Diving in Raja Ampat

With unmatched marine biodiversity and range of underwater habitats, Raja Ampat is arguably the world’s premier diving and snorkeling destination

Raja Ampat, a cluster of tropical islands close to the Equator, is known in the diving world for its incredibly diverse repository for tropical marine life. Strap on a diving mask and fins and slip under the crystal-clear water near a coral reef, and you’ll immediately see why divers and snorkelers from across the world flock to the area.

Raja Ampat can be accessed via the port city of Sorong (Airport code: SOQ) in East Indonesia. The entire region, located in the center of the Coral Triangle, sees vibrant marine activity supported by the world’s densest distribution of coral reefs, which also happens to be the most diverse selection of reefs for an area of comparable size. A single dive site in Raja Ampat may house more species than the whole of the Caribbean.

Here, you’ll witness fish of all shapes and colors darting in and out of crevices created by the dazzling shapes of corals, colorful sponges and other reef-building organisms. With a little luck, you might catch a glimpse of a shark patrolling the reef or a turtle soaring across the landscape of colors while diving or even snorkeling in the region, given that many of them roam close to the surface and also due to the excellent visibility of the crystal clear waters.

Raja Ampat is a truly vital marine asset that would top any diver’s or snorkeler’s bucket list.

• 22.5 million hectares with over 2,500 islands and reefs
• 1,711 species of reef fish
• 600+ species of corals
• 17 species of whales and dolphins; significant cetacean migration routes and aggregation sites
• Some of the world’s most extensive mangrove forest and sea grass beds, which support dugongs
• World’s largest Pacific leatherback turtle nesting beaches, with regionally significant nesting sites for green, olive ridley, and hawksbill turtles
• 4.6 million hectares protected by a network of 20 Marine Protected Areas, strongly supported by the communities that surround and live within them
• The Coral Triangle’s first shark and ray sanctuary in Raja Ampat, that provides strict protection to all sharks and rays, as well as turtles, dugongs and endemic fishes
• Over 200 internationally acclaimed scuba diving sites
• Endemic birds of paradise, rare plants and insects, karst spires, densely forested peaks, and deserted beaches
• An unprecedented partnership between coastal communities, local and national governments, international and local NGOs, and academic institutions ensures sustainable management of the Bird’s Head Seascape’s resources

Even scientists have struggled for more than half a century to explain what exactly makes the region the world’s marine biodiversity hot spot that’s so popular for diving and snorkeling.

Several hypotheses have been put forth to explain this phenomenon. Some researchers suggested species emerge here at a faster rate there compared to other parts of the world’s oceans, while others attributed it to the region’s central location between several species-rich swaths of ocean in the broader Indo-West Pacific.

Still others pointed to the region’s low extinction rates. The Coral Triangle also has many deepwater basins that have protected the region from glacial water during Earth’s ice ages. While other underwater regions of the world experienced mass species extinction due to glacial water, Raja Ampat’s species were unscathed for 30-35 million years.

Given the luxury of time, the species of Raja Ampat progressively developed a higher natural resilience through evolution. Combined with the cooler currents from deepwater basins, Raja Ampat reefs have been largely safe from the effects of global warming and rising sea temperatures.

Additionally, the with currents from both Indian and Pacific Oceans funneling nutrient-rich currents into the area, Raja Ampat became prime real estate for marine life and an underwater treasure trove for humans.

Some of the most sought-after species to get a close look at in Raja Ampat are the rarest, for example the shy and gentle dugong, the fork-tailed Asian cousin of the manatee that inspired the legend of mermaids. Dugongs live solitary lives in the wild, so they can be very difficult to spot even though they can weigh up to 420kg!

Sea turtles of many species are quite common in Raja Ampat, but dwindling numbers of the critically endangered hawksbill turtle makes it one of the most exciting species to witness in the flesh on a diving or snorkeling trip. These turtles feed on the soft corals and sponges that flourish close to the shorelines of the islands and being in the water with them is a very special feeling indeed.

There are also abundant fish, eel and shrimp species that are endemic to Raja Ampat. Keep your eyes peeled for the Papuan garden eel with its giraffe-like spots, the Cendrawasih mantis shrimp, and of course the bottom-feeding Papua walking sharks that use their pectoral and pelvic fins to ‘walk’ across the seabed.

Water Temperature: 28 – 30 °C

From the months of October through to March sea temperatures are pleasant 83 – 86 degrees Fahrenheit (28-30 degrees Celsius).

Water Visibility:10-20 metres