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Explore Raja AmpatDiving in Raja Ampat, located in Indonesia's West Papua province, is an unparallel
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.
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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.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat dive sites are thriving with diversity and abundance. There are a variety of cephalopods found in the Raja Ampat waters, with everything from the beautiful but lethal blue-ringed octopus to the intricate flashing patterns of cuttlefish. The 5-cm long Berry’s bobtail squid can be found on sandy areas noticeable by its iridescent blue-green body. In fire urchins, zebra crab can be spotted while sandy rubble can be searched for peacock mantis shrimp, flying gurnards, gobies, and blennies.
Pygmy seahorse can be found clinging to gorgonian sea fans, the full range of ghost pipefish - robust, harlequin, halimeda -, as well as a vast array of nudibranch, can be spotted. Look out for frogfish sitting motionless in their host sponges and several crustaceans including, big coral crabs, porcelain crabs and spiny lobsters. Night dives promise additional rare finds such as orangutan crabs and the beautiful Spanish dancer nudibranch.
While scuba diving in Raja Ampat, divers will find many areas which boast enormous schools of fish and regular sightings of sharks, such as the wobbegong shark. White-tip, black-trip and grey reef sharks are also known to the area as well as the endemic walking shark, which scoots along the seabed using its pectoral fins. At areas like Mansuar, it’s highly likely to encounter large squadrons of manta rays and sea turtles, including the hawksbill turtle and green turtle.
Some of the most sought-after species to get a close-up look at Raja Ampat are the shy and gentle dugong. Spotting a dugong in the wild is a rare and wonderful experience but with luck, you’ll find one grazing in Raja Ampat’s seagrass meadows. Often while on a liveaboard, divers will get the chance to don their snorkelling gear for some unforgettable interaction with resident pods of dolphins and perhaps even some passing whales.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
4.6k Sightings
J
425
F
286
M
371
A
346
M
383
J
152
J
264
A
441
S
458
O
526
N
445
D
464
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
2.9k Sightings
J
313
F
147
M
238
A
265
M
294
J
78
J
98
A
253
S
321
O
333
N
249
D
284
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
2.5k Sightings
J
241
F
132
M
185
A
199
M
213
J
79
J
126
A
252
S
404
O
274
N
212
D
222
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
2.5k Sightings
J
299
F
153
M
206
A
157
M
231
J
76
J
105
A
261
S
263
O
277
N
233
D
220
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins
Hawksbill Turtle
2k Sightings
J
207
F
112
M
120
A
155
M
218
J
56
J
115
A
245
S
243
O
246
N
152
D
167
iStock-crisod
Reef Manta Ray
1.3k Sightings
J
218
F
168
M
137
A
155
M
80
J
24
J
32
A
67
S
28
O
40
N
115
D
211
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
827 Sightings
J
87
F
45
M
80
A
119
M
98
J
52
J
38
A
99
S
69
O
61
N
34
D
45
iStock/Divepic
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
555 Sightings
J
110
F
103
M
100
A
55
M
35
J
5
J
5
A
22
S
11
O
19
N
35
D
55
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin
Blacktip Reef Shark
6.2k Sightings
J
649
F
415
M
474
A
422
M
442
J
211
J
383
A
671
S
697
O
688
N
593
D
528
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 28
Udo Kefrig
Clownfish
5.1k Sightings
J
480
F
345
M
450
A
439
M
396
J
152
J
273
A
490
S
536
O
600
N
461
D
505
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.
