With the end of the year just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about your next dive trip. If you were to ask us, a must-visit diving destination is the legendary dive places of Raja Ampat.
Located in the eastern Indonesian islands of West Papua, the waters in Raja Ampat offer unparalleled marine biodiversity, immaculate reefs and beautiful picturesque sceneries. Divers around the world consider Raja Ampat to be a scuba diving heaven due to the incredible underwater worlds lurking beneath the surface.
In this article, we’ll be highlighting our personal, curated picks for dive places in Raja Ampat for you to explore on your next Raja Ampat Liveaboard trip!
Misool
Misool is one of the four main islands in the Raja Ampat archipelago. It is notable for being home to the most distinct, unique and colorful coral reefs. The corals found here form a kaleidoscope of almost every imaginable color that are home to similarly vibrant marine critters such as Pygmy Seahorses and the Harlequin Shrimp.
Another highlight of Misool island are the shallow mangroves, soft corals and an abundance of crevices that are perfect for macro dives. Fabiacet is a dive spot located on the southeast of Misool that’s a favorite for many divers. It is home to many schools of fish such as Snappers, Surgeonfish and Triggerfish.
Daram
Daram is characterized by magnificent walls of coral reefs that seem to go on endlessly. The nutrient-rich waters and currents create a healthy ecosystem for critters and the reef to thrive here. Expect to see clouds of fish in the hundreds, and absolutely pristine corals on your dive here.
Boo Island
Photo by: Lea Lee Photography
The dives spots in Boo Island are indicated by two large rock formations that look empty from the surface but quickly surprises you with an abundance of barrel sponges, soft corals and other displays of colorful corals as you descend against the ocean wall. Witness what seems like an endless number of nudibranchs, sea slugs and other small critters that have claimed the water of Boo Island as their home.
Penemu Island
This remote island is home to a cluster of dive sites that hide some of the most beautiful coral formations found in Raja Ampat. Penemu Island is also the location of Melissa’s Garden, considered to be one of the oldest and most pristine coral formations in all of Raja Ampat. Divers will find everything from crabs, sea urchins and ribbon eels, to wobbegong and reef sharks – the list goes on.
What did you think of our selection of dive places in Raja Ampat, have you heard of or perhaps even been to these places?
Raja Ampat is best described as an underwater paradise – especially for scuba divers. With so much to see and experience beneath its waters, it’s no surprise Raja Ampat is consistently on the top list of diving destinations in the world. The sheer diversity of marine life will likely take your breath away. Enter the incredible underwater worlds of Raja Ampat with our crew at Calico Jack Charters.
