Live-aboard diving through Central Raja Ampat

Nature
The wow factor for nature - does it show nature at its best? Doesn't need to be the wildebeest migration or diving with hundreds of hammerheads. Rather make you pause as you realise just how awesome the natural world can be
10
Culture
How much does this experience showcase some of the better and finer things that us humans can offer? Sure, it can be ancient ruins and renaissance churches, but it can also be festivals or soaking up some of the great modern cities of the world
3
Fun factor/activity
Very simple - was it fun? This is usually linked in with doing some kind of activity - i mean, walking along some cliffs is nice, but paragliding from them, now that is fun. Its a vastly underrated factor in a truly great experience
10
Avoid the crowds
Big tour groups and being surrounded by loud fellow tourists can sap the life out of even the greatest of travel experiences. This score is to reflect just how much you can avoid this. But. . . The score also takes into account if the crowds actually add to the experience, such as with a party town or a bustling local market
10
World famous
How world famous is the experience?
3
unique
How hard is it to have a similar experience in other places round the world?
7
Overall TE Score
The overall travel experiences score:  fun factor + avoid the crowds + (best of nature or culture) + (best of world famous or unique). Then convert into a score out of 100
92 *What the scores mean and where do they come from
RANKING
How this travel experience ranks compared to all the other experiences on this site, based on the travel experience (te) score
5th/454
Top 1%
continent
Asia
country
Indonesia
Length of time
Around a week
Typical daily price
This gives you a rough idea of the daily price based on 2 people travelling where they can split costs like accommodation. It excludes travel there and back, and factors in inflation the numbers in brackets show the price range for the full time of the experience (so not necessarily daily). It is a range to reflect different budget vs higher end
$630 ($4,000-$5,000 in 2023 prices)
Time of year visited
November
Primary Tags
Click on any of the tags to see all travel experiences with the same tag
Islands Scuba diving Wildlife - Manta Rays
All Tags
Adventure Beaches Boat trip Isolation Local villages River swimming Sailing Sunsets Wildlife - Sea Turtles Wildlife - Sharks
Wow Factor
The wow factor reflects just how much you’re likely to say “wow”. As there’s a lot of experiences in the world, and a lot of wows, i’ve gone with a simple ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ to ⭐️ score, and a separate category for the truly "gash"
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Summary

Raja Ampat is, in my opinion, the best scuba diving in the world (very closely followed by the Galapagos).  When combined with the stunning tropical paradise it is situated in and its remoteness leading to fewer fellow tourist numbers, it places it right near the top of any world travel experience, let alone purely scuba diving.

 

I’ve experienced it in 3 very different ways:

  1. Staying in very basic local homestays that are dotted around the Central Raja Ampat islands and represent the cheaper option (US$900 for a week including all diving costs) – see Diving and staying in guest houses in Central Raja Ampat for the review
  2. On a live-aboard yacht, again in the Central area but with the luxury and flexibility for traveling to more remote spots (US$4,500) – the focus for this review
  3. Staying at the famous Misool Eco-resort based in South Raja Ampat that is within its own protected marine reserve (US$5,500) – see A week diving at Raja Ampat’s Misool Eco-resort.

 

The key question comes down to how much you’re prepared to spend and, often, availability in what is an area in demand.  If have the money, a liveaboard (just about anywhere in the world) is hard to beat, especially in Central Raja Ampat.  It gives you the flexibility to adapt to the conditions, travel through the simply glorious island settings and travel to some of the more remote spots, in particular Piaynemo to the far west.  This is the second trip we took and were blown away.

 

If an adventurous diver, Raja Ampat, however you do it, is a must.  By liveaboard it is the highest Wow factor you can get.

 

Liveaboard diving trip through Raja Ampat - sunset view

 

Table of Contents

Raja Ampat Top 12 Highlights

Raja Ampat - #1 Watching paradise drift by, with the occasional other yacht to completely ruin the view

#1 Watching paradise drift by, with the occasional other yacht to completely ruin the view

Raja Ampat - #2 Raja's Manta Cleaning Stations, in this case just next to Dayang. It was incredible to see 10+ manta rays just sweeping back and forward over the rocks as you sit by and watch them, neither of you with a care in the world. So good, we asked to go back and do the same dive again

#2 Raja's Manta Cleaning Stations, in this case just next to Dayang. It was incredible to see 10+ manta rays just sweeping back and forward over the rocks as you sit by and watch them, neither of you with a care in the world. So good, we asked to go back and do the same dive again

Raja Ampat - #2 World-class dive sites like Blue Magic - an outrageous amount of fish all congregating above a rock sticking just under the water out in the middle of the nowhere.  An incredible experience and just about all of us wanted to go straight under again once we'd finished (Photos, taken from videos, of course never does it justice)

#2 World-class dive sites like Blue Magic - an outrageous amount of fish all congregating above a rock sticking just under the water out in the middle of the nowhere.  An incredible experience and just about all of us wanted to go straight under again once we'd finished (Photos, taken from videos, of course never does it justice)

Raja Ampat - #4 Visiting the spectacular and picture-perfect scenery of Piaynemo

#4 Visiting the spectacular and picture-perfect scenery of Piaynemo

Raja Ampat - #5 The crystal clear waters - Raja Ampat has some of the best there is

#5 The crystal clear waters - Raja Ampat has some of the best there is

Raja Ampat - #6 Just about every sunsets from the liveaboard. Glass in hand. Hard to beat

#6 Just about every sunsets from the liveaboard. Glass in hand. Hard to beat

Raja Ampat - #7 Some of the simple jetty dives, in this case Sawandarek. Whilst not famous compared to the likes of Blue Magic, because its Raja Ampat they often have more wildlife than anywhere else on the planet

#7 Some of the simple jetty dives, in this case Sawandarek. Whilst not famous compared to the likes of Blue Magic, because its Raja Ampat they often have more wildlife than anywhere else on the planet

Raja Ampat - #8 Seeing heaps of Wobbegongs (Carpet Sharks). Often seen in tropical waters, but typically deep, whereas they are very regular sights in Raja Ampat

#8 Seeing heaps of Wobbegongs (Carpet Sharks). Often seen in tropical waters, but typically deep, whereas they are very regular sights in Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat - #9 The walk up and swim through the Kalibiru (Blue River) next to the water passage that makes its way through the main island by Rabia.

#9 The walk up and swim through the Kalibiru (Blue River) next to the water passage that makes its way through the main island by Rabia.

Raja Ampat - #10 The micro - nuddiebranches abound!

#10 The micro - nuddiebranches abound!

Raja Ampat - #11 Getting bored of turtles

#11 Getting bored of turtles

Raja Ampat - #12 Some of the cave dives, in this case Batus Rufas. Simple, but pretty

#12 Some of the cave dives, in this case Batus Rufas. Simple, but pretty

Key Tip

Raja Ampat really is remote, which is part of the allure.  The remoteness means, at least for now, less fellow tourists and more pristine waters. But it also means less amenities.

 

Don’t expect: roads, shops, cell reception and the towns to have much in them.  Do expect jungle islands, beaches, shacks and world class diving.

 

The Diving

We went with Tiare (via Blue Water Travel) and would highly recommend. The boat, as you can see in the photos, was beautiful, the staff wonderful, and everything diving-related 10/10.  Total price in 2023 including all rental of diving equipment, dives themselves, Nitrox, drinks, tips etc came to US$4,500 per person.

 

Tiare Raja Ampat Liveaboard boat at sunset

 

Book early – the liveaboards in particular tend to book up quite quickly.  Best way to search for them is via liveaboard.com – Indonesia.

 

Just about every dive in Raja Ampat is a 8+ / 10.   We dived in the following dive sites: Mioskon, Friwen Wall, Batu Lima, Mayhem, Citrus Ridge, Aborek village jetty, Manta Sandy, Sawandarek village jetty, Yenbuba Ridge, Dayang, Cape Kri, Blue Magic.  All great.

 

Raja Ampat diving through caves

 

Blue Magic, the manta-cleaning station off Dayang and jetty off Sawandarek were some of the best diving I’ve done anywhere in the world.

 

 Blue Magic is the famous one – an outrageous amount of fish all congregating above a rock sticking just under the water out in the middle of the nowhere.  An incredible experience and just about all of us wanted to go straight under again once we’d finished.

 

Raja Ampat diving Blue Magic - hundreds of fish

 

The manta-cleaning station off Dayang – had so many manta rays (reef and oceanic) that we went straight back for another dive.  The best manta experience I’ve seen, by far.

 

Raja Ampat - The manta-cleaning station off Dayang - had so many manta rays (reef and oceanic) that we went straight back for another dive.  The best manta experience I've seen, by far.

 

Sawanderek – you rock up and see its a basic jetty next to one of the villages.  Huge numbers of fish, all helped by being a shallow dive so the colours of the coral and fish come through brightly.

 

Raja Ampat - Sawanderek - you rock up and see its a basic jetty next to one of the villages.  Huge numbers of fish, all helped by being a shallow dive so the colours of the coral and fish come through brightly. Night dive

 

General Raja Ampat Tips

Trips to do – the visit to the spectacular scenery of Piaynemo is a must, and most likely your live-aboard will travel there.  We also really enjoyed the walk and swim up the Kalibiru (Blue River) next to the tight water route through the main islands by Rabia; as well as the visit to the beautiful village of Arborek.

 

Raja Ampat - the visit to the spectacular scenery of Piaynemo is a must, and most likely your live-aboard will travel there

 

Don’t bother with Sarong.  You’re there for the diving.  Sorong is just the airport.

 

When to visit – best time to dive Raja Ampat on a liveaboard is October to April, when seas are generally calmer and visibility is good.  November to March often considered the sweet spot.  July and August are monsoon so nothing will be running.  May, June and September are shoulder season – bit more of a risk.  I went to Misool in early May and it was fantastic.

 

Is Raja Ampat the world’s best dive location?

It’s very hard to split Raja Ampat and the Galapagos – they are both on a level of their own.  But in my opinion Raja Ampat just pips it for its sheer breadth of diving experiences to make it the world’s premier dive expertience.

 

Tier: World’s Best

RAJA AMPAT 🇮🇩 – THE COMPLETE PACKAGE
Pristine reefs, huge fish life, manta rays, sharks, world-class macro and an incredible variety of dive sites, all set among some of the most beautiful tropical islands on earth. Raja Ampat is about as close as diving gets to the complete package.

THE GALAPAGOS 🇪🇨 – BIGGEST WOW DIVING ON EARTH
So many hammerhead sharks you genuinely get bored of them, plus whale sharks, sea lions and marine iguanas, all in one of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife environments. The trip out to Wolf and Darwin makes this the single biggest wow diving experience on the planet. Scuba diving at Wolf and Darwin Islands in the Galapagos

Tier: Elite

TUBBATAHA REEF 🇵🇭 – REMOTE DIVING WILDERNESS
UNESCO-listed reef system in the middle of the Sulu Sea, only accessible by liveaboard.  Huge healthy reefs, big marine life and almost no other divers – everything feels wild, remote and untouched.  The pride of the Philippines. Tubbataha Reef liveaboard

KOMODO ISLANDS 🇮🇩 – BIG FISH & WILD DRIFT DIVING
Strong currents, huge schools of fish, manta rays, sharks and some of the most exciting drift diving in the world.  Plus the Komodo Islands themselves are one of the most beautiful locations to dive.  Not always easy diving, but when Komodo is good, it’s elite. Sailing the Komodo Islands in November

THE RED SEA 🇪🇬 – BEST EASY WORLD-CLASS DIVING
Incredible coral reefs, warm clear water, huge walls, wrecks and reliable conditions, all with relatively easy access. The Red Sea is probably the easiest place in the world to do truly world-class diving. Scuba diving in the Red Sea from Hurghada

SIPADAN 🇲🇾 – TURTLES, BARRACUDA & SHEER WALLS
A tiny island with spectacular wall diving, huge schools of barracuda, lots of turtles and very healthy reefs. Small, focused and very special — Sipadan is one of Southeast Asia’s standout dive sites.

Tier: Specialist Dives

MALAPASCUA 🇵🇭 – THRESHER SHARKS
One of the only reliable places in the world to dive with thresher sharks, seen regularly at Monad Shoal. Not a huge variety of diving, but for thresher sharks this is the place. Diving with Thresher Sharks at Malapascua Island

TULUM 🇲🇽 – CENOTES
Freshwater cave diving through crystal clear water, stalactites and beams of light – completely different from ocean diving and one of the most unique dive experiences in the world. Scuba diving the Cenotes of Tulum

BEQA ISLAND 🇫🇯 – TIGER SHARKS
The most intense shark experience in the world and one of the only places you regularly dive outside of a cage with tiger and bull sharks.  Not for the faint-hearted. Diving with bull and tiger sharks by Beqa Island

CAPE TOWN 🇿🇦 – KELP FORESTS
Cold water diving through giant underwater kelp forests with seals, dramatic light and a very different feel to tropical diving — more like an underwater jungle. Kelp diving near Cape Town

CORON 🇵🇭 – WWII WRECK DIVING
A collection of Japanese WWII wrecks sitting in clear water, making this the best wreck diving destination in the world.  Wreck diving in Coron.

Experiences Nearby

The below map shows experiences nearby with a colour that reflect the Overall Score of those experiences

Other World-Class Scuba Diving Trips

Island hopping the Galapagos Islands
⭐⭐⭐

A week diving at South Raja Ampat’s Misool Eco-resort
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tubbataha Reef liveaboard
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Diving with bull and tiger sharks by Beqa Island
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scuba diving the Cenotes of Tulum
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Diving the Blue Hole
⭐⭐⭐

Diving with Thresher Sharks at Malapascua Island
⭐⭐⭐

Kelp diving near Cape Town
⭐⭐⭐

Wreck diving in Coron
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scuba diving in Cozumel
⭐⭐⭐

Score Detail

The scores above are the real point of this site.

Over 20+ years and 100+ countries, I’ve tried to rank the world’s best travel experiences — from genuinely mind-blowing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to the properly gash.

Every one of the 500+ places on this site has both a Wow Factor rating and a more analytical Travel Experience (TE) score based on the things that actually make travel memorable.

If you're curious about the thinking behind it, head to the About page.

Otherwise, explore the map above or on the Home page and see which places truly deliver maximum wow.

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