Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat is undeniably one of the best locations in the world for scuba diving. It holds a number of world records for marine bio-diversity including the highest ever recorded number of fish species seen in one dive: a whopping 284 different fish species were spotted at Kofiau Island. Amazingly, the waters surrounding Raja Ampat host an incredible 1508 fish species, 537 different species of coral and almost 700 species of mollusc, including 7 different variants of giant clam. The area is also host to 6 of the 7 known sea turtle species, some of which are endangered and rare.
Raja Ampat is also known as the Four Kings, and it’s easy to see why as this archipelago really does have royal status amongst divers. Raja Ampat comprises a large number of smaller isles, shoals and cays that border the main New Guinean islands of Batanta, Waigeo, Salawati and Misool. The area is very remote and predominantly visited by liveaboards, although there are a very small number of dive resorts nearby.
Aside from lush gardens of coral and magnificent reef, Raja Ampat offers spectacular macro life just waiting to be spotted and captured on camera by underwater photographers with a keen eye. Look out for miniscule pygmy seahorses, frogfish no larger than a green pea and the deadly but intriguing blue ringed octopus. Remember to keep a safe distance from these small and quick-moving creatures as they can kill an adult within minutes from a single venomous bite.
At Raja Ampat, even the most uncommon of creatures is commonplace such as the tiny mushroom coral pipefish. Divers are encouraged to check their dive log books before diving at Raja Ampat as you’ll need a number of blank pages just to record everything you’re likely to see in this fantastic location.
Moving up in size slightly from the critters to juvenile fish species, Raja Ampat features all of the regular fish such as angelfish, parrotfish, sweetlips and butterfly fish. There are also large cuttlefish, bump head parrotfish and a number of sharks to be seen such as the epaulette carpet shark and the odd-looking wobbegong shark.
Best Diving in Raja Ampat
Made up of over 1500 smaller isles, it’s no surprise that Raja Ampat offers a number of excellent diving spots to explore and each one is different in terms of structure, size and underwater landscape. Where the dive sites do not differ, however, is in the level of high quality diving they offer for both liveaboard and resort-dwellers alike.
Dive Sites in the North of Raja Ampat
Where and how to Stay in Raja Ampat
Liveaboards are the best option for divers looking to explore the immense number of dive sites in Raja Ampat. Liveaboards travel on different routes so be sure to check that your dream dive sites are included on the route you choose. Liveaboards are available to suit every budget including luxurious options that will provide high levels of comfort with lounges and large diving decks.
Raja Ampat has an interesting and unique climate due to its close proximity to the equator as well as the fact that it is protected by various mountainous island masses. In general, the area experiences a tropical climate characterised by rain showers and high humidity. For the maximum number of diving and liveaboard options, many visitors will choose to visit Raja Ampat at the start of October through April. These months are also the best for diving in terms of increased visibility thanks to reduced rainfall with consistent water temperatures around 26-30°C. However, it is important to bear in mind that increased plankton presence has an impact on visibility, meaning that visibility can range from 9-20 metres during these months. The high concentrations of plankton will bring along with them guaranteed sightings of large pelagic fish.
From the start of July to the middle of September is the least popular period with divers as the rains of the monsoon season and windy conditions have an impact on the calmness of the sea. In fact, some dive resorts even close down during this monsoon period. Luckily for divers, West Papua is magnificent all throughout the year and offers somewhat protected areas that manage to escape the force of the rough seas. Whale sharks can often be spotted in this area.
Getting to Raja Ampat
Getting to Raja Ampat
Visitng Raja Ampat is hassle-free when choosing the liveaboard option. As the archipelago is smack-back in the centre of the Coral Triangle, it is fairly remote and is easiest to get to by liveaboard.