Duration
11 days
Cabins left
10 / 18
Capacity
18 divers
Operator
Dewi Nusantara
Included
Mandatory surcharges
Optional extras
Certification
OWD or equivalent
Min. dives
20 logged
Check-in
12:00–12:00
Check-out
09:00–09:00
Raja Ampat casts a spell on all who visit: scuba divers, scientists, photographers, and crusty sea salts alike. This group of majestic islands, located on the northwestern tip of Indonesia’s Papuan “Bird’s Head Seascape,” lies in the heart of the Coral Triangle, the most bio-diverse marine region on earth. There are some areas where soft corals and sea fans dominate, others with amazing, diverse hard corals, seagrass beds, mangroves, shallow reefs, drop-offs, caves, black sand, and white sand. Then there is the marine life - lots of it, in more shapes and sizes than anywhere else in the world. Raja Ampat’s reefs, from pygmy seahorses to top predators, are teeming with life. The region is huge, 50,000 sq km, with hundreds of islands and an astounding array of habitats, translating to wildly different diving experiences. They range from pelagic drift dives to magic muck dives, and there are even some habitats that are special to Raja Ampat, such as clear-water mangroves with corals growing right next to them. There are thousands of potential dive sites, and there are chances for new and amazing discoveries on every trip. Raja Ampat is also known for its spectacular above-water scenery. Sparsely inhabited, most of the region still has pristine rain forests atop dramatic limestone islands and cliffs, uninhabited bays with white sand beaches, and all sorts of hidden treasures to greet the intrepid explorer. It’s a kayaker’s dream - an intricate coastline with caves, bays, gorges, and hidden rivers, all buzzing with exotic tropical wildlife and rare plants.
Mioskon and Kri are just two among the many idyllic islands that lie scattered off the shores of Gam and Waigeo in the heart of the Dampier Strait - one of the most biologically diverse marine environments on Earth. This area is a true highlight of Raja Ampat, offering some of the most awe-inspiring scuba diving experiences found anywhere on the planet. The underwater landscape surrounding these islands is nothing short of spectacular. Pristine coral gardens stretch as far as the eye can see, punctuated by dramatic seamounts that rise from the depths to form vibrant underwater peaks. These natural structures serve as gathering points for marine life of all shapes and sizes - from dazzling macro critters to powerful pelagic predators. Every dive here offers a thrilling encounter with nature, whether you’re gliding alongside swirling schools of fish, marvelling at the intricate beauty of the coral gardens, or catching a glimpse of hunting barracudas or patrolling reef sharks. The exceptional number and variety of dive sites in this region make it a fantastic destination for coral enthusiasts and fish spotters alike. The Dampier Strait’s intricate network of channels, islands, and submerged reefs creates a dynamic marine environment, with strong tidal currents flowing in and out from the surrounding deep waters. These nutrient-rich currents sustain the vibrant coral ecosystems and support an astonishing concentration of marine biodiversity. This constant movement of water ensures that every dive reveals a seascape bursting with life - colourful coral heads, dense clouds of fusiliers, schools of jackfish and trevally, and even encounters with oceanic manta rays drifting through the blue. Mioskon, Kri, and the neighbouring island of Mansuar are celebrated not just for their beauty but for the diversity of marine life found within such a relatively compact area. This stretch of the Dampier Strait is simply unmissable. It represents the perfect convergence of ecological richness, underwater drama, and natural beauty – a hotspot for divers of all levels.
Scuba diving around Yangello is very popular with visiting divers. The coral-covered ridges, reefs, and seamounts around the island create a number of excellent and exciting dive sites. One of the most popular seamounts to dive at Yangello is called Mayhem, close to the west side of the island. This is a current-washed, shallow coral reef for experienced divers seeking a little more adventure. Another submerged reef formation, Batu Dalam, is just south-west of Mayhem. Its shallowest depth is 10 metres, and it could prove to be interesting with some exploration and effort. Inside the waterway separating Yangello from Gam Island, there are a number of ridges that extend into the channel. Extensive mangrove forests grow just above the corals at the shoreline, providing excellent opportunities to shoot under/over split images when the conditions are calm, clear, and still. Some of the soft corals growing in the waterway are bright pink or purple in colour, and these too make fabulous photo subjects.
Despite the fact that the Wofoh Islands have a limited number of dive sites, they remain a popular destination for visiting yachts. With easy anchorages, pristine reefs, and sublime beaches, it is not difficult to see why. The sites at Wofoh are concentrated around the southern tip of the islands; both are excellent and can be combined into a single dive if needed. Firstly, there is the dramatic wall under the westfacing cliffs. This drops into the deep and is covered with small indents and ledges that teem with marine life. The reef at the southern end that extends away from the wall is the second named area. The topography here is a nicely sloping reef covered with black coral bushes. Extra exploration around the reefs around the tip of the north island could also turn up some interesting areas for divers to enjoy around this pretty location.
Diving at Aljui is quite different from other locations in Raja Ampat; it is geared much more towards smaller critters than huge schools of fish and vast coral fields. The edges of the islands in the bay drop very steeply along sloping reefs and walls. Different species of pygmy seahorses make their lifelong homes on the large fan corals that sprout from the steep reefs. In addition, nudibranchs of all types are easy to find around the slopes, ledges, and reefs. One of Raja Ampat’s premier night dives is centred around the three piers at the Cendana Pearl Farm. There is the main pier, where most of the farm’s operations are carried out; and two more a little further down the coast. The bottom topography and terrain are different from Aljui’s other sites; it is much flatter with a lot more sand, rubble, and gravel. Several excellent critter hunting areas are easy to find here, with plenty of fascinating subjects on offer, including sightings of wobbegong and the endemic walking epaulette shark.
Lying just under 15 nautical miles west of Arborek Island, the Penemu Group is a big favourite with\ visiting yachts. With numerous exciting land and watersports activities, this island collection has a lot to offer. Penemu’s varied dive sites all feature dazzling, colourful reefs teeming with marine life. There are awesome offshore ridges and seamounts, exciting drift dives, and one of the most talked about and photographed reefs in Indonesia: the mesmerising shallow corals of Melissa’s Garden. As well as diving Penemu’s well-known sites, there is a good deal of scope for open-water exploration too. The deep seamounts, a few nautical miles to the west of the islands, give marine adventurers the chance to make their own discoveries and dive where few have ever dived before. An added attraction at Penemu is a beautifully constructed walkway that takes visitors up to the peaks of the karst islands in the lagoon. This affords spectacular views over the seascape.
The large island of Daram marks the easternmost boundary of the Misool region. The vast majority of the dive sites are not located around the island itself, but rather a short distance to the north-west. They are undoubtedly some of the most astonishing and colourful in the entire area. Small collections of karst islets, located along the eastern end of a long island line that extends away from the east side of Misool, are the focal point for most of the site. Many of them boast incredibly abundant coral reefs and jaw-dropping topography. They are also home to so much marine life that, at times, it defies description. The anchorages and sites are vulnerable to adverse sea and weather conditions due to their remote location. However, if the weather and sea conditions are favourable, the diving here is some of the very best that Raja Ampat has to offer. In addition, there are numerous opportunities to find many more new sites around these iconic rocky islands and ridges
The Wayil dive sites are mostly clustered around the western end of Wayilbatan Island. Comprising multi-peaked seamounts, karst island ridges, and exciting passages, they all feature abundant coral growth and a wealth of both pelagic and reefdwelling marine life. At Wayil, there is something for every level of diver. These include easy and pretty reef sites, majestic open-water seamounts, and gentle drift dives that flow down some of the most otherworldly marine seascapes imaginable. One of the most popular sites is “The Four Kings.” This incredible underwater experience takes place in open water, west of the anchorages, where an astonishing four-peaked seamount rises from the deep sea floor. This massive rocky marine structure acts as a magnet for all manner of marine life, large and small.
The large island of Jef Pele, as well as the nearby Lili and Kepotsol groups, do not suffer from the concentration of divers and yachts that now visit the anchorages and marine attractions further east. However, they do feature some excellent diving opportunities. The north-western edge of Jef Pele is home to Kaleidoscope Ridge, the anchorage’s signature site. This is a fine example of Raja Ampat’s underwater world, with a dizzying array of corals and marine life, both large and small. This impressive coral-covered ridge’s incredible underwater architecture combines with a deeper seamount, attracting some of the larger animals that inhabit the abundant reefs and seas of the Misool region. Jef Pele’s complex coastline, as well as the numerous offshore islands further south, allow for more dive site exploration. The sites at Lili and Kepotsol, just under two nautical miles north of the Jef Pele shoreline, share the same amazing marine life and coral characteristics as those around the more well-known anchorages. The scope for new discoveries is considerable, especially in the Kofani group, situated between Lili and Kepotsol.
The dive sites in and around Fiabacet and Boo are, without exaggeration, among the most exceptional not only in Raja Ampat and Indonesia, but arguably across the entire planet. This remote corner of the Coral Triangle offers a truly world-class underwater experience that continues to captivate even the most seasoned divers. Beneath the surface, the southern region’s deep ocean floor rises dramatically into a stunning marine landscape - an intricate maze of ridges, seamounts, and channels. This unique topography acts as a natural funnel for the nutrient-rich currents flowing in from the open ocean. As these currents surge over and around the rock and reef formations, they feed the vibrant coral ecosystems, igniting an explosion of life and colour that is nothing short of breathtaking. Each dive site here offers its own distinct wonders, but they all share an extraordinary level of biodiversity. Divers are treated to scenes of immense beauty: clouds of schooling fish so thick they can obscure the reef behind them, kaleidoscopic coral gardens teeming with life, and an ever-present sense of awe. It’s not uncommon to spot grey, whitetip, and black-tip reef sharks weaving through the masses, accompanied by formidable pelagic predators like dogtooth tuna, Spanish mackerel, giant trevally, and the graceful, sweeping forms of mobula rays as they hunt amid the chaos of baitfish. Many of the most celebrated sites cluster around striking karst limestone outcrops and along the rugged shores of Boo and Kalig Islands. Here, the dynamic currents and nutrient-rich upwellings from the Ceram Sea to the south nourish the reefs, sustaining an ecosystem of remarkable abundance and resilience, as well as a magnet for marine life.
While the southern side of Batanta may lack the postcard-perfect vistas that are often synonymous with Raja Ampat, it more than makes up for it beneath the surface. This area is renowned among seasoned divers and underwater photographers as one of the region’s premier destinations for discovering bizarre, elusive, and utterly fascinating marine critters. Most diving activity in this part of Raja Ampat has traditionally focused along the south-western coastline of Batanta Island, rather than further up the strait or along Salawati’s opposing shoreline. This focus has yielded some of the most rewarding critter-hunting dive sites in the archipelago. Yet, this stretch of coastline continues to surprise - new dive sites and previously undocumented marine species are still being discovered, often in the most unassuming locations. These dive sites are typically found around a series of sheltered bays and the vibrant coral reefs that\ extend from their edges. Beneath the surface, the eabed is composed of a mix of sand, gravel, and rubble, interspersed with isolated coral bommies that serve as havens for macro life. Above water, narrow strips of darksand beaches line the coast, giving way to steep forested slopes that rise dramatically into the tropical canopy. The surrounding highlands of both Batanta and Salawati receive substantial rainfall, much of which flows down through streams and rivers, eventually draining into the Sagewin Strait. This steady influx of freshwater mixes with the nutrient-rich saltwater currents moving through the channel, creating the perfect environment for unique marine life to thrive. It’s this interplay of freshwater outflow and oceanic movement that cultivates the ideal conditions for critter diving. Thanks to these naturally rich habitats, the south-western shores of Batanta - particularly those within the Sagewin Strait - have earned a special place in the hearts of macro enthusiasts and underwater photographers. With each dive, this enigmatic stretch of coastline continues to reveal new secrets, cementing its reputation as a must-visit site for those in search of Raja Ampat’s more mysterious andunusual marine residents.
• Flexible Itineraries: Our cruise routes are intentionally adaptable. Throughout the journey, the captain and cruise director continuously assess sea conditions, weather, and tides to ensure the best possible experience. Guest preferences for specific dive sites are always considered whenever feasible. • More Than Is Listed: The locations featured in these itineraries represent only a portion of what’s possible. Numerous additional anchorages and activity options are available along the way, making each voyage truly unique. • Simplified for Clarity: The destinations shown in our presentations are not necessarily listed in the order they will be visited. They are organized for clarity and to help guests visualize the overall routing. • Extended Stays: If a particular anchorage offers exceptional experiences, guests may opt to linger a bit longer. The captain and cruise director have the flexibility to accommodate such preferences, provided they align with the overall cruise schedule. • Overnight Passages: To maximize daylight hours at our most spectacular destinations, longer transits between anchorages are typically conducted overnight. • Escape the Crowds: With the exception of embarkation and disembarkation points, our itineraries are carefully crafted to avoid congested areas and busy commercial ports, allowing for a more tranquil and immersive experience. • Beyond the Dive: Many of our anchorages offer more than just diving and snorkelling. Guests can enjoy kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and occasional visits to local villages and cultural sites — adding even more richness to the journey.
Price per person
$8,459
All taxes included
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