Diver’s paradise as Raja Ampat has a vast marine life diversity that would wow even the most seasoned diver. It is part of the world’s Coral Triangle which is known for housing more than 3000 species of fish and other extraordinary habitats that breeds the biodiversity of its marine life. Many scientists still travel there today to discover new species in the ocean. You may well put this place into your list of diving trips!
Also Raja Ampat is a remote place almost left untouched by development and only touched by explorers that are nature lovers and independent travelers that care and travel responsibly. Here you can also meet with the local Papuan people and directly contribute to their living and get to immerse in their culture.
Dive, dive and dive!
You trip to Raja Ampat will never be complete without diving here as you have more than 30 dive sites to choose from where you can enjoy thr diverse and amazing marine lives. You may get dive in places filled with coral gardens or walls to mangroves and wreck diving. Some of the famous dive sites in Raja Ampat are Cape Kri, Sardines, Manta Sandy and Mios Kon Snorkel at many of the sites above if diving is not your thing, you’ll be pleasantly delighted that there are many marine lives as well in shallow area.
Explore the islands by boats or visit the Red Bird of Paradise or the bat caves in Tomolol.
Trek around the island to discover waterfalls.
Tour around Papua villages to see Asmat artisan’s wood sculptures or their fishing techniques or traditional performance of bamboo flute.
Watch the famous Sea Ghost phenomenon at East Waigeo where at the end of the year where a light would appear from the ocean and wander around the surface for about 15 minutes and then disappears.
Karst rocks at Raja Ampat, Papua
What and where to eat
If you did not get a diving package or other packages there that are most likely to cover your food, you may go around and eat traditional local food. Try the special fish soup call Sup Ikan Kuning (yellow fish soup) that are made with local spices.
Where to stay
There are many dive resorts or even eco resorts dotted around for you to choose from or you may go different and choose the few homestays available in villages.
Corals at Dive Raja Ampat, Papua, Indonesia
How to get there
Fly into international airports in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya or Bali (Denpasar) and then connect by domestic flight to Sorong, Raja Ampat. Some of the Indonesian airlines that fly to Sorong, Papua are Garuda Indonesia, Merpati, Sriwijaya Air, Lion Air and Batavia air while international Airlines is Silk Air.
From Sorong to Raja Ampat, you may take either the Speed Boat which takes about 1 hour at cost 2 million Rp or a Long Boat which takes 2-3 hours at cost 1.2mil RP.
How to get around
You can mostly travel around by boat here, like from Sorong to Wasai, on longboats, speedboats, liveaboard or dive boats. For land travel on the islands, you may normally cover by walking or hop one of the ubiquitous ojek (motorcycle taxi).
Into the Lagoons at Raja Ampat, Papua, Indonesia
Where to go nearby
Get back to Sorong and then proceed to discover the rest of Papua. You may fly to Jayapura and then discover Baliem Valley and Lorentz National Park.
Since Raja Ampat is in the tip of Papua, it is near to Maluku Islands, you may arrange to head there for further dive trips and exploration.
Travel Tips
Before able to go to dive spots, you would need to get a permit from the local Papua police station. Bring 3 copies of your passport page with Indonesian Visa.
Ok I will wait you all, Good Luck