Wai Resort, Raja Ampat

Diving at Wai Resort

Wai Resort’s onsite dive centre offers daily guided dives to sites within the Dampier Strait. Packages normally include two dives per day, excluding arrival and departure days, with a house reef night dive included during the stay. Additional dives can usually be arranged when guest are at the resort. Dive sites are chosen by the dive team based on conditions, guest experience and preferences. Rental equipment is available including BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, masks, fins and snorkels, and private dive excursions may be available for an extra charge.

The resort’s house reef can be explored right from the shore and offers guests the chance to spot nudibranchs, wobbegong sharks and epaulette sharks. Wai Island is also known for its “Airplane Wreck”, a WWII P-47D Thunderbolt fighter resting just offshore. Boat diving normally focuses on sites within around seven kilometres of the resort, with some trips reaching areas such as Kri Island, Mansuar and Magic Jetty. Trips to more distant dive sites  can ne arranged for an extra cost, depending on weather, availability and diver experience.

Diving in Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is one of the most biodiverse marine regions on the planet, with exceptional reef diving found throughout the entire region. The Dampier Strait form the heart of central Raja Ampat, with nutrient-rich currents, schooling fish, healthy hard corals and famous sites such as Cape Kri, Blue Magic, Sardine Reef, Chicken Reef, Manta Sandy, Manta Ridge and Arborek Jetty. North of the strait, Waigeo and Gam add sites such as Mayhem and The Passage, where tidal flow creates dramatic soft coral and sea fan growth.

Wai Resort offers a quiet private-island base for exploring this region, with access to impressive local reefs as well as other well-known sites in the Dampier Strait. While October to April is considered the best season overall, Raja Ampat can be dived year-round.

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

ZuBlu’s dive travel experts will help you create the ideal package at Wai 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? Talk 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 and gateway to Raja Ampat is Sorong Airport (SOQ). International travellers usually fly to Jakarta, Bali, or Manado before continuing to Sorong. It is recommended to book an overnight domestic flight to Sorong, arriving early in the morning in time for onward transfers.

From Sorong, guests can either take the resort boat transfer to Wai Island or travel by public ferry to Waisai Harbour, where the resort can also pick up guests. The direct transfer from Sorong takes around two and a half hours, while the transfer from Waisai Harbour to Wai Island takes around one hour. Both can be arranged daily.

Public ferries between Sorong and Waisai usually operate at 14:00 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and at 09:00 and 14:00 on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Public holiday schedules may be reduced, and ferry times can change - the ZuBlu travel team can assist you with planning your transfers.

Other activities

If you’re not diving, other activities include snorkelling from the house reef, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, massage treatments at Agua Day Spa, sunset beach time, birdwatching and wildlife encounters around the island. Excursions can also be arranged when you’re at the resort.

Good to know

• WiFi - Complimentary Starlink WiFi is available at the restaurant in the morning, lunch time and evenings. WiFi in your bungalow is available but at an extra cost.
• Mobile coverage - The local network can sometimes be picked up in certain spots, but network coverage is unreliable.
• Electricity - Electricity is available in the morning, lunch time and evenings.
• Plug type - Indonesia commonly uses Type C and Type F plugs; guests should bring a universal adapter.
• Payments at the resort - Visa, Mastercard and Amex are accepted; the resort does not accept cash.
• Time zone - WIT, UTC+9.
• Air-conditioning - Bungalows do not have air-conditioning; they use rechargeable battery fans.
• Dining - Full board only; there are no other restaurants or anywhere to buy food on the island.
• Snorkelling - House reef snorkelling is free of charge, but guests can also join guided snorkelling trips for an cost extra.
• Nitrox - The resort does not offer nitrox.
• Marine park fees: Raja Ampat visitor and marine park fees apply to all guests and should be paid on arrival.