Best Dive Sites - Raja Ampat

Gabby - Diver Master with Katembe

, time seemed to slip away as I eagerly delved into the underwater wonders. In the midst of this unparalleled natural beauty, I will take you on a journey, sharing the top sites and my personal favorites, each encompassing its own unique charm and allure.

The best time to visit

The best time to dive at Raja Ampat is usually between October and May, as during these months, the seas are generally calmer, there's less chance of rain, and visibility is typically good. I had the opportunity to visit in May, and I was absolutely astounded by the remarkable clarity of the water, making it a truly unforgettable experience.

Who to dive with

There are numerous reputable dive companies and dive resorts located within the breathtaking region of Raja Ampat. It is highly probable that the accommodation where you will be residing offers access to a dive shop. However, for exceptional diving experiences, consider aligning with some of the top-rated dive companies for unparalleled adventures:

MERIDIAN ADVENTURE - This 4 start resort is one of the most popular dive resorts at Raja Ampat, they specialise in dive packages and have any excellent knowledge of all the sites.

PAPUA EXPLORERS RESORT - This dive center is a great location for advanced open water divers, as a higher level of experience will allow you to explore more of the underwater world and more challenging dives.

RAJA AMPAT AGGRESSOR - This live aboard dive company is perfect for the hardcore divers that want to do it all, more on the pricey side but it offers the ability to see and dive more than if you were staying at one location.

KATEMBE PRIVATE ISLAND - This is the resort I stayed at and lucky for me they have there own dive centre, This is a small resort and for majority of my time I was the only guest which meant that all of my dives that I did was just my dive guide and me.

Most places that you stay will have there only dive shop or be in links with a dive company, it might be a good idea to send them a message before you arrive and see who they recommend and if they can get you booked in.

Best Dive Sites

Depending if you love diving for the fun of it or wanting to see something in particular will depend where you want to dive, I was blown away by the diverse marine life of Raja Ampat. I have dived at the Great Barrier Reef and a few other spectacular dive sites but none compare to the diving I did in Raja Ampat.

CAPE KRI - This is probably the most popular and most famous dive spot in Raja Ampat, as it holds the record for the most fish species found in a single dive. Entry is only possible via boat and situated in the channel of water between the Western tip of Pulau Kri and the tiny islet of Koh. Depth: 5-25m, Strong Currents, Visibility is very good.

MELISSA’S GARDEN - This dive site is great for beginner divers as the current isn’t as strong as the other dive sites, it is also a very beautiful site with plenty of colourful corals and many fish species. Melissa’s garden is a great site at any time of year and most people dive this site when they visit Raja Ampat. Depth 8 -25m, Mild currents, visibility is superb.

BLUE MAGIC - This reef is bound to make you emotional, As soon as I entered the water I was in awe, Blue magic is magic! This is the best place to dive if you want to see large schools of fish, and let me tell you… You want to see large schools of fish. I could have spent all day watching the synchronized schools of fish around me, there is opportunities to see reef sharks and wobbegong’s. Depth 8 - 30m, Strong currents, Visibility is great to 15m and can be good to 30m depending on conditions.

FRIWEN WALL - I am bias when I say this is my favourite dive site of all time, and this is because I got lucky and saw three octopus changing colours and performing all at once. This was the most incredible moment for me. But you still want to add this to your dive list, Friwen wall is different to the others, as it is a wall that is vertical in which you dive along. This was a first for me and it was incredible to see all the beautiful marine life living in this wall. Depth 2 - 21m, mild currents, excellent visibility.

CHICKEN REEF - If you like sharks, then this is the reef for you. It’s not a guarantee but there are more chances here of seeing full size grey, black and white tip sharks. Chicken reef is located on the outskirts of Pulau Kri, It is popular among Photographer with both wide angle and macro opportunities that will make you want to dive this spot multiple times. Depth 5 - 20m, Moderate to strong currents, visibility is good and only accessible via boat.

MANTA RIDGE - The name speaks for itself, but this is the reef to dive if you want a chance to see Manta Rays. As this reef is a cleaning station and the Manta’s love to come feed here during the months of November - January. I did see them during my trip in May, so they can be here all year round but more common during the warmer months. Depth 10-40m, Very strong currents, visibility is good.

SARDINE REEF - A beautiful reef filled with an array of coral and fish species, this is such an enjoyable dive. Good chances of seeing grey reef sharks, barracuda, spanish mackerel and giant trevallies who like to snack here. Can’t go wrong when diving at Sardine Reef. Depth 5-30m, Moderate to strong currents, good visibility, access via boat.

You really can’t go wrong with which ever dive sites you choose to dive at, they are all amazing and unique in there own way and remember that know two dives the same! You never know what you might get to witness during your dive. Have a look at my other guides about Raja Ampat here -