Raja Ampat is Indonesia’s crown jewel for scuba diving adventures, and it is best reached via Raja Ampat liveaboard. Encompassing over 1,500 islands, its waters boast the world’s highest recorded marine biodiversity. From drift dives packed with pelagics to tranquil coral gardens, this remote paradise offers something for every diver and snorkeler.
West Papua, Indonesia
October – April (Optimal diving conditions)
Fly to Sorong, ferry to Waisai
75% of the world's coral species
It is challenging to refer to one particular marine life as the main attraction of Raja Ampat because the variety found here is astonishing. Not to mention, many species only exist in the waters of Raja Ampat, making it one—if not the most—mind-blowing dive site in the world. But if it has to be narrowed down, black manta rays should be high on the list.
Manta rays generally have dark grey on their backs and primarily white on the undersides, but the ones found in Raja Ampat are melanistic. Their backs and bottoms are entirely black with some central white blazes in different sizes and shapes. What makes the black mantas in Raja Ampat special is that 40% of the population of reef manta rays in the region is black. The only place in the world where black manta’s population is prominent is in Ecuador, which is only 16%.
A riot of soft corals and reef fish, nicknamed 'The Aquarium'. Mangroves and colorful corals shelter octopus, turtles, pufferfish, and schooling barracuda.
A coral masterpiece with stony, soft, and hydrocorals. Sightings include anthias, manta rays, zebra sharks, and the rare Raja epaulette shark.
Two submerged rocks with natural swim-throughs, home to butterflyfish, frogfish, pygmy seahorses, and wobbegongs resting on coral shelves.
A submerged pinnacle with cleaning stations. Regular sightings of manta rays, green turtles, trevallies, and the Raja Ampat walking shark.
Dense coral cover with swirling fusiliers, jacks, tuna, and reef sharks. Wobbegongs and sweetlips are often seen cruising the reef edge.
A diver favorite, teeming with pygmy seahorses, yellow snappers, jacks, Napoleon wrasse, and vibrant sponges.
Over 600 species, including soft corals, sea fans, and massive sponges.
Nearly 1,000 reef fish species, from butterflyfish and parrotfish to trevallies and barracuda.
Includes grey reef, white tip, the endemic Raja Ampat walking shark, and Indonesian speckled carpet shark.
Black and reef manta rays, spotted cruising cleaning stations in Misool and Dampier.
Giant clams, rare nudibranchs, and vibrant cephalopods like octopuses and cuttlefish.
