Conditions referenceSeason, water and visibilityBest Oct–Apr · Moderate current · 27–31°C (coldest Aug, warmest May)
- Current
- Moderate
- Water temperature
- 27–31°C (coldest Aug, warmest May)
- Experience
- Most liveaboard operators recommend Advanced Open Water certification with 50+ logged dives, since most dives are drift dives in currents that can run strong through the Dampier…
01 · Marine life
What you may see
Sightings are never guaranteed. The bars show typical likelihood by month.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | peak season |
| February | peak season |
| March | peak season |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | destination closed |
| July | destination closed |
| August | destination closed |
| September | destination closed |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | peak season |
Peak season is December-March at cleaning stations like Manta Sandy and Manta Ridge.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | destination closed |
| July | destination closed |
| August | destination closed |
| September | destination closed |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Resident year-round on host sea fans; a guide who knows the current fan locations can usually find one on any given trip.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | destination closed |
| July | destination closed |
| August | destination closed |
| September | destination closed |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Resident year-round on shallow reef ledges; ease of spotting depends more on visibility and dive-timing than season.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | destination closed |
| July | destination closed |
| August | destination closed |
| September | destination closed |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Nocturnal: reliably found on night dives, much less likely on day dives.
02 · Dive sites
Dive sites worth knowing
A starting point, not a ranking. Conditions decide what works on the day.
Arborek Jetty
A wooden pier beside the small island village of Arborek in the Dampier Strait.
5–18m · Mild current
Blue Magic
A submerged seamount in open water in the Dampier Strait, between Kri Island and the Waigeo mainland.
8–30m · Strong current
Cape Kri
A sloping wall at the northeast point of Kri Island in the Dampier Strait, holding the record for the highest fish count logged on a single dive: 374 species, set by marine…
5–40m · Strong current
See all 7 dive sites
03 · LogisticsGetting there and costsModerate. Fly to SOQ. Typical trip $–$$$.
Route overview
Moderate
Reachable but with some friction: 1 domestic flight, a 2h boat crossing.
Airport options
SOQ
Domine Eduard Osok Airport (Sorong)
Domestic flights from Jakarta or Bali (Denpasar), then ferry or speedboat transfer to Raja Ampat
RJM
Marinda Airport (Waisai)
Small-aircraft (ATR-72) connections; a secondary entry point directly into Raja Ampat, avoiding the Sorong ferry transfer
Typical trip cost
$–$$$
under $2,000 to over $4,000
Per person, excluding international flights.
- Budget homestay dive safaris from around $750 for 5 days/4 nights (land-based, shore/day boat diving); mid-range liveaboards $3,000-4,500 for 7 nights; premium liveaboards $4,500-8,000 for 7 nights.
Permit or park fee
What you pay
Approximately $100 total (marine park tag around 1,000,000 IDR plus an environmental service fee around 500,000 IDR), paid once per calendar year.
How it works
All divers must purchase a Raja Ampat Marine Park Entry Permit (SIM/TAG card), valid for one calendar year across the whole regency.