Raja Ampat Papua, Indonesia

Raja Ampat Papua Indonesia

Diving in Raja Ampat Papua in Indonesia is magically good. The area of ​​Raja Ampat in Papua Indonesia consists of approximately 1 largely untouched islands. Here in the center of the so-called coral triangle is the greatest biological diversity on earth. As part of what is often called "The Bird's Head Peninsula", in the western part of New Guinea lies this area. The diving here is fantastic and today it is one of the last outposts of the Indonesian archipelago to be discovered.

This part of western New Guinea consists of many small uninhabited islands. These small islands surround the four largest islands in the region, Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo. Very little human presence, minimal industrial development and the area's geographical isolation have all combined to keep this area largely untouched for many years. The region has grown a lot in recent years and more and more diving resorts and liveaboards are now coming here. West Papua is today perhaps the world's hottest diving destination because of its fantastic marine life.

Incredibly large number of fish species

The area holds the world record for the most different fish species seen on one and the same dive and dive site. Here, Dr. Gerry Allen found a total of 284 marine species during a single dive. They were seen on Kofiau Island.
64% (505) of all the world's known coral species have been found in the waters here at Raja Ampat! Here you can also find 75% of the world's total number of hard coral species.

Few places can compete with Raja Ampat's outstanding and pristine environments. Here you can experience and dive in caves, mangrove swamps and fjords. Sometimes at dive sites where the rainforest is seen hanging above you right down to the surface. All these different environments are inhabited by strange marine species and exhibit a very rich and varied marine life. The coral reefs here are known, among other things, to be home to the fantastic Wobbegong or carpet shark. Even for the strange little epaulette sharks. They are often called bamboo sharks or walking sharks. If you're lucky, you can see and experience them hunting or "crawling around" during a night dive. You will also find invertebrates here in large quantities and it is a real paradise for underwater photographers. Octopuses, nudibranchs or nudibranchs, crustaceans and much, much more.

You can go and stay and dive here as well liveaboard like on resorts. The best diving is concentrated around a relatively small area but generally the diving is at such a high level that you will have a fantastic diving trip and holiday if you choose to go here.