Located in West Papua, Indonesia, the Raja Ampat archipelago is the Holy Grail of scuba diving. Diving in Raja Ampat guarantees you’ll be able to observe exceptional marine biodiversity. Raja Ampat is regularly ranked among Indonesia and Southeast Asia’s top diving sites. This group of tropical islands is teeming with vibrant coral reefs, tropical fish, and rare marine creatures. All in clear, warm waters. Here are my favorite diving sites in Raja Ampat, including some beautiful sites near the islands of Groot Fam, Batanta, and Misool
Melissa’s Garden is an iconic site in the Groot Fam archipelago in Raja Ampat. It’s one of the most beautiful coral gardens I’ve ever dived in. You’ll discover a vibrantly colored coral reef with an incredible diversity of hard and soft corals. The clear water provides optimal visibility, which is ideal for observing schools of butterflyfish, clownfish, groupers, jacks, and triggerfish.
The shallow depth makes this site accessible to all and offers a true natural spectacle. If you’re taking a liveaboard cruise, this is a good site for a refresher dive if you haven’t dived in a while.
During my dives at Melissa’s Garden, I was lucky enough to observe incredible marine diversity. Above the multicolored corals, schools of anthias and damselfish swam, creating a veritable aquatic ballet. While exploring the surrounding area, I also encountered a bearded carpet shark well camouflaged under a rock—a unique sight!
Blacktip reef sharks patrolled the waters not far away, while a majestic Napoleon wrasse gracefully passed by. Trevally were also present: bigeye, giant, and bluefin, moved in compact groups.
Located in the same region as Melissa’s Garden, Keruo Channel is a captivating drift dive site. This narrow passage between two islands allows you to drift in moderate currents. You can usually spot manta rays, reef sharks, schools of parrotfish, and jacks in action. Diving in this channel is also an excellent opportunity to observe the site’s unique geological formations, particularly the coral walls that line the passage.
I’ve only dived once in Keruo Channel, but it was a beautiful dive. Among the memorable encounters, majestic bluefin trevally and giant trevally swam in harmony. While exploring the reef’s nooks and crannies, I could also observe tiny Denise and Bargibanti pygmy seahorses, hidden in their gorgonians. Schools of bumphead parrotfish added vibrant splashes of color, while damselfish and fusiliers formed a veritable underwater ballet.
Batu Rufas is another underwater treasure in the Groot Fam region. The topography is remarkable, with caves, tunnels, and overhangs home to diverse wildlife. This dive site is recommended for experienced divers, as it requires good buoyancy to navigate these areas. You can usually observe nudibranchs, sea turtles, reef sharks, and many tropical fish.
I dived at night at Batu Rufas. It was an opportunity to see many creatures, including an orangutan crab and a dwarf cuttlefish. Further away, an octopus explored the surroundings, skillfully camouflaging itself with the slightest movement. Decorator crabs blended into the landscape, adorned with pieces of coral and algae. Finally, numerous brightly colored nudibranchs added a final touch to this unforgettable nighttime spectacle.
The Dayang and Convergence dive sites are near Batanta Island in the Raja Ampat archipelago. Dayang offers a varied landscape with vibrant reefs and rock formations where currents bring various fish. At Convergence, the currents meet, creating a dynamic ecosystem that attracts numerous marine species, from the smallest creatures to large predators.
During my dives at Dayang and Convergence, I was fortunate enough to encounter several fascinating species. Majestic manta rays appeared, gliding gracefully in the current. A bearded carpet shark blended into the landscape, almost invisible with its unique texture. I also observed a ribbon moray eel undulating among the corals and numerous vibrantly colored nudibranchs adding color to the reefs. An intense hunt for blacktip reef sharks added suspense to this experience, accompanied by the imposing presence of a sandbar shark. Finally, a unique-looking boxfish slipped into the background, completing an already breathtaking scene.
Misool is a region of Raja Ampat prized by divers for its unique coral formations and rich biodiversity. Boo Window is famous for its two natural “windows” in a huge underwater rock, offering a spectacular view of the reef’s exterior. This site is teeming with parrotfish, angelfish, and rays. Exploring the caves and crevices around Boo Window, where sharks and humphead wrasse occasionally make an appearance, is obviously a must. The coral colors here are of a rare intensity, creating an almost surreal landscape.
During my dives at Boo Window, exceptional moments unfolded amidst vibrant marine life. Grey reef sharks patrolled the waters, while a spectacular mating dance of blacktip reef sharks captivated my attention—a rare and fascinating sight. Encounters with an impressive Napoleon wrasse and several imposing batfish added to the experience. A dense school of bigeye and yellowtail barracudas glided in perfect formation, and hawksbill turtles gracefully joined the scene. Meanwhile, Denise’s pygmy seahorses cleverly camouflaged themselves among the coral, leaving me in awe.
I also dived a bit further south, at the Karang Bayangan site, opposite the island of Warakraket. A massive underwater topography enriched the scene, reminiscent of a Romanesque cathedral. Here, I encountered a majestic oceanic manta ray gliding gracefully. I also discovered the famous ocellated bullhead shark, more commonly known as the epaulette shark. A little further out, sandbar sharks and young blacktip reef sharks swam with large-eyed, blue-tinged trevally, yellow snappers, and colorful anthias. Napoleon wrasse and schools of yellowtail barracuda completed this striking panorama, making these dives unforgettable.
Tank Rock, also called “Pinnacle Rock,” is an impressive dive site with pinnacles covered in soft and hard corals. The currents can be pretty intense, attracting large pelagic fish such as tuna, trevally, and manta rays. Due to the currents, this site is recommended for experienced divers. The pinnacles create a spectacular environment for exploring the canyons and walls, where you can also spot sea turtles and colorful nudibranchs.
My dive at Tank Rock was an immersion in the unique atmosphere of Misool, with its imposing rock formations and majestic gorgonians adorning the walls. As soon as I entered the water, a school of blacktail barracudas greeted me, gliding silently through the water. Not far away, an imposing Napoleon wrasse surveyed the surroundings. Bigeye trevally also patrolled the site, their fixed gaze capturing every movement. Further out, bluefin trevally engaged in a thrilling hunt, adding incredible energy to the environment. Every corner of Tank Rock resonates with the marine richness and spectacular topography for which Misool is famous.
Four Kings, or “The Four Kings,” is a group of four pinnacles that emerge from the depths and are covered in soft corals. This site is exceptional for its abundant wildlife, where you can encounter manta rays, barracudas, groupers, and reef sharks. The pinnacles offer perfect nooks for observing clownfish and angelfish. Visibility is often excellent, and the light passing through the water illuminates the corals in shades of pink, purple, and yellow.
My dive at Four Kings was a fascinating experience among spectacular coral formations that create an underwater Gothic cathedral topography. A huge school of yellow snapper danced around the structures, enveloping the rocks in a vibrant palette of colors. Damselfish added flashes of blue here and there. While yellowtail barracudas swam by, their silhouettes contrasting with the reefs.
Wedding Cake is named from its layered shape, reminiscent of a wedding cake. This site is perfect for drift diving, offering a gentle immersion through canyons and coral walls. The fauna is diverse, including schools of surgeonfish, parrotfish, and even, if you’re lucky, leopard sharks. The constant current allows you to observe numerous pelagic fish, including jacks and tuna, while floating along the walls. Wedding Cake is also appreciated for its vibrant colors and unique structure.
Diving at Wedding Cake, I discovered a pinnacle of unique beauty with a fascinating topography, composed of steep walls and impressive overhangs. While exploring the site, I encountered sweetlips and jacks patrolling the pinnacle. I also discovered a very cute zebra-striped pipefish.
As its name suggests, Barracuda Rock is renowned for its encounters with barracudas, often seen in large schools. This site is perfect for divers who enjoy large pelagic fish, as tuna and rays are common here. The topography comprises rock formations covered in colorful corals, making for an exciting dive. The currents are sometimes intense, but they bring a great diversity of marine life, making it an ideal spot for experienced divers.
I did a night dive at the Barracuda site. We first explored the wall. We discovered small crabs moving furtively between the rocks and vibrantly colored nudibranchs that stood out intensely in the light of our flashlights. But the highlight of this first part of the dive was an electric clam. Its bluish reflections created a hypnotizing effect, almost giving the impression of an electric pulse from the seabed.
As we ascended the plateau, the current picked up, and a diver in our group lost one of his fins! On the plateau, we discovered an ocellated bullhead shark moving discreetly along the bottom, its spotted patterns blending into the shadows. A moray eel also slipped out of hiding, adding an intriguing atmosphere to the setting.
Kaleidoscope is one of the most colorful sites in Raja Ampat, hence its name. The soft and hard corals form a vibrant color palette, with shades of pink, red, yellow, and purple. This site is perfect for observing nudibranchs, angelfish, butterflyfish, and turtles. Kaleidoscope is also an ideal spot for underwater photography, as the visibility is excellent and the coral colors stand out beautifully underwater. Macro diving enthusiasts will also find what they’re looking for here, with a diverse fauna and fascinating creatures.
My dive at Kaleidoscope was marked by frenetic activity and a swirl of underwater colors. Upon entering, hunting trevally rushed into schools of silversides, creating an effervescent dance of tiny silvery flashes around them. This predatory ballet added intensity to the site’s atmosphere, making the scene even more captivating. Not far away, I was lucky enough to spot a tiny Denise pygmy seahorse. Delicately clinging to a gorgonian, this Denise added a touch of grace and rarity to this dive. Further down, schools of blue and yellow fusiliers paraded by, creating a vibrant mosaic of colors that reinforced the character
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