) they are very professional diving instructors
..we are not experienced so we felt very save and well taken care of! the housereef is unbelievable….i could have just stayed in the water the whole day!! very special experience and this place is still a true paradise 🥰🤗
it was an absolutely amazing 2 weeks stay! 😍 we felt so comfortable…thw hit is simple but you already see and expect from the picture…the staff is so friendly ans helpful, also we had a lot of fun together! :-)) they are very professional diving instructors
..we are not experienced so we felt very save and well taken care of! the housereef is unbelievable….i could have just stayed in the water the whole day!! very special experience and this place is still a true paradise 🥰🤗
We enjoyed our stay. Staff coordinatation was good and helped us get in two amazing dives. Thank you.
We enjoyed our stay. Staff coordinatation was good and helped us get in two amazing dives. Thank you.
I loved staying and diving with Corepen Homestay. Set up in an epic scenery with just water and jungle around you, you find 5 simple but lovely bungalows. Great bed with mosquito net, a terrace with hammock, waves below and stars above you.
You get three meals a day and snacks in between. They have a fridge, but if you want cold drinks you have to bring it with you or ask the guys, if they can bring some when they go for shopping in Waisai.
Diving in Raja Ampat was gorgeous as well and the guides spotted tons of creatures and we had some nice drift dives as well. If this sounds nice to you, I definitely recommend to go there!
I loved staying and diving with Corepen Homestay. Set up in an epic scenery with just water and jungle around you, you find 5 simple but lovely bungalows. Great bed with mosquito net, a terrace with hammock, waves below and stars above you.
You get three meals a day and snacks in between. They have a fridge, but if you want cold drinks you have to bring it with you or ask the guys, if they can bring some when they go for shopping in Waisai.
Diving in Raja Ampat was gorgeous as well and the guides spotted tons of creatures and we had some nice drift dives as well. If this sounds nice to you, I definitely recommend to go there!
I stayed in Corepen for four nights. I wish I had stayed longer! Everything was simply perfect! Accommodation, beds , food and amazing diving ! Divemasters knew very well what they were doing ! Perfect knowledge of the reefs ! I felt very safe and at home! I will definitely come back ! I encountered no vicious, dangerous animals , like dogs 😬, thanks to the previous comment of this man 😔…
I stayed in Corepen for four nights. I wish I had stayed longer! Everything was simply perfect! Accommodation, beds , food and amazing diving ! Divemasters knew very well what they were doing ! Perfect knowledge of the reefs ! I felt very safe and at home! I will definitely come back ! I encountered no vicious, dangerous animals , like dogs 😬, thanks to the previous comment of this man 😔…
We have stayed there for 5 nights in total and really loved the place. All the guys working there were so nice, the food was good, the dive masters were amazing. We went diving in several places and with different dive centers but I can say that the best dives and the best dive masters were in Corepen. Big special thanks to Ary who just came back the day we arrived and who gave us many info.
The bed was comfortable, the mosquito net was new and with ni holes in it (I can tell you that in other homestays it’s not necessarly the case).
We will come back
We have stayed there for 5 nights in total and really loved the place. All the guys working there were so nice, the food was good, the dive masters were amazing. We went diving in several places and with different dive centers but I can say that the best dives and the best dive masters were in Corepen. Big special thanks to Ary who just came back the day we arrived and who gave us many info.
The bed was comfortable, the mosquito net was new and with ni holes in it (I can tell you that in other homestays it’s not necessarly the case).
We will come back
In July 2023, our group of six enjoyed a delightful three-night stay at this homestay. The hostess, Maria, and her crew extended a warm welcome that immediately made us feel at home.
– ACCOMODATION & FOOD –
The accommodations were pristine, boasting a stunning balcony with views of both the beach and the sunrise. Each room was comfortable and the added hammock was a favorite feature. Upon request, an additional bed was provided seamlessly. The bathrooms were clean and equipped with basic showers – a convenience we hadn’t encountered elsewhere on our trip.
The food was hearty, always hot, timely, and more than sufficient. The highlight was a delectable fish dinner on our last night, the memory of which remained with us long after our departure.
-DIVING & TRANSPORT-
We participated in seven meticulously organized dive excursions, including a night dive. The team’s knowledge about the Dampier Strait, reef conditions, and currents helped us choose the perfect spots. The equipment was well maintained, and their suggestion to visit Sawanderek Jetty turned out to be one of our most memorable dives, despite not being in our initial plan.
The transportation provided was punctual and efficient. We were picked up directly from Waisai Jetty and our subsequent trip to West Waisai was seamlessly coordinated. The costs were competitive with other local homestays.
Our heartfelt thanks to Maria and her team for such an enchanting stay. We look forward to returning in the future!”
In July 2023, our group of six enjoyed a delightful three-night stay at this homestay. The hostess, Maria, and her crew extended a warm welcome that immediately made us feel at home.
– ACCOMODATION & FOOD –
The accommodations were pristine, boasting a stunning balcony with views of both the beach and the sunrise. Each room was comfortable and the added hammock was a favorite feature. Upon request, an additional bed was provided seamlessly. The bathrooms were clean and equipped with basic showers – a convenience we hadn’t encountered elsewhere on our trip.
The food was hearty, always hot, timely, and more than sufficient. The highlight was a delectable fish dinner on our last night, the memory of which remained with us long after our departure.
-DIVING & TRANSPORT-
We participated in seven meticulously organized dive excursions, including a night dive. The team’s knowledge about the Dampier Strait, reef conditions, and currents helped us choose the perfect spots. The equipment was well maintained, and their suggestion to visit Sawanderek Jetty turned out to be one of our most memorable dives, despite not being in our initial plan.
The transportation provided was punctual and efficient. We were picked up directly from Waisai Jetty and our subsequent trip to West Waisai was seamlessly coordinated. The costs were competitive with other local homestays.
Our heartfelt thanks to Maria and her team for such an enchanting stay. We look forward to returning in the future!”
I stayed for seven days in early June , everything was great
the diving led by Maria and her dive crew was excellent,the food was plentiful and delicious, snacks , coffee and tea, always available, I stayed in one of the beach rooms which was very clean with a nice breeze, just hope I can return one day.
I stayed for seven days in early June , everything was great
the diving led by Maria and her dive crew was excellent,the food was plentiful and delicious, snacks , coffee and tea, always available, I stayed in one of the beach rooms which was very clean with a nice breeze, just hope I can return one day.
We stayed here for four nights, and did some scuba diving and snorkelling. The staff are very friendly and accommodating, the food is delicious and plentiful, and the cabins come with the best beds we had in Raja Ampat (we stayed on 4 different islands) and a mosquito net. Very clean and comfortable.
The scuba diving equipment was in good shape and the dive sites where awesome. The house reef is still nice.
This place also has an untarnished view towards the east, with only a few faint lights visible from Kri at night. Stargazers delight!
They can organize reasonable transport to other islands on short notice.
Can fully recommend!
We stayed here for four nights, and did some scuba diving and snorkelling. The staff are very friendly and accommodating, the food is delicious and plentiful, and the cabins come with the best beds we had in Raja Ampat (we stayed on 4 different islands) and a mosquito net. Very clean and comfortable.
The scuba diving equipment was in good shape and the dive sites where awesome. The house reef is still nice.
This place also has an untarnished view towards the east, with only a few faint lights visible from Kri at night. Stargazers delight!
They can organize reasonable transport to other islands on short notice.
Can fully recommend!
I stayed here as a snorkeller only, not diving. The house reef was fantastic! The food was great and staff friendly.
This is quite a busy homestay, always lots of guests and divers. Handy for jumping on board for a snorkel, though sometimes the sites weren’t great for snorkelling, even when told they would be. I heard a lot of grumbles about how the dives were run.
For non-divers I would recommend staying elsewhere.
I stayed here as a snorkeller only, not diving. The house reef was fantastic! The food was great and staff friendly.
This is quite a busy homestay, always lots of guests and divers. Handy for jumping on board for a snorkel, though sometimes the sites weren’t great for snorkelling, even when told they would be. I heard a lot of grumbles about how the dives were run.
For non-divers I would recommend staying elsewhere.
Nice place, great house reef. Food was good and the dive lady very helpful. Owners no longer on site.
Nice place, great house reef. Food was good and the dive lady very helpful. Owners no longer on site.
Super adresse de guest house pour plonger sur les sites du detroit du dampier
Plage avec 5 bungalows sur le sable. De veritables lits et bon matelas. Une cuisine tres bonne et variee avec un gouter a 16h ! Plongees top avec maria et sandy 2 super guides qui font vraiement attention a tout et connaissent a fond leur paradis. On choisit ensemble la veille les sites que l on veut faire.. Sommes restés 15 jours avec beaucoup de bonheur
Merci encore a toute l equipe je vous recommanderais.
Super adresse de guest house pour plonger sur les sites du detroit du dampier
Plage avec 5 bungalows sur le sable. De veritables lits et bon matelas. Une cuisine tres bonne et variee avec un gouter a 16h ! Plongees top avec maria et sandy 2 super guides qui font vraiement attention a tout et connaissent a fond leur paradis. On choisit ensemble la veille les sites que l on veut faire.. Sommes restés 15 jours avec beaucoup de bonheur
Merci encore a toute l equipe je vous recommanderais.
We stayed here for 3 nights and everything was great.
The bungalows are right on the beach, they are big with enough space, clean. The hammock is a great added bonus.
The food was excellent, varied and plentiful.
We were the only ones snorkeling, the others were diving. But Sandy always chose places for us to enjoy snorkeling too. Great experience.
I recommend this homestay to everyone.
Thank you Maria and Sandy
We stayed here for 3 nights and everything was great.
The bungalows are right on the beach, they are big with enough space, clean. The hammock is a great added bonus.
The food was excellent, varied and plentiful.
We were the only ones snorkeling, the others were diving. But Sandy always chose places for us to enjoy snorkeling too. Great experience.
I recommend this homestay to everyone.
Thank you Maria and Sandy
When I first arrived at the Homestay, I was the only person who stayed there for the first time, everyone else visited this place at least once before. And I think that says a lot about the Homestay.
The Dive Masters make this Homestay stand out because they are truly spectacular at finding marine life, everything from small to big. Most of the guests here are divers but they also cater well for people that only want to snorkel.
I will definitely return at some point in time 🙂
When I first arrived at the Homestay, I was the only person who stayed there for the first time, everyone else visited this place at least once before. And I think that says a lot about the Homestay.
The Dive Masters make this Homestay stand out because they are truly spectacular at finding marine life, everything from small to big. Most of the guests here are divers but they also cater well for people that only want to snorkel.
I will definitely return at some point in time 🙂
What to say about Corepen that hasn’t already been said! Just the perfect place to stay and dive/snorkel. We came back after five years and it was even better than before. Now, the bungalows have a real bed and thick matrasses with a good moskito net. If I want to be difficult, I just would say, put in a square net. But really, not a thing to complain about. They have 2 showers and 3 toilets which is generous for 5 bungalows. They won’t build more, which is good. Maria and Sandy were sweet, efficient and competent as always. Sandy’s niece Dani is doing the cooking – awesome! And we even got dragon fruit!!!! While other homestays usually only offer bananas, other fruit being too expensive. In short, they go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and they do spoil you. Very difficult to find a better place in all Raja Ampat. Thank you, Maria and Sandy, greetings to Dani and Ebbet, all staff and Mama Cordelia, Pak Anton and lovely Sandra.
What to say about Corepen that hasn’t already been said! Just the perfect place to stay and dive/snorkel. We came back after five years and it was even better than before. Now, the bungalows have a real bed and thick matrasses with a good moskito net. If I want to be difficult, I just would say, put in a square net. But really, not a thing to complain about. They have 2 showers and 3 toilets which is generous for 5 bungalows. They won’t build more, which is good. Maria and Sandy were sweet, efficient and competent as always. Sandy’s niece Dani is doing the cooking – awesome! And we even got dragon fruit!!!! While other homestays usually only offer bananas, other fruit being too expensive. In short, they go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and they do spoil you. Very difficult to find a better place in all Raja Ampat. Thank you, Maria and Sandy, greetings to Dani and Ebbet, all staff and Mama Cordelia, Pak Anton and lovely Sandra.
THE best place we stayed in Raja Ampat. Where to start?
The bungalows – comfortable and serene, the only place we stayed with raised beds, and right over the water when the tide is high. Mosquito nets in perfect condition.
The food – best we had in Indonesia. Dani the cook is amazing. Everyday the food is different, always vegetables and fruits, sometimes egg, tempe, fritters, fish, chicken and always with delicious sauces (the pecel was to die for).
The dive shop – again, best in the islands. Sandi and Maria are experts. Daily our groups consisted of super experienced photographers to novice divers and they made sure everyone had a great experience. Sandi gives an informative briefing before every dive, something we found to be rarely done at dive shops in Raja. Maria will find the tiniest, most beautiful creatures for you like pygmy seahorses and colourful nudibranch.
In conclusion, these are really good people. They charge fair prices, we never had to worry about being overcharged for transport or diving. They take good care of their two dogs who are sweet and healthy. When we come back to Raja we will simply stay at Corepen for the whole trip. Thanks to Sandi and Maria and the whole family for hosting us!
Unrelated to Corepen but if you are coming to Raja Ampat to dive I recommend bringing a dive light with you! For really cool night diving but also to see the colours during the day at depth. Also, if you can bring some mange medicines like NexGuard or Bravecto for the dogs on other islands (Sandi and Maria’s dogs are very healthy), it would help them a lot. Enjoy!
THE best place we stayed in Raja Ampat. Where to start?
The bungalows – comfortable and serene, the only place we stayed with raised beds, and right over the water when the tide is high. Mosquito nets in perfect condition.
The food – best we had in Indonesia. Dani the cook is amazing. Everyday the food is different, always vegetables and fruits, sometimes egg, tempe, fritters, fish, chicken and always with delicious sauces (the pecel was to die for).
The dive shop – again, best in the islands. Sandi and Maria are experts. Daily our groups consisted of super experienced photographers to novice divers and they made sure everyone had a great experience. Sandi gives an informative briefing before every dive, something we found to be rarely done at dive shops in Raja. Maria will find the tiniest, most beautiful creatures for you like pygmy seahorses and colourful nudibranch.
In conclusion, these are really good people. They charge fair prices, we never had to worry about being overcharged for transport or diving. They take good care of their two dogs who are sweet and healthy. When we come back to Raja we will simply stay at Corepen for the whole trip. Thanks to Sandi and Maria and the whole family for hosting us!
Unrelated to Corepen but if you are coming to Raja Ampat to dive I recommend bringing a dive light with you! For really cool night diving but also to see the colours during the day at depth. Also, if you can bring some mange medicines like NexGuard or Bravecto for the dogs on other islands (Sandi and Maria’s dogs are very healthy), it would help them a lot. Enjoy!
We stayed at Corepen Homestay for four nights and it was amazing experience.
Diving with Sandy and Maria was superb and affordable. There are heaps of fantastic dive sites not far from the homestay. If you want to organise diving or boat trips further, like Fam Islands, it is super easy with these guys too. Same with watching birds of paradise.
The food was delicious and plenty.
Couldn’t ask for anything better.
Thank you!
Pawel and Nina
We stayed at Corepen Homestay for four nights and it was amazing experience.
Diving with Sandy and Maria was superb and affordable. There are heaps of fantastic dive sites not far from the homestay. If you want to organise diving or boat trips further, like Fam Islands, it is super easy with these guys too. Same with watching birds of paradise.
The food was delicious and plenty.
Couldn’t ask for anything better.
Thank you!
Pawel and Nina
We could not have asked for a better experience at Corepen Homestay. I had only done four dives when I arrived, and the level of care Sandi and Maria showed while diving made me feel so comfortable and confident. Sandi and Maria struck a great balance between letting you choose your dive spot, but also recommending the best ones if you asked, or telling you if the one you chose wouldn’t be good on the day. A real personally tailored experience!
The food was amazing, with a range of delicious Papuan food, from noodles, fried chicken, egg, fish, rice, amazing salads, eggplant deliciousness, Tempe, fritters, and more. They even catered for my vegetarian girlfriend with no issues at all. There was even banana cake during the dive break, with tea, coffee, and afternoon snacks of fried banana with chocolate!
The accomodation was also great, with the bungalow being right over the water on high tide, with a balcony and hammocks. Bed was comfortable and not too small, and was raised on legs with a mosquito net. Of course it was simple, but that’s what made it so great to relax and unwind.
There were also some amazingly cute and friendly dogs. And no issues with pest animals whatsoever.
Will 100% go back.
We could not have asked for a better experience at Corepen Homestay. I had only done four dives when I arrived, and the level of care Sandi and Maria showed while diving made me feel so comfortable and confident. Sandi and Maria struck a great balance between letting you choose your dive spot, but also recommending the best ones if you asked, or telling you if the one you chose wouldn’t be good on the day. A real personally tailored experience!
The food was amazing, with a range of delicious Papuan food, from noodles, fried chicken, egg, fish, rice, amazing salads, eggplant deliciousness, Tempe, fritters, and more. They even catered for my vegetarian girlfriend with no issues at all. There was even banana cake during the dive break, with tea, coffee, and afternoon snacks of fried banana with chocolate!
The accomodation was also great, with the bungalow being right over the water on high tide, with a balcony and hammocks. Bed was comfortable and not too small, and was raised on legs with a mosquito net. Of course it was simple, but that’s what made it so great to relax and unwind.
There were also some amazingly cute and friendly dogs. And no issues with pest animals whatsoever.
Will 100% go back.
Thanks for such a great time guys!
Sandi , Maria and family are very accommodating. Great food is cooked up everyday with snacks throughout as well. The bungalows are sittuated over the beach and are very well kept with a nice relaxing hammock too.
The diving was great with both Maria and Sandi taking care of us, we only had a few dives between us when we started! They also would recommend each site for what we wanted specifically. We were lucky to see wobbegongs, Pygymy seahorses as well as so much more. With the endemic walking shark being seen most nights swimming along the shoreline! Blue Magic was my favourite!
Thanks so much guys!
The Josh’s.
Thanks for such a great time guys!
Sandi , Maria and family are very accommodating. Great food is cooked up everyday with snacks throughout as well. The bungalows are sittuated over the beach and are very well kept with a nice relaxing hammock too.
The diving was great with both Maria and Sandi taking care of us, we only had a few dives between us when we started! They also would recommend each site for what we wanted specifically. We were lucky to see wobbegongs, Pygymy seahorses as well as so much more. With the endemic walking shark being seen most nights swimming along the shoreline! Blue Magic was my favourite!
Thanks so much guys!
The Josh’s.
We checked out a few homestays in Raja and can honestly say that Corepen is the best. This October 2022 was our third stay here, and we always enjoyed it! We‘ve never been to a place where guests are coming back so regularly as there, and I guess this says a lot.
Maria and Sandi (and in the past Hary) are the best guides; they know precisely when and where to jump in and respond to the individual wishes of the customers (Nudinerds, Shark lovers, Photographers, Non-Photographers). They love diving and the underwater world! We always felt safe.
And the dive sites are one of a kind. The homestay is clean, offers a great view, and the food is delicious. We will coming back for sure!
We checked out a few homestays in Raja and can honestly say that Corepen is the best. This October 2022 was our third stay here, and we always enjoyed it! We‘ve never been to a place where guests are coming back so regularly as there, and I guess this says a lot.
Maria and Sandi (and in the past Hary) are the best guides; they know precisely when and where to jump in and respond to the individual wishes of the customers (Nudinerds, Shark lovers, Photographers, Non-Photographers). They love diving and the underwater world! We always felt safe.
And the dive sites are one of a kind. The homestay is clean, offers a great view, and the food is delicious. We will coming back for sure!
We stayed at this beautiful place for for nights.
Diving with Sandy and Maria was just great and my nondiving wife enyoyed going along and had good snorkling.
The food was very good and always enough.
We stayed at this beautiful place for for nights.
Diving with Sandy and Maria was just great and my nondiving wife enyoyed going along and had good snorkling.
The food was very good and always enough.
I’ve just returned from a 24 night stay at Corepen…my second time. It was just as wonderful as the first time. The very comfortable bungalows have new mattresses for a good night’s sleep and the hammock out front is a great place to read or nap in the afternoon. Dani is the new cook at Corepen turning out some of the most delicious dishes I’ve ever consumed…soups, fish, chicken, vegetable, noodle and rice dishes…really spectacular food and beautifully presented. The diving is amazing as usual. Sandy and Maria know the region intimately and always took us to places where the current was calm so the photographers could get the shots they wanted. If anyone reading this is planning to visit soon, Sandy’s dive computer needs to be replaced…if you have a spare, possibly you could pass it on to him…it would be much appreciated.
Hi Beverly..thank you for the returning back to us,i’m was so glad to diving again with you and all the diver. I wish you will be back as your plan soon.
About divecomputer i slove the problem, thank you for your kindness.
I’ve just returned from a 24 night stay at Corepen…my second time. It was just as wonderful as the first time. The very comfortable bungalows have new mattresses for a good night’s sleep and the hammock out front is a great place to read or nap in the afternoon. Dani is the new cook at Corepen turning out some of the most delicious dishes I’ve ever consumed…soups, fish, chicken, vegetable, noodle and rice dishes…really spectacular food and beautifully presented. The diving is amazing as usual. Sandy and Maria know the region intimately and always took us to places where the current was calm so the photographers could get the shots they wanted. If anyone reading this is planning to visit soon, Sandy’s dive computer needs to be replaced…if you have a spare, possibly you could pass it on to him…it would be much appreciated.
Hi Beverly..thank you for the returning back to us,i’m was so glad to diving again with you and all the diver. I wish you will be back as your plan soon.
About divecomputer i slove the problem, thank you for your kindness.
We spent one week at the homestay from September 21st to September 28th.
We’ve been here for the second time and it was amazing.
Sandy and Maria are great and we had a lot of fun with them.
My wife is a beginner in diving and Maria was always with her and helped her every time.
Thanks a lot Maria.
Also the homestay was great and Danny is a very good cook. She surprised us every day with delicious food.
We will come back again!!
Best regards Jürgen
P.S.: there are two dogs in the homestay and they are so friendly and always lazy 😀
We spent one week at the homestay from September 21st to September 28th.
We’ve been here for the second time and it was amazing.
Sandy and Maria are great and we had a lot of fun with them.
My wife is a beginner in diving and Maria was always with her and helped her every time.
Thanks a lot Maria.
Also the homestay was great and Danny is a very good cook. She surprised us every day with delicious food.
We will come back again!!
Best regards Jürgen
P.S.: there are two dogs in the homestay and they are so friendly and always lazy 😀
I spent three nights there and can’t enough recommend this homestay, as my time there was so great! Maria and Sandy are really nice people, no push, no money first. Great place to relax and I enjoyed there every day and also every food. I wish there were more homestays run like that.
Hi Daniel, we want to return to Corepen next January if possible. We liked it there very much 4 years ago. No, I’m a bit worried about the state of things due to the lack of tourism and also by the reports on dogs. Are there still many dogs around? Thank you so much for any information you can share. Andrea
Hi Andrea
Please do note that Alex’s review below was left four years after his stay, and it is completely at variance with the opinions expressed by every other reviewer since 2018.
I spent three nights there and can’t enough recommend this homestay, as my time there was so great! Maria and Sandy are really nice people, no push, no money first. Great place to relax and I enjoyed there every day and also every food. I wish there were more homestays run like that.
Hi Daniel, we want to return to Corepen next January if possible. We liked it there very much 4 years ago. No, I’m a bit worried about the state of things due to the lack of tourism and also by the reports on dogs. Are there still many dogs around? Thank you so much for any information you can share. Andrea
Hi Andrea
Please do note that Alex’s review below was left four years after his stay, and it is completely at variance with the opinions expressed by every other reviewer since 2018.
It is already quite a while ago I visited Corepen homestay (2018)! I hesitated for a long time to write a review, as I have had very different experciences with different parties. I am writing this now, as people should really know what they get, especially when going to such a remote location as Raja Ampat. I mostly agree with Edit’s comment from 2019, except the diving center.
Biggest issue with the homestay:
When I was there, there were about 6 or 7 dogs around at all time. Nobody takes good care of them, so some of them were visibly sick, blind, infected etc. Furthermore they were able to go everywhere. Two of them ended up fighting on the veranda of our bungalow twice, while our drying material went flying on the beach. Once, we were woken up by one of the dogs examining us in our bungalow while we were sleeping (you sleep on the floor- so the dog is basically towering over you- it sounds a bit dramatic but it was not a nice experience). At night, whenever you have to go to the toilet (the dogs drink out of the toilet), they may come running at you and it is not always easy to judge wether they recognize you or not, or what their intention is. Some of the growl at you while you pass them. Similarly, if you go for a stroll in the forest behind the homestay- once you return, dogs would come pacing at you barking. Now luckily we are both not very afraid of dogs, but people who do not like dogs will have a really bad time there. The biggest issue for us was what would happen if one gets bitten by such a dog at this remote location. I don’t even know what they would do, but it would definitely end your stay and depending on rabies etc. you might have a very bad time.
To be honest, it would be the best for Gam to remove toe dogs, as they are usually underfed, sick and endager local fauna and people.
Regarding the dive center: Sandy and Maria are both very nice and know the locations well. Raja Ampat is not necessarily for beginners, so one should not expect the easiest dives to start with etc. We never had issues with our equipment, but we were also only a total of 4 guests diving. Broken BCD as mentioned by Edit is not nice, but luckily people are trimmed to do pre dive checks.
In summary: I can recommend the dive center, but not the homestay (due to the dogs) – I think one could stay on Kri, and still dive with Sandy and Maria. I especially want to recommend doing a couple night dives, it is amazing what one can see at night (walking shark etc.)- but you have to bring your own dive light (as they do not have very good ones)!!
It is already quite a while ago I visited Corepen homestay (2018)! I hesitated for a long time to write a review, as I have had very different experciences with different parties. I am writing this now, as people should really know what they get, especially when going to such a remote location as Raja Ampat. I mostly agree with Edit’s comment from 2019, except the diving center.
Biggest issue with the homestay:
When I was there, there were about 6 or 7 dogs around at all time. Nobody takes good care of them, so some of them were visibly sick, blind, infected etc. Furthermore they were able to go everywhere. Two of them ended up fighting on the veranda of our bungalow twice, while our drying material went flying on the beach. Once, we were woken up by one of the dogs examining us in our bungalow while we were sleeping (you sleep on the floor- so the dog is basically towering over you- it sounds a bit dramatic but it was not a nice experience). At night, whenever you have to go to the toilet (the dogs drink out of the toilet), they may come running at you and it is not always easy to judge wether they recognize you or not, or what their intention is. Some of the growl at you while you pass them. Similarly, if you go for a stroll in the forest behind the homestay- once you return, dogs would come pacing at you barking. Now luckily we are both not very afraid of dogs, but people who do not like dogs will have a really bad time there. The biggest issue for us was what would happen if one gets bitten by such a dog at this remote location. I don’t even know what they would do, but it would definitely end your stay and depending on rabies etc. you might have a very bad time.
To be honest, it would be the best for Gam to remove toe dogs, as they are usually underfed, sick and endager local fauna and people.
Regarding the dive center: Sandy and Maria are both very nice and know the locations well. Raja Ampat is not necessarily for beginners, so one should not expect the easiest dives to start with etc. We never had issues with our equipment, but we were also only a total of 4 guests diving. Broken BCD as mentioned by Edit is not nice, but luckily people are trimmed to do pre dive checks.
In summary: I can recommend the dive center, but not the homestay (due to the dogs) – I think one could stay on Kri, and still dive with Sandy and Maria. I especially want to recommend doing a couple night dives, it is amazing what one can see at night (walking shark etc.)- but you have to bring your own dive light (as they do not have very good ones)!!
I’ve just returned from 5 days of snorkeling and diving. Post pandemic the visits is drastically low. So I recommend people to come and come again (as corepen is meant in local language).
Sandi, Maria, Musa thank you for all the great trips. I really appreciate your closeness and knowledge of the oceans wildlife😊.
To all the family, thank you for the hospitality (Pace dan Mace Anti, Anelka, Nona dan Rance). The neighbour also very nice Paul and Heike. And all the dogs.
Regards
PLANB Team
1 April 2021
I’ve just returned from 5 days of snorkeling and diving. Post pandemic the visits is drastically low. So I recommend people to come and come again (as corepen is meant in local language).
Sandi, Maria, Musa thank you for all the great trips. I really appreciate your closeness and knowledge of the oceans wildlife😊.
To all the family, thank you for the hospitality (Pace dan Mace Anti, Anelka, Nona dan Rance). The neighbour also very nice Paul and Heike. And all the dogs.
Regards
PLANB Team
1 April 2021
I’m so looking forward to getting back to this Homestay when the Covid situation settles down. I hope Sandi, Maria and Harry are still there and well. Their knowledge of reef life, currents and scuba equipment was exceptional. The meals were delicious and varied. It was one of the happiest and spectacular diving experiences of my long diving career and the 4th time to Raja. I’ll be booking as soon as Indonesia opens again to tourists.
were you there n early jan 2020 ?
Yes, for 3 weeks.
Are you Canadian ?
Really into your photography??
I stayed for 2 weeks in January 2020 and absolutely loved it !!
Mornings spent diving on spectacular reefs that honestly leave you speechless !! We would come up from a dive and all be sat on the boat in silence sometimes whilst you took it all in !!!!!!
Spend time between dives on desert islands having a cuppa just admiring the scenerie. This place is special both above and below water and if your lucky enough to ever go then this guy both at the home stay and dive shop will look after you 100% !! Looking back now I think it was possibly the happiest two weeks of my life and when possible I plan to go back and stay for a month minimum !!!!!
Yes, that’s me and I remember you. Can’t wait to return and hope to stay for a longer time.
I’m so looking forward to getting back to this Homestay when the Covid situation settles down. I hope Sandi, Maria and Harry are still there and well. Their knowledge of reef life, currents and scuba equipment was exceptional. The meals were delicious and varied. It was one of the happiest and spectacular diving experiences of my long diving career and the 4th time to Raja. I’ll be booking as soon as Indonesia opens again to tourists.
were you there n early jan 2020 ?
Yes, for 3 weeks.
Are you Canadian ?
Really into your photography??
I stayed for 2 weeks in January 2020 and absolutely loved it !!
Mornings spent diving on spectacular reefs that honestly leave you speechless !! We would come up from a dive and all be sat on the boat in silence sometimes whilst you took it all in !!!!!!
Spend time between dives on desert islands having a cuppa just admiring the scenerie. This place is special both above and below water and if your lucky enough to ever go then this guy both at the home stay and dive shop will look after you 100% !! Looking back now I think it was possibly the happiest two weeks of my life and when possible I plan to go back and stay for a month minimum !!!!!
Yes, that’s me and I remember you. Can’t wait to return and hope to stay for a longer time.
Sorry for the late review, I have been meaning to write one for ages! I returned for my second stay to Corepen in October 2019 and had an amazing time. It was very quiet, compared to my previous visit at Christmas, however, this just meat that, on occasion, I had the reef to myself; I’m turning into a spoiled diving princess. The dive centre staff, Sandy, Harry and Maria are fantastic. There were no additional charges for being the only diver, unlike some other centres I’ve looked at and I felt perfectly safe.
Yes, the food and accommodation are basic, but RA is an expensive place and so compromises are made in order to dive here and for me the diving is the most important.
Thanks for a wonderful time, I definitely recommend this home stay / diving centre for travellers on a budget who want to experience the wonders of RA
Sorry for the late review, I have been meaning to write one for ages! I returned for my second stay to Corepen in October 2019 and had an amazing time. It was very quiet, compared to my previous visit at Christmas, however, this just meat that, on occasion, I had the reef to myself; I’m turning into a spoiled diving princess. The dive centre staff, Sandy, Harry and Maria are fantastic. There were no additional charges for being the only diver, unlike some other centres I’ve looked at and I felt perfectly safe.
Yes, the food and accommodation are basic, but RA is an expensive place and so compromises are made in order to dive here and for me the diving is the most important.
Thanks for a wonderful time, I definitely recommend this home stay / diving centre for travellers on a budget who want to experience the wonders of RA
The dive center and dive center staff is outstanding (separate reviews on TripAdvisor – Raja Ampat Dive Center)! The accommodations are decent.
Pros:
Nice bungalows with a terrace over the sea
Two hammocks per bungalow, on the terrace
Nice view
Great food
Great staff
Cons:
Mattress on the floor with no insulation. Most mattress start to rot inside and may not be very hygienic.
No switch for the lights. You need to plug them in and out of an old and beaten up multiplug.
There are playful dogs around. Keep the door of the bungalow closed in your absence or they might play with your personal belongings (I heard)
The dive center and dive center staff is outstanding (separate reviews on TripAdvisor – Raja Ampat Dive Center)! The accommodations are decent.
Pros:
Nice bungalows with a terrace over the sea
Two hammocks per bungalow, on the terrace
Nice view
Great food
Great staff
Cons:
Mattress on the floor with no insulation. Most mattress start to rot inside and may not be very hygienic.
No switch for the lights. You need to plug them in and out of an old and beaten up multiplug.
There are playful dogs around. Keep the door of the bungalow closed in your absence or they might play with your personal belongings (I heard)
We had a great 4 nights stay at Corepen in November but I would not say it was amazing.
The photos you see here are outdated.
Stay/room: OK
The actual look of the beach is very much different. The beach is fully built with bungalows. There is a set of 7(?) in the front row facing to the beach, behind 2 or 3 additional on land bungalows. All are very close to each other. The family lives behind where also the kitchen is.
Luckily for our stay we got 2 bungalows a bit out from the main area (there are 3 additional bungalows) )so we could enjoy some privacy. Also we had separate mandi and toilet. The mandi condition was better at the main area so I used that one most of the time. Overall the mandi and toilets are in good condition and clean. As we were a bit out we got drinking water and hot water on our terrace which was really good.
The room itself was smaller then I expected/compared to other HS in the area, but still it was OK. We got hammock on the terrace which was super. We loved the afternoon chill time there. Bring rope for your cloths to hang out to dry. Until ~noon the terrace is in full sun no shade. There is sandy beach only when its low tide, but still no shade. When the tide is high the bungalows are almost in water. We did not stay in a lot but I think there is not much space for morning hours relaxation in shade. Card payment was easy worked very well.
Food: OK
Overall good, for lunch and dinner not much to complain about, it was enough and we got chicken time to time, not only fish which was really good. For breakfast is was mainly sweet stuff cake, donuts or pisang goreng which was OK but not too much. For the first few days we had baby banana also. With the surface interval snacks between the dives it was OK otherwise if you are not taking diving trip and stay in all day I think not enough.
Interaction with the family is close to zero. The lady who brought the food was always very nice but not much chance to talk or to communicate in any way. Our friends got young coconut one day when we were out, the family offered for free and a guy climbed up the tree to cut it. They were very very happy. So the family seemed to be very nice but due to the full house they were also very busy to run the place.
Dive center: not so OK
Located at the end of the beach. At the time of our arrival it was full house so the equipment availability was limited. I got a broken BCD. Luckily I noticed before getting in the water so we could change the full set with Maria, but next day I got the same set and it was still not working. Maria had to dive with the broken BCD having it disconnected from the tank. The 3rd day I got another set (some guest left ) that was OK. I would say they handled the situation but it was not safe.
The organization of the dive trips were unfortunately not that good. For our first dive we did Sardin reef. That was kinda shocking, Maria remembered us from previous visit, I guess she also remembered that we are experienced divers but no discussion about our last dives or anything to make sure we are ready for this. This is a dive site were you really need to know what to do how to do, equipment, weights, hook should be perfect. They told us in the last minute were we go so we had to run back to our room to pick up our reef hooks. They disregarded our request to start at a easier location as usual. I understand it is hard to keep everyone happy but due to the limited staff they had not chance to split the group of that day… Safety first please!! in case there is any risk it is better to say no sorry we are full today. For our 9 dives there was only 1 with proper briefing. I know that this is a remote location so you can not expect the same level of service like other dive centers where everything is close and available, but still I must say there is a lot to improve on the management side. Put more focus on the safety, educate the dive masters how to properly brief a dive, notify divers in advance about the limited availability of equipment and maybe implement kind of basic booking system for the DC also, not only for the rooms. As email works well here I think this would be easy to manage.
Overall it was a good stay and very nice dives, big thank you for Maria and Sandy, but I would not return here next time. To RA definitely yes, it is still the last paradise on earth but I would stay in a different HS and DC.
We had a great 4 nights stay at Corepen in November but I would not say it was amazing.
The photos you see here are outdated.
Stay/room: OK
The actual look of the beach is very much different. The beach is fully built with bungalows. There is a set of 7(?) in the front row facing to the beach, behind 2 or 3 additional on land bungalows. All are very close to each other. The family lives behind where also the kitchen is.
Luckily for our stay we got 2 bungalows a bit out from the main area (there are 3 additional bungalows) )so we could enjoy some privacy. Also we had separate mandi and toilet. The mandi condition was better at the main area so I used that one most of the time. Overall the mandi and toilets are in good condition and clean. As we were a bit out we got drinking water and hot water on our terrace which was really good.
The room itself was smaller then I expected/compared to other HS in the area, but still it was OK. We got hammock on the terrace which was super. We loved the afternoon chill time there. Bring rope for your cloths to hang out to dry. Until ~noon the terrace is in full sun no shade. There is sandy beach only when its low tide, but still no shade. When the tide is high the bungalows are almost in water. We did not stay in a lot but I think there is not much space for morning hours relaxation in shade. Card payment was easy worked very well.
Food: OK
Overall good, for lunch and dinner not much to complain about, it was enough and we got chicken time to time, not only fish which was really good. For breakfast is was mainly sweet stuff cake, donuts or pisang goreng which was OK but not too much. For the first few days we had baby banana also. With the surface interval snacks between the dives it was OK otherwise if you are not taking diving trip and stay in all day I think not enough.
Interaction with the family is close to zero. The lady who brought the food was always very nice but not much chance to talk or to communicate in any way. Our friends got young coconut one day when we were out, the family offered for free and a guy climbed up the tree to cut it. They were very very happy. So the family seemed to be very nice but due to the full house they were also very busy to run the place.
Dive center: not so OK
Located at the end of the beach. At the time of our arrival it was full house so the equipment availability was limited. I got a broken BCD. Luckily I noticed before getting in the water so we could change the full set with Maria, but next day I got the same set and it was still not working. Maria had to dive with the broken BCD having it disconnected from the tank. The 3rd day I got another set (some guest left ) that was OK. I would say they handled the situation but it was not safe.
The organization of the dive trips were unfortunately not that good. For our first dive we did Sardin reef. That was kinda shocking, Maria remembered us from previous visit, I guess she also remembered that we are experienced divers but no discussion about our last dives or anything to make sure we are ready for this. This is a dive site were you really need to know what to do how to do, equipment, weights, hook should be perfect. They told us in the last minute were we go so we had to run back to our room to pick up our reef hooks. They disregarded our request to start at a easier location as usual. I understand it is hard to keep everyone happy but due to the limited staff they had not chance to split the group of that day… Safety first please!! in case there is any risk it is better to say no sorry we are full today. For our 9 dives there was only 1 with proper briefing. I know that this is a remote location so you can not expect the same level of service like other dive centers where everything is close and available, but still I must say there is a lot to improve on the management side. Put more focus on the safety, educate the dive masters how to properly brief a dive, notify divers in advance about the limited availability of equipment and maybe implement kind of basic booking system for the DC also, not only for the rooms. As email works well here I think this would be easy to manage.
Overall it was a good stay and very nice dives, big thank you for Maria and Sandy, but I would not return here next time. To RA definitely yes, it is still the last paradise on earth but I would stay in a different HS and DC.
Hi!
We are visiting Corepen homestay in a month.
We are aware that credit card payment is not available for transfers, day trips, etc, but we would like to check if that’s valid as well for diving day trips . Just to make sure we bring enough cash with us.
Thank you all!
Hi Jesus.
Lizette says below that “Very handy that we could pay the diving with credit card.”
No problem with card payment in November for all costs including trip/diving/transfer.
Hi!
We are visiting Corepen homestay in a month.
We are aware that credit card payment is not available for transfers, day trips, etc, but we would like to check if that’s valid as well for diving day trips . Just to make sure we bring enough cash with us.
Thank you all!
Hi Jesus.
Lizette says below that “Very handy that we could pay the diving with credit card.”
No problem with card payment in November for all costs including trip/diving/transfer.
I am looking into returning to Corepen this year because i had such an amazing time last year. I can honestly say that I experienced some of the best days of my life. Sounds dramatic .. but when you see this coral, the pristine nature, the dolphins and experience the endless generosity of the locals then you have to go back. What an amazing bunch of lovely lovely people. They really took care of me – and I’m a novice diver. I was totally taken care of – and I will be for ever grateful.
The fact that it’s a diving centre is a massive plus point – the equipment is in really good condition, the dive masters inspirational and everything is well looked after. The dives are not expensive 430,000IDR/dive + equipment (150,000IDR/day).
I don’t want to say too much because i want to secure my hammock for next year
Thanks for making our stay so brilliant – we really appreciate everything you did for us.
I am looking into returning to Corepen this year because i had such an amazing time last year. I can honestly say that I experienced some of the best days of my life. Sounds dramatic .. but when you see this coral, the pristine nature, the dolphins and experience the endless generosity of the locals then you have to go back. What an amazing bunch of lovely lovely people. They really took care of me – and I’m a novice diver. I was totally taken care of – and I will be for ever grateful.
The fact that it’s a diving centre is a massive plus point – the equipment is in really good condition, the dive masters inspirational and everything is well looked after. The dives are not expensive 430,000IDR/dive + equipment (150,000IDR/day).
I don’t want to say too much because i want to secure my hammock for next year
Thanks for making our stay so brilliant – we really appreciate everything you did for us.
I had an amazing time at Corepen!! The huts are basic but very nice with clean toilets and mandi. The diving is amazing here, challenging currents but the marine life is spectacular.
Great snorkeling too. Food is basic but good. I will definitely be coming back!!
I had an amazing time at Corepen!! The huts are basic but very nice with clean toilets and mandi. The diving is amazing here, challenging currents but the marine life is spectacular.
Great snorkeling too. Food is basic but good. I will definitely be coming back!!
We had an amazing time!
We are a young couple, backpacking through Indonesia, with a PADI open water license, and did ~15 dives before coming here. We stayed for 8 nights and did 8 dives.
The homestay was mostly as we dreamed: basic/”adventurous” in terms of infrastructure, but cosy and the location was like a paradise. We loved the food, some people said it was much better than at other homestays, so they decided to stay. When we arrived though, some people were sick from the day before, but I guess this is to be expected as a foreigner on a tropical island.
Transport from Waisai and to the dive sites is on a tiny boat, when it is windy you will get wet or even soaked from the splashing water, so take a poncho.
The diving was amazing, but a bit challenging. I think Raja Ampat is most enjoyable if you are experienced or like some challenge. We dived with Sandi and Harry, which are both very experienced guides and know the dive sites and the currents as the back of their hands.
Don’t come if you are the kind of person that needs a daily hot shower and social media dose, but if you like some adventure, you will have the time of your life!
We are planning to visit RA and considering Corepen. My kids and I had discovery dives view years back. We would like to do similar type of dives when we are there. Do you think there are dive sites for beginners? Do the dive shops offers such dives?
Thanks,
David
We had an amazing time!
We are a young couple, backpacking through Indonesia, with a PADI open water license, and did ~15 dives before coming here. We stayed for 8 nights and did 8 dives.
The homestay was mostly as we dreamed: basic/”adventurous” in terms of infrastructure, but cosy and the location was like a paradise. We loved the food, some people said it was much better than at other homestays, so they decided to stay. When we arrived though, some people were sick from the day before, but I guess this is to be expected as a foreigner on a tropical island.
Transport from Waisai and to the dive sites is on a tiny boat, when it is windy you will get wet or even soaked from the splashing water, so take a poncho.
The diving was amazing, but a bit challenging. I think Raja Ampat is most enjoyable if you are experienced or like some challenge. We dived with Sandi and Harry, which are both very experienced guides and know the dive sites and the currents as the back of their hands.
Don’t come if you are the kind of person that needs a daily hot shower and social media dose, but if you like some adventure, you will have the time of your life!
We are planning to visit RA and considering Corepen. My kids and I had discovery dives view years back. We would like to do similar type of dives when we are there. Do you think there are dive sites for beginners? Do the dive shops offers such dives?
Thanks,
David
We stayed during the Christmas period in 2018. The location is really beautiful and the house reef is good. It’s a great place to relax on the bungalow hammock and swim outside the bungalow. The bungalows are clean. You should know that there are now about 16 beachfront bungalows (not 7) and they are still building more, which makes it feel not secluded anymore. The price is very expensive considering what is provided.
We are snorkelers, not divers, and we (along with other snorkelers) felt rather ignored at this resort. The managers take more notice of the divers because they spend more money. To visit any other snorkelling places we basically just had to go to the same place as the divers and snorkel there (and we had to pay for the lift on the boat).
Day trips are poorly organised. It’s not a first in first served method. You can try to ask a couple of days in advance to go to a certain dive spot or to Piaynemo but they don’t don’t bother writing any names down and on the day people just get left behind. This is not good enough when you’re paying this much money and have spent several days trying to get to RA. It’s not somewhere you can really come back to easily.
You can go on an early morning hike to see the red birds of paradise, but they are high up in the trees and even with a tripod and 600mm lens you can’t get a good shot. There are no clear paths to go birding by yourself in the jungle (we tried and turned back). We went on the mangrove tour which was scenic, but we didn’t see any manatees there or at the homestay. Also the boat didn’t have any shade cover so it was unbearably hot and people were getting sunburned. The boat driver didn’t speak English so it wasn’t really a tour as we didn’t learn anything about the area. There was no attempt to spot wildlife e.g. birds.
A local family lives behind the resort and there is a rubbish on the ground everywhere in that area, which is a disgrace. My husband doesn’t eat fish or tofu so there were many meals when the only thing he could eat was rice and a few vegetables. They don’t make enough food for everyone. Breakfast is pretty bad, a lot of the time they just serve cake. They had bananas for snacks for the first couple of days, then nothing.
If you are planning on being there on Christmas Day or any other Christian holiday, beware there will be no activities scheduled on that day.
Overall we loved the area and snorkelling, but not the service or value for money.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review Maria.
Such a shame to hear about the service and value failures at Corepen, and your comments will be passed on to the Homestay Association for their investigation and action. The allegations of unsafe practices by the dive center associated with Corepen are a major concern 🙁
Just FYI: Corepen only has the 8 bungalows described above. All the others you mention belong to a new homestay that it not represented on Stay Raja Ampat. (This doesn’t make much difference from an ambience point of view ofc, but we mention it to clarify that it is not the owners of Corepen doing this.)
Thanks again for your feedback, and for your generosity: Fairly sure we would not have awarded 4 stars after an experience like that!
We stayed during the Christmas period in 2018. The location is really beautiful and the house reef is good. It’s a great place to relax on the bungalow hammock and swim outside the bungalow. The bungalows are clean. You should know that there are now about 16 beachfront bungalows (not 7) and they are still building more, which makes it feel not secluded anymore. The price is very expensive considering what is provided.
We are snorkelers, not divers, and we (along with other snorkelers) felt rather ignored at this resort. The managers take more notice of the divers because they spend more money. To visit any other snorkelling places we basically just had to go to the same place as the divers and snorkel there (and we had to pay for the lift on the boat).
Day trips are poorly organised. It’s not a first in first served method. You can try to ask a couple of days in advance to go to a certain dive spot or to Piaynemo but they don’t don’t bother writing any names down and on the day people just get left behind. This is not good enough when you’re paying this much money and have spent several days trying to get to RA. It’s not somewhere you can really come back to easily.
You can go on an early morning hike to see the red birds of paradise, but they are high up in the trees and even with a tripod and 600mm lens you can’t get a good shot. There are no clear paths to go birding by yourself in the jungle (we tried and turned back). We went on the mangrove tour which was scenic, but we didn’t see any manatees there or at the homestay. Also the boat didn’t have any shade cover so it was unbearably hot and people were getting sunburned. The boat driver didn’t speak English so it wasn’t really a tour as we didn’t learn anything about the area. There was no attempt to spot wildlife e.g. birds.
A local family lives behind the resort and there is a rubbish on the ground everywhere in that area, which is a disgrace. My husband doesn’t eat fish or tofu so there were many meals when the only thing he could eat was rice and a few vegetables. They don’t make enough food for everyone. Breakfast is pretty bad, a lot of the time they just serve cake. They had bananas for snacks for the first couple of days, then nothing.
If you are planning on being there on Christmas Day or any other Christian holiday, beware there will be no activities scheduled on that day.
Overall we loved the area and snorkelling, but not the service or value for money.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review Maria.
Such a shame to hear about the service and value failures at Corepen, and your comments will be passed on to the Homestay Association for their investigation and action. The allegations of unsafe practices by the dive center associated with Corepen are a major concern 🙁
Just FYI: Corepen only has the 8 bungalows described above. All the others you mention belong to a new homestay that it not represented on Stay Raja Ampat. (This doesn’t make much difference from an ambience point of view ofc, but we mention it to clarify that it is not the owners of Corepen doing this.)
Thanks again for your feedback, and for your generosity: Fairly sure we would not have awarded 4 stars after an experience like that!
A group of us stayed here in early June for five days and I can’t recommend it enough. The cabins are great, spacious, clean and comfortable (with a hammock and power point) and most are on the beach. The three meals they provide a day are delicious and varied, we didn’t eat the same thing twice.
The Corepen diving centre is another massive plus point – the equipment is in really good condition and is well looked after. The dives are not expensive 430,000IDR/dive + equipment (150,000IDR/day). We were lucky to have two dive masters on our boat of three divers and my inexperienced friend was really well looked after and was able to gain a lot of confidence. Thanks Jeffry!! The diving was insanely good! Cape Kri, Ransiwor Reef, Friwen Wall, Sawanabrek Jetty and the day we were surrounded by dolphins on the boat were highlights.
We also arranged to be taken into the jungle one early morning to see the birds of paradise, which was a nice break from the diving. The beach is chilled, the nights are quiet and it is really peaceful there.
Thanks for making our stay so brilliant!
Just loved it here!
A group of us stayed here in early June for five days and I can’t recommend it enough. The cabins are great, spacious, clean and comfortable (with a hammock and power point) and most are on the beach. The three meals they provide a day are delicious and varied, we didn’t eat the same thing twice.
The Corepen diving centre is another massive plus point – the equipment is in really good condition and is well looked after. The dives are not expensive 430,000IDR/dive + equipment (150,000IDR/day). We were lucky to have two dive masters on our boat of three divers and my inexperienced friend was really well looked after and was able to gain a lot of confidence. Thanks Jeffry!! The diving was insanely good! Cape Kri, Ransiwor Reef, Friwen Wall, Sawanabrek Jetty and the day we were surrounded by dolphins on the boat were highlights.
We also arranged to be taken into the jungle one early morning to see the birds of paradise, which was a nice break from the diving. The beach is chilled, the nights are quiet and it is really peaceful there.
Thanks for making our stay so brilliant!
Just loved it here!
We stayed in Corepen for 5 nights in March 2019 and we LOVED it!
It was our last stop in Raja and we were very sad to leave.
+ The bungalows are cosy, with real beds and verandas with 2 hammocks each.
+ Bathrooms are cleaned every morning and more than enough for the amount of bungalows.
+ Food was good and varied a lot ( chicken, fish, vegetables, tofu, rice and noodles).
+ Diving is great! Guys at the shop are very professional, always on time, the equipment is good and they know the dive sites. Each evening Sandy comes after diner and the group decides where would you like to go the next day.
– Breakfast could improve and have more fruits. 2 times we got cake for breakfast. However, when we asked for more fruits we got them 2 days later.
Would definitely stay there again!!
Is it a good idea to bring some food like instant noodles to eat for breakfast. I do not like sweet food and eating cake for breakfast does not appeal to me at all. Is there somewhere to store food in case of rats?
We stayed in Corepen for 5 nights in March 2019 and we LOVED it!
It was our last stop in Raja and we were very sad to leave.
+ The bungalows are cosy, with real beds and verandas with 2 hammocks each.
+ Bathrooms are cleaned every morning and more than enough for the amount of bungalows.
+ Food was good and varied a lot ( chicken, fish, vegetables, tofu, rice and noodles).
+ Diving is great! Guys at the shop are very professional, always on time, the equipment is good and they know the dive sites. Each evening Sandy comes after diner and the group decides where would you like to go the next day.
– Breakfast could improve and have more fruits. 2 times we got cake for breakfast. However, when we asked for more fruits we got them 2 days later.
Would definitely stay there again!!
Is it a good idea to bring some food like instant noodles to eat for breakfast. I do not like sweet food and eating cake for breakfast does not appeal to me at all. Is there somewhere to store food in case of rats?
Me and my husband went here for our honeymoon on early March (March 2019) and we had a great experience ! We choose this homestay after reading all the comment from this website.
First, the homestay itself is just enough, typical raja ampat homestay. The sheet and room cleanliness is good. I also enjoy the beach bungalow with the best view you could ever ask. They also have hammock for you to chill on your front balcony. The bathroom is sufficient, but they have abudant water and even a shower. The cleanliness of the bathroom is also good (they have 3 shower and 2 toilet). It also located in apeaceful place, far from noise and the neighbor homestay.
Second, the homestay accomodation and service is amazing ! the pick up service is good, and the food is super delicious. they have different menu everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. for breakfast, they have sweet breakfast like cake or pancake, and for lunch and dinner they have menu consist of rice, protein and vegetables, sometimes fruit. you can also make your own cofee/ tee everytime you want, they provide water, hot water, tea and coffee.
Third, the diving service is so professional and amazing. thanks to mas sandi who helped us when we were there. there is always a briefing one night before we dive, to decide which dive spot we will visit by discussion. and the morning departure is around 8.00 – 8.15 am and they never late. they are so informative and helpful. my husband was diving a lot so he have no trouble, but it was my first dive (after getting open water lisence) and the dive master helped me and watching me everytime. they also have breaks between dives and they brought us snacks.
It was a pleasant stay and I recommend this homestay to all of my fellow divers. Sure I will come again soon, and big chance for me to go to corepen again because i enjoy the service.
Me and my husband went here for our honeymoon on early March (March 2019) and we had a great experience ! We choose this homestay after reading all the comment from this website.
First, the homestay itself is just enough, typical raja ampat homestay. The sheet and room cleanliness is good. I also enjoy the beach bungalow with the best view you could ever ask. They also have hammock for you to chill on your front balcony. The bathroom is sufficient, but they have abudant water and even a shower. The cleanliness of the bathroom is also good (they have 3 shower and 2 toilet). It also located in apeaceful place, far from noise and the neighbor homestay.
Second, the homestay accomodation and service is amazing ! the pick up service is good, and the food is super delicious. they have different menu everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. for breakfast, they have sweet breakfast like cake or pancake, and for lunch and dinner they have menu consist of rice, protein and vegetables, sometimes fruit. you can also make your own cofee/ tee everytime you want, they provide water, hot water, tea and coffee.
Third, the diving service is so professional and amazing. thanks to mas sandi who helped us when we were there. there is always a briefing one night before we dive, to decide which dive spot we will visit by discussion. and the morning departure is around 8.00 – 8.15 am and they never late. they are so informative and helpful. my husband was diving a lot so he have no trouble, but it was my first dive (after getting open water lisence) and the dive master helped me and watching me everytime. they also have breaks between dives and they brought us snacks.
It was a pleasant stay and I recommend this homestay to all of my fellow divers. Sure I will come again soon, and big chance for me to go to corepen again because i enjoy the service.
Hello, I just would like to ask about the dive center owner Enzo. It seems he is not there anymore as the recent comments are not mentioning his name. Is he now back to Italy or move to somewhere else, can anyone tell please?
Thanks a lot.
Hello, I just would like to ask about the dive center owner Enzo. It seems he is not there anymore as the recent comments are not mentioning his name. Is he now back to Italy or move to somewhere else, can anyone tell please?
Thanks a lot.
Does anyone know if it is possible to go snorkeling in the mangrove bay behind the homestay?
We were told that it was unsafe to swim in there Bertrand.
Does anyone know if it is possible to go snorkeling in the mangrove bay behind the homestay?
We were told that it was unsafe to swim in there Bertrand.
This was our group’s (6 pax) first homestay and from the start we felt truly welcomed at Corepen. Insemina met us at the tourist center dock and we got settled in and had a delicious and plentiful lunch. We stayed 4 nights. Food was great and Sandy helped us plan for activities each night so we knew what we were doing the next day. Multiple toilets and washing up rooms made for comfort at a moderately busy homestay that supports diving as well as other activities.
The trek to see red bird of paradise was not so good as the trail is in poor condition. They really need to improve that trail! The guide can’t communicate about the birds in even a tiny bit of English, and is thus only useful for getting the group to where you might glimpse displaying red birds of paradise. Birding around Mandarin Homestay was MUCH BETTER, but it’s luck, so worth giving it a go here, too.
House reef was good, but you can’t get out to it at low tide. We were there for the neap tide which was so low we wondered if a Tsunami was coming (of course not).
Each morning we took boat trips to snorkel: Friwen’s Wall, Sawaredek and Yanbuba Jetties, the “Bat Island”, and enjoyed a visit to Friwen village to look for flip flops. The staff were so much fun and often brought along snacks for us like mangos, cookies, tea and coffee. We hated to leave, and one of our group members made a special effort to return for a few more nights at Corepen because he loved the staff so much. Hey “MONKEY”!!!!
Good job guys!
This was our group’s (6 pax) first homestay and from the start we felt truly welcomed at Corepen. Insemina met us at the tourist center dock and we got settled in and had a delicious and plentiful lunch. We stayed 4 nights. Food was great and Sandy helped us plan for activities each night so we knew what we were doing the next day. Multiple toilets and washing up rooms made for comfort at a moderately busy homestay that supports diving as well as other activities.
The trek to see red bird of paradise was not so good as the trail is in poor condition. They really need to improve that trail! The guide can’t communicate about the birds in even a tiny bit of English, and is thus only useful for getting the group to where you might glimpse displaying red birds of paradise. Birding around Mandarin Homestay was MUCH BETTER, but it’s luck, so worth giving it a go here, too.
House reef was good, but you can’t get out to it at low tide. We were there for the neap tide which was so low we wondered if a Tsunami was coming (of course not).
Each morning we took boat trips to snorkel: Friwen’s Wall, Sawaredek and Yanbuba Jetties, the “Bat Island”, and enjoyed a visit to Friwen village to look for flip flops. The staff were so much fun and often brought along snacks for us like mangos, cookies, tea and coffee. We hated to leave, and one of our group members made a special effort to return for a few more nights at Corepen because he loved the staff so much. Hey “MONKEY”!!!!
Good job guys!
We (couple, 30 years old, experienced divers) spent one week at the Corepen homestay in December 2018 and did 10 dives each.
+ We dove with Sandi, Harry and Jeffrey. They are doing a great job and are all experienced guides. Their English is really good and everyone we met felt safe all the time.
+ The dive shop is basic but good. There is enough fresh water and space to rinse and hang the diving equipment. We brought our own equipment so we can’t comment on the rental equipment.
+ The food was good and we always had enough to eat. The variety was (for Raja Ampat) really good and they even served chicken every two or three days.
+ The bungalows are basic but have a great view and are right on the beach.
+ The snorkeling in front of the homestay is nice but not exceptional.
– In December they only had one western toilet, one bucket shower and one squat toilet. For the amount of bungalows that was definitely not enough. It seems like in the meantime they built more facilities, so that should be better now.
– It’s not really a negative point but it doesn’t feel like a homestay. You don’t really meet the family (if you’re not asking around) and there are quite a lot of bungalows.
We (couple, 30 years old, experienced divers) spent one week at the Corepen homestay in December 2018 and did 10 dives each.
+ We dove with Sandi, Harry and Jeffrey. They are doing a great job and are all experienced guides. Their English is really good and everyone we met felt safe all the time.
+ The dive shop is basic but good. There is enough fresh water and space to rinse and hang the diving equipment. We brought our own equipment so we can’t comment on the rental equipment.
+ The food was good and we always had enough to eat. The variety was (for Raja Ampat) really good and they even served chicken every two or three days.
+ The bungalows are basic but have a great view and are right on the beach.
+ The snorkeling in front of the homestay is nice but not exceptional.
– In December they only had one western toilet, one bucket shower and one squat toilet. For the amount of bungalows that was definitely not enough. It seems like in the meantime they built more facilities, so that should be better now.
– It’s not really a negative point but it doesn’t feel like a homestay. You don’t really meet the family (if you’re not asking around) and there are quite a lot of bungalows.
I recently spent five days at Corepen and had an amazing expeience. The bungalows were great; the highlight being the hammocks out front. They were the perfect place to relax and enjoy the incredible views after a morning of diving.
Food was good. Toilet and bathing facilities were adequate.
The diving was amazing. Sandi, Maria, Harry and crew were fantastic. They clearly know the area very well. Their English is very good. They take very good care of the divers and, even though I am not an experienced diver (I had done 10 dives when I arrived), I felt very safe. The equipment was in good shape. If diving is what you want to do, this is the homestay to choose.
I wouldn’t particularly recommend the bird of paradise walk. We didn’t see anything.
The only real downside was that we didn’t have much interaction with the family who run the homestay. I tried a couple of times to engage them in conversation (admittedly in my not-so-great Indonesian) but they didn’t seem very interested in much interaction. This is a small downside though since Sandi and Maria were so helpful.
I recently spent five days at Corepen and had an amazing expeience. The bungalows were great; the highlight being the hammocks out front. They were the perfect place to relax and enjoy the incredible views after a morning of diving.
Food was good. Toilet and bathing facilities were adequate.
The diving was amazing. Sandi, Maria, Harry and crew were fantastic. They clearly know the area very well. Their English is very good. They take very good care of the divers and, even though I am not an experienced diver (I had done 10 dives when I arrived), I felt very safe. The equipment was in good shape. If diving is what you want to do, this is the homestay to choose.
I wouldn’t particularly recommend the bird of paradise walk. We didn’t see anything.
The only real downside was that we didn’t have much interaction with the family who run the homestay. I tried a couple of times to engage them in conversation (admittedly in my not-so-great Indonesian) but they didn’t seem very interested in much interaction. This is a small downside though since Sandi and Maria were so helpful.
I‘m not a big review writer but as the last two are a bit sad I think I want to add one. So, the bathroomsituation got improved. There are 2 showers now and 2 western toilets (also with seat). They got cleaned every day.
Also the dining room and tables were always clean. Food was good. There were always options for vegetarians too. After a few days it got a bit boring, okay. But this is a homestay, so no one should expect high class cuisine…
The Bungalows are very basic. But actually a hammock is all you need. And each bungalow has two. Choose waterfront!
Diving with Sandy and Maria was great! They love what they do and you can feel that. Good equipment, Professional diveguides etc.
I cannot really compare this place to other places in Raja Ampat but it was definitely the nicest on our beach. I travelled a lot and I think corepen is a very nice place to spend a few days!!
I‘m not a big review writer but as the last two are a bit sad I think I want to add one. So, the bathroomsituation got improved. There are 2 showers now and 2 western toilets (also with seat). They got cleaned every day.
Also the dining room and tables were always clean. Food was good. There were always options for vegetarians too. After a few days it got a bit boring, okay. But this is a homestay, so no one should expect high class cuisine…
The Bungalows are very basic. But actually a hammock is all you need. And each bungalow has two. Choose waterfront!
Diving with Sandy and Maria was great! They love what they do and you can feel that. Good equipment, Professional diveguides etc.
I cannot really compare this place to other places in Raja Ampat but it was definitely the nicest on our beach. I travelled a lot and I think corepen is a very nice place to spend a few days!!
Great dive centre that organises everything for the homestay and are superb to dive with, much better equipment than we had at a large dive centre on Kri, thanks Sandi and Maria.
Huts very clean and lovely over water, with hammocks to relax in.
Food very samey and not very interesting although it was always edible and they always had lovely bananas out.
Family barely acknowledged us at all the whole time we were there.
Only 2 toilets and one shower for all huts and family use. It felt like everyone on the island were using the facilities, they were often busy and dirty, but they are building more.
Finally, since the complaints about the dogs, the family put them all on a boat and dumped them in Friwen village. We managed to get them some mange treatment from Sorong and take it but were horrified to find out they weren’t there, and so went and found them on Friwen where they have basically been left to rot and compete with even more dogs for basics. I am so saddened by this that I would never recommmend anybody goes to Corepen. I understand it’s a different culture but treating any animal like this is unforgivable.
Great dive centre that organises everything for the homestay and are superb to dive with, much better equipment than we had at a large dive centre on Kri, thanks Sandi and Maria.
Huts very clean and lovely over water, with hammocks to relax in.
Food very samey and not very interesting although it was always edible and they always had lovely bananas out.
Family barely acknowledged us at all the whole time we were there.
Only 2 toilets and one shower for all huts and family use. It felt like everyone on the island were using the facilities, they were often busy and dirty, but they are building more.
Finally, since the complaints about the dogs, the family put them all on a boat and dumped them in Friwen village. We managed to get them some mange treatment from Sorong and take it but were horrified to find out they weren’t there, and so went and found them on Friwen where they have basically been left to rot and compete with even more dogs for basics. I am so saddened by this that I would never recommmend anybody goes to Corepen. I understand it’s a different culture but treating any animal like this is unforgivable.
I stayed for 5 nights in Mid Jan at Corepen.Mainly went there to snorkel as it was easy to go with the dive boat on there trips.Most of the guest were divers and all raved about the dive center run by Sandi ,Maria and crew .Very well run.As for the actual homestay got to say a little bit rough around the edges.Probably on the low end of the 7 places I stayed at.Hygiene could be a lot better.It would not really take much to do better.Clean the table but not with the broom you sweep the garbage on the floor with.Clean up said garbage on floor not 16 hrs after the dog got into it and after you have walked by it 3 times serving 3 different meals .Make sure there is enough toilet paper in the toilet.Having to ask everyday is frustrating,someone should clue in to check in the morning or evening.Get a toilet seat for the one western toilet.I got a land bungalow for 1 night and it was the worst place I have stayed at in Raja the smell of dog was disgusting.I love dogs and the 3 of the deck I had no problem with until I realized they had probably been lying in the bed .The smell was unbelievable .The sheets were clean I think it was the mosquito net that smelled.Also something has to be done with the dog with mange .I moved to a water front bungalow next day with a raised bed which probably was the most comfortable bed I have had in Raja .Bungalow over the water was great.I hate giving a bad review but they really have to get a grip .Hoping they can turn things around.Hopefully someone with report back that things are better.Sorry guys
I stayed for 5 nights in Mid Jan at Corepen.Mainly went there to snorkel as it was easy to go with the dive boat on there trips.Most of the guest were divers and all raved about the dive center run by Sandi ,Maria and crew .Very well run.As for the actual homestay got to say a little bit rough around the edges.Probably on the low end of the 7 places I stayed at.Hygiene could be a lot better.It would not really take much to do better.Clean the table but not with the broom you sweep the garbage on the floor with.Clean up said garbage on floor not 16 hrs after the dog got into it and after you have walked by it 3 times serving 3 different meals .Make sure there is enough toilet paper in the toilet.Having to ask everyday is frustrating,someone should clue in to check in the morning or evening.Get a toilet seat for the one western toilet.I got a land bungalow for 1 night and it was the worst place I have stayed at in Raja the smell of dog was disgusting.I love dogs and the 3 of the deck I had no problem with until I realized they had probably been lying in the bed .The smell was unbelievable .The sheets were clean I think it was the mosquito net that smelled.Also something has to be done with the dog with mange .I moved to a water front bungalow next day with a raised bed which probably was the most comfortable bed I have had in Raja .Bungalow over the water was great.I hate giving a bad review but they really have to get a grip .Hoping they can turn things around.Hopefully someone with report back that things are better.Sorry guys
We stayed in this homestay 7 days (in December 2018) and it was fantastic. The great advantage is the in-house diving center run by Maria and Sandi. They both speak good English. Sandi has taken over organisation of all events at the homestay, so tell him if you have any wishes with regard to snorkelling, bird watching or mangrove trips.
The family running the homestay lives in Friwen village. As they are numerous, you will always see them around, preparing food, taking care for the baby or doing different things around the homestay. Always smiling, smiling, smiling … No tensions, no hurry. The family is really nice. As they do not speak English, direct communication is rather difficult. Sandi or others from the diving center may help, if you need anything from them. Dogs were always around (domestic and from other homestays) and it was fun watching their games and fights. Don’t worry, they are not aggressive – like the Papuans.
Our overwater bungalow was new and comfortable, with large and thick mattress and mosquito net and two hammocks on the terrace. The food was tasty, rice and noodles, with different vegetables, soybeans pieces and chicken/fish. Fresh bananas were available throughout the day. Always enough food, also when the homestay was nearly full. The big dinning area with long tables is very convenient for socializing.
There was a good company throughout our stay and we really had a great time. It looks like this homestay attracts nice and interesting guests. Most of them were divers. My husband was diving and I joined for snorkelling to all well known diving sites (except Blue Magic, due to strong current!). We visited Cape Cri, Mioskun, Lau Lau, Chicken Rif, Sardine Reef, Friwen Wall, Mike’s Point, Yenbuba Yetty and Sauwandarek Yetty. Sauwandarek and Yenbuba were my favourite snorkelling sites (school of barracudas, blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, turtles, napoleon wrasse, other big fish below the jetty). For coral reefs I liked also Mike’s Point and Friwen Wall. Divers were most enthusiastic about the Blue Magic, as they were so happy to see large oceanic mantas. Sandi, Maria and Harry take good care on all divers. Sandi was kindly trying to fulfil all wishes on where to go diving. There was always place for anyone who wished to join. In case of many divers, we split into two groups (on 2 boats) and went to visit different sites.
For those that prefer snorkelling, there is a nice long sandy beach in front of the homestay, with excellent house reef just a few meters away in direction towards Yendebabo Homestay (variety of healthy corals, blacktip sharks, turtle, etc.). If you stay in the water for more than an hour, you will be rewarded with various marine wonders.
It looks like the homestay has substantially increased capacities during the last few years. Nevertheless, it has retained its charm as a quiet place to rest and to enjoy good company. The smiling faces and the tranquillity of the Papuan family definitely contribute to a good mood.
This homestay is a great place to stay. And the diving center is excellent. We highly recommend both.
PS: If you can, bring with you a mask for the kids and give it as a gift to the homestay family. And do not leave any used plastic items (bottles etc.) on the island as they will end up in the sea. This could be your best contribution to the protection of the marine environment.
We stayed in this homestay 7 days (in December 2018) and it was fantastic. The great advantage is the in-house diving center run by Maria and Sandi. They both speak good English. Sandi has taken over organisation of all events at the homestay, so tell him if you have any wishes with regard to snorkelling, bird watching or mangrove trips.
The family running the homestay lives in Friwen village. As they are numerous, you will always see them around, preparing food, taking care for the baby or doing different things around the homestay. Always smiling, smiling, smiling … No tensions, no hurry. The family is really nice. As they do not speak English, direct communication is rather difficult. Sandi or others from the diving center may help, if you need anything from them. Dogs were always around (domestic and from other homestays) and it was fun watching their games and fights. Don’t worry, they are not aggressive – like the Papuans.
Our overwater bungalow was new and comfortable, with large and thick mattress and mosquito net and two hammocks on the terrace. The food was tasty, rice and noodles, with different vegetables, soybeans pieces and chicken/fish. Fresh bananas were available throughout the day. Always enough food, also when the homestay was nearly full. The big dinning area with long tables is very convenient for socializing.
There was a good company throughout our stay and we really had a great time. It looks like this homestay attracts nice and interesting guests. Most of them were divers. My husband was diving and I joined for snorkelling to all well known diving sites (except Blue Magic, due to strong current!). We visited Cape Cri, Mioskun, Lau Lau, Chicken Rif, Sardine Reef, Friwen Wall, Mike’s Point, Yenbuba Yetty and Sauwandarek Yetty. Sauwandarek and Yenbuba were my favourite snorkelling sites (school of barracudas, blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, turtles, napoleon wrasse, other big fish below the jetty). For coral reefs I liked also Mike’s Point and Friwen Wall. Divers were most enthusiastic about the Blue Magic, as they were so happy to see large oceanic mantas. Sandi, Maria and Harry take good care on all divers. Sandi was kindly trying to fulfil all wishes on where to go diving. There was always place for anyone who wished to join. In case of many divers, we split into two groups (on 2 boats) and went to visit different sites.
For those that prefer snorkelling, there is a nice long sandy beach in front of the homestay, with excellent house reef just a few meters away in direction towards Yendebabo Homestay (variety of healthy corals, blacktip sharks, turtle, etc.). If you stay in the water for more than an hour, you will be rewarded with various marine wonders.
It looks like the homestay has substantially increased capacities during the last few years. Nevertheless, it has retained its charm as a quiet place to rest and to enjoy good company. The smiling faces and the tranquillity of the Papuan family definitely contribute to a good mood.
This homestay is a great place to stay. And the diving center is excellent. We highly recommend both.
PS: If you can, bring with you a mask for the kids and give it as a gift to the homestay family. And do not leave any used plastic items (bottles etc.) on the island as they will end up in the sea. This could be your best contribution to the protection of the marine environment.
I stayed at Corepen Homestay for two weeks over Christmas and New Year. I didn’t settle at first and couldn’t really pinpoint why, as this was my dream holiday that I’d spent a year saving to get to. However, as people came and went and the dynamic changed, I settled and started to aclimatise and enjoy my time on Gam.
There’s definitely a few things the homestay could improve on; an additional bathroom when there’s a lot of guests and a toilet seat on the western style toilet. Also a ready supply of toilet paper and ensuring the bin is emptied regularly.
The food was ok; I’d have liked more variety and more fruit but this is not an expensive resort. I had to ask for a change of bedding, I was staying 14 nights and with the temperature I’d have expected clean linens without having to ask for them.
However, these were just little things, the main reason for going was the diving and Maria, Sandi and Harry do a great job. I was surprised that nobody asked to check my diving card / logbook but everything else was great.
The staff come after dinner to arrange the following days diving. All of your equipment is set up for you and I was well looked after and assisted to cope with the current at some sites, which could be a bit challenging.
It was Oceanic Manta season, just watching these giant creatures is amazing. So many fish and beautiful corals. The viz wasn’t great but that was due to the plankton that attracts the mantas. I hope to return and dive again when the viz is better.
I was ill on my final day and Maria and her team were so good to me. Sophie gave me medication and Aris helped get me to the ferry in Waisai, I was feeling so bad I was useless!
I’d definitely recommend diving here and whilst there are a few issues with the homestay, they’re not insurmountable and certainly wouldn’t stop me from coming back. Thanks very much for a great start to 2019 ?
I stayed at Corepen Homestay for two weeks over Christmas and New Year. I didn’t settle at first and couldn’t really pinpoint why, as this was my dream holiday that I’d spent a year saving to get to. However, as people came and went and the dynamic changed, I settled and started to aclimatise and enjoy my time on Gam.
There’s definitely a few things the homestay could improve on; an additional bathroom when there’s a lot of guests and a toilet seat on the western style toilet. Also a ready supply of toilet paper and ensuring the bin is emptied regularly.
The food was ok; I’d have liked more variety and more fruit but this is not an expensive resort. I had to ask for a change of bedding, I was staying 14 nights and with the temperature I’d have expected clean linens without having to ask for them.
However, these were just little things, the main reason for going was the diving and Maria, Sandi and Harry do a great job. I was surprised that nobody asked to check my diving card / logbook but everything else was great.
The staff come after dinner to arrange the following days diving. All of your equipment is set up for you and I was well looked after and assisted to cope with the current at some sites, which could be a bit challenging.
It was Oceanic Manta season, just watching these giant creatures is amazing. So many fish and beautiful corals. The viz wasn’t great but that was due to the plankton that attracts the mantas. I hope to return and dive again when the viz is better.
I was ill on my final day and Maria and her team were so good to me. Sophie gave me medication and Aris helped get me to the ferry in Waisai, I was feeling so bad I was useless!
I’d definitely recommend diving here and whilst there are a few issues with the homestay, they’re not insurmountable and certainly wouldn’t stop me from coming back. Thanks very much for a great start to 2019 ?
The homestay itself is overall a pretty good place. The accommodation and facilities are rustic, but generally clean and well kept (aside from having to ask got toilet paper a couple times). The bungalows as well, are rustic but the mattress is comfortable and the sheets and blankets are clean. The food, again, overall is pretty good but may be tough for picky eaters as there was not too much variety but usually rice, steamed vegetables and either chicken, fresh fish or tofu. The family who runs the homestay does not speak English, any questions and requests need to be made through Sandi and Maria at the dive center, which they were quick to tend to any needs. Due to the language barrier, there was no one to greet us and show us around as Maria and Sandi are diving during the day, but other guests were helpful and Sandi introduced himself and let us know the plan as soon as he was back from diving. There is electricity from 6pm until after 11.
However, the dive center attached is incredible. It is run by two experienced dive masters, Sandi and Maria, both are friendly, accommodating and really look after their divers. While the boat was sometimes full, we were never short dive guides and for a relatively new diver like myself they took care of me and I never felt like I was holding others back or was unsafe. During my first strong current dive, one of the dive masters, Harry, swam and pulled me through the current when I felt uncomfortable, clipping me in to the reef and assuring me that it was all ok! The gear was up to date, not to mention, set up, loaded and unloaded on the boat and cleaned by the hardworking staff of the dive center. The dive guides came to the eating area and socialized with guests, answered questions and talked about the diving plan for the next day each night after dinner.
I thoroughly enjoyed my 8 days of diving with this dive center, and not only because of the amazing marine biodiversity and abundant marine life of Raja Ampat!
The homestay itself is overall a pretty good place. The accommodation and facilities are rustic, but generally clean and well kept (aside from having to ask got toilet paper a couple times). The bungalows as well, are rustic but the mattress is comfortable and the sheets and blankets are clean. The food, again, overall is pretty good but may be tough for picky eaters as there was not too much variety but usually rice, steamed vegetables and either chicken, fresh fish or tofu. The family who runs the homestay does not speak English, any questions and requests need to be made through Sandi and Maria at the dive center, which they were quick to tend to any needs. Due to the language barrier, there was no one to greet us and show us around as Maria and Sandi are diving during the day, but other guests were helpful and Sandi introduced himself and let us know the plan as soon as he was back from diving. There is electricity from 6pm until after 11.
However, the dive center attached is incredible. It is run by two experienced dive masters, Sandi and Maria, both are friendly, accommodating and really look after their divers. While the boat was sometimes full, we were never short dive guides and for a relatively new diver like myself they took care of me and I never felt like I was holding others back or was unsafe. During my first strong current dive, one of the dive masters, Harry, swam and pulled me through the current when I felt uncomfortable, clipping me in to the reef and assuring me that it was all ok! The gear was up to date, not to mention, set up, loaded and unloaded on the boat and cleaned by the hardworking staff of the dive center. The dive guides came to the eating area and socialized with guests, answered questions and talked about the diving plan for the next day each night after dinner.
I thoroughly enjoyed my 8 days of diving with this dive center, and not only because of the amazing marine biodiversity and abundant marine life of Raja Ampat!
We stayed in Corepen homestay 5 days in November 2018. In our 5 weeks in RA visiting more than 10 homestays we realize how difficult it is to choose them upon the comments. We try to give one star for each: beeing welcome by the staff/owners, accomodation/cleanness, food, housereef and trips.
1. star: In the morning we arrived noone told us ‘hello’ and which our bangalow would be our home. After talking with the familiy in bahasa indonsia they opened a little up and were actually very friendly. All, also the teenager children chew beetle nut.
No star for accomodation: matrace on the floor, shared bungalow by a wall you can hear the neighbours, smelly hammock. The bathroom facilities were not enough (2 toilets, one shower for 10 bangalows).
No star for food: Mostly RA standard tourist food (waterspinach without spices, boiled eggs in ketchup sauce, fried tofu or tempe, rice). There was sometimes a fisch but not enough for 16 divers. No fruits even tough it is close to waisai and the family anyway went daily for buying vegetables (we asked for it many times).
No star for trips: the birdwatch trip was done in a way you felt the family was already a bit bored from showing the birds to tourists. We were told to be ready on 5 am while in the end leaving at 5:30 (we wake up the child who was in charge to take us).
2. star for the housereef however we were just diving it at a nightdive, this we actually recomend you to do. There is an electric clamp, decorator and orang utan crabs, walking sharks.
Like everybody, we come to this place for diving. We liked it. The managers of the diveshop -Sandi and Maria- have no influence on the homestay, especially not about the food. On the other side they do the booking for the homestay as the owner Insemina works and stays in Sorong. Maybe the owner could take a little responsibility for the quality for the homestay as it is one of the worst value for the money we payed.
We stayed in Corepen homestay 5 days in November 2018. In our 5 weeks in RA visiting more than 10 homestays we realize how difficult it is to choose them upon the comments. We try to give one star for each: beeing welcome by the staff/owners, accomodation/cleanness, food, housereef and trips.
1. star: In the morning we arrived noone told us ‘hello’ and which our bangalow would be our home. After talking with the familiy in bahasa indonsia they opened a little up and were actually very friendly. All, also the teenager children chew beetle nut.
No star for accomodation: matrace on the floor, shared bungalow by a wall you can hear the neighbours, smelly hammock. The bathroom facilities were not enough (2 toilets, one shower for 10 bangalows).
No star for food: Mostly RA standard tourist food (waterspinach without spices, boiled eggs in ketchup sauce, fried tofu or tempe, rice). There was sometimes a fisch but not enough for 16 divers. No fruits even tough it is close to waisai and the family anyway went daily for buying vegetables (we asked for it many times).
No star for trips: the birdwatch trip was done in a way you felt the family was already a bit bored from showing the birds to tourists. We were told to be ready on 5 am while in the end leaving at 5:30 (we wake up the child who was in charge to take us).
2. star for the housereef however we were just diving it at a nightdive, this we actually recomend you to do. There is an electric clamp, decorator and orang utan crabs, walking sharks.
Like everybody, we come to this place for diving. We liked it. The managers of the diveshop -Sandi and Maria- have no influence on the homestay, especially not about the food. On the other side they do the booking for the homestay as the owner Insemina works and stays in Sorong. Maybe the owner could take a little responsibility for the quality for the homestay as it is one of the worst value for the money we payed.
We (my wife and I) stayed for 5 nights over new year in corepen Homestay. And we really enjoyed it a lot.
Even though the staff of the Homestay is pretty shy, the staff of the diving center is happy to help out with all questions we had. They speak English very well, so communication is really no problem whatsoever.
The rooms are pretty simple, equipped with a mattress on the floor (or bed in some bungalows) and a mosquito net, but sufficient for us. There was electricity available from the evening until midnight.
The shower is an Indonesian bucket shower and they have both a western and Indonesian toilet. All facilities have to be shared with the other guests, but even with the Homestay being quite booked out we didn’t have any trouble with facilities being occupied for longer time.
We did 8 dives total with different guides and really enjoyed all of them. In contrast to Til’s review we felt perfectly save during all of our dives. We had our license just recently finished before coming to raja ampat and told the guides that we were inexperienced. The guides were constantly checking in with us while diving and stayed near to us. Also, there was no chaos as described by Til. With having 2 guides for 4-5 divers, all was in order and though we had really enjoyable dives. We saw manta rays, sharks, sting rays and lots and lots of fish.
Snorkeling directly at the beach of corepen Homestay is also a great experienced for days on which you don’t want to dive. Several boat trips can be arranged but should be taken with other guests together to keep the costs per person reasonable low (we went to Piaynemo with a group of 4 other guests and it was just great).
The food is mostly rice with vegetables and chicken or fish and was quite good.
All in all we can absolutely recommend this Homestay.
We (my wife and I) stayed for 5 nights over new year in corepen Homestay. And we really enjoyed it a lot.
Even though the staff of the Homestay is pretty shy, the staff of the diving center is happy to help out with all questions we had. They speak English very well, so communication is really no problem whatsoever.
The rooms are pretty simple, equipped with a mattress on the floor (or bed in some bungalows) and a mosquito net, but sufficient for us. There was electricity available from the evening until midnight.
The shower is an Indonesian bucket shower and they have both a western and Indonesian toilet. All facilities have to be shared with the other guests, but even with the Homestay being quite booked out we didn’t have any trouble with facilities being occupied for longer time.
We did 8 dives total with different guides and really enjoyed all of them. In contrast to Til’s review we felt perfectly save during all of our dives. We had our license just recently finished before coming to raja ampat and told the guides that we were inexperienced. The guides were constantly checking in with us while diving and stayed near to us. Also, there was no chaos as described by Til. With having 2 guides for 4-5 divers, all was in order and though we had really enjoyable dives. We saw manta rays, sharks, sting rays and lots and lots of fish.
Snorkeling directly at the beach of corepen Homestay is also a great experienced for days on which you don’t want to dive. Several boat trips can be arranged but should be taken with other guests together to keep the costs per person reasonable low (we went to Piaynemo with a group of 4 other guests and it was just great).
The food is mostly rice with vegetables and chicken or fish and was quite good.
All in all we can absolutely recommend this Homestay.
First of all – the homestay did not provide us the booked room. We arrived one day earlier as planned and talked to Maria from the divecenter via telephone. She told us we would get a room in the 2-room-bungalow and be able to move the next day to our reserved private bungalow.
Upon arrival we got a coconut each and were shown where our room is, nothing else. Nobody talked to us at all, we had to get all information ourselves from other guests.
On the second day we got told that all private bungalows were already fully booked. We would stay in the 2-room-bungalow as there are no guests in the other room.
In my initiative I found out about free bungalows 100 meters down the beach to the right. I asked Sandi from the divecenter if we could move into a bungalow there. The bungalows belong to another family but we could move there. (The next day another couple arrived and got the other half of the 2-room-bungalow – of course)
The overall quality of our stay was not satisfying. The quality of food was mediocre, the toilet-bin nearly never emptied, having toilet paper in the toilet was pure luck. The times food was served were often too early and the amount of food not enough for all guests. The people who came last for meals did often not get enough food and the homestay could not provide more after requesting it.
The worst experience was the diving. There were up to 12 divers at the same time and the dive center could barely handle the masses. Collecting the equipment and making sure everything’s on the right boat (they have two boats) was pure chaos. The equipment itself was of very varying standard but everything did work so far.
The diving itself was chaotic as well and made me really nervous at the first dive. First you drive out with the boat to the dive site, put your whole equipment on. Then, just before the dive began, a very short briefing was held by one of the dive guides. No buddy teams were assigned by the dive guide, you only got assigned to a dive guide in a group of up to 6 people. That lead to chaos underwater: If you don’t get assigned to a buddy nobody knows who to look after underwater. If the divers don’t know in which order they (normally buddy teams) should dive, especially in groups of 6, you get chaos under water as well.
The dive center can not stamp log books because they aren’t registered with any dive association. Okay – I guessed something like that beforehand.
But the worst and most frightening experience comes last: With us there was a swiss couple in the homestay, I think they stayed almost two weeks at Corepen. They arrived roughly a week before us at a time where no other divers were there.
Both of them never did diving before, not even a personally-guided discovery dive or anything. But the man of the couple did go diving at Corepen every day!!! Sandi tought him some rough basics and went out with him to even the crazier dive sites. When we arrived he told me that he feels safe underwater and another guest told him that he could see no difference in his underwater behaviour to experienced, licensed divers. That made him so confident that he continued every day. He went down to more than 30 meters, went to Blue Magic, Chicken Reef, Cape Kri, Melissa’s Garden, Friwen Wall and many other dive sites. Currents were only medium while we went out together with him, but he told us there were other days where he and Sandi (alone) had to use reef hooks to manage the current.
I can live with many of the above facts, but risking a guest’s life like the dive center does is absolutely unacceptable.
We felt so unsafe while diving that we moved away from Corepen after 3 nights. After our experience we will never dive again with a homestay, that is not member of PADI, SSI or another diver’s association. We went on to Kri and chose to dive with a SSI-certified Western dive center, the Soul Divers. The standards and equipment there were very good and the price even lower than diving at Corepen.
I agree. We were there when the Swiss couple first arrived, and I remember they let him dive without a dive certificate. They didn’t even care or check whether he was competent first. He tried to organise a type of beginner’s dive but they didn’t want to accomodate for him. They only want to make lots of money by taking many divers at the same time.
First of all – the homestay did not provide us the booked room. We arrived one day earlier as planned and talked to Maria from the divecenter via telephone. She told us we would get a room in the 2-room-bungalow and be able to move the next day to our reserved private bungalow.
Upon arrival we got a coconut each and were shown where our room is, nothing else. Nobody talked to us at all, we had to get all information ourselves from other guests.
On the second day we got told that all private bungalows were already fully booked. We would stay in the 2-room-bungalow as there are no guests in the other room.
In my initiative I found out about free bungalows 100 meters down the beach to the right. I asked Sandi from the divecenter if we could move into a bungalow there. The bungalows belong to another family but we could move there. (The next day another couple arrived and got the other half of the 2-room-bungalow – of course)
The overall quality of our stay was not satisfying. The quality of food was mediocre, the toilet-bin nearly never emptied, having toilet paper in the toilet was pure luck. The times food was served were often too early and the amount of food not enough for all guests. The people who came last for meals did often not get enough food and the homestay could not provide more after requesting it.
The worst experience was the diving. There were up to 12 divers at the same time and the dive center could barely handle the masses. Collecting the equipment and making sure everything’s on the right boat (they have two boats) was pure chaos. The equipment itself was of very varying standard but everything did work so far.
The diving itself was chaotic as well and made me really nervous at the first dive. First you drive out with the boat to the dive site, put your whole equipment on. Then, just before the dive began, a very short briefing was held by one of the dive guides. No buddy teams were assigned by the dive guide, you only got assigned to a dive guide in a group of up to 6 people. That lead to chaos underwater: If you don’t get assigned to a buddy nobody knows who to look after underwater. If the divers don’t know in which order they (normally buddy teams) should dive, especially in groups of 6, you get chaos under water as well.
The dive center can not stamp log books because they aren’t registered with any dive association. Okay – I guessed something like that beforehand.
But the worst and most frightening experience comes last: With us there was a swiss couple in the homestay, I think they stayed almost two weeks at Corepen. They arrived roughly a week before us at a time where no other divers were there.
Both of them never did diving before, not even a personally-guided discovery dive or anything. But the man of the couple did go diving at Corepen every day!!! Sandi tought him some rough basics and went out with him to even the crazier dive sites. When we arrived he told me that he feels safe underwater and another guest told him that he could see no difference in his underwater behaviour to experienced, licensed divers. That made him so confident that he continued every day. He went down to more than 30 meters, went to Blue Magic, Chicken Reef, Cape Kri, Melissa’s Garden, Friwen Wall and many other dive sites. Currents were only medium while we went out together with him, but he told us there were other days where he and Sandi (alone) had to use reef hooks to manage the current.
I can live with many of the above facts, but risking a guest’s life like the dive center does is absolutely unacceptable.
We felt so unsafe while diving that we moved away from Corepen after 3 nights. After our experience we will never dive again with a homestay, that is not member of PADI, SSI or another diver’s association. We went on to Kri and chose to dive with a SSI-certified Western dive center, the Soul Divers. The standards and equipment there were very good and the price even lower than diving at Corepen.
I agree. We were there when the Swiss couple first arrived, and I remember they let him dive without a dive certificate. They didn’t even care or check whether he was competent first. He tried to organise a type of beginner’s dive but they didn’t want to accomodate for him. They only want to make lots of money by taking many divers at the same time.
For 1 week we booked Corepen Homestay in RajaAmpat. Here we found a very relaxed family, a cottage on the beach, with a proper bed, so we didn’t sleep on the floor, bucket shower and -toilet outside. Breakfast was cake or fruits, at 12 and 7pm plenty food. Rice, fish or chicken, vegetable and tofu. Diving, snorkling and other trips available organized by Sandi and Maria. Together with Harry also great divepartners! A heartwelming bunch of people who made this week unforgettable to us. Many thanks and regards Geja and Robitha
For 1 week we booked Corepen Homestay in RajaAmpat. Here we found a very relaxed family, a cottage on the beach, with a proper bed, so we didn’t sleep on the floor, bucket shower and -toilet outside. Breakfast was cake or fruits, at 12 and 7pm plenty food. Rice, fish or chicken, vegetable and tofu. Diving, snorkling and other trips available organized by Sandi and Maria. Together with Harry also great divepartners! A heartwelming bunch of people who made this week unforgettable to us. Many thanks and regards Geja and Robitha
I had great amazing dives here with Sandi and Maria. Both are enthusiastic and passionate dives who really make our dive experience one of the best!
Corepen homestay has great food and relatively comfortable compared to its peers. They have just renovated the toilet and it is going to be fantastic for new guests. They are also great hosts as we joined them for church service on Sunday in Friwen island.
The location is also in close proximity to all the great dive sites of raja ampat. From Blue Magic to Chicken Reef, it is just a short boat ride away. Highly recommend this place and don’t forget to ask for the bird of paradise bird tour.
I had great amazing dives here with Sandi and Maria. Both are enthusiastic and passionate dives who really make our dive experience one of the best!
Corepen homestay has great food and relatively comfortable compared to its peers. They have just renovated the toilet and it is going to be fantastic for new guests. They are also great hosts as we joined them for church service on Sunday in Friwen island.
The location is also in close proximity to all the great dive sites of raja ampat. From Blue Magic to Chicken Reef, it is just a short boat ride away. Highly recommend this place and don’t forget to ask for the bird of paradise bird tour.
I cannot say enough good things about Corepen Homestay and the dive center. Bungalows are perfect for the price, food is good, and the homestay is very safe and trustworthy.
Sandi and Maria from the dive center are great dive guides and very respectful and safe under water. Sandi is a certified diver and very professional. The boat guide is also fantastic. He’s friendly and very observant and safe following our bubbles while we dive. I don’t think he speaks too much English but he was a pleasure to be around. The dive center is one of the best in Raja and I will definitely back to dive with Sandi and Maria again! I had a very poor experience with my first dive center on Kri so I was very happy to be diving with Corepen diving. You won’t be disappointed with Corepen!
I cannot say enough good things about Corepen Homestay and the dive center. Bungalows are perfect for the price, food is good, and the homestay is very safe and trustworthy.
Sandi and Maria from the dive center are great dive guides and very respectful and safe under water. Sandi is a certified diver and very professional. The boat guide is also fantastic. He’s friendly and very observant and safe following our bubbles while we dive. I don’t think he speaks too much English but he was a pleasure to be around. The dive center is one of the best in Raja and I will definitely back to dive with Sandi and Maria again! I had a very poor experience with my first dive center on Kri so I was very happy to be diving with Corepen diving. You won’t be disappointed with Corepen!
Oooh its amazing, believe me!!! After i got used to the basic bungalow and bathroom and to the lifestyle of the lovely Papuan Family, i didnt want to leave or change the homestay anymore:)…
Corepen is a must if you want to enjoy the most amazing diving, good snorkeling (join the dive boat or ask for boat trips, try night snorkeling with torches from the divecenter…), relax or socialize, meet people, do a little bit of birding, explore the beautiful area and eat plenty of tasty and variable food.
Diving with Maria, Sandi and team (Raja Ampat Divecenter) was every day pure joy and fun. They are very experienced, professional and flexibel. They care for the needs and wishes of their guests above and under water and they make sure you get the very best out of your stay. If you are not that experienced they provide you extra human support, hooks, sticks… Whatever is needed that everyone can fully enjoy the diving. I guess many guests do more dives as planed, as it gets addictiv with them:).
I also found the house reef worth to explore as every time i snorkeled i spotted different fishes, nudi branches, corals, claims (incl. electrical ones!)… one guest even saw a dugong!
Oooh its amazing, believe me!!! After i got used to the basic bungalow and bathroom and to the lifestyle of the lovely Papuan Family, i didnt want to leave or change the homestay anymore:)…
Corepen is a must if you want to enjoy the most amazing diving, good snorkeling (join the dive boat or ask for boat trips, try night snorkeling with torches from the divecenter…), relax or socialize, meet people, do a little bit of birding, explore the beautiful area and eat plenty of tasty and variable food.
Diving with Maria, Sandi and team (Raja Ampat Divecenter) was every day pure joy and fun. They are very experienced, professional and flexibel. They care for the needs and wishes of their guests above and under water and they make sure you get the very best out of your stay. If you are not that experienced they provide you extra human support, hooks, sticks… Whatever is needed that everyone can fully enjoy the diving. I guess many guests do more dives as planed, as it gets addictiv with them:).
I also found the house reef worth to explore as every time i snorkeled i spotted different fishes, nudi branches, corals, claims (incl. electrical ones!)… one guest even saw a dugong!
The best way to describe my stay at Corepen is that I originally was only going to stay for 1 week and I ended up staying 1.5 months…
This is one of the most welcoming homestays I have ever had the pleasure of staying at. The bungalows and washroom facilities are great, and the food is out of this world – absolutely fantastic. Honestly some of the best food I’ve ever eaten.
I also cannot speak highly enough of the diveshop associated with Corepen Homestay – Sandi and Maria are incredibly knowledgeable and experienced divers. They are professional, safe, and really take the time to get to know their guests. I was very impressed with how flexible they were and how they tried their absolute best (and succeeded at it) to ensure every diver had a an enjoyable dive. The equipment is well taken care of and all up-to-date. The boat staff are also very friendly, safe, knowledgeable, and experienced. Diving in Raja Ampat with Sandi and Maria has been some of my top diving experiences.
The staff and family at Corepen Homestay and the diveshop are some of the most friendly and lovely people I have ever met. I will 100% return.
The housereef is absolutely beautiful as well, and the birds of paradise are able to be seen very close to the homestay.
Corepen Homestay is a fantastic place to stay – I would 100% recommend for snorkelling, birds of paradise, diving, hammocking, meeting fantastic people, and simply enjoying yourself in the most beautiful paradise you’ll ever see.
The best way to describe my stay at Corepen is that I originally was only going to stay for 1 week and I ended up staying 1.5 months…
This is one of the most welcoming homestays I have ever had the pleasure of staying at. The bungalows and washroom facilities are great, and the food is out of this world – absolutely fantastic. Honestly some of the best food I’ve ever eaten.
I also cannot speak highly enough of the diveshop associated with Corepen Homestay – Sandi and Maria are incredibly knowledgeable and experienced divers. They are professional, safe, and really take the time to get to know their guests. I was very impressed with how flexible they were and how they tried their absolute best (and succeeded at it) to ensure every diver had a an enjoyable dive. The equipment is well taken care of and all up-to-date. The boat staff are also very friendly, safe, knowledgeable, and experienced. Diving in Raja Ampat with Sandi and Maria has been some of my top diving experiences.
The staff and family at Corepen Homestay and the diveshop are some of the most friendly and lovely people I have ever met. I will 100% return.
The housereef is absolutely beautiful as well, and the birds of paradise are able to be seen very close to the homestay.
Corepen Homestay is a fantastic place to stay – I would 100% recommend for snorkelling, birds of paradise, diving, hammocking, meeting fantastic people, and simply enjoying yourself in the most beautiful paradise you’ll ever see.
This is truly a part of paradise. We stayed for 9 nights and really enyojed the whole time. Fantastic and nice family. Very good food and always enough. And Sandy the dive expert is taking it serious and is a real expert. Maria was only the first day but she was also very good. We did 14 dives and some excursions, all very good. There were some rain but mostly on nights. The weather out on the islands seem to be much bettet than Sorong and there were sunshine every day.
Thank you Sandy and the crew, you were amazing.
If you want the best and safe diving, go for Corepen!
This is truly a part of paradise. We stayed for 9 nights and really enyojed the whole time. Fantastic and nice family. Very good food and always enough. And Sandy the dive expert is taking it serious and is a real expert. Maria was only the first day but she was also very good. We did 14 dives and some excursions, all very good. There were some rain but mostly on nights. The weather out on the islands seem to be much bettet than Sorong and there were sunshine every day.
Thank you Sandy and the crew, you were amazing.
If you want the best and safe diving, go for Corepen!
Very nice homestay with beautiful rooms right on the beach. Food was one of the best of all homestays, housereef nice for snorkeling with lots of nudibranch. At night after 23.30 when the lights are out, you can see luminescent plankton in the waves!
We went diving for two days with Sandi which was great! He found so many things like seahorses, wobbegong sharks and so much more. Very handy that we could pay the diving with credit card. Loved the little puppy that walked around the homestay.
Would definitely return here!
Very nice homestay with beautiful rooms right on the beach. Food was one of the best of all homestays, housereef nice for snorkeling with lots of nudibranch. At night after 23.30 when the lights are out, you can see luminescent plankton in the waves!
We went diving for two days with Sandi which was great! He found so many things like seahorses, wobbegong sharks and so much more. Very handy that we could pay the diving with credit card. Loved the little puppy that walked around the homestay.
Would definitely return here!
Amazing place. Sandi and Maria are very accommodating and patient dive guides. Lovely family who genuinely care about their guests’ wellbeing. House is nice to snorkel with a wide variety of fish and coral, some sea turtles, occasional sharks and amazing night snorkeling opportunity to see octupi, squid, large nudibrancs and more. Wonderful food and we were told by almost everyone that stayed at other homestays that Corepen’s food was the best. We could not be happier! A few notes though about payment for your stay — the Waisai ATMs will charge you 25% to pull out foriegn money. You read that right. You will pay $25 for every $100 you withdraw. We didn’t know this and lost $300 in ATM fees. We suggest asking if you can pay for your stay and diving with a credit card and save yourself that financial mistake. The Jakarta ATM fees are a couple dollars, though, so if you need some cash, get it on your layover. We truly enjoyed our 22 days at Corepen and will be coming back. Thanks again to Corepen and to the creators and employees of Stay Raja Ampat for making everything easy and seamless. My only worry is that it was so easy and stress free that tourism will explode here and potentially damage the wildlife, but we understand that Stay Raja Ampat is doing what they can to ensure that doesn’t happen.
Amazing place. Sandi and Maria are very accommodating and patient dive guides. Lovely family who genuinely care about their guests’ wellbeing. House is nice to snorkel with a wide variety of fish and coral, some sea turtles, occasional sharks and amazing night snorkeling opportunity to see octupi, squid, large nudibrancs and more. Wonderful food and we were told by almost everyone that stayed at other homestays that Corepen’s food was the best. We could not be happier! A few notes though about payment for your stay — the Waisai ATMs will charge you 25% to pull out foriegn money. You read that right. You will pay $25 for every $100 you withdraw. We didn’t know this and lost $300 in ATM fees. We suggest asking if you can pay for your stay and diving with a credit card and save yourself that financial mistake. The Jakarta ATM fees are a couple dollars, though, so if you need some cash, get it on your layover. We truly enjoyed our 22 days at Corepen and will be coming back. Thanks again to Corepen and to the creators and employees of Stay Raja Ampat for making everything easy and seamless. My only worry is that it was so easy and stress free that tourism will explode here and potentially damage the wildlife, but we understand that Stay Raja Ampat is doing what they can to ensure that doesn’t happen.
We stayed for 4 nights at Corepen Hometay and wished we could stay much longer. We had a lovely welcome from the family who are all very friendly and nice, and our bungalow overlooked the water with a large mattress and mosquito net, and comfy hammock to relax and enjoy the amazing view. The toilet and shower were always clean and available, and the social area was nice to chat with other guests or make tea and coffee whenever you want. We stayed a few nights previously in a homestay on Mansuar, so were pleasantly surprised when we arrived in Corepen as the food was much tastier and more plentiful.
Our main objective in staying at Corepen was to dive with Sandy and Maria, and that was exceptional! Every dive was unreal and makes you want more!! The equipment was very good and Sandy and Maria are both so knowledge and professional. We also snorkelled on the house reef which was nice, and visited Friwen wall which was fantastic. We’d also recommend snorkelling at Yenbuba jetty in Mansuar, but really nothing beats the diving!
Thank you so much Sandy, Maria and Papa Alfons and family for making our stay so memorable – hopefully we will be back soon!
We stayed for 4 nights at Corepen Hometay and wished we could stay much longer. We had a lovely welcome from the family who are all very friendly and nice, and our bungalow overlooked the water with a large mattress and mosquito net, and comfy hammock to relax and enjoy the amazing view. The toilet and shower were always clean and available, and the social area was nice to chat with other guests or make tea and coffee whenever you want. We stayed a few nights previously in a homestay on Mansuar, so were pleasantly surprised when we arrived in Corepen as the food was much tastier and more plentiful.
Our main objective in staying at Corepen was to dive with Sandy and Maria, and that was exceptional! Every dive was unreal and makes you want more!! The equipment was very good and Sandy and Maria are both so knowledge and professional. We also snorkelled on the house reef which was nice, and visited Friwen wall which was fantastic. We’d also recommend snorkelling at Yenbuba jetty in Mansuar, but really nothing beats the diving!
Thank you so much Sandy, Maria and Papa Alfons and family for making our stay so memorable – hopefully we will be back soon!
I was there in Corepen at the end of April 18 for a week with my gf and other 2 friends,also a couple.
Food was ok. Very basic bungalows, very basic toilets, shower etc.
but thats not what you are going there for! nature n diving are amazing.
Maria, Sandy, the captain and the boy that helps out with tanks, equipment etc are super sweet and nice.
highly recommended for divers !! therimakasi Marti, Emma, Patti, Marco.
I was there in Corepen at the end of April 18 for a week with my gf and other 2 friends,also a couple.
Food was ok. Very basic bungalows, very basic toilets, shower etc.
but thats not what you are going there for! nature n diving are amazing.
Maria, Sandy, the captain and the boy that helps out with tanks, equipment etc are super sweet and nice.
highly recommended for divers !! therimakasi Marti, Emma, Patti, Marco.
Stayed at Corepen for about 5 days in late April and had a great experience. Location was just wonderful, fairly close to Waisai, and other islands like Kri and Friwen nearby. It sits right on a great little beach with a very nice house reef. The huts are basic but seemed clean and what you’d expect. The food was just wonderful in our opinion. Always plenty (during our stay there were about 11 guests in total) and a good variety, and very tasty too! English is not spoken by the homestay owners so communication can be difficult but not impossible…and if need be, Sandy & Maria from the dive center can help out. We were divers, only snorkeled, but had a good stay here, though I would say that the homestay seems to cater a bit more to divers. There are also quite a few huts at the homestay and they were building more during our stay so it’s a bit larger (but not by much) than the photos would indicate.
We had one little issue when we arrived, as we had booked a waterfront hut but none were available when we arrived. But after a little confusion, they were able to put us in a water front bungalow that is adjacent to the homestay (it was a little confusing if it was part of Corepen or not). It was nice, a little more secluded than the rest of the Corepen huts but it ended up working out for us. My only suggestion here is that they should maybe make sure they are reviewing their reservations through this site, before making such decisions but they worked it out so no problem for us.
The other suggestion, is to have the homestay hold up a sign that says “COREPEN” when they do pick ups in Waisai. We had a bit of confusion at that point as well due to the language barrier. This might help other travelers and the homestay in the future.
All in all, this was a wonderful experience and we can’t wait to return. Would definitely recommend Corepen!
Stayed at Corepen for about 5 days in late April and had a great experience. Location was just wonderful, fairly close to Waisai, and other islands like Kri and Friwen nearby. It sits right on a great little beach with a very nice house reef. The huts are basic but seemed clean and what you’d expect. The food was just wonderful in our opinion. Always plenty (during our stay there were about 11 guests in total) and a good variety, and very tasty too! English is not spoken by the homestay owners so communication can be difficult but not impossible…and if need be, Sandy & Maria from the dive center can help out. We were divers, only snorkeled, but had a good stay here, though I would say that the homestay seems to cater a bit more to divers. There are also quite a few huts at the homestay and they were building more during our stay so it’s a bit larger (but not by much) than the photos would indicate.
We had one little issue when we arrived, as we had booked a waterfront hut but none were available when we arrived. But after a little confusion, they were able to put us in a water front bungalow that is adjacent to the homestay (it was a little confusing if it was part of Corepen or not). It was nice, a little more secluded than the rest of the Corepen huts but it ended up working out for us. My only suggestion here is that they should maybe make sure they are reviewing their reservations through this site, before making such decisions but they worked it out so no problem for us.
The other suggestion, is to have the homestay hold up a sign that says “COREPEN” when they do pick ups in Waisai. We had a bit of confusion at that point as well due to the language barrier. This might help other travelers and the homestay in the future.
All in all, this was a wonderful experience and we can’t wait to return. Would definitely recommend Corepen!
We stayed a week at Corepen Homestay from 03/24 – 03/31 and we had a good time.
The bungalow was basic and very clean. The matrasses were worn and it would have been nice to have a table outside. Showers and toilets were clean and basic too.
The food was alright. They seemed to forget every once in a while that we are vegetarians what was really annoying. Furthermore, they mostly miscalculated the food if there were more people staying. So sometimes guests started dinner/lunch already while others (like we) were diving and there was not much left. The communication to get some more food was always a big pain. In general much less variety than on our first homestay on Arborek. The breakfast was always sweet for Westerners. For Indonesians there was rice and vegetables. We asked a few times for the same, but it happened only once and they seemed to forget it. My opinion is that there is less caring because the dives hop mainly attracts the customers.
If you want some variety as one of the guys from the dive shop or homestay to bring you some fresh fruits from Sorong or Waisai for little money.
As I see it, the pictures are a quite old. There are many more bungalows and a big dinning area were you can have a coffee, tea or banana.
The diving with Sandy and Maria was fantastic. We enjoyed every dive. We felt very safe, the communication/briefing was good and they are great spotters. Make sure you dive the housereef, there is so much macro to see!
It would have been nice to know upfront on what times they don’t do any diving (we haven’t considered the public holidays during our stay) So when it comes down to diving: 5 Stars
We stayed a week at Corepen Homestay from 03/24 – 03/31 and we had a good time.
The bungalow was basic and very clean. The matrasses were worn and it would have been nice to have a table outside. Showers and toilets were clean and basic too.
The food was alright. They seemed to forget every once in a while that we are vegetarians what was really annoying. Furthermore, they mostly miscalculated the food if there were more people staying. So sometimes guests started dinner/lunch already while others (like we) were diving and there was not much left. The communication to get some more food was always a big pain. In general much less variety than on our first homestay on Arborek. The breakfast was always sweet for Westerners. For Indonesians there was rice and vegetables. We asked a few times for the same, but it happened only once and they seemed to forget it. My opinion is that there is less caring because the dives hop mainly attracts the customers.
If you want some variety as one of the guys from the dive shop or homestay to bring you some fresh fruits from Sorong or Waisai for little money.
As I see it, the pictures are a quite old. There are many more bungalows and a big dinning area were you can have a coffee, tea or banana.
The diving with Sandy and Maria was fantastic. We enjoyed every dive. We felt very safe, the communication/briefing was good and they are great spotters. Make sure you dive the housereef, there is so much macro to see!
It would have been nice to know upfront on what times they don’t do any diving (we haven’t considered the public holidays during our stay) So when it comes down to diving: 5 Stars
We stayed 11 nights at Corepen and it was pure bliss! The bungalows are basic, as you’d expect, they could do with investing in some new mattresses and patching a few holes in the roof – but when you step outside directly into the sea that is forgotten! Toilet & bathing facilities fine – always clean, no seat on the western toilet though!
House reef is great – you can swim at any time of day as it isn’t affected by currents and there’s a sandy channel you can swim out in at low tide.
The diving with Sandi and Maria is superb! We were nervous about diving with a homestay as we’d heard lots of horror stories, Corepen was recommended and now we know why! Sandi & Maria are both highly capable dive guides, equipment rental was good – same standard as I’ve experienced throughout Asia and the diving – wow!
Best 11 days of our 7 months away!
We stayed 11 nights at Corepen and it was pure bliss! The bungalows are basic, as you’d expect, they could do with investing in some new mattresses and patching a few holes in the roof – but when you step outside directly into the sea that is forgotten! Toilet & bathing facilities fine – always clean, no seat on the western toilet though!
House reef is great – you can swim at any time of day as it isn’t affected by currents and there’s a sandy channel you can swim out in at low tide.
The diving with Sandi and Maria is superb! We were nervous about diving with a homestay as we’d heard lots of horror stories, Corepen was recommended and now we know why! Sandi & Maria are both highly capable dive guides, equipment rental was good – same standard as I’ve experienced throughout Asia and the diving – wow!
Best 11 days of our 7 months away!
Everything perfect and so nice! Food was delicious, Bungalow was basic but very nice. Diving with Sandi and Maria was perfekt. Also a very nice house riff. We did a night dive there and it was wonderfull. Do not expect anything and you will get everything.
I will come back! Thanks to all there! 🙂
Everything perfect and so nice! Food was delicious, Bungalow was basic but very nice. Diving with Sandi and Maria was perfekt. Also a very nice house riff. We did a night dive there and it was wonderfull. Do not expect anything and you will get everything.
I will come back! Thanks to all there! 🙂
Hi all
in about 6 days we are going to be in Corepen guest house.
what local SIM card would you suggest to get ? and where ? thanks so much in advance for any tip and advise =)
M
Electricity, telephone and internet info is on this page Marti. Our vital information section provides a heap of other tips and advice.
I suggest no SIM card! 🙂 Enjoy the silence!
Hi all
in about 6 days we are going to be in Corepen guest house.
what local SIM card would you suggest to get ? and where ? thanks so much in advance for any tip and advise =)
M
Electricity, telephone and internet info is on this page Marti. Our vital information section provides a heap of other tips and advice.
I suggest no SIM card! 🙂 Enjoy the silence!
It was a great place, only 40 minutes from Waisai making it relatively accessible. It’s tranquil and relaxing there, the beach is nice and clean, we spent hours snorkelling in the house reef too. Food is OK, a bit repetitive but not bad- it is the better of the 2 homestays that we have tried so far 🙂
Diving was well organised, we did 4 nice dives there.
It was a great place, only 40 minutes from Waisai making it relatively accessible. It’s tranquil and relaxing there, the beach is nice and clean, we spent hours snorkelling in the house reef too. Food is OK, a bit repetitive but not bad- it is the better of the 2 homestays that we have tried so far 🙂
Diving was well organised, we did 4 nice dives there.
Great place, specially for divers!
This was our first homestay in raja Ampat and we could not ask for more, nice front beach bungalow with a couple of hammocks, delicious food and very good organization. The house coral reef was also very nice!
As for diving, we only have good words; we just got the open water so we were a little worried to begin diving in raja ampat but Sandy & Maria were very helpful and took care of us. They know very well the good diving spots and when to go there. Additionally, the diving material was good, with a great range of sizes (we had problems in other diving centers).
In short, totally advisable! If coming back we would absolutely repeat!
Great place, specially for divers!
This was our first homestay in raja Ampat and we could not ask for more, nice front beach bungalow with a couple of hammocks, delicious food and very good organization. The house coral reef was also very nice!
As for diving, we only have good words; we just got the open water so we were a little worried to begin diving in raja ampat but Sandy & Maria were very helpful and took care of us. They know very well the good diving spots and when to go there. Additionally, the diving material was good, with a great range of sizes (we had problems in other diving centers).
In short, totally advisable! If coming back we would absolutely repeat!
I stayed in Corepen for one week in early March ’18, to dive with Maria again coz she’s the one who run the dive operator (in other homestay) when i visited raja ampat back in 2016.
The meals served in corepen SERIOUSLY exceeded my expectation. I still remember the tasty dishes – vegetables + fishes/chickens + bakwan + rice every meal time. The meals were so healthy i lost ~2 pounds during the week i stayed there?
Pak alfons is a christian (as most residents in raja ampat). If you understand indonesian language, there is a small church in neighbor island & you could request to go there with him on sunday morning.
The people i met there were very interesting and listening to their stories were an entertainment on its own?
Some considerations for divers :
◇ There are only a around dozen dive spots to choose from if you are staying in a homestay. Even me – who’s staying just a week – had to repeat some dive spot several times coz there are new guests almost every single day requesting to dive there and they were hoping to see manta on that spot.
◇ Diving was good, the reefs were super nice on 10-13 meters. If you are as crazy about reef as I am, ask to dive in Otdima Reef & Cape Kri, and stay shallow – the best view of coral reefs are located around 10 meters deep.
◇ unlike live aboard trip with its scheduled dive, here the diving is sooo chil. The 3rd dive is optional as they consider weather (rain may damage the visibility) & how many divers joining the dive.
◇ Sandi and Maria who run the dive trips are attentive & professional. They are very accomodative and look for divers underwater – I strayed once and Sandi came to the rescue.
All in all, a week in corepen really super charged my soul. Had my fill of vitamin sea here and will come back for sure.
I stayed in Corepen for one week in early March ’18, to dive with Maria again coz she’s the one who run the dive operator (in other homestay) when i visited raja ampat back in 2016.
The meals served in corepen SERIOUSLY exceeded my expectation. I still remember the tasty dishes – vegetables + fishes/chickens + bakwan + rice every meal time. The meals were so healthy i lost ~2 pounds during the week i stayed there?
Pak alfons is a christian (as most residents in raja ampat). If you understand indonesian language, there is a small church in neighbor island & you could request to go there with him on sunday morning.
The people i met there were very interesting and listening to their stories were an entertainment on its own?
Some considerations for divers :
◇ There are only a around dozen dive spots to choose from if you are staying in a homestay. Even me – who’s staying just a week – had to repeat some dive spot several times coz there are new guests almost every single day requesting to dive there and they were hoping to see manta on that spot.
◇ Diving was good, the reefs were super nice on 10-13 meters. If you are as crazy about reef as I am, ask to dive in Otdima Reef & Cape Kri, and stay shallow – the best view of coral reefs are located around 10 meters deep.
◇ unlike live aboard trip with its scheduled dive, here the diving is sooo chil. The 3rd dive is optional as they consider weather (rain may damage the visibility) & how many divers joining the dive.
◇ Sandi and Maria who run the dive trips are attentive & professional. They are very accomodative and look for divers underwater – I strayed once and Sandi came to the rescue.
All in all, a week in corepen really super charged my soul. Had my fill of vitamin sea here and will come back for sure.
in february we had 10 wonderful days at korepen. diving and snorkeling was great! pak alphons, insemina and their family cared so nicely and gave us even a feel for the traditional raja ampat biak lifestile. and for the diving and the guest management sandy and maria do a very good job. a great team on a beautiful place.
we too were surprised about the many bungalows (and guests!) – so it’s quite busy with all the coming and going. please don’t expand anymore!
in february we had 10 wonderful days at korepen. diving and snorkeling was great! pak alphons, insemina and their family cared so nicely and gave us even a feel for the traditional raja ampat biak lifestile. and for the diving and the guest management sandy and maria do a very good job. a great team on a beautiful place.
we too were surprised about the many bungalows (and guests!) – so it’s quite busy with all the coming and going. please don’t expand anymore!
Corepen was our first homestay in Raja Ampat, and although we were a bit overwhelmed by the amount of people and bungalows (we expected only two bungalows) and there now 7 or 8, it all turned out well and we enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and the nice company. We stayed for 5 nights. The bungalows were nice, we especially liked the older over-water bungalow we moved to for the last two days. The food was really varied and tasty, with for lunch and dinner always fish or chicken, and rice or noodles, and vegetables and sometimes egg or tofu or tempeh. For breakfast mostly something small and sweet, with the pancakes or pisang goreng as favorites. There was always enough cold and hot water (to make tea or coffee) and bananas throughout the day. The two toilets and one bathroom were clean and available all the time.
The housereef had lots of different corals, but when we were there the diversity of fish was less than we expected, though some people even spotted a dugong! For snorkeling we went to Friwen Wall, which we liked very much. We even had tea and coffee at Friwmunday Wall Homestay which was a pleasant surprise. This homestay looked very nice as well! We also went to Yenbuba jetty where there were a lot of (bigger) fish, a.o. Napoleon wrasse and humpback parrot fish. Since we would be going to Mandarin Homestay later on, we didn’t go to Manta Sandy, and some other places.
Although we liked Corepen very much (Thanks Insemina for all the great meals and Pak Alfons for the nice snorkeling trips and the transfer to Pulau Mansuar!) maybe it makes more sense to go there if you are a diver. So from our snorkeling perspective it is 4 starfishes.
Corepen was our first homestay in Raja Ampat, and although we were a bit overwhelmed by the amount of people and bungalows (we expected only two bungalows) and there now 7 or 8, it all turned out well and we enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and the nice company. We stayed for 5 nights. The bungalows were nice, we especially liked the older over-water bungalow we moved to for the last two days. The food was really varied and tasty, with for lunch and dinner always fish or chicken, and rice or noodles, and vegetables and sometimes egg or tofu or tempeh. For breakfast mostly something small and sweet, with the pancakes or pisang goreng as favorites. There was always enough cold and hot water (to make tea or coffee) and bananas throughout the day. The two toilets and one bathroom were clean and available all the time.
The housereef had lots of different corals, but when we were there the diversity of fish was less than we expected, though some people even spotted a dugong! For snorkeling we went to Friwen Wall, which we liked very much. We even had tea and coffee at Friwmunday Wall Homestay which was a pleasant surprise. This homestay looked very nice as well! We also went to Yenbuba jetty where there were a lot of (bigger) fish, a.o. Napoleon wrasse and humpback parrot fish. Since we would be going to Mandarin Homestay later on, we didn’t go to Manta Sandy, and some other places.
Although we liked Corepen very much (Thanks Insemina for all the great meals and Pak Alfons for the nice snorkeling trips and the transfer to Pulau Mansuar!) maybe it makes more sense to go there if you are a diver. So from our snorkeling perspective it is 4 starfishes.
Мы с женой посетили Corepen в марте в течении 6 ночей. Привлекало близкое расположение от порта в Waisai, где была встреча своевременной и внимательной и быстрой доставкой в хомстей. Предоставленный нам домик был в хорошем состояни, постельные принадлежности новые. В домике чисто, есть 2 гамака, в которых приятно проводить свободное время. Приятно слышать шум волн. Снорклинг рядом и не плохой, по сравнению с другими разрекламированными странами даже лучше. Но лучше заплывать во время прилива. Везде встречаются течения, но не страшно, всегда можно изменить направление плавания. Территория чистая. Душ и туалеты в норме. Приготовленая пища вкусная. Если хочется плотнее завтрак- привозите с собой печенье, сладости. Мы любители снорклинга, поездки по островам совершали ежедневно, кроме воскресенья – праздник. (но после обеда дайверы выезжали на острова). При поездках на снорклинг обязательно нужно договариваться о времени нахождения на острове и колличестве ваших заплывов, так как через 40-50 минут хочется отдохнуть и снова в воду. Но вам сразу предлагают ехать домой. И поездка на остров получается очень короткой. Для тех кто хочет уединения и тишины лучше выбирать хомстей, где меньше домиков. Сейчас в Corepene может собираться за столом до 14 человек и еще планируется строительство. Отдыхом мы довольны.
Мы с женой посетили Corepen в марте в течении 6 ночей. Привлекало близкое расположение от порта в Waisai, где была встреча своевременной и внимательной и быстрой доставкой в хомстей. Предоставленный нам домик был в хорошем состояни, постельные принадлежности новые. В домике чисто, есть 2 гамака, в которых приятно проводить свободное время. Приятно слышать шум волн. Снорклинг рядом и не плохой, по сравнению с другими разрекламированными странами даже лучше. Но лучше заплывать во время прилива. Везде встречаются течения, но не страшно, всегда можно изменить направление плавания. Территория чистая. Душ и туалеты в норме. Приготовленая пища вкусная. Если хочется плотнее завтрак- привозите с собой печенье, сладости. Мы любители снорклинга, поездки по островам совершали ежедневно, кроме воскресенья – праздник. (но после обеда дайверы выезжали на острова). При поездках на снорклинг обязательно нужно договариваться о времени нахождения на острове и колличестве ваших заплывов, так как через 40-50 минут хочется отдохнуть и снова в воду. Но вам сразу предлагают ехать домой. И поездка на остров получается очень короткой. Для тех кто хочет уединения и тишины лучше выбирать хомстей, где меньше домиков. Сейчас в Corepene может собираться за столом до 14 человек и еще планируется строительство. Отдыхом мы довольны.
My wife and I just spent 10 nights at Corepen and had a lovely time.
The bungalows are very comfortable with two hammocks in each and clean communal toilet. Food was very tasty and plentiful and always on time.
The snorkelling right off the beach is very good – look for the mobula rays in the afternoon…
We did a 10 dive package with Sandi and Maria who were great to dive with. Corepen is very close to all the good dive sites in the area.
All in all we had a fantastic time at Corepen – little bit of paradise!
Thanks!
My wife and I just spent 10 nights at Corepen and had a lovely time.
The bungalows are very comfortable with two hammocks in each and clean communal toilet. Food was very tasty and plentiful and always on time.
The snorkelling right off the beach is very good – look for the mobula rays in the afternoon…
We did a 10 dive package with Sandi and Maria who were great to dive with. Corepen is very close to all the good dive sites in the area.
All in all we had a fantastic time at Corepen – little bit of paradise!
Thanks!
My wife and I stayed at Corepen homestay for a week in the middle of January 2018.
Homestay itself has good combination of location, nature, comfortable accomodation, price and cozy atmosphere. Way from Waisai isn’t pricey and just 40 minutes. Coral reef near homestay is very interesting. We saw baby shark right under our bungalow twice. Parrots (cockatoo and parrots eclectus) come from jungle many times. The family and dive instructors do their best to make your holydays unforgettable. Everything is clear, meals are good and enough.
Highly recommended!
My wife and I stayed at Corepen homestay for a week in the middle of January 2018.
Homestay itself has good combination of location, nature, comfortable accomodation, price and cozy atmosphere. Way from Waisai isn’t pricey and just 40 minutes. Coral reef near homestay is very interesting. We saw baby shark right under our bungalow twice. Parrots (cockatoo and parrots eclectus) come from jungle many times. The family and dive instructors do their best to make your holydays unforgettable. Everything is clear, meals are good and enough.
Highly recommended!
I am staying in Corepen from the 28th of February to 7th of March. Is it necessary to arrange diving beforehands? Things like number of dives (5 days * 3 dives a day), equipment rental (I need most of the equipment) etc. If so, can somebody provide the telephone or e-mail (whichever is more reliable) of Sandi or Maria?
I sent an e-mail to corepenhomestay@gmail.com to confirm the booking and provide the details for the diving like 10 days ago but haven’t got any reply at all. I will try to call/text them as well.
Thanks a lot
Hello Manos, normally it was not necessary there to reserve diving in advance, unless everyone staying there goes diving at once, but room – definitely. They were often full. I have a number of Sandi, let me ask him if he minds that I publish it here. Please leave your email address or other contact for the case he doesn’t want his number to be published.
I just got a reply from them. All sorted. Thanks anyway
Hi Manos,
seems like we’ll be dive buddy since I’ll stay on Corepen from 26th Feb to 5th March 😀 look forward to meeting you in person next week!
Look forward to meeting you too!
I am staying in Corepen from the 28th of February to 7th of March. Is it necessary to arrange diving beforehands? Things like number of dives (5 days * 3 dives a day), equipment rental (I need most of the equipment) etc. If so, can somebody provide the telephone or e-mail (whichever is more reliable) of Sandi or Maria?
I sent an e-mail to corepenhomestay@gmail.com to confirm the booking and provide the details for the diving like 10 days ago but haven’t got any reply at all. I will try to call/text them as well.
Thanks a lot
Hello Manos, normally it was not necessary there to reserve diving in advance, unless everyone staying there goes diving at once, but room – definitely. They were often full. I have a number of Sandi, let me ask him if he minds that I publish it here. Please leave your email address or other contact for the case he doesn’t want his number to be published.
I just got a reply from them. All sorted. Thanks anyway
Hi Manos,
seems like we’ll be dive buddy since I’ll stay on Corepen from 26th Feb to 5th March 😀 look forward to meeting you in person next week!
Look forward to meeting you too!
We stayed at Corepen homestay in December – January 2018 for a total of 17 nights and dived almost every day at their divecenter with Sandi and Maria. We know Maria from our previous visits to Raja Ampat in 2013 and 2016, and as always before, diving this year was perfectly organised and conducted, and was very interesting. Maria and Sandi are excellent spotters for small creatures (pygmy seahorses, shrimps, etc.) and know very well all the dive sites in the Dampier strait, with all the difficulties and different approaches related to tidal currents, which can be very strong sometimes. Sandi is a divemaster with many years of guiding experience in Raja Ampat, he previously worked at one of the resorts. We always felt safe diving with Sandi and Maria.
Corepen homestay had a few bungalows with terraces on stilts directly on a beautiful sandy beach, and 2 newer bungalows at the back at the time we visited. There was a communal bathroom and 2 toilets at the back, with good quality sweet water always available. Cold beer was there most of the times. The food was quite diverse, not only fish (they made a perfect yellow fish soup, by the way) – 40-50% of the meals were chicken, often complemented with eggs in tasty red sauce. One could always take bananas in the dining room, and coconuts were often available as well. Breakfasts often consisted of a cake only, but we and other guests sometimes asked for more substantial meals – and fried rice, noodles or pancakes were prepared.
There is an interesting house reef with beautiful corals just a few meters from the beach, we have often seen reef sharks and turtles there. It is also interesting to swim further ahead to the right and around a few islets next to Kordiris homestay, but beware of strong tidal currents in the deep channel between those 3 islets close to Kordiris, and 2 other further towards Mike’s point. Go there around high or low tide to avoid currents, but I would not recommend to cross that channel at any time.
The location of Corepen is very beautiful, on a small meadow with coconut trees. One can walk on a path through another small coconut plantation, or directly on sandy beach to the neighboring Tau Yado and Yendebabo homestays, where phone reception was normally better. Directly at Corepen the data connection was often good enough, but strangely at the same time it was often impossible to make calls. If using a dual-sim phone, switch off the second sim, this can improve the connection. There are a few paths in the forest behind Corepen. Right at the homestay it was possible to see flying green or red parrots, and once early in the morning I’ve seen a sulphur-crested cockatoo (probably).
For room bookings and transfers from Waisai we communicated with Sandi, and both times the boat came on time to pick up us.
We stayed at Corepen homestay in December – January 2018 for a total of 17 nights and dived almost every day at their divecenter with Sandi and Maria. We know Maria from our previous visits to Raja Ampat in 2013 and 2016, and as always before, diving this year was perfectly organised and conducted, and was very interesting. Maria and Sandi are excellent spotters for small creatures (pygmy seahorses, shrimps, etc.) and know very well all the dive sites in the Dampier strait, with all the difficulties and different approaches related to tidal currents, which can be very strong sometimes. Sandi is a divemaster with many years of guiding experience in Raja Ampat, he previously worked at one of the resorts. We always felt safe diving with Sandi and Maria.
Corepen homestay had a few bungalows with terraces on stilts directly on a beautiful sandy beach, and 2 newer bungalows at the back at the time we visited. There was a communal bathroom and 2 toilets at the back, with good quality sweet water always available. Cold beer was there most of the times. The food was quite diverse, not only fish (they made a perfect yellow fish soup, by the way) – 40-50% of the meals were chicken, often complemented with eggs in tasty red sauce. One could always take bananas in the dining room, and coconuts were often available as well. Breakfasts often consisted of a cake only, but we and other guests sometimes asked for more substantial meals – and fried rice, noodles or pancakes were prepared.
There is an interesting house reef with beautiful corals just a few meters from the beach, we have often seen reef sharks and turtles there. It is also interesting to swim further ahead to the right and around a few islets next to Kordiris homestay, but beware of strong tidal currents in the deep channel between those 3 islets close to Kordiris, and 2 other further towards Mike’s point. Go there around high or low tide to avoid currents, but I would not recommend to cross that channel at any time.
The location of Corepen is very beautiful, on a small meadow with coconut trees. One can walk on a path through another small coconut plantation, or directly on sandy beach to the neighboring Tau Yado and Yendebabo homestays, where phone reception was normally better. Directly at Corepen the data connection was often good enough, but strangely at the same time it was often impossible to make calls. If using a dual-sim phone, switch off the second sim, this can improve the connection. There are a few paths in the forest behind Corepen. Right at the homestay it was possible to see flying green or red parrots, and once early in the morning I’ve seen a sulphur-crested cockatoo (probably).
For room bookings and transfers from Waisai we communicated with Sandi, and both times the boat came on time to pick up us.
We spent 6 lovely nights at Corepen in mid January 2018. Booking, communication, and pick up went smoothly (perhaps it helped that I speak Indonesian).
The huts and facilities are as described (by photo and also have been elaborated many times in different reviews). It was generally clean and well taken care of.
Alfons and crew were always very helpful and willing to cater to our requests for outings/excursions. Alfons was also quite straight-forward with rates of the excursions, which were in line with what was posted in this site (so we didn’t need to negotiate it, which was great for us). Once, we wanted to go with the whole group (7 people) to Kabui bay, which would not fit in his long boat. So he was kind enough to arrange a bigger boat from his friend, and charged us the same price as he would with his boat.
Lunches and dinners were great, really nothing to complain of! Typically, it was 1x fish and 1x chicken dish in a day (so one for lunch and one for dinner), everytime with rice, plenty of veggies, and a side dish. Bananas were also always available!
Breakfast was a bit on the lacking side, mostly cake of some sort. We brought some instant noodles and crackers with us, and we were happy to have them.
The housereef is also quite impressive (for me) already! We saw reef sharks and sea turtles on a number of occassions. Furthermore, Alfons (or Sandy or Maria) can always offer you places to go snorkling (or diving). We especially liked the Yenbuba Jetty.
Overall, very pleasant stay at Corepen! Thanks to Bapak + Ibu, and the rest of the crew! 🙂
We spent 6 lovely nights at Corepen in mid January 2018. Booking, communication, and pick up went smoothly (perhaps it helped that I speak Indonesian).
The huts and facilities are as described (by photo and also have been elaborated many times in different reviews). It was generally clean and well taken care of.
Alfons and crew were always very helpful and willing to cater to our requests for outings/excursions. Alfons was also quite straight-forward with rates of the excursions, which were in line with what was posted in this site (so we didn’t need to negotiate it, which was great for us). Once, we wanted to go with the whole group (7 people) to Kabui bay, which would not fit in his long boat. So he was kind enough to arrange a bigger boat from his friend, and charged us the same price as he would with his boat.
Lunches and dinners were great, really nothing to complain of! Typically, it was 1x fish and 1x chicken dish in a day (so one for lunch and one for dinner), everytime with rice, plenty of veggies, and a side dish. Bananas were also always available!
Breakfast was a bit on the lacking side, mostly cake of some sort. We brought some instant noodles and crackers with us, and we were happy to have them.
The housereef is also quite impressive (for me) already! We saw reef sharks and sea turtles on a number of occassions. Furthermore, Alfons (or Sandy or Maria) can always offer you places to go snorkling (or diving). We especially liked the Yenbuba Jetty.
Overall, very pleasant stay at Corepen! Thanks to Bapak + Ibu, and the rest of the crew! 🙂
I stayed there for some nights at 01/18 and enjoyed diving with sandi and maria so much. Thank you!! Sandi also took so good care for other questions when calling himfrom other homestays (booking,transport…) and Maria even get mea needed equipment part for diving. So great!!
I did not have so much from the food,because I am vegetarian,but they others told me it was good. We had bioluminiscence at night,sharks and turtles in the housereef and at least you can walk to the next two homestays at low tide,which is morepossibility of movement than in other places I got to know.
Themosquito net was fine but there were no mosquitos at that time.Also no sandflies. So, I can recommend that place.
I stayed there for some nights at 01/18 and enjoyed diving with sandi and maria so much. Thank you!! Sandi also took so good care for other questions when calling himfrom other homestays (booking,transport…) and Maria even get mea needed equipment part for diving. So great!!
I did not have so much from the food,because I am vegetarian,but they others told me it was good. We had bioluminiscence at night,sharks and turtles in the housereef and at least you can walk to the next two homestays at low tide,which is morepossibility of movement than in other places I got to know.
Themosquito net was fine but there were no mosquitos at that time.Also no sandflies. So, I can recommend that place.
We stayed a week at Corepen beginning of January. We dived and snorkelled with Sandy and Maria. It was great. Very good house reef, good food, everything clean and tidy. We particularly appreciated the big moskito net. In the beginning difficult to get in touch with the very nice and friendly family, they were busy serving everyone. Now they have 6 bungalows on the beach and 3 behind. Please, don’t build more!!! It’s the homestay atmosphere we like and the contact to the local people. The bigger homestays are not so different from more anonymous resorts just lacking the comfort.
We’ll be back as soon as possible.
We stayed a week at Corepen beginning of January. We dived and snorkelled with Sandy and Maria. It was great. Very good house reef, good food, everything clean and tidy. We particularly appreciated the big moskito net. In the beginning difficult to get in touch with the very nice and friendly family, they were busy serving everyone. Now they have 6 bungalows on the beach and 3 behind. Please, don’t build more!!! It’s the homestay atmosphere we like and the contact to the local people. The bigger homestays are not so different from more anonymous resorts just lacking the comfort.
We’ll be back as soon as possible.
We spent 8 days at corepen homestay and it was just fantastic. Sandy is a good dive guide and a very nice person 🙂 the diving is amazing. The bungalows are very basic, but thats what it is about. The place with the ocean right in front of the bungalows is paradise. The Food was delicious, only the breakfast could be improved a bit…
The communication was fast and easy and the boat pickup also worked very easy.
I only can recommend corepen. We had a very good time we will never forget!
Take care of this paradise
We spent 8 days at corepen homestay and it was just fantastic. Sandy is a good dive guide and a very nice person 🙂 the diving is amazing. The bungalows are very basic, but thats what it is about. The place with the ocean right in front of the bungalows is paradise. The Food was delicious, only the breakfast could be improved a bit…
The communication was fast and easy and the boat pickup also worked very easy.
I only can recommend corepen. We had a very good time we will never forget!
Take care of this paradise
Corepen was our first homestay in Raja Ampat and it was lovely. The food was fantastic (in fact, the fried chicken there was probably some of the best we’ve had ever!) and the setting was beauteiful, especially its dining room. The house reef is also very nice and we even saw dolphins and sting rays without even getting in the water. Although we only snorkeled, Corepen is great for divers as the homestay has in-house dive guides. Sandy and Maria (formerly of Kordiris homestay) keep their boat at Corepen and take divers out every morning. Snorkelers can join if the trip is good for snorkeling and there’s room on the boat, although we never did this. Note that Corepen now has around 6 bungalows (2 on land, 4 on the water) and their dining room has expanded significantly compared to the pictures on this page. We also stayed at Beser Bay (5/5), Yenmakrak (3/5), Mangkur Kodon (5/5), and Warimpurem (5/5) homestays if you want to check out our reviews for comparison.
hi I was just wondering which home stay you would recommend as the best house reef for snorkelling. Thanks
I really liked Yenkarom on Birie Island for off the beach snorkelling. And if you choose friwmunday wall homestay you can just jump in the water and snorkel the famous friwen wall or – 1 min away on the other side of the island” a nice snorkelling off the bach with sharks and bumpheads at the dropoff. Loved that place!
Corepen was our first homestay in Raja Ampat and it was lovely. The food was fantastic (in fact, the fried chicken there was probably some of the best we’ve had ever!) and the setting was beauteiful, especially its dining room. The house reef is also very nice and we even saw dolphins and sting rays without even getting in the water. Although we only snorkeled, Corepen is great for divers as the homestay has in-house dive guides. Sandy and Maria (formerly of Kordiris homestay) keep their boat at Corepen and take divers out every morning. Snorkelers can join if the trip is good for snorkeling and there’s room on the boat, although we never did this. Note that Corepen now has around 6 bungalows (2 on land, 4 on the water) and their dining room has expanded significantly compared to the pictures on this page. We also stayed at Beser Bay (5/5), Yenmakrak (3/5), Mangkur Kodon (5/5), and Warimpurem (5/5) homestays if you want to check out our reviews for comparison.
hi I was just wondering which home stay you would recommend as the best house reef for snorkelling. Thanks
I really liked Yenkarom on Birie Island for off the beach snorkelling. And if you choose friwmunday wall homestay you can just jump in the water and snorkel the famous friwen wall or – 1 min away on the other side of the island” a nice snorkelling off the bach with sharks and bumpheads at the dropoff. Loved that place!
Thank you so much to all the staff at Corepen! You truly did make our trip!
We only initially planned to stay for a few days but ended up spending our entire time in Raja Ampat at Corepen.
One tip when booking is be patient! It’s so easy to get frustrated when you are trying to book but once you are there you will understand why. No one is purposely ignoring you they just have very bad signal and try their best to answer as quick as they can.
A lot of people complain about the transport in Raja Ampat but Corepen were super reliable! The transport is a little bit expensive but it is the same for all the homestays (corepen is actually one of the cheapest) and when you are there you appreciate how far the fuel has to travel and so why the price is high.
Food was great. You will not go hungry! Each meal is served buffest style and there are a variety of options, lots of vegetables and fruit!
Rooms are basic and spacious. There are mosquito nets over the beds and I would advise you bring repellent as the sandflies can be bad on the beach but it’s fine inside the room! The power is run off a generator for 4 hours every evening which is enough to charge everything etc
We did the bird of paradise tour and that was great! Such beautiful birds! It’s only a half hour walk into the jungle from the homestay so you don’t need to miss any diving!
We were very lucky and had a cuscus feeding in the tree next to our room which was super cute!
The piaynemo trip was amazing! The two dives were really beautiful then you walk up to the view point to get that travel brochure picture.
The diving is just out of this world. Every single dive we seen something new that we had never seen before on top of hundreds of other creatures and we loved every single dive we did.
Thank you to Sandi for being so accommodating! We came with a list of dive sites we wanted to visit and he made it happen! We did most dive sites twice as they are so incredible and once wasn’t enough! Sandi and his guides were fantastic! We seen so many incredible little (and big) creatures thanks to them, took so many amazing pictures thanks to them! They were so patient and helpful and even fulfilled our wish list of creatures to see!
I cannot recommend Corepen enough!
Thank you so much to all the staff at Corepen! You truly did make our trip!
We only initially planned to stay for a few days but ended up spending our entire time in Raja Ampat at Corepen.
One tip when booking is be patient! It’s so easy to get frustrated when you are trying to book but once you are there you will understand why. No one is purposely ignoring you they just have very bad signal and try their best to answer as quick as they can.
A lot of people complain about the transport in Raja Ampat but Corepen were super reliable! The transport is a little bit expensive but it is the same for all the homestays (corepen is actually one of the cheapest) and when you are there you appreciate how far the fuel has to travel and so why the price is high.
Food was great. You will not go hungry! Each meal is served buffest style and there are a variety of options, lots of vegetables and fruit!
Rooms are basic and spacious. There are mosquito nets over the beds and I would advise you bring repellent as the sandflies can be bad on the beach but it’s fine inside the room! The power is run off a generator for 4 hours every evening which is enough to charge everything etc
We did the bird of paradise tour and that was great! Such beautiful birds! It’s only a half hour walk into the jungle from the homestay so you don’t need to miss any diving!
We were very lucky and had a cuscus feeding in the tree next to our room which was super cute!
The piaynemo trip was amazing! The two dives were really beautiful then you walk up to the view point to get that travel brochure picture.
The diving is just out of this world. Every single dive we seen something new that we had never seen before on top of hundreds of other creatures and we loved every single dive we did.
Thank you to Sandi for being so accommodating! We came with a list of dive sites we wanted to visit and he made it happen! We did most dive sites twice as they are so incredible and once wasn’t enough! Sandi and his guides were fantastic! We seen so many incredible little (and big) creatures thanks to them, took so many amazing pictures thanks to them! They were so patient and helpful and even fulfilled our wish list of creatures to see!
I cannot recommend Corepen enough!
Siamo stati molto contenti del soggiorno a Corepen. Se si accetta la sistemazionre spartana le persone sono disponibili. I pasti sani e sufficienti ie immersioni molto belle. A confronto con altri homestay vicini di gran lunga il migliore. DA consigliare
Siamo stati molto contenti del soggiorno a Corepen. Se si accetta la sistemazionre spartana le persone sono disponibili. I pasti sani e sufficienti ie immersioni molto belle. A confronto con altri homestay vicini di gran lunga il migliore. DA consigliare
I had a great stay at Corepen Homestay for 3 days in November. The location is great and it has a beautiful beach to relax on and you can snorkel out to the housereef. The family is friendly and helpful although don’t speak a lot of English. Thanks to Sandi we went diving everyday and it was very well organised. It’s suitable for solo travellers because you can meet other guests and share the boat trips (which makes it more affordable). Also they cook nice food with a lot of different dishes. It’s less busy here than on Kri Island which is nice. Also this dive operation works much better than some of the other ones on Kri. The pick up/drop off from Waisai also worked well.
I had a great stay at Corepen Homestay for 3 days in November. The location is great and it has a beautiful beach to relax on and you can snorkel out to the housereef. The family is friendly and helpful although don’t speak a lot of English. Thanks to Sandi we went diving everyday and it was very well organised. It’s suitable for solo travellers because you can meet other guests and share the boat trips (which makes it more affordable). Also they cook nice food with a lot of different dishes. It’s less busy here than on Kri Island which is nice. Also this dive operation works much better than some of the other ones on Kri. The pick up/drop off from Waisai also worked well.
Corepen Homestay was our first homestay in Raja Ampat and we stayed 3 nights. The homestay is very nicely located at a beautiful beach. The house reef is truly phenomenal. Simply walk in from the beach and you can admire the large variety of coral and fish species. We also made several snorkeling trips, to Friwen wall and Yenbuba jetty. Both were very beautiful, especially snorkeling at Yenbuba jetty is highly recommended. Crystal clear water. We saw sharks and turtles, and many different fish species. But be aware of the currents! Also we went for an early morning hike and we saw the magnificent red bird-of-paradise high up in the trees.
And Sandi: a special word of thanks goes out to you for organizing a fantastic birthday party! The extra drinks and food, and the performance of the Corepen house band is very much appreciated 🙂
At this moment the place is engaged in construction activities to expand the homestay with more houses. Hopefully the homestay feeling of the place will stay intact. In general all meals were delicious. The homestay family is very nice. Thank you very much for your hospitality. I highly recommend Corepen homestay for anyone who likes sea life and a relaxed atmosphere.
Corepen Homestay was our first homestay in Raja Ampat and we stayed 3 nights. The homestay is very nicely located at a beautiful beach. The house reef is truly phenomenal. Simply walk in from the beach and you can admire the large variety of coral and fish species. We also made several snorkeling trips, to Friwen wall and Yenbuba jetty. Both were very beautiful, especially snorkeling at Yenbuba jetty is highly recommended. Crystal clear water. We saw sharks and turtles, and many different fish species. But be aware of the currents! Also we went for an early morning hike and we saw the magnificent red bird-of-paradise high up in the trees.
And Sandi: a special word of thanks goes out to you for organizing a fantastic birthday party! The extra drinks and food, and the performance of the Corepen house band is very much appreciated 🙂
At this moment the place is engaged in construction activities to expand the homestay with more houses. Hopefully the homestay feeling of the place will stay intact. In general all meals were delicious. The homestay family is very nice. Thank you very much for your hospitality. I highly recommend Corepen homestay for anyone who likes sea life and a relaxed atmosphere.
siamo rimasti une settimana in questa homestay,ben tenuta pulita con spiaggia molto piacevole e buon snorkeling davanti..centro di plongée competente ma di dimensioni umane ,quindi solo vantaggi.Buona cucina.
Ciao Sandra,
ho visto che hai girato parecchio a Raja Ampat, per caso hai visitato anche il rajaampat ecolodge a Misool? Qual è l’homestay dove ti sei trovata meglio?
Grazie,
Maria
siamo rimasti une settimana in questa homestay,ben tenuta pulita con spiaggia molto piacevole e buon snorkeling davanti..centro di plongée competente ma di dimensioni umane ,quindi solo vantaggi.Buona cucina.
Ciao Sandra,
ho visto che hai girato parecchio a Raja Ampat, per caso hai visitato anche il rajaampat ecolodge a Misool? Qual è l’homestay dove ti sei trovata meglio?
Grazie,
Maria
Nothing but good words to this absolutely fantastic and friendly homestay. I felt like at home. It is located in a perfect quiet beach sorrounded by palmtrees. The coral reef is nice. The bungalows in front of the beach suitable. Not luxurious, but confortable enough. About the food, very good. Rice, fish, chicken cooked with so much love. The staff is very kind. One of the best chacateristic is that they have their own dive shop, which allowed you to do lots of the trips!
I hope I will come back soon. V there.
Sorry the mark it was wrong in the last moment I do not know why.
It is an absolutely 5/5
Nothing but good words to this absolutely fantastic and friendly homestay. I felt like at home. It is located in a perfect quiet beach sorrounded by palmtrees. The coral reef is nice. The bungalows in front of the beach suitable. Not luxurious, but confortable enough. About the food, very good. Rice, fish, chicken cooked with so much love. The staff is very kind. One of the best chacateristic is that they have their own dive shop, which allowed you to do lots of the trips!
I hope I will come back soon. V there.
Sorry the mark it was wrong in the last moment I do not know why.
It is an absolutely 5/5
Corepen Homestay is a hidden gem on earth. Wonderful & healthy reef, awesome jungle starting right in the backyard, and very lovely hosts. I stayed there for 8 nights during my 16 days in Raja, and had a great time. The dive was well organized, the equippment is okay, and Sandy and Enzo are the best Dive Guides I had there – passion for what they doing, friendly and always take care of the guests wishes. The hut was in a really good condition, plenty of yummi food, and fresh Coconuts (thank you for climbing the tree for us 🙂 ). The only downside (as general in raja) there is no recycling, and often visitors leave their trash there or through it in the ocean – please take your trash with you back to Sorong!
I can really recommend Corepen to everyone who takes care of Mother Nature, and want to have a wonderful experience of it. Thank you!
Corepen Homestay is a hidden gem on earth. Wonderful & healthy reef, awesome jungle starting right in the backyard, and very lovely hosts. I stayed there for 8 nights during my 16 days in Raja, and had a great time. The dive was well organized, the equippment is okay, and Sandy and Enzo are the best Dive Guides I had there – passion for what they doing, friendly and always take care of the guests wishes. The hut was in a really good condition, plenty of yummi food, and fresh Coconuts (thank you for climbing the tree for us 🙂 ). The only downside (as general in raja) there is no recycling, and often visitors leave their trash there or through it in the ocean – please take your trash with you back to Sorong!
I can really recommend Corepen to everyone who takes care of Mother Nature, and want to have a wonderful experience of it. Thank you!
I stayed in Corepen in September for 6 days and it was a wonderful experience. Even though I was not diving I joined the daily trips for the divers but in my case only for snorkeling and I saw many sharks, turtles, bumpheads, Barracudas, a huge Eagle Ray and many other fish. Enzo and Sandy were great all the time, very professional and easy-going. The only downside for me is that since that was a Homestay I was expecting to have more interaction with the family to get to know them better. Anyway this is not a problem of Corepen only, all the homestays work the same way and you’ll be always treated as a guest even if you want to get closer and become one more of the family. I’d recommend everyone to go to Corepen, the location is very good and to me Gam is the best island to stay.
I stayed in Corepen in September for 6 days and it was a wonderful experience. Even though I was not diving I joined the daily trips for the divers but in my case only for snorkeling and I saw many sharks, turtles, bumpheads, Barracudas, a huge Eagle Ray and many other fish. Enzo and Sandy were great all the time, very professional and easy-going. The only downside for me is that since that was a Homestay I was expecting to have more interaction with the family to get to know them better. Anyway this is not a problem of Corepen only, all the homestays work the same way and you’ll be always treated as a guest even if you want to get closer and become one more of the family. I’d recommend everyone to go to Corepen, the location is very good and to me Gam is the best island to stay.
Just back to Sorong after 13 days at Corepen Homestay. I went there for the diving and snorkeling and I am glad I did (sharks, turtles, mantas, big groupers and humphead parrot fish, etc and healthy corals – lots of them). Saw birds of paradise on a 30 min jungle trek just behind the Homestay and snorkeled a mangrove just a couple of coves away. The food was great too and the home owners nice and friendly. All was perfect with reservatios/pick up and drop off. I strongly recommend it for all ocean lovers. Meet a lot of them out there. Special mention to dive master Enzo and Sandy, thanks for having my back during decompression and for finding the way back through the storm. Hope to return one day.
hai
a have plan to vacation in corepen n maybe do some dive
can you give me enzo phone number please
thanks for your help
Just back to Sorong after 13 days at Corepen Homestay. I went there for the diving and snorkeling and I am glad I did (sharks, turtles, mantas, big groupers and humphead parrot fish, etc and healthy corals – lots of them). Saw birds of paradise on a 30 min jungle trek just behind the Homestay and snorkeled a mangrove just a couple of coves away. The food was great too and the home owners nice and friendly. All was perfect with reservatios/pick up and drop off. I strongly recommend it for all ocean lovers. Meet a lot of them out there. Special mention to dive master Enzo and Sandy, thanks for having my back during decompression and for finding the way back through the storm. Hope to return one day.
hai
a have plan to vacation in corepen n maybe do some dive
can you give me enzo phone number please
thanks for your help
we spent 24 days in Corepen and every day was great! The family was very attentive to our need, food was plentiful and good, there was always banana for free snack. The home stay is well-kept and clean, it´s a shame that the many dogs there sometimes ruin the effort put into keeping the place pleasant. Thanks to Mama, Papa , Insemina and all the staff.
The diving with Enzo, Sandy, Aten and Ebet was best organized and outstanding, at least one diver´s dream has been more than rewarded thanks to Enzo and Sandy! We hope that all of you did make a swift recovery after the “crazy diver” left!
Come to Corepen and dive with Enzo and Sandy, you won´t regret anything!
we spent 24 days in Corepen and every day was great! The family was very attentive to our need, food was plentiful and good, there was always banana for free snack. The home stay is well-kept and clean, it´s a shame that the many dogs there sometimes ruin the effort put into keeping the place pleasant. Thanks to Mama, Papa , Insemina and all the staff.
The diving with Enzo, Sandy, Aten and Ebet was best organized and outstanding, at least one diver´s dream has been more than rewarded thanks to Enzo and Sandy! We hope that all of you did make a swift recovery after the “crazy diver” left!
Come to Corepen and dive with Enzo and Sandy, you won´t regret anything!
We had a wonderful week at Corepen Homestay, it truly is paradise!!
We travelled to Raja Ampat for the diving and were delighted to find a very enthusiastic diving community at Corepen between the other guests and the dive guides. We went diving three times a day with Sandi and Enzo, who have many years of experience guiding divers in Raja Ampat.
The homestay itself was very comfortable and the meals were delicious, with options available for vegetarians. There are a few more bungalows then stated on the website but there is still a small, cozy, family feel to the place.
We would definitely recommend this homestay for anyone interested in diving!! You won’t be disappointed!
We had a wonderful week at Corepen Homestay, it truly is paradise!!
We travelled to Raja Ampat for the diving and were delighted to find a very enthusiastic diving community at Corepen between the other guests and the dive guides. We went diving three times a day with Sandi and Enzo, who have many years of experience guiding divers in Raja Ampat.
The homestay itself was very comfortable and the meals were delicious, with options available for vegetarians. There are a few more bungalows then stated on the website but there is still a small, cozy, family feel to the place.
We would definitely recommend this homestay for anyone interested in diving!! You won’t be disappointed!
we spent 4 nights in Corepen
Great stay, decent bungalow, homestay very clean, very good food and varied, homestay well located with a beautiful beach and a snorkeling at the correct gate
I will recommend this homestay
we spent 4 nights in Corepen
Great stay, decent bungalow, homestay very clean, very good food and varied, homestay well located with a beautiful beach and a snorkeling at the correct gate
I will recommend this homestay
Corepen is a great place to spend few relaxing days. It is not exactly as you can see in the photos, it’s better!! Three bongalows over the sea plus 1 more in the beach. Comunal areas are improved as well. Two toilets, one wester and other local, are divided by the shower box. Always clean and with paper. The grades is also clean and carefully maintained. Specially the food is remarkable: always enough. It is not luxury but more than enough to spend days in the paradise. Let me recommend you to dive in the dive center located in the same homestay. Enzo is really helpful, he is a lovely Italian diver master who knows perfectly the are. We spend with him the better Dives we ever made.
Thanks to Enzo and the family we spent there four unforgettable days.
Corepen is a great place to spend few relaxing days. It is not exactly as you can see in the photos, it’s better!! Three bongalows over the sea plus 1 more in the beach. Comunal areas are improved as well. Two toilets, one wester and other local, are divided by the shower box. Always clean and with paper. The grades is also clean and carefully maintained. Specially the food is remarkable: always enough. It is not luxury but more than enough to spend days in the paradise. Let me recommend you to dive in the dive center located in the same homestay. Enzo is really helpful, he is a lovely Italian diver master who knows perfectly the are. We spend with him the better Dives we ever made.
Thanks to Enzo and the family we spent there four unforgettable days.
We loved staying here. The accommodation is clean and lovely. Bathrooms are really nice.
Communal area is great as it is right in the middle on the beach so lots of people around all the time to chat to.
Food is excellent, lots of it and pretty varied-very tasty. The home stay owners are friendly but quiet.
The best part was the diving-we were a little worried before coming as Chris was leaning to dive the week before we arrived here but Sandy the dive master is amazing. He made us feel totally safe and always checked current/ conditions to make sure it was suitable for us. He kept such a good eye on Chris in the water and knows the dive sites so well. The equipment was in good condition. We had amazing dives here-saw so much. Definitely recommend this place and Sandy. We had so much fun diving here.
We loved staying here. The accommodation is clean and lovely. Bathrooms are really nice.
Communal area is great as it is right in the middle on the beach so lots of people around all the time to chat to.
Food is excellent, lots of it and pretty varied-very tasty. The home stay owners are friendly but quiet.
The best part was the diving-we were a little worried before coming as Chris was leaning to dive the week before we arrived here but Sandy the dive master is amazing. He made us feel totally safe and always checked current/ conditions to make sure it was suitable for us. He kept such a good eye on Chris in the water and knows the dive sites so well. The equipment was in good condition. We had amazing dives here-saw so much. Definitely recommend this place and Sandy. We had so much fun diving here.
Corepen Homestay is fantastic! We had to cancel our reservation last minute due to flight change and came the next day directly to Waisai, but Corepen managed to accommodate us well. The room, the shared bathroom and the overall homestay is super clean and well-maintaned. The owners are very friendly and made their best efforts to ensure we have a good stay and adequate facility (tea/ coffee, water, etc). Love the stay, love the island hoping experience, would surely stay here if I visit to Raja Ampat again
Corepen Homestay is fantastic! We had to cancel our reservation last minute due to flight change and came the next day directly to Waisai, but Corepen managed to accommodate us well. The room, the shared bathroom and the overall homestay is super clean and well-maintaned. The owners are very friendly and made their best efforts to ensure we have a good stay and adequate facility (tea/ coffee, water, etc). Love the stay, love the island hoping experience, would surely stay here if I visit to Raja Ampat again
Great homestay great food family beach and coral. Excellent sunrise views. The dive centre w Enzo n Sandi is a big plus and both are great guys. I highly recommend this home stay and dive centre. Injo Nabor Everyone!
Great homestay great food family beach and coral. Excellent sunrise views. The dive centre w Enzo n Sandi is a big plus and both are great guys. I highly recommend this home stay and dive centre. Injo Nabor Everyone!
We stayed four nights at Corepen Homestay this September.
The Time there was just perfect. They offer really nice spacious bungalows and the food they prepare is super delicious:)
All in all the homestay is really clean and offers nice bathroom facilities (the best we´ve seen in Raja so far).
The owner family is really friendly and always smiling. You just feel positive at Corepen
We also went diving with the local dive center. Sandy our dive guide did a great job and showed us many of the area´s signature dive sites. He really tries to fulfill all the wishes of his guests. Besides that he helped us to organize transport etc.
Preparation, equipment and the boat are really nice.
I highly recommend Corepen Homestay!
Hi Robin and Martina
Would you recommend for a solo traveller? I am planning to come to RA for about a week very soon but I am not sure whether this would be ok for me on my own? Thanks!
Hey,
It was really nice and I think it’s cool for solo travellers.
We met many in Raja Ampat and in the most homestays it’s easy to find company 🙂
The only thing you have to be aware of, are the high costs for boat transfers and day trips. It’s way cheaper if you share it with other people.
You will love Raja Ampat!
All the best 🙂
We stayed four nights at Corepen Homestay this September.
The Time there was just perfect. They offer really nice spacious bungalows and the food they prepare is super delicious:)
All in all the homestay is really clean and offers nice bathroom facilities (the best we´ve seen in Raja so far).
The owner family is really friendly and always smiling. You just feel positive at Corepen
We also went diving with the local dive center. Sandy our dive guide did a great job and showed us many of the area´s signature dive sites. He really tries to fulfill all the wishes of his guests. Besides that he helped us to organize transport etc.
Preparation, equipment and the boat are really nice.
I highly recommend Corepen Homestay!
Hi Robin and Martina
Would you recommend for a solo traveller? I am planning to come to RA for about a week very soon but I am not sure whether this would be ok for me on my own? Thanks!
Hey,
It was really nice and I think it’s cool for solo travellers.
We met many in Raja Ampat and in the most homestays it’s easy to find company 🙂
The only thing you have to be aware of, are the high costs for boat transfers and day trips. It’s way cheaper if you share it with other people.
You will love Raja Ampat!
All the best 🙂
The location it’s simply amazing. The bungalow are basic, but what do you need more than a bed and an hammock to relax in this paradise? Food was really excellent. I stayed here for diving, that it was really impressive for the marine life that you can find here, in the house reef too. The diving center is really good, all the dive equipment is new, and the dive guides are simply the best. Thanks to Sandi and especially to my compatriot Enzo.
The location it’s simply amazing. The bungalow are basic, but what do you need more than a bed and an hammock to relax in this paradise? Food was really excellent. I stayed here for diving, that it was really impressive for the marine life that you can find here, in the house reef too. The diving center is really good, all the dive equipment is new, and the dive guides are simply the best. Thanks to Sandi and especially to my compatriot Enzo.
We stayed 3 days in August, this was by far the best of the 3 home stays we stayed in in Raja Ampat. Very friendly family, good food and Sandy organised our trips well. However, there were also negatives: we only snorkeled (which was good) but also came here because of the nearby birds of paradise spots. This was disappointing as on 3 different walks we saw nothing. And the people in the home stay knew the birds had disappeared as they personally cut down the trees where the birds used to display to use the wood to build more huts for tourists! This is rather unfortunate to say the least.
In summary, a great place to stay, good snorkeling but don’t come for the Red Bird of Paradise.
Thanks for taking the time to post a comment Tom. Thanks too for the headsup about the cendrawasih display tree. That’s shocking. It’s also completely at odds with the Homestay Association standards. We’ll be passing that info on and if it’s true hopefully an example will be made. 🙁
We stayed 3 days in August, this was by far the best of the 3 home stays we stayed in in Raja Ampat. Very friendly family, good food and Sandy organised our trips well. However, there were also negatives: we only snorkeled (which was good) but also came here because of the nearby birds of paradise spots. This was disappointing as on 3 different walks we saw nothing. And the people in the home stay knew the birds had disappeared as they personally cut down the trees where the birds used to display to use the wood to build more huts for tourists! This is rather unfortunate to say the least.
In summary, a great place to stay, good snorkeling but don’t come for the Red Bird of Paradise.
Thanks for taking the time to post a comment Tom. Thanks too for the headsup about the cendrawasih display tree. That’s shocking. It’s also completely at odds with the Homestay Association standards. We’ll be passing that info on and if it’s true hopefully an example will be made. 🙁
We were very happy to have stayed for 6 nights at Corepen. Good food, paradise location and really nice family. Highlights were a visit to Friwen village where a local party was held with traditional music and dancing. the real experience!
Diving: we were very lucky to be able to do 10 dives here. You can visit the same dive spots as from Kri and the equipment/boat/service is fantastic! Sandy was our guide and we were had such good and well planned dives. Even lucky enough to have Sandy who spotted a ghost pipe fish and the lembeh pygmy sea dragon (house reef!!). Fantastic.
We were very happy to have stayed for 6 nights at Corepen. Good food, paradise location and really nice family. Highlights were a visit to Friwen village where a local party was held with traditional music and dancing. the real experience!
Diving: we were very lucky to be able to do 10 dives here. You can visit the same dive spots as from Kri and the equipment/boat/service is fantastic! Sandy was our guide and we were had such good and well planned dives. Even lucky enough to have Sandy who spotted a ghost pipe fish and the lembeh pygmy sea dragon (house reef!!). Fantastic.
I spent about 1 week in Corepen beginning of July this year.
The resort is as described : simple & authentic. The family staying there is really friendly and welcoming. The food is good and filling.
I also dived with Maria. She is from Manado and has an agreement with the owner to stay there with her staff and her equipment. I made excellent dives with her and her guide Mano. The equipment is in good condition. On top of this, they are very concilient when it comes to spending the time during surface interval : a stroll on Kri, chilling on an island, on Pasir Timbul …
We got caught a couple of times in strong current by surprise but they acted quickly and efficiently by securing the less experienced divers with hooks. Nonetheless be careful about your depth if you don’t have a computer. They won’t remind you constantly to keep the same profile as the guide. So you have to be a little bit independent but I don’t have any problem with this. Anyone is responsible for its basic safety.
Overall highly recommended, especially given the price gap with dive resorts.
I spent about 1 week in Corepen beginning of July this year.
The resort is as described : simple & authentic. The family staying there is really friendly and welcoming. The food is good and filling.
I also dived with Maria. She is from Manado and has an agreement with the owner to stay there with her staff and her equipment. I made excellent dives with her and her guide Mano. The equipment is in good condition. On top of this, they are very concilient when it comes to spending the time during surface interval : a stroll on Kri, chilling on an island, on Pasir Timbul …
We got caught a couple of times in strong current by surprise but they acted quickly and efficiently by securing the less experienced divers with hooks. Nonetheless be careful about your depth if you don’t have a computer. They won’t remind you constantly to keep the same profile as the guide. So you have to be a little bit independent but I don’t have any problem with this. Anyone is responsible for its basic safety.
Overall highly recommended, especially given the price gap with dive resorts.
Our 3-night stay at the Corepen Homestay was incredible and perhaps the most memorable of our 2 months in Asia. The diving with Sandy and Maria was what set it apart. Both are so friendly and knowledgeable about the reef systems and diving instructions- we felt safe even as beginners! Chicken Reef, Sardine Reef, Blue Magic, Friwen Wall were all incredible dive/snorkel spots. The meals were simple, but filling. Falling asleep and waking to sounds of waves coming hitting the shore took some getting used to, but was so peaceful and serene. Insemina was super helpful and her host family was quiet but always had smiles on their faces.
Note to other travelers: we had a lot of trouble with ATMs in Sorong, Waisai, and even Makassar. Luckily some other travelers spotted us some cash. Many ATMs and banks had daily withdrawal limits. I would recommend getting PLENTY of cash either exchanged at a larger airport like Bali before getting to these remote areas. The cost of diving definitely adds up–once you go you won’t want to stop! Just keep that in mind since the homestay family only accepts cash and you don’t wan’t to leave them shortchanged 🙂
Thank you for the memories!! Enjoy this peaceful paradise.
Our 3-night stay at the Corepen Homestay was incredible and perhaps the most memorable of our 2 months in Asia. The diving with Sandy and Maria was what set it apart. Both are so friendly and knowledgeable about the reef systems and diving instructions- we felt safe even as beginners! Chicken Reef, Sardine Reef, Blue Magic, Friwen Wall were all incredible dive/snorkel spots. The meals were simple, but filling. Falling asleep and waking to sounds of waves coming hitting the shore took some getting used to, but was so peaceful and serene. Insemina was super helpful and her host family was quiet but always had smiles on their faces.
Note to other travelers: we had a lot of trouble with ATMs in Sorong, Waisai, and even Makassar. Luckily some other travelers spotted us some cash. Many ATMs and banks had daily withdrawal limits. I would recommend getting PLENTY of cash either exchanged at a larger airport like Bali before getting to these remote areas. The cost of diving definitely adds up–once you go you won’t want to stop! Just keep that in mind since the homestay family only accepts cash and you don’t wan’t to leave them shortchanged 🙂
Thank you for the memories!! Enjoy this peaceful paradise.
Very nice place in the jungle with a beautyful reef in front of the cottage.
Delicious food.
Thanks for Mama, Papa and Incemine for your hospitality.
Recommendable diving center lead by Mary. Thank you Mary for interesting diving trips. Irena and Piotr
Very nice place in the jungle with a beautyful reef in front of the cottage.
Delicious food.
Thanks for Mama, Papa and Incemine for your hospitality.
Recommendable diving center lead by Mary. Thank you Mary for interesting diving trips. Irena and Piotr
hello
Hello
We really liked the photos. Can you tell me how much I will spend from Sorong to your guest house in boat. thank you
Hi rui
As above, it costs IDR 500,000 to get to Corepen from Waisai. See this page for how to get to Waisai.
hello
Hello
We really liked the photos. Can you tell me how much I will spend from Sorong to your guest house in boat. thank you
Hi rui
As above, it costs IDR 500,000 to get to Corepen from Waisai. See this page for how to get to Waisai.
Homestay is clean and good. People here is good guy. But for meal, I think there is not enough food for all when there are many tourists. I faced this situation when there is another group with four persons come to homestay. Meal is served as buffet. I think, homestay should separate meal for each group.
Homestay is clean and good. People here is good guy. But for meal, I think there is not enough food for all when there are many tourists. I faced this situation when there is another group with four persons come to homestay. Meal is served as buffet. I think, homestay should separate meal for each group.
Lovely basic homestay with good food. Great diving near by and Sandy and Maria are excellent dive guides!
Lovely basic homestay with good food. Great diving near by and Sandy and Maria are excellent dive guides!
Nice homestay and amazing people. It’s our second visit to Raja Ampat. This time we stayed at a beach front bungalow between 8-14 April 2017 and enjoyed every minute of it. Highly recommended. Insemina and her family looked after us very well, food were great and our kids enjoyed playing with her and Daud. We noticed the water was very clean and fresh not the typical brackish water by the beach. There were only one bathroom but when we were there they were building new ones closer to the bungalows. They also have a dive centre, Maria and Sandy, the dive guides, were very helpful and looked after my wife very well when she dove with them. Thank you, Insem and all, we look forward to returning to your place again soon.
Nice homestay and amazing people. It’s our second visit to Raja Ampat. This time we stayed at a beach front bungalow between 8-14 April 2017 and enjoyed every minute of it. Highly recommended. Insemina and her family looked after us very well, food were great and our kids enjoyed playing with her and Daud. We noticed the water was very clean and fresh not the typical brackish water by the beach. There were only one bathroom but when we were there they were building new ones closer to the bungalows. They also have a dive centre, Maria and Sandy, the dive guides, were very helpful and looked after my wife very well when she dove with them. Thank you, Insem and all, we look forward to returning to your place again soon.
Fantastic homestay. Good food and good value. Nice room right on beach. 5 great snorkeling trips all well organised and safe.
Our 4th guesthouse in Raja Ampat and probably the best.
Many thanks.
Fantastic homestay. Good food and good value. Nice room right on beach. 5 great snorkeling trips all well organised and safe.
Our 4th guesthouse in Raja Ampat and probably the best.
Many thanks.
Loved this place! It´s simple but clean. Food is amazing (varied, abudant, lots of vegetables and fruits, everything with very good taste without been hot). Dive and snorkelling trips are well organised and equipments are very well kept. Rooms are comfortable and, because they´re a small homestay located at a beautiful place, really feels like paradise. I travelled alone but found other people to share the boat trips. Fresh coconut water, cuscus on the trees and colorful birds fying around were a plus. Terima kasih Mama, Papa, familiy, Maria and Sandy
Loved this place! It´s simple but clean. Food is amazing (varied, abudant, lots of vegetables and fruits, everything with very good taste without been hot). Dive and snorkelling trips are well organised and equipments are very well kept. Rooms are comfortable and, because they´re a small homestay located at a beautiful place, really feels like paradise. I travelled alone but found other people to share the boat trips. Fresh coconut water, cuscus on the trees and colorful birds fying around were a plus. Terima kasih Mama, Papa, familiy, Maria and Sandy
This is an amazing place not only because of the location but because of Maria and Sandi who run the diving.
They are extremely professional and excellent dive guides and really helped me feel comfortable.
The family who lives there is lovely and overall I felt that they couldn’t do enough to make your stay comfortable.
I will definitely return to this special place.
Thank you for a magical few days!
Lisa
This is an amazing place not only because of the location but because of Maria and Sandi who run the diving.
They are extremely professional and excellent dive guides and really helped me feel comfortable.
The family who lives there is lovely and overall I felt that they couldn’t do enough to make your stay comfortable.
I will definitely return to this special place.
Thank you for a magical few days!
Lisa
Corepen Homestay was the second of the four places we stayed on our trip. It was definitely one of our favourites with a great overall experience.
First off the communication for pickup was easy and arrived to a hut on the beach. Food was good and the people very kind albeit quite shy.
The snorkelling was very good on their house reef with lots of fish and good healthy corals. The beach is equally good with hermit crabs scattering along the sand.
We dived here with Maria and Sunni (might be wrong name, sorry!) and compared to the other places we dived it was very good. The equipment was new and in enough different sizes. The great thing about this dive centre is not too many people dive as there are only 3 huts for people to stay in, although there are other home stays nearby. Both dive masters were professional and controlled the dive nicely. The only thing I would say is it would be good if we had slightly more information regarding the dive site and what we can expect to see and what is there, but overall we wished we had done all our diving here!
The other point I would mention is you cannot see the Red birds of paradise here anymore apparently. This, I heard is because they are cutting down trees (there was a lot of chainsawing going on) in the forest to build more huts and as a result the birds have moved away. I think this is a real shame as if we hadn’t seen them already on waigeo we would have been disappointed. Like all the home stays one of the BIGGEST selling points is they are small and don’t have many guests which is what many people look for when they come to Raja.
Overall though we would definitely come back here and do all our diving here. Thank you!
Corepen Homestay was the second of the four places we stayed on our trip. It was definitely one of our favourites with a great overall experience.
First off the communication for pickup was easy and arrived to a hut on the beach. Food was good and the people very kind albeit quite shy.
The snorkelling was very good on their house reef with lots of fish and good healthy corals. The beach is equally good with hermit crabs scattering along the sand.
We dived here with Maria and Sunni (might be wrong name, sorry!) and compared to the other places we dived it was very good. The equipment was new and in enough different sizes. The great thing about this dive centre is not too many people dive as there are only 3 huts for people to stay in, although there are other home stays nearby. Both dive masters were professional and controlled the dive nicely. The only thing I would say is it would be good if we had slightly more information regarding the dive site and what we can expect to see and what is there, but overall we wished we had done all our diving here!
The other point I would mention is you cannot see the Red birds of paradise here anymore apparently. This, I heard is because they are cutting down trees (there was a lot of chainsawing going on) in the forest to build more huts and as a result the birds have moved away. I think this is a real shame as if we hadn’t seen them already on waigeo we would have been disappointed. Like all the home stays one of the BIGGEST selling points is they are small and don’t have many guests which is what many people look for when they come to Raja.
Overall though we would definitely come back here and do all our diving here. Thank you!
It is better to learn first to fight underwater before you go to Raja Ampat because they have no dive rules.
I was unlucky that I have the wrong company in Corepen homestay .
I had to dive with a Canadian who have his first Gopro and he have the mentality me, me, me, me, me and my Gopro and the rest have to go out of my way and when we go to blue magic there where already around 20 divers making a half circle for to see 3 Manta’s and there he came over me push me on the coral and stamped me 10 times with his fins on my head so that I need my both hands to safe my dive mask but he look not back what he was doing and the only thing he look for was I must have the Manta full in my Gopro screen and the rest is not so important. The dive guide Sandi was behind me and have seen what happen but he find that behaviour ok.
Dive guide Sandi look only for the person who spend the most money and look not good for all divers in his group.
Corepen homestay can be good if they change the dive guide Sandi for someone who look for all the divers in his group.
For the Paradise bird was it not the good time because you here the hole day the chainsaw for to make more rooms. So they take the high trees out of the forest where the Paradise birds lived
It is better to learn first to fight underwater before you go to Raja Ampat because they have no dive rules.
I was unlucky that I have the wrong company in Corepen homestay .
I had to dive with a Canadian who have his first Gopro and he have the mentality me, me, me, me, me and my Gopro and the rest have to go out of my way and when we go to blue magic there where already around 20 divers making a half circle for to see 3 Manta’s and there he came over me push me on the coral and stamped me 10 times with his fins on my head so that I need my both hands to safe my dive mask but he look not back what he was doing and the only thing he look for was I must have the Manta full in my Gopro screen and the rest is not so important. The dive guide Sandi was behind me and have seen what happen but he find that behaviour ok.
Dive guide Sandi look only for the person who spend the most money and look not good for all divers in his group.
Corepen homestay can be good if they change the dive guide Sandi for someone who look for all the divers in his group.
For the Paradise bird was it not the good time because you here the hole day the chainsaw for to make more rooms. So they take the high trees out of the forest where the Paradise birds lived
It was a great, lovely, unforgettable and irreplaceable experience for a first timer like me who just came to Raja Ampat. A big THANKYOU to buk Maria, who coordinated every single things for us. You just couldn’t ask more from them. The place is so cozy, clean, imperfectly perfect(its a homestay not a resort, must bare that in mind) but its perfect to me. The fooood… Just imagine, they served us with lunch meal before we left/after checked out. That was beyond expectation. Thankyou so much to Yamsen n families who always make us fullll everytime! Some more, they even invited n took us w their own boats to their village (Friwen village) to share their festival called Festival Injil. Despite the weather, their intention is just lovely pure to me. For sightseeing n diving parts, I must say that I salute to mas Sandi, Mannu, buk Maria, Pius and team members. You guys genuinely knows of what you’re doin. Not enough on land, y’all take a good care of us underwater. N y’all showed us from a tiny miny adorable marine animals to a majestic gigantic Manta!(me first time met Manta hehe)
The people, the surrounding, the vibes, the service were all beyond expectations.
Wishing all the best for Corepen Homestay. Keep it goin guys!!! ????? Ada jodoh, ketemu lagi kita ya.
-Gai, si penghilang pointer?-
It was a great, lovely, unforgettable and irreplaceable experience for a first timer like me who just came to Raja Ampat. A big THANKYOU to buk Maria, who coordinated every single things for us. You just couldn’t ask more from them. The place is so cozy, clean, imperfectly perfect(its a homestay not a resort, must bare that in mind) but its perfect to me. The fooood… Just imagine, they served us with lunch meal before we left/after checked out. That was beyond expectation. Thankyou so much to Yamsen n families who always make us fullll everytime! Some more, they even invited n took us w their own boats to their village (Friwen village) to share their festival called Festival Injil. Despite the weather, their intention is just lovely pure to me. For sightseeing n diving parts, I must say that I salute to mas Sandi, Mannu, buk Maria, Pius and team members. You guys genuinely knows of what you’re doin. Not enough on land, y’all take a good care of us underwater. N y’all showed us from a tiny miny adorable marine animals to a majestic gigantic Manta!(me first time met Manta hehe)
The people, the surrounding, the vibes, the service were all beyond expectations.
Wishing all the best for Corepen Homestay. Keep it goin guys!!! ????? Ada jodoh, ketemu lagi kita ya.
-Gai, si penghilang pointer?-
We had the most amazing diving vacation with Maria and Sandy from Corepen homestay. We did 21 dives with them. They know the dive sites, currents and take you to the best places. They have very good equipment and they did everything to make sure we had amazing dives.
Even when it was just the 2 of us wanting to dive they took us always on the boat, we did up to 4 dives a day.
We got to dive with mantas, Sandy knew where and when to find them. They asked what we liked more and took us to the most beautiful coral gardens. It was an amazing experience and we would recommend anyone to go dive with them. They are professional and passionate divers.
We stayed in the neighbour homestay Tau Yado and it was a great experience. It was clean, the food was extremely good, the beach is amazing. It has a really cool swing and the family is really nice. We had an amazing time and cant wait to go back!
We had the most amazing diving vacation with Maria and Sandy from Corepen homestay. We did 21 dives with them. They know the dive sites, currents and take you to the best places. They have very good equipment and they did everything to make sure we had amazing dives.
Even when it was just the 2 of us wanting to dive they took us always on the boat, we did up to 4 dives a day.
We got to dive with mantas, Sandy knew where and when to find them. They asked what we liked more and took us to the most beautiful coral gardens. It was an amazing experience and we would recommend anyone to go dive with them. They are professional and passionate divers.
We stayed in the neighbour homestay Tau Yado and it was a great experience. It was clean, the food was extremely good, the beach is amazing. It has a really cool swing and the family is really nice. We had an amazing time and cant wait to go back!
I stayed in Corepen from 25-30 January 2017 in one of the 2 huts that are over water with high tide. Fabulous. The room has 2 mattress on the floor with sheets and pillows plus mosquito nets. There are 2 chairs on the terrace facing the sea/over the sea at high tide. The shared “mandi” – Indonesian scoop shower – and toilet worked very well. Food was good and tasty and water/coffee/tea available throughout the day/evening. There is a dive shop managed by Maria and Sandi and their prices are very reasonable. Boat trips with one of the boats from Corepen are very reasonably priced. We did several shorter trips to snorkel and visit villages. Friwen Wall is a must and Friwen village is lovely. We even got a free ride on the Sunday when we went with the family who were going to church on Friwen Island. Pak Alfons and his wife plus daughter Insemina are very helpful. We also sailed the inland lakes of Gam Island in the late afternoon with Alfons. Great stay. I can recommend this place anytime. Very special and secluded. A 3rd hut was being constructed while we were there, so it should be ready by now.
I stayed in Corepen from 25-30 January 2017 in one of the 2 huts that are over water with high tide. Fabulous. The room has 2 mattress on the floor with sheets and pillows plus mosquito nets. There are 2 chairs on the terrace facing the sea/over the sea at high tide. The shared “mandi” – Indonesian scoop shower – and toilet worked very well. Food was good and tasty and water/coffee/tea available throughout the day/evening. There is a dive shop managed by Maria and Sandi and their prices are very reasonable. Boat trips with one of the boats from Corepen are very reasonably priced. We did several shorter trips to snorkel and visit villages. Friwen Wall is a must and Friwen village is lovely. We even got a free ride on the Sunday when we went with the family who were going to church on Friwen Island. Pak Alfons and his wife plus daughter Insemina are very helpful. We also sailed the inland lakes of Gam Island in the late afternoon with Alfons. Great stay. I can recommend this place anytime. Very special and secluded. A 3rd hut was being constructed while we were there, so it should be ready by now.
We stayed 6 nights (beginning februari). We enjoyed our stay every minute! Easy pick up with a longtailboat from the port of Wasai to this amazing paradise place. There are 2 (at the moment maybe 3) over water bungalow. The family is very nice and take really good care of you. They speak indonesian, bit still you can tell them with a little Indonesian words and hands what you mean. The food is very good, we enjoyed every meal (fish, chicken, tempe, tofu) with nasi putih or mie goreng. Keep in mind that everything is fresh from the market every day and there is no fridge. Tea, coffee and water is available all day. And if you want water with a taste, they serve limes on the the table to make soda yourself.
The bungalows are very basic, for us, just what we were searching for. A matress on the ground with a musquito net. Also a small veranda on the beach and with high tide above the water. You can also snorkel in front which is also pretty good. Or walk on the beach to thr next homestay were it is easy to spot cockatoo.
Since 2 months Maria and Sandi have a diving shop here. So it is easy to plan your diving trips or if you need to translate and tell the family want you want. Ask for fresh coconuts from the tree. Also it is possible to look for the red paradise birds in a short hike in the jungle. And if you are not lucky they are willing to help to go to another place were you maybe more lucky (I think Yenbuba homestay). We were lucky and saw 10 paradise birds dancing in one tree. Because there are not many bungalows it is quiet and a perfect white sandy beach hide away. We enjoyed every day. Thank you so much. Looking forward to come back dome day :-)!
We stayed 6 nights (beginning februari). We enjoyed our stay every minute! Easy pick up with a longtailboat from the port of Wasai to this amazing paradise place. There are 2 (at the moment maybe 3) over water bungalow. The family is very nice and take really good care of you. They speak indonesian, bit still you can tell them with a little Indonesian words and hands what you mean. The food is very good, we enjoyed every meal (fish, chicken, tempe, tofu) with nasi putih or mie goreng. Keep in mind that everything is fresh from the market every day and there is no fridge. Tea, coffee and water is available all day. And if you want water with a taste, they serve limes on the the table to make soda yourself.
The bungalows are very basic, for us, just what we were searching for. A matress on the ground with a musquito net. Also a small veranda on the beach and with high tide above the water. You can also snorkel in front which is also pretty good. Or walk on the beach to thr next homestay were it is easy to spot cockatoo.
Since 2 months Maria and Sandi have a diving shop here. So it is easy to plan your diving trips or if you need to translate and tell the family want you want. Ask for fresh coconuts from the tree. Also it is possible to look for the red paradise birds in a short hike in the jungle. And if you are not lucky they are willing to help to go to another place were you maybe more lucky (I think Yenbuba homestay). We were lucky and saw 10 paradise birds dancing in one tree. Because there are not many bungalows it is quiet and a perfect white sandy beach hide away. We enjoyed every day. Thank you so much. Looking forward to come back dome day :-)!
We stayed at Corepen for five nights and just loved it! The bungalow huts on the beach are very simple but clean and have everything that’s needed. On the porch you can hang your wet stuff, watch a wonderful sunrise or just hang out. We didn’t have a hammock but Maria gave us one.
Everything is clean and well looked after. We had a few mosquitos, not too bad, but some bug spray might come useful. Also, bring a flashlight, since the generator will be turned off around 10:30/11:00 and a walk to the bathroom hut will be an adventure, especially during new moon nights… the “shower” comes with fresh water, which, as we heard, is not the case on all the islands, and there are no rats on the island (also apparently not the case everywhere).
The food is fresh, delicious and with enough variation to not get tired of it at all and there is as much coffee, tea, water and bananas as you like. The family is lovely, they do not speak much English, but Maria is happy to translate, if necessary.
Diving with Maria and Sandi was awesome, they really listen to your needs and interests and the equipment is also very well looked after!
We loved the intimacy of just two huts and not many people, so if you look for something like that, Corepen is the place for you! They we’re just building the third hut while we stayed there (beginning February 2017).
We stayed at Corepen for five nights and just loved it! The bungalow huts on the beach are very simple but clean and have everything that’s needed. On the porch you can hang your wet stuff, watch a wonderful sunrise or just hang out. We didn’t have a hammock but Maria gave us one.
Everything is clean and well looked after. We had a few mosquitos, not too bad, but some bug spray might come useful. Also, bring a flashlight, since the generator will be turned off around 10:30/11:00 and a walk to the bathroom hut will be an adventure, especially during new moon nights… the “shower” comes with fresh water, which, as we heard, is not the case on all the islands, and there are no rats on the island (also apparently not the case everywhere).
The food is fresh, delicious and with enough variation to not get tired of it at all and there is as much coffee, tea, water and bananas as you like. The family is lovely, they do not speak much English, but Maria is happy to translate, if necessary.
Diving with Maria and Sandi was awesome, they really listen to your needs and interests and the equipment is also very well looked after!
We loved the intimacy of just two huts and not many people, so if you look for something like that, Corepen is the place for you! They we’re just building the third hut while we stayed there (beginning February 2017).
We had a fantastic 5 days stay. Food was excellent. The family is great and very helpful. Diving with Maria is great value. She looks after you really well. She can also pick you up at whichever home stay you are staying at. She speaks English. Her contact no. +6285399040888
There’s three huts built right on the beach which is fabulous simple yet comfortable and clean. We brought our own hammocks and watch the world go by.
Good location for all the snorkeling sites and their boat rides are good rates.
Lots of birds behind the home stay and you can walk to the other beach next door with lots of different kinds of parrots congregate in the early evening on the trees.
I would recommend this place to anyone.
The hut
We had a fantastic 5 days stay. Food was excellent. The family is great and very helpful. Diving with Maria is great value. She looks after you really well. She can also pick you up at whichever home stay you are staying at. She speaks English. Her contact no. +6285399040888
There’s three huts built right on the beach which is fabulous simple yet comfortable and clean. We brought our own hammocks and watch the world go by.
Good location for all the snorkeling sites and their boat rides are good rates.
Lots of birds behind the home stay and you can walk to the other beach next door with lots of different kinds of parrots congregate in the early evening on the trees.
I would recommend this place to anyone.
The hut
I really enjoyed my stay at Corepen Homestay. I was there for 4 nights for diving.
The diving with Maria and Sandi there was just wicked. They are very good spotters and the equipment was good. The last two days it was just me and them so I had two diveguides for myself^^. It is also possible to dive with them without staying in the homestay too.
The homestay is quite new and you will get a bungalow (there are two) directly at the beach. My bungalow was basic with a matrace, little table mosquito net and it was clean. Ebet (an employe) borrowed me his hammock so I could lay on the porch when there was no diving.
There is a bucket shower and a bucket toilet behind the bungalows. Again very basic but clean and new. There is electricity in the evening. I liked the food which is included.
I really enjoyed my stay at Corepen Homestay. I was there for 4 nights for diving.
The diving with Maria and Sandi there was just wicked. They are very good spotters and the equipment was good. The last two days it was just me and them so I had two diveguides for myself^^. It is also possible to dive with them without staying in the homestay too.
The homestay is quite new and you will get a bungalow (there are two) directly at the beach. My bungalow was basic with a matrace, little table mosquito net and it was clean. Ebet (an employe) borrowed me his hammock so I could lay on the porch when there was no diving.
There is a bucket shower and a bucket toilet behind the bungalows. Again very basic but clean and new. There is electricity in the evening. I liked the food which is included.
This place is awesome! Your perfect hut right over the beach! And there are only two so it feels very private. The local family is super nice and now Maria and Sandi are staying there who are not only great company but offer awesome diving (they also speak very good english)!
In my case the food was pretty good, also compared to other homestays. Two times we had the most amazing spanish makarel, best fish I ever tasted. Maybe the cook improved and they learned from their early days? Breakfast is simple at most places but somedays they made Banana Pancakes at Corepen which seems rare at Raja4.
Also electricity was available from around 6pm to 11pm. No light yet in the hut (only veranda) but they working on it and a plug to charge your electrics is provided in the hut. Blanket as well as towel provided which is not the case at all homestays.
The location is awesome in a small hidden cove with purple rocks to the one side and a sandy beach right in front of you. Bird of paradise can be seen in the back by a 20 min walk (IDR 100k). Cacadoos and parrots fly around and dolphins can sometimes be seen in front.
Maria and Sandi offer diving for reasonable prices. I am a beginner diver so I was skeptical to dive in Raja Ampat with Homestay but they both made me feel very safe at all times. Equipment is in very good shape and we were always small groups. They are most keen to search pygmea seahorses for you.. We even went diving when we were only two guests so it was one guide per guest. Also trips to Penemu and Manta Sandy were offered at fair price.
If you want something more private than Kri with a great dive center, this is the place!
This place is awesome! Your perfect hut right over the beach! And there are only two so it feels very private. The local family is super nice and now Maria and Sandi are staying there who are not only great company but offer awesome diving (they also speak very good english)!
In my case the food was pretty good, also compared to other homestays. Two times we had the most amazing spanish makarel, best fish I ever tasted. Maybe the cook improved and they learned from their early days? Breakfast is simple at most places but somedays they made Banana Pancakes at Corepen which seems rare at Raja4.
Also electricity was available from around 6pm to 11pm. No light yet in the hut (only veranda) but they working on it and a plug to charge your electrics is provided in the hut. Blanket as well as towel provided which is not the case at all homestays.
The location is awesome in a small hidden cove with purple rocks to the one side and a sandy beach right in front of you. Bird of paradise can be seen in the back by a 20 min walk (IDR 100k). Cacadoos and parrots fly around and dolphins can sometimes be seen in front.
Maria and Sandi offer diving for reasonable prices. I am a beginner diver so I was skeptical to dive in Raja Ampat with Homestay but they both made me feel very safe at all times. Equipment is in very good shape and we were always small groups. They are most keen to search pygmea seahorses for you.. We even went diving when we were only two guests so it was one guide per guest. Also trips to Penemu and Manta Sandy were offered at fair price.
If you want something more private than Kri with a great dive center, this is the place!
I stayed a few days here in november. There is no electricity, you don’t get a towel and the food is very simple. Once it was just rice and tofu.
My opinion is the price is far to high for what you get. Especially comparing to other homestays.
The family lives in the other bungalow when there are guests. They are friendly. but it is a bit strange. Once the brought lunch at 9.15. And they couldn’t understand, that I asked to give it later.
Inside the bay is no current but be careful when you swim out. The current is very strong there.
Yes, the same all around Rahah. Expensive for what you have and compare to th erst of Indonesia and the rest of SE Asia. But they will answer you that it is cheap compare to the ressorts that arr also overprived for the service they offer ! What a reference…
They now have electricity in the evening. They provide towels and food has improved tremendously with fresh fish and loads of vegetables. We stayed there on the late Jan 2017.
I stayed a few days here in november. There is no electricity, you don’t get a towel and the food is very simple. Once it was just rice and tofu.
My opinion is the price is far to high for what you get. Especially comparing to other homestays.
The family lives in the other bungalow when there are guests. They are friendly. but it is a bit strange. Once the brought lunch at 9.15. And they couldn’t understand, that I asked to give it later.
Inside the bay is no current but be careful when you swim out. The current is very strong there.
Yes, the same all around Rahah. Expensive for what you have and compare to th erst of Indonesia and the rest of SE Asia. But they will answer you that it is cheap compare to the ressorts that arr also overprived for the service they offer ! What a reference…
They now have electricity in the evening. They provide towels and food has improved tremendously with fresh fish and loads of vegetables. We stayed there on the late Jan 2017.
The homestay is still relatively new and new things are still being built, but this was a great place to be. The beach is amazing, there’s great snorkeling just a few meters away, and the family that runs it is very friendly. The food was basic but delicious. Make sure you ask to take a trip to Pasir Timbul if you stay here!
The homestay is still relatively new and new things are still being built, but this was a great place to be. The beach is amazing, there’s great snorkeling just a few meters away, and the family that runs it is very friendly. The food was basic but delicious. Make sure you ask to take a trip to Pasir Timbul if you stay here!