Tiare

Dive at Sebayur Kecil

This site is suitable for divers of all levels, with good visibility and no risk of strong currents. Marine life is abundant here, including schools of bump head parrotfish and fusiliers, leaf scorpionfish and stonefish, morays, batfish, damselfish, butterflyfish, anthias, giant spiny lobster, De Beaufort's flathead, gobies, shrimps, large cuttlefish, octopus, ghost pipefish, frogfish, and electric clams. Sometimes, manta rays, spotted eagle rays, white tip reef sharks, groups of giant trevally, coral trout, snappers, emperors, and giant sweetlips can also be seen. In the shallower waters, Sebayur Kecil provides a great site for beginners or those looking to refresh their skills.

First Dive: Karang Makassar aka Manta Point

Famous for sightings of up to 50 manta rays, Makassar is a mile-long drift dive located in the middle of the Lintah Strait. Due to strong currents, the site resembles a lunar landscape with vast craters and towering dunes. Mantas are not the only attraction, Makassar offers numerous species of sharks, schools of bump-head parrotfish, marble and eagle rays, and a surprising amount of macro life within the sparse yet vibrant coral bommies. 

Second Dive: Batu Bolong

Batu Bolong (Hollow Rock) is one of the most famous dive sites in the park. Below the surface is an explosion of life, the rocky reefs drop to 230 feet, and attract big schools of fish − bright blue fusiliers, small reef fish of all sizes and colors with bluefin trevallies hunting amongst them. Every inch of the coral wall is alive, with an incredible diversity of color. Morays and octopuses hide in holes and tunnels, and lionfish and nudibranchs in cracks and crevices. Hawksbill turtles often come to graze and occasionally mantas or dolphins will glide in from the blue.

Third Dive: Padar Beach

A shallow sloping coral garden offers an ideal hiding place for cuttlefish, octopus, and all manners of critters. Large trevallies patrol the reef with snappers and emperor fish following close behind. The sandy bottom is ideal for macro lovers. The wreck of a small fishing boat here is host to plentiful marine life. 

Trekking at Padar Island

Padar is the third largest island within the Komodo National Park. It offers beautiful short treks and is a hotspot for photographers. The hike to the peak takes about 20-40 minutes.  From this viewpoint, you will be rewarded with a jaw-dropping vista of a series of crescent-shaped bays and ribbons of sand.

First & Second Dives: Manta Alley

This is a breeding hotspot for manta rays, and you are highly likely to find them here. Under the surface is an “alley” of 30-50ft deep between some rocks, with a deeper section to the east down to 100ft.  You may also find other large rays, big parrot fish, barracudas, schools of fusiliers, giant jackfish, turtles, whitetip sharks, and snappers here. There can be a strong current and the water is often a little chilly at this site.

Third & Fourth Dive: Pink Beach & Loh Liang Bay

The color of the sand on the gorgeous Pink Beach is caused by the broken red shells of an organism called foraminifera. This is the most frequently visited dive site in the park because the reef is so rich, and snorkeling is excellent from the beach. There is a particularly good dive in a small area around a rock that breaks the surface at low tide.

Trekking with Komodo Dragons

Head ashore on a ranger-led nature trek in search of Komodo dragons, which are indigenous to this small group of islands. In this savannah-like setting of dry, rugged landscape, you will encounter, at a safe distance, these awe-inspiring giant lizards – Indonesia’s living dinosaurs. You may spot deer, wild boar, sulfur-crested cockatoos, butterflies, rare orchids, and jungle chickens among the strangler-fig trees and the distinctive lontar palms. From the top of the hills, the scenery is breathtaking. 

First Dive: Crystal Rock

Named for its clear waters, Crystal Rock is one of North Komodo’s gems. Here, a rocky pinnacle breaks the surface at low tide, displaying an array of soft and hard corals. It offers a very colorful dive, which is also prone to current. Expect to see trevally, jacks, sharks, mackerel, Napoleon wrasse, tuna, and even the occasional eagle ray.

Second Dive: Shot Gun

This site lives up to its name. The water bottlenecks at the start of a narrow channel so hold tight and enjoy the ride as you get shot through the channel. Stick to the left if you can and you’ll find a complete contrast of diving conditions will be waiting for you, including a coral garden which is one of the best in Komodo.

Third Dive: Castle Rock

One of Komodo’s most iconic dive sites; the current is strong. Here, enormous schools of fusiliers, unicornfish, and bannerfish attract big predators, such as gray reef sharks, tunas, barracudas, giant trevally, and dolphins (early mornings). Underneath the table corals, inside the little cracks, or in the gorgonian fans, you’ll find a whole realm of tiny invertebrates including pygmy seahorses and blue-eyed crabs.

Fourth Dive: Wainilu

If it’s macro you are seeking, this is your place. Ribbon eels, Indian walkman, mandarin fish, frogfish, juvenile harlequin sweetlips, and countless species of nudibranch are all common sightings.

First Dive: Sabolon Pinnacle

If it’s macro you are seeking, this is your place. Ribbon eels, Indian walkman, mandarin fish, frogfish, juvenile harlequin sweetlips, and countless species of nudibranch are all common sightings.

Second Dive: Sabolon Reef

The reef face is filled with small caves harboring angel fish, batfish, and sweetlips. Giant trevally school up above in the shallows. At the end of the dive, you are pushed up onto a shallow reef plateau, home to countless beautiful and attractive fish.

Morning Cruise to Labuan Bajo. Prepare for disembarkation.

Dive at Sebayur Kecil

This site is suitable for divers of all levels, with good visibility and no risk of strong currents. Marine life is abundant here, including schools of bump head parrotfish and fusiliers, leaf scorpionfish and stonefish, morays, batfish, damselfish, butterflyfish, anthias, giant spiny lobster, De Beaufort's flathead, gobies, shrimps, large cuttlefish, octopus, ghost pipefish, frogfish, and electric clams. Sometimes, manta rays, spotted eagle rays, white tip reef sharks, groups of giant trevally, coral trout, snappers, emperors, and giant sweetlips can also be seen. In the shallower waters, Sebayur Kecil provides a great site for beginners or those looking to refresh their skills.

First Dive: Secret Garden

As the name suggests, this is an intriguing coral garden. You may encounter sweetlips, snappers, jackfish, and schools of Mobula rays. 

Second Dive: Three Sisters

A superb wall dive on three submerged pinnacles. Red-toothed triggerfish tails protrude from the steep walls, alongside beautiful invertebrate-laden whip corals, soft corals, and abundant fish life. 

Third Dive: Padar Beach

A shallow sloping coral garden offers an ideal hiding place for cuttlefish, octopus, and all manners of critters. Large trevallies patrol the reef with snappers and emperor fish following close behind. The sandy bottom is ideal for macro lovers. The wreck of a small fishing boat here is host to plentiful marine life. 

Trekking at Padar Island

Padar is the third largest island within the Komodo National Park. It offers beautiful short treks and is a hotspot for photographers. The hike to the peak takes about 20-40 minutes. From this viewpoint, you will be rewarded with a jaw-dropping vista of a series of crescent-shaped bays and ribbons of sand.

First & Second Dives: Manta Alley

This is a breeding hotspot for manta rays, and you are highly likely to find them here. Under the surface is an “alley” of 30-50ft deep between some rocks, with a deeper section to the east down to 100ft.  You may also find other large rays, big parrot fish, barracudas, schools of fusiliers, giant jackfish, turtles, whitetip sharks, and snappers here. There can be a strong current and the water is often a little chilly at this site.

Third & Fourth Dive: Pink Beach

The color of the sand on the gorgeous Pink Beach is caused by the broken red shells of an organism called foraminifera. This is the most frequently visited dive site in the park because the reef is so rich, and snorkeling is excellent from the beach. There is a particularly good dive in a small area around a rock that breaks the surface at low tide.

First Dive: Crystal Rock

Named for its clear waters, Crystal Rock is one of North Komodo’s gems. Here, a rocky pinnacle breaks the surface at low tide, displaying an array of soft and hard corals. It offers a very colorful dive, which is also prone to current. Expect to see trevally, jacks, sharks, mackerel, Napoleon wrasse, tuna, and even the occasional eagle ray.

Second Dive: Castle Rock

One of Komodo’s most iconic dive sites; the current is strong. Here, enormous schools of fusiliers, unicornfish, and bannerfish attract big predators, such as gray reef sharks, tunas, barracudas, giant trevally, and dolphins (early mornings). Underneath the table corals, inside the little cracks, or in the gorgonian fans, you’ll find a whole realm of tiny invertebrates including pygmy seahorses and blue-eyed crabs.

Third Dive: Shot Gun

This site lives up to its name. The water bottlenecks at the start of a narrow channel so hold tight and enjoy the ride as you get shot through the channel. Stick to the left if you can and you’ll find a complete contrast of diving conditions will be waiting for you, including a coral garden which is one of the best in Komodo.

Fourth Dive: Gili Lawa Darat Reef

A nice reef covered in hard and soft corals with swarms of schooling fish.

Trekking with Komodo Dragons

Head ashore on a ranger-led nature trek in search of Komodo dragons, which are indigenous to this small group of islands. In this savannah-like setting of dry, rugged landscape, you will encounter, at a safe distance, these awe-inspiring giant lizards – Indonesia’s living dinosaurs. You may spot deer, wild boar, sulfur-crested cockatoos, butterflies, rare orchids, and jungle chickens among the strangler-fig trees and the distinctive lontar palms. From the top of the hills, the scenery is breathtaking. 

First Dive: Karang Makassar aka Manta Point

Famous for sightings of up to 50 manta rays, Makassar is a mile-long drift dive located in the middle of the Lintah Strait. Due to strong currents, the site resembles a lunar landscape with vast craters and towering dunes. Mantas are not the only attraction, Makassar offers numerous species of sharks, schools of bump-head parrotfish, marble and eagle rays, and a surprising amount of macro life within the sparse yet vibrant coral bommies.

Second Dive: Batu Bolong

Batu Bolong (Hollow Rock) is one of the most famous dive sites in the park. Below the surface is an explosion of life, the rocky reefs drop to 230 feet, and attract big schools of fish − bright blue fusiliers, small reef fish of all sizes and colors with bluefin trevallies hunting amongst them. Every inch of the coral wall is alive, with an incredible diversity of color. Morays and octopuses hide in holes and tunnels, and lionfish and nudibranchs in cracks and crevices. Hawksbill turtles often come to graze and occasionally mantas or dolphins will glide in from the blue.

Third Dive: Wainilu

If it’s macro you are seeking, this is your place. Ribbon eels, Indian walkman, mandarin fish, frogfish, juvenile harlequin sweetlips, and countless species of nudibranch are all common sightings.

First Dive: Mawan

Here, you’ll drift gently over some of Komodo’s most gorgeous coral gardens, often spotting parrotfish, clownfish, and blue-spotted stingrays, to name but a few.

Second Dive: Siaba Kecil

Siaba Kecil is the fastest drift dive in Komodo. The reef face is filled with small caves harboring angel fish, batfish, and sweetlips. Giant trevally school up above in the shallows. At the end of the dive, you are pushed up onto a shallow reef plateau, home to countless turtles and mandarin fish.

Morning Cruise to Labuan Bajo. Prepare for disembarkation.

Dive at Sebayur Kecil

This site is suitable for divers of all levels, with good visibility and no risk of strong currents. Marine life is abundant here, including schools of bump head parrotfish and fusiliers, leaf scorpionfish and stonefish, morays, batfish, damselfish, butterflyfish, anthias, giant spiny lobster, De Beaufort's flathead, gobies, shrimps, large cuttlefish, octopus, ghost pipefish, frogfish, and electric clams. Sometimes, manta rays, spotted eagle rays, white tip reef sharks, groups of giant trevally, coral trout, snappers, emperors, and giant sweetlips can also be seen. In the shallower waters, Sebayur Kecil provides a great site for beginners or those looking to refresh their skills.

First Dive: Secret Garden

As the name suggests, this is an intriguing coral garden. You may encounter sweetlips, snappers, jackfish and schools of mobula rays. 

Second Dive: Three Sisters

A superb wall dive on three submerged pinnacles. Red toothed triggerfish tails protrude from the steep walls, alongside beautiful invertebrate-laden whip corals, soft corals and abundant fish life. 

Third Dive: Padar Beach

A shallow sloping coral garden offers an ideal hiding place for cuttlefish, octopus and all manners of critters. Large trevallies patrol the reef with snappers and emperor fish following close behind. The sandy bottom is ideal for macro lovers. The wreck of a small fishing boat here is host to plentiful marine life. 

Trekking at Padar Island

Padar is the third largest island within the Komodo National Park. It offers beautiful short treks and is a hotspot for photographers. The hike to the peak takes about 20-40 minutes.  From the viewpoint you will be rewarded with a jaw-dropping vista of a series of crescent shaped bays and ribbons of sand.

First Dive: Cannibal Rock

Famous for a wide range of weird and wonderful invertebrates, Cannibal Rock is a delight for macro photographers and critter hunters. Look for purple and red sea apples, blue anemones and huge gorgonian fans, home to pygmy seahorses. 

Second Dive: Yellow Wall of Texas

Yellow Wall is indeed quite yellow, due to the many brightly colored sea cucumbers and feather stars. It is not necessary to dive deep here.  

Third Dive: The Boulders

The Boulders are submerged rocks down to 115 feet, which are home to a diverse marine life.

Fourth Dive: Torpedo Alley

Named after the torpedo rays that are found on the bottom here, this is also a great dive site for macro life such as frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, and pipefish.

First & Second Dives: Manta Alley

This is a breeding hotspot for manta rays, and you are highly likely to find them here. Under the surface is an “alley” of 30-50ft deep between some rocks, with a deeper section to the east down to 100ft.  You may also find other large rays, big parrot fish, barracudas, schools of fusiliers, giant jack fish, turtles, whitetip sharks and snappers here. There can be a strong current and the water is often a little chilly at this site.

Third & Fourth Dives: Pink Beach

The color of the sand on the gorgeous Pink Beach is caused by the broken red shells of an organism called foraminifera. This is the most frequently visited dive site in the park because the reef is so rich, and snorkeling is excellent from the beach. There is a particularly good dive in a small area around a rock that breaks the surface at low tide.

First Dive: Golden Passage

This dive site is the channel between Gili Lawa Darat and Komodo Island. You can enjoy a drift dive in the rising tide when the current pushes from east to west through a delightful coral garden. You will probably see sweetlips, trevally, lots of turtles and black and white tipped reef sharks, while garden eels sway in the steady currents on the sandy bottom. The dive site is suitable for snorkelers, especially in the shallow waters.

Second Dive: Aquarium

The name of this site offers a clue to the experience.

Third Dive: Gili Lawa Dawat Lighthouse

This is a drift dive for the more experienced diver. Below the surface lie two pinnacles jutting off a sloping reef, which is made up of large table corals and long whip corals. The first pinnacle offers leaf scorpionfish, frogfish and schooling batfish, huge schools of red tooth triggerfish, bump head parrotfish, sweetlips, and more. The second, larger pinnacle is great for spotting white tip reef sharks, manta rays, and even dolphins. 

Fourth Dive: Batu Monco Bay

This is a stunning sloping reef going from 16 to a 65ft deep sandy bottom with lots of bomies covered in glass fish and large gorgonian fans. You may see stingrays, sharks, and barracudas.

Sangeang Island is an active volcano that towers 6000 ft above sea level. It last erupted in 2014. Although not officially inside of the boundaries of the national park, it lies just a few nautical miles to the northwest of Komodo Island and its conical twin peaks dominate the horizon during spectacular sunsets.  

First Dive: Hot Rocks

This dive site makes you realize what it means to dive beside an active volcano, you will see bubbles rising from warm black sand, and the water in some parts is really hot.  

Second Dive: Lighthouse Reef

This is a sandy slope that turns into a wall at 10 to 30 meters. It is a colorful macro site offering a mix of sea fans, soft corals, and sponges.

Third Dive: Black Diamond

You’ll see nudibranchs and shrimps galore. Look for wonderpus and ghost pipefish. You’ll feel the warmth from the volcano bubbling up from underneath.

Fourth Dive: Bontoh Reef

This is a reef mixed with volcanic rocks, a few bommies and black sand. Look for the garden eels swaying in the current.

First Dive: Crystal Rock

Named for its clear waters, Crystal Rock is one of North Komodo’s gems. Here, a rocky pinnacle breaks the surface at low tide, displaying an array of soft and hard corals. It offers a very colorful dive, which is also prone to current. Expect to see trevally, jacks, sharks, mackerel, Napoleon wrasse, tuna and even the occasional eagle ray.

Second Dive: Castle Rock

One of Komodo’s most iconic dive sites; the current is strong. Here, enormous schools of fusiliers, unicornfish and bannerfish attract big predators, such as gray reef sharks, tunas, barracudas, giant trevally, and dolphins (early mornings). Underneath the table corals, inside the little cracks, or in the gorgonian fans, you’ll find a whole realm of tiny invertebrates including pygmy seahorses and blue-eyed crab.

Third Dive: Shot Gun

This site lives up to its name. The water bottlenecks at the start of a narrow channel so hold tight and enjoy the ride as you get shot through the channel. Stick to the left if you can and you’ll find a complete contrast of diving conditions will be waiting for you, including a coral garden which is one of the best in Komodo.

Fourth Dive: Gili Lawa Darat Reef

A nice reef covered in hard and soft corals with swarms of schooling fish.

Trekking with Komodo Dragons

Head ashore on a ranger-led nature trek in search of Komodo dragons, which are indigenous to this small group of islands. In this savannah-like setting of dry, rugged landscape, you will encounter, at a safe distance, these awe-inspiring giant lizards – Indonesia’s living dinosaurs. You may spot deer, wild boar, sulfur-crested cockatoos, butterflies, rare orchids and jungle chickens among the strangler-fig trees and the distinctive lontar palms. From the top of the hills, the scenery is breathtaking. 

First Dive: Karang Makassar aka Manta Point

Famous for sightings of up to 50 manta rays, Makassar is a mile-long drift dive located in the middle of the Lintah Strait. Due to strong currents, the site resembles a lunar landscape with vast craters and towering dunes. Mantas are not the only attraction, Makassar offers numerous species of sharks, schools of bump head parrotfish, marble and eagle rays, and a surprising amount of macro life within the sparse yet vibrant coral bommies.

Second Dive: Batu Bolong

Batu Bolong (Hollow Rock) is one of the most famous dive sites in the park. Below the surface is an explosion of life, the rocky reefs drop to 230 feet, and attract big schools of fish − bright blue fusiliers, small reef fish of all sizes and colors with bluefin trevallies hunting amongst them. Every inch of the coral wall is alive, with an incredible diversity of color. Morays and octopus hide in holes and tunnels, lionfish and nudibranchs in cracks and crevices. Hawksbill turtles often come to graze and occasionally mantas or dolphins will glide in from the blue.

Third Dive: Wainili

If it’s macro you are seeking, this is your place. Ribbon eels, Indian walkman, mandarin fish, frogfish, juvenile harlequin sweetlips, and countless species of nudibranch are all common sightings.

First Dive: Mawan

Here, you’ll drift gently over some of Komodo’s most gorgeous coral gardens, often spotting parrotfish, clownfish and blue-spotted stingrays, to name but a few.

Second Dive: Siaba Kecil

Siaba Kecil is the fastest drift dive in Komodo. The reef face is filled with small caves harboring angel fish, batfish, and sweetlips. Giant trevally school up above in the shallows. At the end of the dive, you are pushed up onto a shallow reef plateau, home to countless turtles and mandarin fish.

Disembark at Labuan Bajo.

Crossing to Waisai (around 6 hours)

Overnight.

Check Dive: Mioskun

This dive site is most famous for being the home of many yellow snapper, which you will see schooling and swirling around the coral column. If you head towards the bottom of the pinnacle, you will be able to see wobbegong sharks hiding in the cracks and caves. The gorgonian fans are where you will find sea horses and tiny little ornate crabs. Schools of fusiliers and trevallies will swim around you while you are looking at the coral structures. Peek into the crevices to spot shrimps, moray eels, and coral groupers.

Second Dive: Blue Magic

This site is an underwater pinnacle covered in spectacular corals ranging from gorgonian sea fans to colorful sponges, soft and hard corals, while bigger species swim in from the blue. This is a manta ray cleaning station, and you can simply choose a spot on the dive site to stay and let the majestic gliding rays circle right next to your face. The pinnacle also attracts massive schools of barracuda, plenty of octopus camouflaged among the sponge coral, and white tip, black tip and grey reef sharks, giant groupers, harlequin shrimp, honeycomb eels, wobbegong sharks, cuttlefish, pretty anthias and reef fish, nudibranch, pygmy seahorses, porcelain crabs and colorful clams.  

Third Dive: Friwibonda 

Great for macro underwater photographers, the site offers a huge variety of nudibranch species, sea dragons, blue-striped flagtail pipefish, pygmy seahorses, green sea turtles, giant napoleon wrasse, and Indian lionfish. There is also an abundant growth of corals and sea fans here that serve as homes for large groups of small fish.

Fourth Dive: Oh Yes!  

Beautiful corals and loads of schooling fish. Some fusiliers, jacks, snappers, anthias can be seen here.

First Dive: Cape Kri

Cape Kri is probably the most famous site in Raja Ampat, holding the record for the greatest number of species, 374, recorded on a single dive. The currents can be strong. Black tips and grey sharks are regular visitors here as they patrol the outer edges of the reef. You’ll see huge schools of sweet lips, groupers, giant trevally and snappers and even snoozing wobbegongs hidden away in caves. The coral coverage on this part of the island is also exquisite.  

Second Dive: Otdima Reef

The current has a habit of running in different directions, creating an impressive haven for all types of schooling fish. The reef’s vast hard coral garden is very healthy and the sheer numbers of anthias fish within it are mind boggling. From sharks to eagle rays, mantas and dolphins, you never know what may be passing by.  

Third Dive: Yenbuba Jetty

Yenbuba is a spectacular dive site with many different species of fish and a great chance for turtle enthusiasts to get up close to these wonderful creatures. It has schooling barracuda on the point and is home to fields of amazing staghorn and cabbage corals. This dive is protected, so it is great for beginners and those who have not been diving in a few years. If there are currents, they will go from left to right or vice versa, so you can enjoy a gentle drift with the current.

First Dive: Manta Ridge

Manta Ridge has to be one of the most exhilarating dive sites in Raja Ampat. If you’ve ever dreamed of having a close encounter with a manta, then this is it. During the months of November-January the mantas come to feed at this famous cleaning station. All-black mantas are often seen here. Other marine life is abundant with large schools of fish including barracuda, sharks and sweetlips to name but a few. The soft and hard corals are also very healthy. The current rips across the wall in all directions and down currents are common. A reef hook is a must. 

Second Dive: Lalosi

Lalosi is a sloping reef composed of a sandy bottom and many coral bommies. Lots of fish here as well as blacktip sharks and wobbegong sharks.  

Third Dive: Sawandarek Jetty

This is a “must-visit” jetty because of the diversity you can find all in one area. One the way down you will encounter beautiful soft and hard corals surrounding metal Manta ray structures, were put in place many years ago for coral conservation. You will encounter larger than usual green turtles, giant clams and big schools of fusiliers and barracuda, and you’ll see a wide variety of macro life. 

Fourth Dive: Arborek Jetty

Arborek is a small island village with a short jetty, underneath which you’ll find thousands to millions of schooling fish surrounding and enveloping you from every direction. Additionally, you may see cuttlefish, octopus, and both electric and giant clams. The site is quite shallow and therefore a great spot to practice your free diving or enjoy a snorkel.

First Dive: My Reef

This is one of the more fishy dive sites of Pianemo, a long, submerged seamount full of life from the surface stretching down to 100 feet. 

Second Dive: Melissa’s Garden

Prepare to be astounded by the large and colorful coral formations that are home to a wide variety of marine life at the beautiful Melissa’s Garden. Here, patches of hard corals create a smorgasbord of colors that seems to contain all forms of life. Wobbegong sharks, crocodile fish, and centuries’ old giant tridacna clams mingle with ubiquitous schools of fusiliers, anthias, and damsels. The reef attracts manta rays from May to October, along with great barracudas and many clownfish in the sprawling mass of anemones. Soft coral is also found here, making this an excellent site for macro divers and macro photographers.

Third Dive: Keruo Channel

This exciting drift dive takes you through a narrow channel with towering walls on either side and a chance to enjoy colorful sponges, black corals, sea whips, sea fans and table corals.

Optional Trekking: Pianemo Viewpoint

This isn’t a long trek, just 300 steps will take you up to a viewpoint from where you can see a plethora of tiny islands rising up out of crystal-clear turquoise water. One of the most impressive views here is looking out over Telaga Bintang or Star Lagoon. This is a beautiful star-shaped lagoon that makes for a gorgeous backdrop to your photos.

Crossing to Misool (around 14 hours)

Snorkeling at Jellyfish Lake, Lenmakana

The hidden Lake Lenmakana is reached via a short hike up a steep limestone cliffside. Despite the arduous journey, once on the top of the cliff, the view down into this turquoise lake and the treasures found within are well worth it. Here, you can snorkel among many thousands of stingless jellyfish, which have living algae within their bodies that, just like plants, photosynthesize in sunlight. The algae produce what is essentially a form of sugar, which the jellyfish metabolize, and this is how they gain the energy to propel and migrate through the water, grow and reproduce. The three species here are moon, golden and spotted medusa, and Cassiopeia (the upside-down jellyfish).

Snorkeling through the big Keramat Cave (aka Tomolo Cave)                         

A swim through Tomolol’s mysterious dome-topped cave is undoubtedly one of Raja Ampat’s most amazing activities. In this partially submerged cave, you can swim, snorkel or simply float, while gazing up at the cavernous grotto adorned with astonishing stalactites. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can swim or paddle through the dark waters to the other mouth of the cave.

Trekking to the Harfat Viewpoint

From Harfat Peak, you can view the beautiful Raja Ampat scenery. The topography is typical of ‘karst dissolution,’ featuring a great number of tiny islets whose bases have been eroded over time by the relentless motion of the tides. The crystal water is a vivid shade of turquoise, creating colorful mini atolls.

First Dive: Four Kings

This dive site has four pinnacles that shoot up out of the deep blue, rising from a depth of about 100 feet. The sides of the pinnacles are coated in soft corals, sea-fans and tunicates, and have become a colorful playground for just about every creature from schooling predatory fish such as barracuda and trevally, to coral grazing turtles with plenty of reef fish hiding in the creeks and crevices. This is also a great place to look for invertebrates, as they are masters of camouflage.

Second Dive: Gorgonian Passage

Many Gorgonian fans line the walls of this dive site, dominating the reef. The fans come in a rainbow of colors and if you look closely, you’ll spot pygmy seahorses, as well as many different nudibranchs, shrimps, crabs, lobsters, and moray eels. There are also many juvenile fish in the area.   

Third Dive: Wedding Cake

Explore the steep wall at Wedding Cake. This site offers impressive marine diversity and topography. 

Fourth Dive: Barracuda Rock

Bursting with Life, the massive boulders here are colonized by yellow and orange soft coral. You can look forward to some fish action and barracuda sightings.

First Dive: Karang Bayangan (aka Shadow Reef)

The bewitching Karang Bayangan is a hub of corals which include potato corals, soft corals, and brown leather corals. Black tip, white, and grey reef sharks are predominant here along with fusiliers, baby sharks, and jacks. In addition to these, parrot fish, oceanic triggerfish, octopus, and batfishes are all present in abundance, in fact, the number of fish is spectacular.  

Second Dive: Boo West

A variety of marine creatures can be seen here such as grey reef sharks, napoleon wrasse, schools of pinnate batfish, unicornfish, blue dash fusiliers, yellow striped grunts and surgeonfish swarming around in large numbers, while less common sightings are banded sea kraits, ghost pipefish, leaf fish, and octopus lurking in the reefs.

Third Dive: Puri Pinnacle

This is a submerged reef that stands 23 feet below the surface. Its three pinnacles attract large schools of fusiliers, surgeon fish and hunting trevallies. It can offer some spectacular mobula ray action. 

Snorkeling at Ranger Station Yuliet Besar

Here, you can snorkel among young black tip sharks swimming over the sand in the shallows.

First Dive: Eagle’s Nest

This dive site offers superb visibility and impressive rock formations, abundant with schooling fish life and healthy reefs. 

Second Dive: Boo Windows

One of Raja Ampat’s most iconic and most photographed dive sites, Boo Windows takes its name from the two swim-through holes in the rock. This dive site showcases the biodiversity of the Misool area with schooling fish, incredible corals and stunning underwater topography. The reef itself is thriving and healthy with plenty of soft and hard corals in a variety of awe-inspiring colors.  

Third Dive: Boo East Point

This site is visited by the local reef manta population in season. Here the reef top is very shallow and perfect for watching the mantas being cleaned by small reef fish. Octopus can also be spotted around the rocky substrate.   

Fourth Dive: Romeo

Many interesting macro subjects here, including pygmy seahorses, soft coral, decorator crabs, and many small commensal animals living with crinoids.

First Dive: Andiamo

Two small islands mark the site, but the typical dive starts at a small, submerged pinnacle teeming with fish life both large and small. You can then follow a deep ridge toward the two main islands of Andiamo while swimming past the resident group of yellowtail barracuda. Between the pinnacles is an impressive collection of soft corals and sea fans along with schools of damselfish and anthias. A long sloping ridge on the back side of the pinnacles is home to several large groupers. 

Second Dive: Warna Bewarna (aka Candy Store)

Warna Berwarna means ‘colorful’ in Bahasa Indonesia and describes the abundant soft corals here, which are best experienced in the shallows.

Crossing to Sorong (around 12 hours)

Disembark at Sorong.

Dive at Sebayur Kecil

This site is suitable for divers of all levels, with good visibility and no risk of strong currents. Marine life is abundant here, including schools of bump head parrotfish and fusiliers, leaf scorpionfish and stonefish, morays, batfish, damselfish, butterflyfish, anthias, giant spiny lobster, De Beaufort's flathead, gobies, shrimps, large cuttlefish, octopus, ghost pipefish, frogfish, and electric clams. Sometimes, manta rays, spotted eagle rays, white tip reef sharks, groups of giant trevally, coral trout, snappers, emperors, and giant sweetlips can also be seen. In the shallower waters, Sebayur Kecil provides a great site for beginners or those looking to refresh their skills.

First Dive: Secret Garden

As the name suggests, this is an intriguing coral garden. You may encounter sweetlips, snappers, jackfish and schools of mobula rays. 

Second Dive: Three Sisters

A superb wall dive on three submerged pinnacles. Red toothed triggerfish tails protrude from the steep walls, alongside beautiful invertebrate-laden whip corals, soft corals and abundant fish life. 

Third Dive: Padar Beach

A shallow sloping coral garden offers an ideal hiding place for cuttlefish, octopus and all manners of critters. Large trevallies patrol the reef with snappers and emperor fish following close behind. The sandy bottom is ideal for macro lovers. The wreck of a small fishing boat here is host to plentiful marine life. 

Trekking at Padar Island

Padar is the third largest island within the Komodo National Park. It offers beautiful short treks and is a hotspot for photographers. The hike to the peak takes about 20-40 minutes. From the viewpoint you will be rewarded with a jaw-dropping vista of a series of crescent shaped bays and ribbons of sand.

First Dive: Cannibal Rock

Famous for a wide range of weird and wonderful invertebrates, Cannibal Rock is a delight for macro photographers and critter hunters. Look for purple and red sea apples, blue anemones and huge gorgonian fans, home to pygmy seahorses. 

Second Dive: Yellow Wall of Texas

Yellow Wall is indeed quite yellow, due to the many brightly colored sea cucumbers and feather stars. It is not necessary to dive deep here.  

First Dive: The Boulders

The Boulders are submerged rocks down to 115 feet, which are home to a diverse marine life.

Second Dive: Torpedo Alley

Named after the torpedo rays that are found on the bottom here, this is also a great dive site for macro life such as frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, and pipefish.

First & Second Dives: Manta Alley

This is a breeding hotspot for manta rays, and you are highly likely to find them here. Under the surface is an “alley” of 30-50ft deep between some rocks, with a deeper section to the east down to 100ft. You may also find other large rays, big parrot fish, barracudas, schools of fusiliers, giant jack fish, turtles, whitetip sharks and snappers here. There can be a strong current and the water is often a little chilly at this site.

Third & Fourth Dives: Pink Beach

The color of the sand on the gorgeous Pink Beach is caused by the broken red shells of an organism called foraminifera. This is the most frequently visited dive site in the park because the reef is so rich, and snorkeling is excellent from the beach. There is a particularly good dive in a small area around a rock that breaks the surface at low tide.

First Dive: Golden Passage

This dive site is the channel between Gili Lawa Darat and Komodo Island. You can enjoy a drift dive in the rising tide when the current pushes from east to west through a delightful coral garden. You will probably see sweetlips, trevally, lots of turtles and black and white tipped reef sharks, while garden eels sway in the steady currents on the sandy bottom. The dive site is suitable for snorkelers, especially in the shallow waters.

Second Dive: Aquarium

The name of this site offers a clue to the experience.

Third Dive: Gili Lawa Dawat Lighthouse

This is a drift dive for the more experienced diver. Below the surface lie two pinnacles jutting off a sloping reef, which is made up of large table corals and long whip corals. The first pinnacle offers leaf scorpionfish, frogfish and schooling batfish, huge schools of red tooth triggerfish, bump head parrotfish, sweetlips, and more. The second, larger pinnacle is great for spotting white tip reef sharks, manta rays, and even dolphins. 

Fourth Dive: Batu Monco Bay

This is a stunning sloping reef going from 16 to a 65ft deep sandy bottom with lots of bomies covered in glass fish and large gorgonian fans. You may see stingrays, sharks, and barracudas.

Sangeang Island is an active volcano that towers 6000 ft above sea level. It last erupted in 2014. Although not officially inside of the boundaries of the national park, it lies just a few nautical miles to the northwest of Komodo Island and its conical twin peaks dominate the horizon during spectacular sunsets.  

First Dive: Hot Rocks

This dive site makes you realize what it means to dive beside an active volcano, you will see bubbles rising from warm black sand, and the water in some parts is really hot.  

Second Dive: Lighthouse Reef

This is a sandy slope that turns into a wall at 10 to 30 meters. It is a colorful macro site offering a mix of sea fans, soft corals, and sponges.

Third Dive: Black Diamond

You’ll see nudibranchs and shrimps galore. Look for wonderpus and ghost pipefish. You’ll feel the warmth from the volcano bubbling up from underneath.

Fourth Dive: Bontoh Reef

This is a reef mixed with volcanic rocks, a few bommies and black sand. Look for the garden eels swaying in the current.

First Dive: Crystal Rock

Named for its clear waters, Crystal Rock is one of North Komodo’s gems. Here, a rocky pinnacle breaks the surface at low tide, displaying an array of soft and hard corals. It offers a very colorful dive, which is also prone to current. Expect to see trevally, jacks, sharks, mackerel, Napoleon wrasse, tuna and even the occasional eagle ray.

Second Dive: Castle Rock

One of Komodo’s most iconic dive sites; the current is strong. Here, enormous schools of fusiliers, unicornfish and bannerfish attract big predators, such as gray reef sharks, tunas, barracudas, giant trevally, and dolphins (early mornings). Underneath the table corals, inside the little cracks, or in the gorgonian fans, you’ll find a whole realm of tiny invertebrates including pygmy seahorses and blue-eyed crab.

Third Dive: Shot Gun

This site lives up to its name. The water bottlenecks at the start of a narrow channel so hold tight and enjoy the ride as you get shot through the channel. Stick to the left if you can and you’ll find a complete contrast of diving conditions will be waiting for you, including a coral garden which is one of the best in Komodo.

Fourth Dive: Gili Lawa Darat Reef

A nice reef covered in hard and soft corals with swarms of schooling fish.

Trekking with Komodo Dragons

Head ashore on a ranger-led nature trek in search of Komodo dragons, which are indigenous to this small group of islands. In this savannah-like setting of dry, rugged landscape, you will encounter, at a safe distance, these awe-inspiring giant lizards – Indonesia’s living dinosaurs. You may spot deer, wild boar, sulfur-crested cockatoos, butterflies, rare orchids and jungle chickens among the strangler-fig trees and the distinctive lontar palms. From the top of the hills, the scenery is breathtaking. 

First Dive: Karang Makassar aka Manta Point

Famous for sightings of up to 50 manta rays, Makassar is a mile-long drift dive located in the middle of the Lintah Strait. Due to strong currents, the site resembles a lunar landscape with vast craters and towering dunes. Mantas are not the only attraction, Makassar offers numerous species of sharks, schools of bump head parrotfish, marble and eagle rays, and a surprising amount of macro life within the sparse yet vibrant coral bommies.

Second Dive: Batu Bolong

Batu Bolong (Hollow Rock) is one of the most famous dive sites in the park. Below the surface is an explosion of life, the rocky reefs drop to 230 feet, and attract big schools of fish − bright blue fusiliers, small reef fish of all sizes and colors with bluefin trevallies hunting amongst them. Every inch of the coral wall is alive, with an incredible diversity of color. Morays and octopus hide in holes and tunnels, lionfish and nudibranchs in cracks and crevices. Hawksbill turtles often come to graze and occasionally mantas or dolphins will glide in from the blue.

Third Dive: Wainili

If it’s macro you are seeking, this is your place. Ribbon eels, Indian walkman, mandarin fish, frogfish, juvenile harlequin sweetlips, and countless species of nudibranch are all common sightings.

First Dive: Mawan

Here, you’ll drift gently over some of Komodo’s most gorgeous coral gardens, often spotting parrotfish, clownfish and blue-spotted stingrays, to name but a few.

Second Dive: Siaba Kecil

Siaba Kecil is the fastest drift dive in Komodo. The reef face is filled with small caves harboring angel fish, batfish, and sweetlips. Giant trevally school up above in the shallows. At the end of the dive, you are pushed up onto a shallow reef plateau, home to countless turtles and mandarin fish.

Disembark at Labuan Bajo.

Boarding Tiare.

Check-in and check dive at Laha.

1st dive Pintu Kota

2nd Dive – Hukurila

3rd Dive – Batu Lompa

Crossing 13 hours to Suanggi.

1st dive Suanggi I

2nd dive Suanggi II

3rd dive Batu Kapal

Visit Banda Neira Mandarin Dive

Overnight at Banda Neira 

1st Dive Pohon Miring

2nd Dive Hatta Wall

3rd Dive Karang Hatta

Crossing 11 hours to Koon 

1st – 3rd dive Too many dive

Crossing to Pulau Pisang (11 hours) 

1st dive – Tanjung Lampu

2nd dive – Channel

3rd dive – Pinnacle

Crossing to Misool 10 hours 

1st dive Karang Bayangan 2nd dive Boo Window

3rd dive Tank Rock

Night Dive at Barracuda Rock

Overnight at Wayil Batan 

1st dive Four King

2nd dive Nudi Rock 3rd dive Farondi Cave

Visit Farondi Cave and Lagoon

Crossing to Piaynemo for 12 hours 

1st dive My Reef

2nd dive Melissa Garden 3rd dive Channel

Visit Piaynemo Lagoon & Trekking Night Dive Gam Slope 

1st dive Mayhem

2nd dive Manta Ridge 3rd dive Arborek

Visit Arborek Village

Night dive at Arborek Village Overnight at Yenbuba 

1st Dive Cape Kri

2nd Dive Blue Magic 

Check out.

Embark your boat at Ambon.

At the small islet of Suanggi, you will find plenty of unspoiled hard and soft corals on the reef, and barrel sponges on the bottom. You can also see snapper, bump head, blunthead parrotfish, turtles, and bigeye trevallies. The current around this vertical Suanggi Wall attracts fusiliers, dogtooth tuna, eagle rays, barracudas and sometimes sharks.

First & Second Dives: Suanggi Reef

Third Dive: Suanggi Wall

Manuk, the ‘Snake Island’ is a non-active volcanic island that takes its nickname from the large number of sea snakes that can be found here. Here, you can marvel in the vision of perhaps a dozen sea snakes undulating and swimming underwater. Some divers have even been lucky enough to watch them hunting in a pack. It is thought that the warm geothermal vents present in these waters attract these cold-blooded creatures in large numbers. In addition to these singular wonders, the drop-offs are amazing, and the reefs are stunning, featuring a good mix of healthy coral-covered walls and slopes in all colors and sizes with cabbage corals, huge sea fans, and barrel sponges. Besides an outstanding variety of reef fish, you may also see some tuna, jacks, mackerel, barracuda, rainbow runners, hawksbill turtles, bump head parrotfish, and napoleon wrasse. Topside, it is possible to revel in the spectacle of thousands of seabirds, including frigate birds and boobies.

First Dive: Manuk Utara

Second Dive: Manuk Selatan

Third Dive: Tanjung Kelapa

Around the tiny volcanic island of Serua, huge schools of hammerheads cruise beneath the waves. The site features a sloping reef that drops to a wall and the currents here can be strong, but hopefully you will be rewarded with plenty of hammerhead action out in the blue. Aside from these predators, there are lots of sea snakes hunting in the nooks and crannies of the reef, as well as bump head parrotfish, cuttlefish, tuna and jackfish.

First & Second Dives: Monkey Face

Third Dive: Kebar Wall 

The small islands of Nusleur, Terbang Utara and Terbang Selatan are surrounded by pristine beaches that stretch out to coral reefs, which then drop down to the most beautiful, untouched walls. From top to bottom, the reefs are an explosion of different colors and forms and appear to be in constant motion from the clouds of fish. You may even find yourself floating in the midst of a huge school of fish as the sea creatures here appear quite curious, perhaps because they are generally not used to seeing many divers. Another unique attraction in this area is the wall of sulfur formed as a result of its proximity to the volcano on the nearby big island of Damar.

First Dive: Nusleur Island 

Second Dive: Terbang Utara

Third Dive: Terbang Selatan

At Romang and Nyata Island, there are gentle slopes resembling huge terraces, which slip down into the deep blue of the Banda Sea. You will be able to see huge gorgonians in vivid oranges, yellows and reds, carpets of soft corals and massive barrel sponges in all directions. If you manage to tear your gaze away from the life on these wonderful reefs and train it into the blue, you will often be rewarded by the sight of majestic napoleons, reef sharks or tuna. Many of the nearby dive spots show signs of volcanic activity on the seabed and are terrific spots for night dives when you can find exquisite looking shrimps, elegant Spanish dancers and bobtail squid.

First, Second & Third Dives: Nyata

The small island of Reong, which lies off the northwest coast of Wetar, presents a change in scenery as it is made of limestone. Sharks, barracuda, manta rays, and schools of other large pelagics frequently visit these waters. Other delights can be found while diving the impressive walls and sites full of diverse marine life.

First Dive: Reong Wall

Second Dive: Manta Slope

Third Dive: Reong

When you dive in Alor, you are also diving around Pantar, Ternate, and Pura. Because of the positioning of the islands, and passing currents and tidal changes, the throughflow has amazing effects on marine biodiversity, and attracts big fish that come in to feed such as barracuda, schooling big-eye jacks, dog-toothed tuna, monster groupers, and lots of sharks.

Clown Valley is named after the abundance of anemones and clownfish found here. There are so many of them in fact that they occupy more surface area than any other form of life at this spot. The north side of Pura island offers a healthy reef slope where mandarinfish can be seen dancing in the daylight.  Dusk often yields the opportunity to witness them mating. 

A 160-foot-deep wall at the Boardroom offers caves filled with glassfish and schooling jacks and snappers at depth. Many of the other Alor dive sites are great for small critters and macro delights.

Beangabang Bay is full of unusual creatures. You may see thorny seahorses, ghost pipefish, coconut octopus, zebra crabs, fire urchins, bannerfish, painted frogfish, Ambon scorpionfish, Berry’s bobtail squid, and even a tiny poisonous blue-ringed octopus.  

First Dive: Clown Valley

Second Dive: Boardroom

Third & Fourth Dives: Beang Abang

The coral reef profiles of Alor are extremely varied with walls, sloping reefs, pinnacles, caves and seamounts. There are both rocky sites with coral cover and true coral reef sites. Wall dives not to miss are Babylon and Pleasant Surprise. Babylon is where the local Alornese people freedive with their homemade wooden goggles to place massive bamboo fish traps underwater. 

On Sicca Island, you can visit the natural habitat of the dugongs. This endangered species of marine mammals feed on the seagrass in shallow waters.

Snorkeling at Sicca to look for dugong 

First Dive: Babylon

Second Dive: Pleasant Surprise

An explosion of marine life will greet you in this remote corner of Indonesia. From classic wall dives and panoramic gardens of hard and soft corals to newly discovered muck dive sites. Rare forms of marine life are found here, such as frog fish and various species of octopus; reefs offer stunning displays of colorful invertebrate life and diving here is often compared to swimming in an aquarium.

First, Second & Third Dives: Tg. Bacatan

Fourth Dive: Kampung Kavula

Adonara is one of the least explored islands in the entire Indonesian archipelago. Unless you are traveling on a liveaboard, the relative difficulty in getting here offers the chance to experience some amazing diving in relative solitude. If you are a photographer, you will love the colors of the hard and soft corals, giant sponges, anemones and crinoids, and you can expect to be overwhelmed by the massive density of fish life. You may see massive shoals of anthias, whitetip sharks, zebra sharks, eagle rays, dogtooth tuna, and giant trevally.

First & Second Dives: Watu Peni

Crossing to Maumere

Disembark at Maumere.

Crossing to Waisai (around 6 hours)

Overnight.

Check Dive: Mioskun

This dive site is most famous for being the home of many yellow snapper, which you will see schooling and swirling around the coral column. If you head towards the bottom of the pinnacle, you will be able to see wobbegong sharks hiding in the cracks and caves. The gorgonian fans are where you will find sea horses and tiny little ornate crabs. Schools of fusiliers and trevallies will swim around you while you are looking at the coral structures. Peek into the crevices to spot shrimps, moray eels, and coral groupers.

Second Dive: Blue Magic

This site is an underwater pinnacle covered in spectacular corals ranging from gorgonian sea fans to colorful sponges, soft and hard corals, while bigger species swim in from the blue. This is a manta ray cleaning station, and you can simply choose a spot on the dive site to stay and let the majestic gliding rays circle right next to your face. The pinnacle also attracts massive schools of barracuda, plenty of octopus camouflaged among the sponge coral, and white tip, black tip and grey reef sharks, giant groupers, harlequin shrimp, honeycomb eels, wobbegong sharks, cuttlefish, pretty anthias and reef fish, nudibranch, pygmy seahorses, porcelain crabs and colorful clams.  

Third Dive: Friwibonda 

Great for macro underwater photographers, the site offers a huge variety of nudibranch species, sea dragons, blue-striped flagtail pipefish, pygmy seahorses, green sea turtles, giant napoleon wrasse, and Indian lionfish. There is also an abundant growth of corals and sea fans here that serve as homes for large groups of small fish.

Fourth Dive: Oh Yes!  

Beautiful corals and loads of schooling fish.  Some fusiliers, jacks, snappers, anthias can be seen here.

First Dive: Cape Kri

Cape Kri is probably the most famous site in Raja Ampat, holding the record for the greatest number of species, 374, recorded on a single dive. The currents can be strong. Black tips and grey sharks are regular visitors here as they patrol the outer edges of the reef. You’ll see huge schools of sweet lips, groupers, giant trevally and snappers and even snoozing wobbegongs hidden away in caves. The coral coverage on this part of the island is also exquisite.  

Second Dive: Otdima Reef

The current has a habit of running in different directions, creating an impressive haven for all types of schooling fish. The reef’s vast hard coral garden is very healthy and the sheer numbers of anthias fish within it are mind boggling. From sharks to eagle rays, mantas and dolphins, you never know what may be passing by.  

Third Dive: Yenbuba Jetty

Yenbuba is a spectacular dive site with many different species of fish and a great chance for turtle enthusiasts to get up close to these wonderful creatures.  It has schooling barracuda on the point and is home to fields of amazing staghorn and cabbage corals. This dive is protected, so it is great for beginners and those who have not been diving in a few years. If there are currents, they will go from left to right or vice versa, so you can enjoy a gentle drift with the current.

First Dive: Manta Ridge

Manta Ridge has to be one of the most exhilarating dive sites in Raja Ampat. If you’ve ever dreamed of having a close encounter with a manta, then this is it. During the months of November-January the mantas come to feed at this famous cleaning station. All-black mantas are often seen here. Other marine life is abundant with large schools of fish including barracuda, sharks and sweetlips to name but a few. The soft and hard corals are also very healthy. The current rips across the wall in all directions and down currents are common. A reef hook is a must. 

Second Dive: Lalosi

Lalosi is a sloping reef composed of a sandy bottom and many coral bommies. Lots of fish here as well as blacktip sharks and wobbegong sharks.  

Third Dive: Sawandarek Jetty

This is a “must-visit” jetty because of the diversity you can find all in one area. One the way down you will encounter beautiful soft and hard corals surrounding metal Manta ray structures, were put in place many years ago for coral conservation. You will encounter larger than usual green turtles, giant clams and big schools of fusiliers and barracuda, and you’ll see a wide variety of macro life. 

Fourth Dive: Arborek Jetty

Arborek is a small island village with a short jetty, underneath which you’ll find thousands to millions of schooling fish surrounding and enveloping you from every direction. Additionally, you may see cuttlefish, octopus, and both electric and giant clams. The site is quite shallow and therefore a great spot to practice your free diving or enjoy a snorkel.

First Dive: My Reef

This is one of the more fishy dive sites of Pianemo, a long, submerged seamount full of life from the surface stretching down to 100 feet. 

Second Dive: Melissa’s Garden

Prepare to be astounded by the large and colorful coral formations that are home to a wide variety of marine life at the beautiful Melissa’s Garden. Here, patches of hard corals create a smorgasbord of colors that seems to contain all forms of life. Wobbegong sharks, crocodile fish, and centuries’ old giant tridacna clams mingle with ubiquitous schools of fusiliers, anthias, and damsels. The reef attracts manta rays from May to October, along with great barracudas and many clownfish in the sprawling mass of anemones. Soft coral is also found here, making this an excellent site for macro divers and macro photographers.

Third Dive: Keruo Channel

This exciting drift dive takes you through a narrow channel with towering walls on either side and a chance to enjoy colorful sponges, black corals, sea whips, sea fans and table corals.

Optional Trekking: Pianemo Viewpoint

This isn’t a long trek, just 300 steps will take you up to a viewpoint from where you can see a plethora of tiny islands rising up out of crystal-clear turquoise water. One of the most impressive views here is looking out over Telaga Bintang or Star Lagoon. This is a beautiful star-shaped lagoon that makes for a gorgeous backdrop to your photos.

Crossing to Misool (around 14 hours)

Snorkeling at Jellyfish Lake, Lenmakana

The hidden Lake Lenmakana is reached via a short hike up a steep limestone cliffside. Despite the arduous journey, once on the top of the cliff, the view down into this turquoise lake and the treasures found within are well worth it. Here, you can snorkel among many thousands of stingless jellyfish, which have living algae within their bodies that, just like plants, photosynthesize in sunlight. The algae produce what is essentially a form of sugar, which the jellyfish metabolize, and this is how they gain the energy to propel and migrate through the water, grow and reproduce. The three species here are moon, golden and spotted medusa, and Cassiopeia (the upside-down jellyfish).

Snorkeling through the big Keramat Cave (aka Tomolo Cave)                                               

A swim through Tomolol’s mysterious dome-topped cave is undoubtedly one of Raja Ampat’s most amazing activities. In this partially submerged cave, you can swim, snorkel or simply float, while gazing up at the cavernous grotto adorned with astonishing stalactites. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can swim or paddle through the dark waters to the other mouth of the cave.

Trekking to the Harfat Viewpoint

From Harfat Peak, you can view the beautiful Raja Ampat scenery. The topography is typical of ‘karst dissolution,’ featuring a great number of tiny islets whose bases have been eroded over time by the relentless motion of the tides. The crystal water is a vivid shade of turquoise, creating colorful mini atolls.

First Dive: Four Kings

This dive site has four pinnacles that shoot up out of the deep blue, rising from a depth of about 100 feet. The sides of the pinnacles are coated in soft corals, sea-fans and tunicates, and have become a colorful playground for just about every creature from schooling predatory fish such as barracuda and trevally, to coral grazing turtles with plenty of reef fish hiding in the creeks and crevices. This is also a great place to look for invertebrates, as they are masters of camouflage.

Second Dive: Gorgonian Passage

Many Gorgonian fans line the walls of this dive site, dominating the reef.  The fans come in a rainbow of colors and if you look closely, you’ll spot pygmy seahorses, as well as many different nudibranchs, shrimps, crabs, lobsters, and moray eels. There are also many juvenile fish in the area.   

Third Dive: Wedding Cake

Explore the steep wall at Wedding Cake. This site offers impressive marine diversity and topography. 

Fourth Dive: Barracuda Rock

Bursting with Life, the massive boulders here are colonized by yellow and orange soft coral. You can look forward to some fish action and barracuda sightings.

First Dive: Nudi Rock

You will understand this name when you look on the topside of the rock. The submerged east point of Nudi Rock is undoubtedly one of the top dives in Raja Ampat, reminiscent of a Garden of Eden featuring an underwater kaleidoscope of soft corals and sea fans. An outstanding hard coral garden dominates the shallows on the southern side. You’ll probably see snapper, grouper, napoleon wrasse and turtles. 

Second Dive: Tank Rock                      

On the west, a submerged ridge connects Tank Rock to Nudi Rock, and with favorable conditions, it is possible to dive all the way to Fiabacet's middle island. There are three pinnacles to the east and at times the swirling fish around these spires are so thick that it is difficult to see the reef. The soft corals are dense with aggregations of anthias and damselfish. You may also see pygmy seahorses, flatworms and nudibranchs as well as decorator crabs, harlequin shrimps, orangutan crabs, reef sharks, devil rays, crocodile fish and blue sea dragons.  

Third Dive: Whale Rock

Hardly a spot on this substrate is left uncovered by sea fans and magnificent soft corals. Fish life includes barracudas, trevally hunting through thick schools of baitfish, schooling bannerfish, juvenile fish, and nudibranch.

Fourth Dive: Juliet

This mushroom-shaped rock has a nice overhanging wall, which hosts the tiny Denise pygmy seahorse as well as a knobbly variant known as the Santa Claus pygmy seahorse.  Cephalopods of all shapes and sizes can be sighted, from tiny piglet squid to large reef cuttlefish, octopus, decorator shrimps, crabs and crocodile fish. For Macro lovers, many species of nudibranch can also be found here.

First Dive: Karang Bayangan (aka Shadow Reef)

The bewitching Karang Bayangan is a hub of corals which include potato corals, soft corals, and brown leather corals. Black tip, white, and grey reef sharks are predominant here along with fusiliers, baby sharks, and jacks. In addition to these, parrot fish, oceanic triggerfish, octopus, and batfishes are all present in abundance, in fact, the number of fish is spectacular.  

Second Dive: Boo West

A variety of marine creatures can be seen here such as grey reef sharks, napoleon wrasse, schools of pinnate batfish, unicornfish, blue dash fusiliers, yellow striped grunts and surgeonfish swarming around in large numbers, while less common sightings are banded sea kraits, ghost pipefish, leaf fish, and octopus lurking in the reefs.

Third Dive: Puri Pinnacle

This is a submerged reef that stands 23 feet below the surface. Its three pinnacles attract large schools of fusiliers, surgeon fish and hunting trevallies. It can offer some spectacular mobula ray action. 

Snorkeling at Ranger Station Yuliet Besar

Here, you can snorkel among young black tip sharks swimming over the sand in the shallows.

First Dive: Eagle’s Nest

This dive site offers superb visibility and impressive rock formations, abundant with schooling fish life and healthy reefs. 

Second Dive: Boo Windows

One of Raja Ampat’s most iconic and most photographed dive sites, Boo Windows takes its name from the two swim-through holes in the rock. This dive site showcases the biodiversity of the Misool area with schooling fish, incredible corals and stunning underwater topography. The reef itself is thriving and healthy with plenty of soft and hard corals in a variety of awe-inspiring colors.  

Third Dive: Boo East Point

This site is visited by the local reef manta population in season. Here the reef top is very shallow and perfect for watching the mantas being cleaned by small reef fish. Octopus can also be spotted around the rocky substrate.   

Fourth Dive: Romeo

Many interesting macro subjects here, including pygmy seahorses, soft coral, decorator crabs, and many small commensal animals living with crinoids.

First Dive: Andiamo

Two small islands mark the site, but the typical dive starts at a small, submerged pinnacle teeming with fish life both large and small. You can then follow a deep ridge toward the two main islands of Andiamo while swimming past the resident group of yellowtail barracuda. Between the pinnacles is an impressive collection of soft corals and sea fans along with schools of damselfish and anthias. A long sloping ridge on the back side of the pinnacles is home to several large groupers. 

Second Dive: Warna Bewarna (aka Candy Store)

Warna Berwarna means ‘colorful’ in Bahasa Indonesia and describes the abundant soft corals here, which are best experienced in the shallows.

Crossing to Sorong (around 12 hours)

Disembark at Sorong.

Crossing to Bacatan.

First Dive: Eagle Point

A shallow gentle sloping reef with sand patches that gradually turns into a steep wall covered in a variety of hard and soft corals. A good place to spot green turtles, blacktip reef sharks, nudibranchs, Denise pygmy seahorses.

Second Dive: Bacatan Ledges

This drift dive will take you past a wall full of sea fans and sponges and some beautiful yellow soft coral, with a chance to see spine cheeked anemonefish as well as some nice nudibranchs, Bargibanti pygmy seahorses, schooling jacks and pelagics such as eagle rays, tunas and black-tip and white-tip reef sharks. 

Third Dive: Lawaleba Reef

Covered in sea fans and soft corals with the chance to see pygmy seahorses, cuttlefish, saw blade shrimp, nudibranchs and ornate ghost pipefish and other critters here as well.

Fourth Dive: Lawaleba VillageA great muck night dive over black sand in front of a traditional fishing village, look for stargazers, pygmy pipe horses, squid, nudibranchs and octopus.

First, Second, Third & Fourth Dives: Hot Property 

At first glance, the nondescript slope of black sand and rubble appears unappealing and potentially very boring.  In reality, Beangabang Bay is rife with unusual creatures essentially hiding in plain sight. You may see thorny seahorses, ghost pipefish, coconut octopus, zebra crabs, fire urchins, bannerfish, painted frogfish, Ambon scorpionfish, Berry’s bobtail squid, and even the highly poisonous blue-ringed octopus.

First & Second Dives: Yan Village

At Yan Village, there are several wonderful spots to dive. Walls covered in sponges topped with shallow hard coral reefs where you can spot the elusive mandarin fish, to black sandy slopes where fans of macro will get their fill too. Some examples of the critters here are frogfish, weedy scorpionfish, all sorts of nudibranchs, and yellow, blue and black ribbon eels.

Third Dive: Anemone City… Falling

This gorgeous, gentle slope is fully covered in thousands of anemones, swaying gently back and forth in the surge. Aside from hundreds of anemonefish, you can see schooling sweetlips and fusiliers, a wide range of reef fishes as well as nudibranchs and various shrimps. This shallow dive is easy and delightful for all levels.

Fourth Dive: Mucky Mosque

As the name suggests, Mucky Mosque is a great muck dive. Descend in front of a mosque to a slope of coral heads, rocks and sand.  Natural treasures are bountiful here, you may see striped catfish, broad club cuttlefish, bigfin reef squid and the bizarre, rare, and exceptionally magnificent rhinoplasty scorpionfish, both the weedy and paddle flap varieties. Ghost pipefish, soft coral crabs, frogfish, various octopuses including the wonderous and mimic, snake eels, sea moths, sand divers and many other remarkable creatures.

First Dive: Boardroom… Rising

The 160-foot-deep wall at the Boardroom offers caves filled with glassfish and schooling jacks and snappers at depth.

Second Dive: Babylon … Rising

Alor is always quite a good place for nudibranchs. This is a nice dive site with some interesting overhangs at 100 feet.

Third & Fourth Dives: Mini Wall

A dusk dive at Mini Wall gives you the chance to see mating mandarin fish.  These gorgeous, but shy dragonets are ornately marked, vividly colored, scaleless and relatively small at three inches or less in length. Mandarinfish generally remains hidden under coral rubble or within coral heads during the day, but an all-consuming desire to mate washes away their apprehension as the sun begins to set.

First Dive: Reta

The pinnacles of Reta will amaze you with amazingly healthy reefs and usually clear waters. Stunning coral growth with plenty of surrounding fish life. 

Dugong Snorkel (when possible)

On Sicca Island, you can visit the natural habitat of the dugong, an endangered species of marine mammals that feed on the seagrass in the shallow waters.

Second Dive: Mawar

A sandy reef slope where the deeper area (60ft) offers quite a lot of marine life and a diversity of corals and sponges. Look for giant frogfish, ribbon eels, nudibranchs, mandarin fish, cuttlefish, octopus and decorator crabs.

First Dive: Reong Wall

This reef starts off as a gentle reef slope with large patches of soft corals; schooling anthias can be found around the hard corals. As you drift with the current, the sloping reef turns into a wall, where you can find large black corals. In the blue there are possibilities for larger pelagics; look for nurse shark, white tip reef shark, schooling barracuda, green hump head parrotfish and green turtles.

Second Dive: South Wall

This exciting drift dive along the southern wall of the small limestone island of Reong. The sloping reef is covered in an abundance of fish life, schooling anthias and fusiliers can be seen here. The wall has large gorgonians growing on it, while in the blue you may see the occasional turtle and grey reef shark swimming past.

Third Dive: East Side

Look for nudibranchs, rhinoplasty, ribbon eels and coleman shrimp, and schools of larger pelagics in the blue.

First Dive: Lighthouse

This dive site starts out as a gentle reef slope, overgrown with cabbage coral, which is home to thousands of anthias. At about 30 feet a steep wall with a huge overhang drops all the way to about 200 feet, covered with yellow and orange soft corals. Look for white tip reef sharks, dog-toothed tuna, octopus and nudibranchs.

Second Dive: Laut

A very healthy reef slope with a big variety of coral, sponges and lots and lots of small reef fish. If you drift with the current, you will eventually end up on a sandy reef slope with large coral heads. You may see hawksbill turtles, giant jellyfish, and juvenile silvertip sharks.

Third Dive: Maopora

A rocky reef slope, which until about 60 feet is overgrown with a variety of soft coral offering an excellent place for cuttlefish to hide. This dive site also features a lot of big coral heads around which anthias like to hang out. Look for cuttlefish, silvertip reef sharks, hawksbill turtles, giant sweet lips, giant trevally and shrimp fish. The deeper sandy area home to thousands of dancing garden eels. 

First & Second Dives: Terbang Selatan (South)

The first part of the reef starts out as a sloping reef overgrown with a wide array of hard corals and sponges. Around those corals, you can find thousands of anthias and in the blue you can see fusiliers schooling while being hunted by giant trevally.  You may see white tip reef sharks, napoleon wrasse, spawning barrel sponges and bump head parrotfish.

Third Dive: Terbang Utara (North)

A wall dive that starts off like a sloping reef and then drops down to the most beautiful, dramatic, untouched wall with large overhangs dripping with soft corals. At about 25 feet is where the steep wall starts and drops to about 230 – 260 feet. The wall has many large gorgonians growing on it and a lot of ledges and small caverns in the deep. Look for bump-head parrotfish and dog-toothed tuna.

Around the tiny volcanic island of Serua, huge schools of hammerheads cruise beneath the waves. The site features a sloping reef that drops to a wall and the currents here can be strong, but hopefully, you will be rewarded with plenty of hammerhead action out in the blue. Aside from these predators, there are lots of sea snakes hunting in the nooks and crannies of the reef, as well as bump head parrotfish, cuttlefish, tuna and jackfish. 

First & Second Dives: Serua Kecil

Don’t be put off by the top part of this reef, which is mainly coral rubble, because as you descend, you’ll soon see the beauty. Fields of soft corals in every color, anthias everywhere and the possibility of hammerheads out in the blue. Other marine life includes white tip reef sharks, napoleon wrasse and spawning barrel sponges.

Third Dive: West Point

West Point reef starts off over a healthy coral reef. The drop-off starts at about 30 feet. Large barrel sponge formations can be seen here and massive clams.

First Dive: Saumlaki Reef 

Be sure to check out all the large coral heads for moray eels, frogfish, shrimp and blennies.

Disembark in the morning.