There exists a vast quantity of dive internet sites With this fantastic destination. Located in the centre with the Coral Triangle, the extent of maritime biodiversity present in Raja Ampat is unmatched any where else on the globe.
The northern and central areas of Raja Ampat element thrilling dives packed with fish, exciting drift dives and beautiful tough coral reefs. Below, the mass movement of h2o on Every tide appeals to massive educational facilities of fish and plenty of manta rays, like tremendous big manta rays. Night dives over the jetties in this place are significantly memorable for your Strange and fantastic critters you'll be able to see.
The southern location of Raja Ampat is characterised by spectacularly colourful smooth corals and massive sea supporters. Marine lifestyle is equally impressive with mantas, sharks and macro life galore.
Raja Ampat handles an enormous place, so a liveaboard is a perfect strategy to examine the great dive web pages. Love Raja Ampat from the consolation of a liveaboard. E book with us currently!
Ideal Dive Web-sites in Raja Ampat
We've divided the most beneficial dive web pages in Raja Ampat into some wide locations – Dampier Strait northern dive web-sites, central dive web sites and Misool.
We have described underneath the most beneficial dive web pages in Raja Ampat. There are plenty of other good dive spots, but there are too many to mention all of them. We've lined the preferred, and the ones frequented most often by the liveaboards.
Raja Ampat - Dampier Strait Dive Web pages
The distances amongst the dive internet sites within the north may be rather vast. As a result, We've got split the diving in Raja Ampat's north into separate parts.
Wayag
During the really north of Raja Ampat is a gaggle of islands about Wayag. The viewpoints in this article will award the adventurous with the atypical perspective of Raja Ampat. Numerous smaller limestone islands nestled while in the clear blue waters on the lagoons are a small amount of paradise.
The liveaboards mostly stop by this area for your viewpoint and lagoons. Young manta rays and a fantastic variety of black-suggestion reef sharks shelter while in the relaxed, shallow waters here. You could possibly do two or three dives listed here next to the limestone islands. The reefs Here i will discuss rocky slopes with great chances to check out nudibranchs, scorpionfish, Napoleon wrasse, bumphead parrotfish munching to the hard corals and maybe a passing ray.
Kawe
The equator dissects the big island of Kawe. South of your equator is two great dive web sites.
Black Rock
Found over the west coast of Kawe Island this significant dive web site desires at least two dives to swim all around. The everyday entry position is to the northwest Section of the dive website wherever There are many tiny pinnacles covered with soft corals and sea supporters. Swimming to the south a gentle slope is existing with extremely significant bushes of black corals internet hosting groups of oriental sweetlips and snappers. If drifting to the southern Portion of the internet site, you can run into huge rocks with Significantly marine everyday living to view. Watch out into your deep drinking water for pelagics which include dogtooth tuna, Spanish mackerel along with the occasional white idea and gray reef sharks. Manta Rays have usually been viewed below too.
Eagle Rock
Liveaboards typically do a few dives on This great site as a result of its dimension. Eagle Rock is property to the largest reef manta ray populace while in the northern A part of Raja Ampat. Considerable aggregations of black snappers and yellowtail barracudas are often all-around. The west Portion of the website has enormous rocks right down to twenty five metres protected with sea fans the place pygmy seahorses are viewed. Ghost pipefish camouflage themselves while in the black coral bushes. Wobbegongs and stingrays are often seen during the cracks with the boulders. With the shallow rock, hydroids are existing, and this is a wonderful chance to see Pontohi seahorses.
Aljui Bay
White Arrow
The wall of Aljui is very remarkable in areas with several crevasses alongside the wall. Sea supporters and tender coals are existing on the positioning. Lots of species of nudibranchs are viewed listed here. Convey alongside a dive gentle to find the maritime lifetime that makes use of the compact cuts within the wall to hide from predators. Ghost pipefish, longfin comet fish, and juvenile snappers will often be viewed right here. Glimpse in The ocean followers to the uniquely coloured yellow Bargibanti pygmy seahorse.
Aljui Bay Jetty
There's a massive pearl farm In the bay, and they crafted a number of jetties together the coastline. Excellent place to do an afternoon dive to check out the sandy slope the place there are significant really hard coral heads. This is one of the web pages wherever wobbegong sharks are Nearly guaranteed. You will find a really massive resident college of yellow lined scads underneath the principal jetty. All through night time time this dive site transforms into one of several most productive for macro marine life within the north A part of Raja Ampat. Spot-tail frogfish, ghost pipefish, flamboyant cuttlefish as well as endemic walking shark (Epaulette shark) are several of the highlights of this site.
Penemu
This is a popular spot for that liveaboards mainly because of the great viewpoint here. There are a few incredible dives right here way too.
Melissa's Yard
The most-nutritious challenging coral reef in Raja Ampat. An enormous plateau slopes off into sandy places with big coral heads. Wobbegong sharks lie beneath these bommies, surrounded by glassfish. Discover across the plateau ahead of heading up to the shallows. The immaculate tricky corals host A huge number of colourful anthias and fish college throughout this area. Blacktip reef sharks will often be found cruising over the top of the corals.
Batu Rufus
Batu Rufus has an amazing tricky coral backyard during the shallows, a wonderful atmosphere for blacktip reef sharks. Walls into the west are covered with delicate corals, sea fans and remarkable pink anemones. Uncover the strategies of the sandy rubble slopes to your south with significant coral heads all along the slope the place Pontohi pygmy seahorses will often be noticed. Check out the shallows excellent to perform your basic safety halt at the site and dive really Among the most well-known swim troughs in the area.
Raja Ampat - Central Dive Web-sites
Dampier Strait is named just after British navigator William Dampier. The large system of water separates the islands of Waigeo and Batanta. The dive sites are predominately over the northern facet in the strait throughout the islands of Kri and Mansuar. With around 30 dives web pages in a ten-kilometre radius of those islands, you will find too many to put in writing about here. We checklist some of our favourites.
Manta Sandy
Manta rays occur right here into a cleaning station. Locate a place within the sand, kneel down, and view the show! In case the mantas Really don't surface, there is certainly plenty of macro daily life in the sand. Look out for wobbegong sharks within the reef. You will find there's lasting ranger's station crafted about the sandbanks, and you may understand the conservation of such majestic rays in the locals.
Arborek Jetty
Among the list of villages visited most while in the central part of Raja Ampat is Arborek Village. In this article the locals crafted a small jetty where the marine existence is concentrated, with the major faculty of Yellow Lined Scads to the exceptional blue-ringed octopus. A delicate slope with reef and sandy areas drops right down to 25 metres. You will discover large coral heads, the ideal habitat for wobbegong sharks. Arborek Jetty is the ideal dive internet site to complete within the afternoon and is frequently dived at night. Reef manta rays are witnessed swimming by a result of the vicinity of Manta Sandy.
Cape Kri
Cape Kri is definitely the dive web page that put Raja Ampat over the map. Situated in the central location of Raja Ampat, during the Dampier Strait. Dr Gerry Allen recorded 374 distinct species on an individual tank dive at this breathtaking dive web-site. Schooling sweetlips, jacks, surgeonfish, barracudas, fusiliers and batfish is often sighted all alongside this dive internet site. Blacktip reef sharks swim within the shallows, and grey reef sharks cruise during the deep. Turtles, napoleons and bumphead parrotfish may also be generally noticed listed here.
Sardine Reef
Sardine Reef is Just about the most renowned dive sites during the Dampier region mainly because of the superior concentration of fish motion. Barracudas, batfish, bumphead parrotfish, black snappers, sweetlips And large educational facilities of neon fusiliers are generally present on This great site. If The present is jogging black tip, white idea and grey reef sharks are going to be patrolling the reef. Here are a few significant boulders on the sting with the reef coated in comfortable corals, excellent spots with the wobbegong sharks to cover. As a result of vicinity of the dive web site Blue Magic, huge manta rays are sometimes observed here in conjunction with turtles particularly in the shallows on the reef. The identify Sardine Reef is due to all of the marine lifestyle getting packed into a person dive site similar to a can of sardines.
Blue Magic
A little pinnacle that claims magic! Grey reef sharks prowl significant schools of jacks, snappers and fusiliers. Wobbegong sharks lie under the coral heads. And big manta rays enjoy to return here for a clear. Found close to Mioskon island, this pinnacle is a necessity with your check out to have the magical working experience with the largest ray during the ocean. Alongside the shallows of check it out the head, There are some major boulders residence to frogfish, Pontohi seahorses and infrequently blue-ringed octopus.
Raja Ampat - Misool Dive Web pages
The dive internet sites in this southern Component of Raja Ampat are concentrated in the area southeast of Misool island, one of the four kings. Misool has lots of dive web-sites It'll be difficult to mention them all.
Misool is an unlimited space. Many liveaboards will devote the whole day in a single spot of Misool. Now we have outlined under a number of the most well-liked regions and our favorite dive web-sites inside of them.
Fiabecet
An unlimited ridge connects the two substantial islands of Kalig and Boo. The ridge rises on the surface area in various locations, producing magnificent dive websites.
Nudi Rock
Previously mentioned drinking water, this rock seems like a nudibranch. Underneath the surface is a large dive web-site plastered with colourful smooth corals. The wellness of the reef attracts abundant maritime lifestyle. Pygmy seahorses, education barracuda, wobbegong sharks, turtles, hunting jacks, reef sharks, colourful anemones hosting anemone fish, soft coral pipefish not to mention nudibranchs.
Batu Kecil
"Batu" usually means rock and "Kecil" means modest. The little rock is the sole A part of the site that breaks the surface but underwater it truly is the other. With partitions in the north as well as inside the south, this large dive internet site might be dived Anytime with the working day. On each side, the huge amount of smooth corals is past belief. Major Napoleon wrasse swimming all-around are usually a deal with. Hawksbill turtles are virtually resident to This website.
Whale Rock
The identify originates from essentially the most distinguished rock condition that is like a whale. A vast technique with a lot of to find out in just one dive, the site is made up of two islands. Just one small and one particular even larger, and between There's a coral head with the most quantity of soft corals you will ever see! There exists not a absolutely free Room over the rock for more corals to develop on it. In this article the currents operate from north to south and this is why the center rock is paradise for divers and for your corals that develop there. There are normally nutrients passing by all day prolonged. White suggestion reef sharks generally patrol the center rock. The hard coral gardens on each islands are healthy as can be. You will find great chances to determine blacktip reef sharks and turtles swimming around while in the shallows.
Boo & Nearby
Boo Windows
An legendary shallow swim-by way of is just one focus of the superb dive web-site. It's got even featured over the front deal with of a e-book about Raja Ampat. An additional could be the extended ridge that is a hub of action. Unsuspecting snappers university higher than camouflaged wobbegong sharks. Manta rays come to the cleaning stations here. Grey reef sharks patrol the deep and curious blacktip reef sharks look into the divers within the shallows. Just like virtually all dive web-sites in Misool, the enormous level of colourful tender corals could possibly blow your mind! A must-do dive site in Misool.
Shadow Reef
Shadow Reef aka Magic Mountain is close to Boo. Below you are able to see reef and giant manta rays, considered one of a hardly any places on earth where you can see each species on 1 dive. Moreover, the whole pinnacle is wholly lined in fish everyday living! This is certainly a particularly common dive web page, and you will see why the moment you bounce in. This significant pinnacle is extremely active! Snappers, barracuda, jacks, batfish, fusiliers, grey reef, groupers to name some of the resident fish in this article. For your Fortunate divers, a dolphin could possibly move by too.
Yuliet
This dive internet site is an intensive underwater reef that often confuses divers a result of the dimensions of the small rock that will come out with the drinking water. The northern Component of the positioning has extraordinary partitions down to thirty metres which has a significant colony of sea lovers internet hosting the Denise pygmy seahorse plus the Bargibanti pygmy seahorse. Gentle slopes are from the east and west with considerable barrel sponges and whip corals. A small ridge into the south of the internet site is where by, depending upon the latest, You can find commonly a hot location for big concentrations of fish for example Chevron barracudas and spadefish. The shallows of Yuliet have very huge bommies covered entirely in gentle coral and some hard corals, an ideal region to accomplish the security cease.
Wayilbatan
Neptune's Supporter Sea
For several scuba divers, This website gets to be their favorite website soon after a few minutes of your dive. The dive website is located in the channel produced by Wayilbatan Island and Warakaket Island. The northern component contains an exceedingly Mild slope down to 35 meters that transforms into a wall that might be one of many richest in tender corals and sea supporters Get More Information in the area. There may be wonderful marine life to determine. Pygmy seahorses are on a regular basis noticed, and every now and then, the most significant reef-connected fish in the world the giant grouper is frequently seen in the course of the channel resting or swimming by along the wall. The shallow, difficult coral yard within the south from the dive website is brain-blowing, an ideal location to perform the last a few minutes of the dive.
Marriage ceremony Cake
Just about the most dramatic underwater topography in the area, with ledges slopes and partitions, this site has everything. In November and December Marriage Cake plays host to big faculties of silverside fish that happen to be the favorite meals of your Mobula rays. Frequently seen Listed here are significant teams of Mobula feeding about the silverside fish, and that's an practical experience of a life time. In the west, during the sandy slope part of the site, turtles and many unique fish such as the pink eye goby and the wonderful colourful flasher wrasse males exhibiting their pectoral fin to attract the ladies in many cases are observed.
Wayili Rock
This web site is consistently dived in the afternoon or as a night dive. Right here it is always Attractive to begin to see the presence of a large college of spadefish and barracudas. Slopes to the east Component of the website and extraordinary mini walls in the west form this fantastic dive. Remarkable tricky coral gardens from the shallows are where by reef octopus and turtles arrive to scrub while in the late afternoon. Through the evening dives the endemic epaulette shark is sort of assured. A lot of divers in this article have also found the smallest pygmy seahorse on this planet, the Satomi pygmy seahorse.
Daram
Candy Store
The Sweet Store partitions are fully covered in marine lifetime. There is a great deal comfortable coral and whip corals there are not many empty spots alongside the partitions, dropping down to 35 metres furthermore. The coral is so colourful that divers decided to give This website the name of Sweet Keep as a consequence of much colour in a single location. The difficult coral within the shallows is remarkable, along with the better part is that it's at the best depth to carry out the safety cease. Napoleon wrasse, turtles in addition to a resident college of neon fusiliers make This web site a great option to dive Anytime from the day.
Andiamo
Andiamo is an enormous website with extraordinary maritime everyday living dwelling on it. To your east of the website, You will find a pinnacle exactly where a major school of barracudas and spadefish have adopted it as their home. The head by itself is roofed with tender coral and gorgonian sea lovers. Pelagics, sharks and in many cases big manta rays have been witnessed in this article. After within 35 minutes you are able to swim to the main rock. The deep wall within the north or Get More Information maybe the slope place about the south, in the two Instructions, are included with maritime lifetime. Schools of yellow snappers are always waiting around while in the shallows. In this article the barrel sponges mature to outstanding sizes producing them among the list of highlights of the website.
Other Actions
A lot of liveaboards will stop by the region of Penemu for the viewpoint there. Easy techniques to the very best will award you with a gorgeous check out through the limestone formations in the crystal-distinct waters beneath.
Arborek Village is actually a favorite place for liveaboards to go to. The children below adore website visitors and can follow you all around this beautifully retained village. Bring together provides for the school or treats for the kids for excess smiles!
Tomolol Cave is a really unique encounter. Have a trip with the pearl farm inside the bay into the maze of limestone formations. At the conclusion of the beautiful tour, a huge cavern will out of the blue show up. You could swim by way of this extensive cavern and become impressed because of the rock formations. Significant stalactites and stalagmites have been forming inside of Tomolol Cave for Countless a long time.
Quite a few areas of Raja Ampat are only waiting around to become explored. The countless limestone islands and rocks build secret lagoons. Liveaboards could possibly just take you with a lagoon tour to enjoy these beautiful seascapes.
Beach locations are all over the place in Raja Ampat! Just check with your liveaboard to drop you off in between dives to take a look at a Seaside all to yourselves.
Marine Park and Conservation in Raja Ampat
The Raja Ampat Marine Secured Region network covers a location of one,185,940 hectares. It absolutely was created in 2002 which is comprised of 7 unique maritime safeguarded areas. They are really managed because of the Raja Ampat Regency and also the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in partnership with neighborhood communities and with guidance from Worldwide NGOs.
All guests to Raja Ampat are needed to acquire a allow that is legitimate for twelve months. The money gathered goes toward the operational expenditures of preserving the MPAs and to Neighborhood conservation and advancement initiatives.