Do diving in Raja Ampat and experience the world's best reef diving from your eco-friendly homestay or action-packed liveaboard
Located off the northwestern tip of Papua, Raja Ampat’s diving offers some of the most exciting underwater experiences in Southeast Asia, if not the world. The marine diversity of these islands is staggering and - quite literally - like nowhere else on earth. From the fabulous hard coral sites in the north to the colourful soft corals of Misool in the south, Raja Ampat is reef diving perfection. And with plenty of liveaboards and idyllic tropical dive resorts to choose from, Raja Ampat is an undisputed king of dive holiday destinations.
The diving in Raja Ampat can be broadly divided into two main areas. The north with its nutrient-rich currents, denser fish life and better hard corals. While Misool Island in the south offers divers better visibility and more plentiful soft corals.
Mansuar Island and the Dampier Strait
Mansuar Island and the Dampier Strait are the heart of Raja Ampat’s northern diving. This area is home to Raja Ampat’s original dive resorts and many of the famous dive sites. Here, divers can explore sites such as Chicken Reef, Sardine Reef, Batu Lima, Blue Magic and Cape Kri in the east, and Manta Ridge, Manta Sandy and Arborek Jetty in the west. Raja Ampat’s northern dive sites feature fantastic biodiversity, large numbers of schooling fish and plenty of action when the currents are running. Due to the popularity of the Dampier Strait, there is now a ranger station at Manta Sandy to ensure divers follow the correct rules when diving with manta rays.
North of the Dampier Strait
North of the Dampier Strait are the islands of Waigeo and Gam. This area is home to the aptly named Mayhem dive site and the famous Passage - a narrow channel that cuts between the two islands. The tidal flow through the Passage creates the ideal conditions for filter feeders. Divers can drift between huge soft corals and sea fans which reach for the surface beneath the overhanging mangroves.
Misool Island
Located to the south of the main islands, Misool’s diving is characterised by dramatic underwater landscapes, stunning reefs and manta rays. Divers will find lots of pinnacles and ridges carpeted in beautiful fans, soft corals and sponges. Dive sites such as Boo and Fiabacet have become famous for glorious reef diving, whilst Magic Mountain attracts divers in search of giant oceanic manta rays. A large number of the dive sites around Misool Island now lie within the Misool Marine Reserve, a protected area twice the size of Singapore! And the results of this protection are clear, with fish populations booming and the number of sharks increasing every year.
Diving Environment
Type : Reefs
Level : Beginner upwards
Diving Season : North Raja Ampat - year round. South Raja Ampat - September to July.
Depth : 5 - 35m
Visibility : 10 - 35m
Temperature : 27 - 29C
About Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Raja Ampat is an archipelago of over 1,500 small islands and reefs surrounding the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo - the ‘Four Kings’ that give Raja Ampat its name. Despite being a province of Indonesia, the islands of Raja Ampat feel like part of a different world - one with a promise of exploration and discovery.
West Papua is home to some dramatically rugged terrain and an incredible diversity of plants, and the late arrival of tourism has helped to preserve the region's unique biological and cultural diversity. Raja Ampat’s exceptional diving is a similar treasure trove of unique species. In fact, Cape Kri on Mansuar Island in the Dampier Strait holds the record for the most number of fish species recorded on a single dive. Raja Ampat is so species-rich and such a vital area for reef conservation that the entire area has been protected as part of the Bird’s Head Seascape.
Raja Ampat is not as isolated as it once was, with dive resorts being developed throughout the archipelago, and liveaboards running regular trips to famous dive sites. But this string of beautiful islands still holds on to a lingering sense of being perched at the edge of the world. Remote, beautiful and exhilarating, the ‘Four Kings’ rightly hold on to their crown as offering some of the best diving on the planet.
Getting to Raja Ampat
The main point of entry is the town of Sorong, which can be reached from Bali or Jakarta via Makassar, Ambon or Manado. Many guests consider breaking up the long sequence of flights and transfers with a stopover in Ambon to explore the macro life, before heading to Sorong. To maximise time in West Papua, guests should consider flying to Jakarta, then getting the overnight flight to Sorong. This will get you to West Papua in time to meet the resort transfer boats. Click here for more information on how to get to Raja Ampat and Sorong.
Once in Sorong, onward transfers to dive resorts in Raja Ampat are arranged by the dive operators. Public transport is not an option.
Where to stay in Raja Ampat
For many years, Raja Ampat had just one dive resort and a handful of liveaboards that explored the region. Today, the situation has changed considerably. There are now many different liveaboards operating in Raja Ampat and quite a few dive resorts concentrated in and around the Dampier Strait. Visitors can even stay at a dive resort located on the remote Misool Island. The majority are ‘eco’ resorts that employ sustainable practices whenever possible, recycle when they can and use alternative sources of energy. But many believe liveaboards are the best way to explore Raja Ampat, offering action-packed schedules that visit all the famous dive sites.
All of the Raja Ampat resorts and liveaboards featured by ZuBlu are relatively expensive in comparison to other destinations in Indonesia. And, while diving Raja Ampat on a budget is possible, we recommend professionally-managed resorts with a reputation for high standards and safety due to the remote and isolated location.
Raja Ampat diving seasons and weather
Two distinct seasons can influence Raja Ampat’s diving conditions. The northwest monsoon runs from October to April and is considered the best time to visit. From June to September the southeast monsoon brings winds and rough seas to Misool, in the south of Raja Ampat, and Triton Bay further south. In fact, dive resorts in Misool and Triton Bay close down during this period as the waves can make diving conditions difficult. The northern and central areas of Raja Ampat are more sheltered from these winds and remain open all year.
This being the tropics, you can expect some rain whatever time of year you visit. The wettest times are around November and December, and July and August, but the rainfall is normally short and sharp and soon clears away. Water temperatures are warm year-round, never varying much between 27-29C.
Lagoons and viewpoints of Raja Ampat
Central Raja Ampat
Boasting countless mushroom-like karst islets floating in turquoise bays, Piaynemo is home to several famous lookouts and iconic lagoon excursions in Raja Ampat – including the much-snapped Star Lagoon. Also known as Penemu or Pulau Penem, this island forms part of the Fam Archipelago in central Raja Ampat, roughly 40-kilometres due west of the Dampier Strait. The islands are regularly included on Raja Ampat liveaboard itineraries and can be reached from resorts including Meridian Adventure Dive, Papua Paradise, Papua Explorers, Raja Ampat Biodiversity, Sorido Bay, Kri Eco Resort, Dive Into Raja Ampat, and Wai Resort.
The same resorts can normally organise excursions to the traditional village of Arborek and into Kabui Bay – home of The Passage dive and snorkel site. Hidden Bay is another highlight of this region, located on the northwest peninsula of Gam Island. The bay is accessed via a long, narrow channel which cuts into the island and eventually opens up into a fjord-like labyrinth of emerald green islets surrounded by glassy lagoons.
North Raja Ampat
In the north of Raja Ampat, the views from atop the 200-metre tall Mount Pindito on Wayag are utterly breathtaking – and not just due to the climb. This limestone tower overlooks the protected central lagoon, where angular islands rise from the idyllic water to create a rare nursery for juvenile manta rays and other much-loved marine life. Unfortunately, lying over 80-kilometres north of Piaynemo, the islands of Wayag are generally beyond the reach of guests staying within the Dampier Strait.
If you can’t bear to miss this awe-inspiring natural attraction, consider a liveaboard itinerary heading to North Raja Ampat. Or, if resorts are more your thing, Cove Eco Resort is the perfect compromise. Situated on the island of Yeben, this resort is conveniently placed to explore the Dampier Strait, Piaynemo, and Gam, while also lying around a two-and-a-half hour boat ride from Wayag, making day trips possible at an extra cost.
South Raja Ampat
The large island of Misool lies in the far south of Raja Ampat, over 150-kilometres south of Waisai, placing it far beyond the reach of day trips from the Dampier Strait. Many of the main attractions here lie hidden amongst clusters of smaller islands situated along Misool’s coast. Within these scattered island chains, visitors can explore an exceptional array of picture-perfect panoramas and unique natural attractions.
Within an area known as Yellu, southeast of Misool, lie the lagoons of Wayibatan and Karawapop – including the heart-shaped Love Lagoon. These attractions are easily accessible from Misool Eco Resort, requiring a short boat ride lasting 20-minutes or so. Other spectacular lagoons include those of Balbulol and Yapap, located further north along Misool’s eastern coast around the islands of Wagmab and Farondi. These are harder to reach from the resort but are included on many southern Raja Ampat liveaboard itineraries. Within this area, visitors can also explore the Tomolol caves, Lenmakana jellyfish lake, and the peaks of Harfat and Dafalen.
