About Us | Soul Scuba Divers

ABOUT OUR TEAM

SOUL SCUBA DIVERS

Photo by Dennis @freediver87

Soul Scuba Divers is a scuba diving center on Kri Island in Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. We pride ourselves on offering fun diving experiences, but safety and thorough planning is the cornerstone of our diving operations. Visit our FAQs page to learn more about our safety procedures and the dive experience you can expect to have with us.

For us, scuba diving isn't just about looking at creatures underwater. It allows us to explore the world—and ourselves—in a fulfilling, transformative way. It connects us to nature, compels us to travel the world and invites us into the amazing international community of scuba divers.

We greatly appreciate being a part of the local community of Raja Ampat. Our mission is to hire local people from Raja Ampat—and also workers from other parts of Indonesia—to be longterm parts of our team or help us with projects such as building our dive center and speed boat. Our top priority is to protect the precious marine and terrestrial environments in Raja Ampat, which is why we organize education and conservation projects within the local community. Learn more about their community projects here.

Thibault

Thibault Bancillon is the owner of Soul Scuba Divers. Thibault is from France and loves meeting people from all corners of the world and sharing his passion for the underwater world. He deeply cares about the people of Raja Ampat and is proud to partner with the local families on Kri. He cherishes working hand in hand with locals and spreading environmental awareness.

Superpower: 'Kindest heart in Raja'

Weakness: struggles to say "no"

ANNI

Anni is the dive operation manager of Soul Scuba Divers. She was born in Finland, and has been living in Indonesia for 6 years now. In that time, she has worked as an instructor & manager in many different dive centres all around Indonesia.

When she is not in the office or in the water, you can probably find her walking up and down the jetty looking walking sharks.

Superpower: turns all the divers into macro lovers

Weakness: Finnish / collecting wounds

stAnley

Stanley is the technical operation manager. He was born in Ambon, moved to Raja Ampat in his early years and has been working as a mechanic in several dive resorts in Raja Ampat.

Stanley is making jewerly out of shells and makes them into underwater creatures. You'll see these necklaces on almost all our dive team.

Superpower: jewerly maker

Weakness: looks like Freddie Mercury but without singing skills

BEY

Bey is the office manager/admin angel. Bey is born in Jakarta, Jawa island. She graduated from international school with focus on degree of economics.

Bea is making our beautiful social media post's. She is little paparazzi who will catch the best moment's of you.

Superpower: Chameleon - You don't see her but she is everywhere

Weakness: Love spicy food but tonsils cannot handle it

Ocean team

Instructor

Fatur

Fatur was born in Central Sulawesi in the Togean Islands.

His strengths lie not only in his ability to entertain and interact with

guests but in his diving skills.

Superpower: always laughing

Weakness: dad jokes

dive guide

HARNEX

Harnex was born in the Yenbuba village and learned how to swim in these waters. He knows all of the local dive sites like the back of his hand.

Harnex is a pro at spotting all sorts of marine life, He's often more excited about marine life finds than the guests. He enjoys playing the guitar by the bonfire with our guests.

Superpower: Eagle ray whisperer

Weakness: Plays the same three songs on repeat

Darwis

Our most experienced dive guide from Ternate.

Darwis is always ready to take you safely to the most amazing dive sites and will help you checking boxes for whatever you want to see. From megafauna to super macro - he will find it all for you.

Superpower: he is as versatile as a swiss army knife

Weakness: we still haven't figured out a way to clone him

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Yanton

Yanton is a long time dive guide in carer, he start scuba dive when he was 15 years old since 1998 with oldest divers community's in Manado North Sulawesi (NDC). Expert in his career as dive guide he work around Indonesia, from dive center resort and live a board.

He smile at you most of the time, energetic one, and he will make your dive enjoyable.

Superpower: Duracell bunny

Weakness: Loudest voice when he talk

AYUB

Ayub was born in Lembeh, North Sulawesi, but has lived here in Raja Ampat for several years already.

He likes to explore new areas and is always ready for adventure.

Superpower: Karaoke King

Weakness: obsessed with the color of his hair

WILL

Will was born in North Sulawesi and has worked in several places overseas as a dive guide/ dive centre supervisor and hasparticipated in science projects in Phillippines.

His passion is underwater photography/videos. In his free time he likes to read books and do online courses. He never stops learning new things

Superpower: underwater video master

Weakness: Perfectionist

Valdo

Valdo is from Yenbuba village and he is our youngest dive guide. He knows the water by his heard so done under estimate his young age. He will show you the beautiful underwater world for you.

On Saturday's Valdo is wanted person, he will always have some Wishkey/ Angur(local redwine)/ jap tikus (arak, local palm wine) on his sleeves. He is the person to ask if you need some liquor into the island.

Superpower: Bartender of the island

Weakness: Where is Valdo ?

captain

LUKI

Luki is our main captain and AUX cord genius. He has been driving boats in Raja Ampat for 25 years and is originally from Ambon on the Maluku Islands. Luki is waiting for our divers with a big smile and a cup of water after diving.

He was with us during the whole COVID period despite the closure of our dive center.

Superpower: most experienced captain in the area

Weakness: choice of playlist

SULTAN

Sultan was born in Labuan Bajo, Komodo. He's the one who drove our biggest boat, 'Anna' all the way from Bali, not an easy ride!

In the evenings, you can often find him listening to Spanish music by the dive center, while working on another of his incredible paintings.

Superpower: Picasso of the team

Weakness: too kind

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ANCA

Anca is from Ambon, Maluku. He have been living in Raja Ampat sense long time. He is multi talent, he used to be one of the first dive guides in Soul scuba team.

He is talented captain, he used to be one of the first dive guides in Soul scuba divers. He knows Raja Ampat underwater and on land.

Superpower:

Weakness:

boat crew

Papa Juliano

One of our captains and all round helper.

Papa Juliano always manages to be in the right place at the right time. Whenever you need a helping hand just look up and he'll be waiting.

Superpower: friendliest smile on Kri

Weakness: will only speak to you in Indonesian, even if you don't have a clue what he's saying.

ambi

Ambi came to us recently and is usually helping on our boat 'Aline'. If you go on one of our adventure trips, chances are you'll see Ambi there helping with equipment and playing his music.

Superpower: knows what you need before you do.

Weakness: everyone thinks his name is Andy. He's too polite to correct you!

marcel

Marcel was born in Ambui village on Batanta island.

Even though he's not a dive guide, he's great at finding wildlife at the surface or on land.

Superpower: bubble detecter

Weakness: spends half of his salary on video games

Land team

COMPRESSOR

naan

Naan is from Ambon, in Maluku region.

Naan will make sure your scuba cylinders are always filled. You can witness him singing when he brings the tanks to the boat. Despite his Latino rapper look on days off, his voice is more similar to a soprano gospel singer.

Superpower: He knows 271 indonesian songs by heart.

Weakness: Unfortunately he is Naan without cheese