Explore Raja Ampat

Diving in Raja Ampat, located in Indonesia's West Papua province, is an unparalleled experience, renowned for its breathtaking marine biodiversity. This archipelago, known as the Four Kings, comprises over 1,500 islands, including major ones like Misool and Waigeo. It is celebrated for hosting an astonishing 75% of the world's coral species and over 1,500 identified fish species. The underwater landscapes are nothing short of a vibrant tapestry, where hard and soft corals flourish, creating a colorful spectacle that rivals any in the natural world.

The dive environments in Raja Ampat are incredibly diverse, featuring everything from vivid coral gardens to dramatic drop-offs and historic World War II wrecks. Drift dives are popular, offering encounters with majestic manta rays at cleaning stations, alongside sightings of rare species such as the epaulette and wobbegong sharks. Macro enthusiasts will be thrilled by the array of nudibranchs and crustaceans. Whether you prefer relaxed shore dives or more adventurous liveaboard journeys, Raja Ampat caters to all levels of diving expertise. Visiting during the dry season from October to April is ideal for observing large gatherings of manta rays, making it a dive destination that's both thrilling and unforgettable.

Places to Explore

Sorong

1 Center

Sorong is the largest city of West Papua, well known as the access point for the incredible scuba diving found at Raja Ampat. Raja Ampat, or the Four Kings, is an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands surrounding the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo.

Misool

Misool is one of the four major islands in the incredibly diverse region of Raja Ampat in West Papua, Indonesia. Part of the Coral Triangle, research has shown that Raja Ampat has a greater marine diversity than anywhere else in the world, with over 1,300 species of coral reef fish and 600 species of hard coral. Protected by the Misool Private Marine Reserve, the waters surrounding Misool are thriving, offering those heading underwater the chance to witness sea turtles, wobbegong shark, majestic manta rays and a whole host of macro life. Within a 15-minute boat ride from the island of Misool, there are several world-class dive sites ready to explore. Divers can expect manta cleaning stations, coral-covered walls, reef flats, swim-throughs and current-swept pinnacles.

Upcoming Events

Professional Level Programs / Courses

Soul Scuba Divers

Assistant Instructor

01 Dec 2025

The Assistant Instructor rating is the next step after becoming a Divemaster along the scuba instructor pathway. It allows you to collect valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach academics, and conduct in-water training. If you want to further your career as a dive professional, you can finish the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation, and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Mantastic Scuba Paradise

Open Water Diver

16 Dec 2025

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★★ Blue Magic

Challenging dive site, This is the one site where anything can happen….and it usually does! Be ready for an amazing dive here! one of the most popular dive site in Raja Ampat

★★★★★ Tapor Tamiyam, Cape Kri, Raja Ampat

Cape Kri dive site is located on the northeastern end of Kri Island. A famous Raja Ampat dive site that holds the world record for the dive site with the highest number of species (374!) sighted on a single dive (record held by Gerald R. Allen, marine biologist)

★★★★★ Sauwandarek

This is one of the main jetties to visit in the Raja Ampat area. You will spend a long time around the jetty. Once you swim away from the jetty, you will be surrounded by schools of fusiliers and amazing reefs.

★★★★☆ Manta Sandy

Lean or hook on the nice and flat sandy area at 16 m from where you can enjoy the show of the mantas getting cleaned. This is an easy manta dive site for beginners. While waiting for the manta to come, look for macro in the sandy area, you might even see a flamboyant cuttlefish!

Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

★★★★★ Melissa’s Garden

One of the more stunning dives sites in raja ampat. The color of the coral garden will blow your mind. Near piaynemo island you will enjoy the marvelous view point.

Diving in Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is a huge area and home to innumerable dive sites which offer diverse topography and marine life. The archipelago is in the middle of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and as a result, significant currents run through the region. Experienced divers will be thrilled to have the opportunity to drift in currents at sites such as Cape Kri and Keruo Channel where it is recommended to be at least an advanced diver before tackling the currents - become advanced and soon you’ll find yourself flying while underwater!

In the central region, at Manta Ridge divers can expect the appearance of from 5 to 30 manta rays, where the mantas come to be cleaned by cleaner wrasse and black eye thick lips. While sailing the waters surrounding Misool, Magic Mountain is the manta cleaning station, where the mantas utilise a submerged pinnacle at 7-metres as their not-so-private bathing spot. To get your fill of macro life, Sel Pele is a very large bay located on the western side of Waigeo Island, and renowned as the best place in Raja Ampat for critter hunting.

Surrounding the Fabiacet island group, deep pinnacles, coral-encrusted walls and sandy plateaus can be explored while elsewhere, there are caverns, tunnels and canyons. Liveaboard diving in Raja Ampat is mostly conducted around Misool, where several water caves can be witnessed. Visits to the northern region of Raja Ampat are less common yet there are some boats that travel there.

The best Months to dive in Raja Ampat

Most Indonesian liveaboards visit Raja Ampat during the months of October until the end of April, although it is possible to find a few boats running trips throughout the year. The Papua provinces of Indonesia have two rainy seasons - one in November through to December and again in May through to September. Although the November - December period has little impact on diving in the region, during the months of July to mid-September, strong winds and rain can cause rough seas, causing boats to schedule different areas to visit and some of the dive resorts to close.

It is possible to enjoy scuba diving in West Papua all-year-round since several boats leave the islands of Raja Ampat and move to Cenderawasih Bay - where divers can find whale sharks at any time of the year. October through to April is the period when plankton blooms reduce visibility but bring greater numbers of manta rays to feed in the nutrient-dense waters.