Raja Ampat diving is characterized by its mindblowing diversity, featuring a plethora of medium to large size fish, good macro, and great hard and soft coral reefs, along with some muck and mangrove sites. The water temperatures hover at around 89F (31C) year-round--so warm that a wetsuit is hardly needed. The archipelago's topside scenery is also stunning.

Raja Ampat is located in the province of West Papua (formerly known as Irian Jaya) in Indonesia. It is situated in the heart of Indo-Pacific's Coral Triangle which is home to some of the world's best coral reefs and most biodiverse dive sites. The word Raja Ampat means 'four kings' in the Indonesian language, and this refers to its 4 main islands--Misool, Salawati, Batanta, Waigeo. Raja Ampat has many great liveaboard options, from basic and mid-range liveaboard boats to some of the luxurious boats in the world.

Raja Ampat will blow your mind. I've heard that over and over again. I had high expectations for Raja and it certainly did not disappoint. 

The Raja Ampat trip aboard the Damai II offered an unforgettable experience, featuring exceptional diving, stunning biodiversity, and unmatched comfort.

Bluewater Travel Advisor & Trip Leader Katie Yonker boarded the beautiful Amira for an amazing Raja Ampat dive trip.

Bluewater Travel Advisor & Trip Leader Katie Yonker boarded the beautiful Amira for an amazing Raja Ampat dive trip.

Im happy to stake my reputation to report that our December 2022 Raja Ampat photo workshop was a resounding success!

Its a well-known secret amongst scuba divers that the best diving in the world is found in the Indonesian archipelago ofRaja Ampat. Unbeknownst to the general public, the region consists of thousands of limestone islands covered in emerald vegetation. Each round knob protrudes from aquamarine water, resembling ancient turtle spirits of an undiscovered age. Their random splatter creates narrow channels of water and swift currents the engine behind lush coral reefs harboring the worlds most prolific marine biodiversity. Raja Ampat is home to over 600 species of hard coral and 1700 species of reef fish. With so many species in one place, only those with the shortest attention spans will be able to see everything Raja Ampat has to offer on a given dive.

We celebrated New Year's Eve in Raja Ampat aboard the Emperor Harmoni liveaboard! Our itinerary covered Misool, Central Raja, and Dampier, so we got to experience all the best dive sites and encountered mantas, wobbegong sharks, walking sharks, bobtail squid, and a stunning array of corals. We also hiked to the incredible jellyfish lake and Piaynemo viewpoint.

Bluewater Travel's Raja Ampat Photo Workshop aboard MV Ambai in December 2024 was a 12-day diving adventure to remember. Clients explored the biodiverse waters of southern, central and northern Raja Ampat, completing 36 dives and capturing stunning underwater images. Highlights included close encounters with manta rays, wobbegong sharks and the shy walking shark. Night dives and daily photography workshops were part of the experience. As well as diving, the tourists enjoyed scenic tours, a beach barbecue and even an unplanned engagement. The trip concluded with a photo competition and a celebration of the beautiful marine life and friendship experienced aboard MV Ambai.