Scuba diving in

Raja Ampat

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.

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.

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.

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.