Cove Eco Resort, Raja Ampat

Diving at Cove Eco Resort

Cove Eco Resort has an onsite dive centre offering guided boat diving, rental equipment, nitrox, courses and camera support. The dive schedule includes either two morning dives or two morning dives plus an afternoon dive, depending on the package booked. The first diving day is normally the day after check-in, with reduced diving on the final dive day to respect no-fly safety margins. Dive groups are kept to a maximum of four divers per guide. Nitrox is included for certified nitrox divers, and nitrox certification can be arranged at the resort. Rental equipment includes Scubapro BCDs, wetsuits, regulators and dive computers, and photographers can use a camera room with lights and charging sockets. 

The resort’s location on Yeben gives access to a mix of local reefs, manta sites, current-fed channels and more remote northern sites. Nearby dive sites include Yeben Shallow and Yeben Corden, with Mayhem, Citrus Ridge and My Reef among the other sites accessible from the resort. Its position west of Gam makes Cove an appealing base for exploring Raja Ampat’s western reefs and island scenery. All packages include a Wednesday excursion to Melissa’s Garden, Piaynemo and Star Lagoon. Paid excursions can be booked that visit The Passage, Hidden Bay and Kabui, or head towards Yenbuba and Arborek. A separate excursion to Wayag explores the northern islands’ limestone scenery and lagoons, rather than their dive sites.

The reefs around Yeben are particularly popular with guests looking to explore lesser-known sites, while the wider region offers plenty of classic Raja Ampat diving, including with mantas, schooling fish, reef sharks, soft corals, hard coral gardens and rich macro life. Conditions often involve current, and the site choice is based on guests’ experience levels.

Diving in Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is one of Indonesia’s signature dive destinations, known for exceptional reef biodiversity, healthy coral systems, manta rays, reef sharks, schooling fish, wobbegong sharks, soft corals and dramatic reef topography. The diving is broadly divided between the northern and central regions around the Dampier Strait, Gam, Waigeo, Mansuar and Kri, and the southern region around Misool. Northern Raja Ampat is known for nutrient-rich currents, dense fish life, hard and soft coral gardens and famous sites such as Cape Kri, Blue Magic, Manta Sandy, Arborek Jetty, Mayhem and The Passage. 

Cove Eco Resort is ideal for guests looking for a resort stay with diving in both the central and northern Dampier Strait, as well as excursions around Piaynemo, Fam, Gam and, at extra cost, Wayag. This part of Raja Ampat is normally diveable year-round, though October to April is considered the best season with manta encounters more likely at this time.

Read more in ZuBlu’s Raja Ampat destination guide here.

ZuBlu’s dive travel experts will help you create the ideal package at Cove Eco Resort, including your preferred room type, diving, excursions, equipment rental, transfers and any special requests. Share your travel dates, group size, diving experience and budget, and we’ll recommend the best options for your trip.

We’ll also help with practical travel planning, including flight routes, arrival timings and resort transfers, making sure your itinerary works as smoothly as possible from start to finish.

Once you’ve finalised your plans, your travel expert will put a complimentary hold on your preferred room and send a final quote that includes accommodation, meals, diving, transfers, rental equipment or excursions. This quote will also show any extras paid in advance or at the resort - there are no hidden fees - as well as a payment schedule and cancellation terms and conditions.

Your booking is confirmed once the required deposit, or full payment when necessary, has been received.

After confirmation, your dedicated guest concierge will take over and assist with flight routes, transfers, any personal information required by the resort, and questions about your reservation. They are there to make the entire process as straightforward as possible.

Ready to start planning you trip? Chat with a travel expert now.

Looking for some more information about dive resorts in Raja Ampat? Read more in our guide here.

Getting there

The closest airport is Sorong Airport (SOQ) in West Papua. Most international guests reach Sorong via hubs such as Jakarta or Bali, preferably on an overnight domestic flight to arrive in time for onward transfers.

Cove Eco Resort runs scheduled transfers on Mondays and Saturdays only. Guest are collected from the airport and taken to the harbour, where they board the public ferry to Waisai, then onward to Yeben Island onboard the resort’s boat. Direct transfers to the  resort are not normally possible.

Guests should plan to arrive in Sorong early in the morning on the day of arrival, and the resort requests that guests arrive in Sorong no later than 07:00, with departure from Sorong around 09:00 and arrival at Cove Eco Resort around 12:00–12:30, depending on the weather. On check-out day, departure from Yeben is early in the morning, with arrival in Sorong around 12:00–12:30. Flights out of Sorong should be booked after 14:00 to allow for the transfer, ferry, weather and check-in. 

Transfers can be arranged from selected resorts along the transfer route, but alternative pickup points must be confirmed in advance and are at an extra cost. 

Other activities

As well as being perfect for dedicated divers, Cove Eco Resort is well suited to snorkellers and non-divers as well. Yeben’s reefs can be snorkelled from the jetty or beach, and guided snorkelling is available on the house reef or by boat. Snorkellers may also be able to join around half of the dive sites, depending on conditions and suitability of the site. Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and guests can even kayak around Yeben Island which can take around half a day. 

Excursions on offer include trips to Piaynemo, Star Lagoon, Fam, Manta Cove, Gam, Yeben Kecil and Yeben Batu, with additional trips to places such as Wayag, Kri, Kabui Bay, The Passage and Hidden Bay possible at extra cost and subject to conditions.

Good to know

• Nearest airport: Sorong Airport (SOQ)
• Transfer days: Scheduled arrivals and departures on Monday and Saturday only
• Transfer route: Sorong to Waisai using the ferry, then resort boat to Yeben Island
• Flight timing: Arrive in Sorong by 07:00; depart Sorong after 14:00
• Rooms: All cottages have air-conditioning, ceiling fan and hot water
• Electricity: 24-hour electricity is available in cottages
• WiFi: Available, but slow and best for messaging, email and light browsing
• Dining: Full board, with tea, local coffee and water included
• Alcohol: Available at extra cost; corkage may apply 
• Dive groups: Maximum four divers per guide
• Nitrox: Included for certified nitrox divers
• Marine park fees: Raja Ampat fees apply for guests aged 12 and above
• Family suitability: Superior Cottages can accommodate families up to five