Raja Ampat liveaboard has the unique advantage of allowing travelers to visit numerous locations throughout this vast area. The top liveaboards in Raja Ampat also have multi-destination itineraries down to science. Most days will be spent diving three or four times in one location before sailing through the night to your next amazing island group.
So you’re in luck if you want to explore Raja Ampat. With many trips spending ten or more thrilling days on the water, this is one of the most well-liked places on earth for extended resort stays and Raja Ampat expedition-style liveaboard itineraries.
Geographic of Raja Ampat
Since Raja Ampat is made up of over 46,000 square kilometers of sea and islands. There are hundreds of incredible dive sites to discover and more are being discovered all the time. You could dive here for years and still not see them all.
The dramatic island landscape of Raja Ampat was created as a result of plate tectonics lifting the earth’s crust over thousands of years and exposing an old limestone seabed to rain-induced erosion. This explains why there are so many improbably tiny islands in the area that rise from the turquoise sea!
Popular Region
The vast region of Raja Ampat contains a wide variety of different habitats, diverse ecosystems, and rare wildlife. Raja Ampat is divided into north and south, and they couldn’t be more different from one another.
Raja Ampat’s Northern Region
The Dampier Strait is bounded to the north by the islands of Gam and Waigeo and to the south by Batanta. Home to some of Raja Ampat’s best northern diving. The region can also be accessed easily from Sorong, and boat transfers from the mainland take only a short amount of time.
The majority of Raja Ampat’s day diving takes place in the north. Where amazing coral reefs populated with fish can be reached after short boat rides. In fact, Cape Kri is one of the most famous dive sites in this region. Holds the record for the greatest variety of fish species observed in a single dive. Many of the park’s best-known dive sites can be found here, including Sardine Reef, Blue Magic, Cape Kri, Manta Ridge, and Manta Sandy. These northern dive sites have incredible biodiversity, including huge shoals of reef fish. Lots of pelagic activity, and occasionally visiting manta rays and sharks.
Raja Ampat Southern Region
The southern reefs of Raja Ampat are calmer and more picturesque than the northern reefs. But they still have plenty of powerful drifts. Expect a different underwater environment with pinnacles and ridges covered in sea fans, sponges, soft coral, and even up-close encounters with enormous oceanic manta rays. With many dive sites ideal for intermediate divers, you’ll typically find less difficult conditions than in the north.
Epic dive sites like Boo Rock, Fiabacet, and Magic Mountain are known for nonstop big fish action and some of Indonesia’s most pristine soft coral gardens. The diving around Misool is especially impressive. The Misool Marine Reserve protects a significant portion of Raja Ampat’s southern region. In fact, the number of sharks in this region of Raja Ampat has been increasing yearly!