Gaia Love 11D10N

Raja Ampat, off the northwest edge of Bird’s Head Peninsula in West Papua (Irian Jaya), is a stunning sanctuary right in the middle of the Indonesian archipelago. Comprising many island shrouded in jungles, this area is well-known for its breathtaking beaches and coral reefs bursting with aquatic life. Representing the four principal islands in the region – Weigeo, Batanta, Salawati, and Misool, the name “Raja Ampat” directly translates as “four kings.”

Diving at Raja Ampat is an amazing encounter where vivid coral reefs hum with activity and marine life thrives from the seaflower to the surface. Even a seasoned photographer finds it difficult to locate an unspoiled area as the underwater locations are so perfect and heavily inhabited with marine life. The variety of exotic sea life and macro animals overwhelms macro photographers. The only drawback of diving in this immaculate paradise is that you could get so enthralled with the almost ideal conditions that leaving or diving elsewhere seems unimaginable.

Dive Gaia tours provide divers the chance to see the whole area. Batanta Island calls with amazing creature spots, especially for the macro enthusiast, to the west of Sorong.

Misool is a fascinating island in the southern section of Raja Ampat. The wealth of vibrant soft corals and sea fans elegantly decorating the reefs will captivate you. In these waters find both reef and oceanic mantas. Find one of the most breathtaking mangroves on Earth on Misool’s western point.

Between Waigeo and Batanta, Central Raja Ampat hosts the Dampier Strait, where nutrient-rich ocean currents produce an amazing underwater habitat. Here are iconic dive spots like Cape Kri and Blue Magic, surrounded by schools of fish and the unusual phenomena of “fish thunder,” the deafening booming sound produced when many fish quickly swim across open water. Arborek, further west, is notable for its jetty dive and immaculate surrounds. Approaching northwest of Dampier Strait, the Penemu Islands have magnificent lagoon views and hard coral gardens.

The islands of Weigeo, Kawe, and Wayag together comprise Northern Raja Ampet. Under the jetties of the Aljui Bay pearl farm, investigate the slumbering wobbegongs and unusual species found there. West of Waigeo, in the Kawe region, amazing cliffs and seamounts lay on the equator providing a unique diving experience between the northern and southern hemispheres. The Wayag area reveals as a lonely, uninhabited paradise with rich limestone islands, ivory beaches, and palm trees as one continues north. Here, the diving trip is equally remarkable with vast, unspoiled hard coral reefs. Given many undiscovered islands in Wayag, it is possible that more dive sites will be found in this far-off region.

Raja Ampat boasts further attractions including prehistoric rock paintings and cavernues off the island of Misool as well as the rare crimson bird of paradise on Waigeo.

Starting a luxury liveaboard diving trip with Dive Gaia from Sorong lets you fully explore this area and enjoy their warmth and comfort.

Dives: Approximately 29 dives in total

Experience: Open Water – 10 minimum logged dives required.

Marine Life: At least 75 percent of all coral species can be found in Raja Ampat, divers can expect a range of topography from soft corals and sea fans, to hard corals, seagrass beds, mangroves, shallow reefs, deep drop-offs, caves, black sand and white sand. Giant manta rays, sea turtles, sharks, cuttlefish, pipefish, various seahorse species and massive schools of reef fish are the norm, plus the delightful wobbegong sharks and epaulette sharks inhabit these waters too