Misool Resort, Raja Ampat

Diving at Misool Resort

Misool’s dive and snorkel facilities are based at The Hive, where guests will find equipment preparation areas, rinse tanks, changing rooms and hot-water showers. Dive boats also depart from The Hive’s jetty. Divers can expect a check dive on arrival day, then three scheduled boat dives per day, plus either a dusk or night dive. Dive group sizes on the boats are four to six divers per guide with a maximum of six. The house reef is open from 08:00 to 20:00 for buddy teams to explore on their own or with guides. Nitrox is complimentary for qualified divers, subject to availability, while equipment rental, courses and private guides can all be requested in advance.

All diving and snorkeling activities are booked and paid for at the resort, and are not included in the package cost.

The resort has explored more than 60 dive sites within a one-hour radius, though over 25 of those lie within 15 minutes of the resort - including Fiabacet, Boo, Yilliet, Wobbegong City and Magic Mountain. Dive sites includes manta cleaning stations, coral walls, swim-throughs, reef flats, hard-coral gardens, lagoons, seamounts, drift dives and current-swept pinnacles. Even the house reef offers plenty of excitement with schooling jacks, fusiliers, groupers, blacktip reef sharks, soft coral walls, gorgonian sea fans, pygmy seahorses, mandarinfish, nudibranchs and unusual macro life.

Diving in Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is one of Indonesia’s most celebrated dive destinations, with extraordinary reef biodiversity, mantas, reef sharks, schooling fish, pygmy seahorses, wobbegongs, healthy corals and varied reef topography. The region is usually divided between the northern and central areas around Mansuar, the Dampier Strait, Waigeo and Gam, and the southern reefs of Misool. The north is known for nutrient-rich currents, fish action and hard corals, while Misool is especially associated with better visibility, soft corals, dramatic pinnacles, ridges and manta encounters. 

Misool Resort places guests in the far south of Raja Ampat, close to sites such as Boo, Fiabacet and Magic Mountain, and far from the resorts in the Dampier Strait Unlike to the north, southern Raja Ampat’s is exposed to winds during the southeast monsoon months, and Misool resorts closes from June to September.

Read more about diving in Raja Ampat on the ZuBlu site here.

Please note - Misool is open from mid-September to mid-June. There is currently no availability until 2029. Please speak to the ZuBlu sales team if you would like to join the wait list.

ZuBlu’s dive travel experts will help you create the ideal package at Misool 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? Speak to 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 (SOQ), which can be reached via Jakarta, Bali, Ambon or Manado. Misool recommends transiting through Jakarta and arriving in Sorong the evening before the resort transfer, as the private boat departs from Sorong at around 08:00. Guests are met at Sorong Airport, transferred to the marina for a light breakfast while baggage is loaded, then travel by the resort’s speedboat, Merantau, to Batbitim. 

Merantau is a custom-built private transfer boat with indoor and outdoor seating, a toilet and safety equipment. The journey from Sorong to Misool takes around five hours, depending on sea conditions. Scheduled stays are arranged as 7, 9 or 12 nights at the resort, followed by one night in Sorong, on scheduled departure dates. Transfers operate on fixed dates, and the cost of the transfer will be added to your package total by the ZuBlu travel team when you make your booking.

Other activities

Non-diving guests have plenty to do, especially if they enjoy quiet nature, snorkelling and other low-key island activities. The house reef can be snorkelled independently, while guided snorkelling trips to nearby reefs are offered twice daily. Kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, scooter snorkelling, spa treatments, Indonesian cooking classes, private beach picnics and local excursions can also be arranged, with some activities offered at additional cost. 

Good to Know

• WiFi - Internet is available in The Hive only; there is no island-wide WiFi. 
• Mobile coverage - Mobile phones are out of range at the resort. 
• Electricity - 220 volts, 24 hours a day, with some 110V transformers available in The Hive. 
• Plug type - Indonesia generally uses Type C and Type F plugs.
• Payments at the resort - Incidentals can be paid by Visa, Mastercard, Wise or cash in Indonesian Rupiah, US Dollars or Euros. 
• Currency - Indonesian Rupiah is the local currency; USD and Euros are accepted for some cash payments if notes are in excellent condition. 
• Time zone - Eastern Indonesia Time, UTC+9.
• Marine park permit - Each guest must purchase a Raja Ampat Marine Park Entry permit, which the resort can arrange. 
• Dive insurance - Required for anyone diving at Misool. 
• Depth and safety rules - No solo diving, no decompression diving and a maximum depth of 30 metres. 
• Wetsuits - Rental gear is limited and wetsuits are not available, so divers should bring their own. 
• Seasons - the resort closes during the southeast monsoon in July, August and early September.