Diving in Raja Ampat - Indonesia
In eastern Indonesia lies West Papua, also known as Irian Jaya. The easternmost province in the Emerald Belt and also the most rugged and unknown. In the backcountry jungle, plants, animals and even tribes still await discovery. The remoteness of the island and the atmosphere of discoveries still ahead give West Papua a special charge.
Nowhere in the world are there so many species of fish and coral as here. Do you want to start counting them?
Diving in Raja Ampat
The diving takes place at a group of islands off the coast of West Papua called Raja Ampat. These (more than 600!) islands offer dive sites that are enormously varied, but above all are inhabited by an amazing array of fish and coral species.
Diving at Raja Ampat is now world famous. This is not without reason, not only is the area particularly pristine but also records are broken around Raja Ampat every time when it comes to the number of fish and coral species. Nowhere else in the world are there so many different species of fish, and nowhere else in the world can you count so many coral species as here. It’s not just the species diversity is great the numbers are overwhelming, manta rays in groups of dozens at manta point and a swirl of life on the reefs. It is extremely difficult to focus your gaze on anything because there is so much to see underwater. From tiny seahorses, to wobbegongs and from manta rays to large schools of jacks.
Diving in Kaimana
Unique to this region is the establishment of Triton Bay Divers on the island of Pulau Aiduma, located 2 hours by boat from Kaimana. It seems like this dive site is completely cut off from the rest of the world. It takes you a while to get there, but if you want something unique without a single diver in the way, Pulau Aiduma is your new dive destination.
At Triton Bay Divers, there are more than 30 dive sites and many more to explore. Dives West Papua range from pinnacles to shallow soft coral gardens, large boulders with colorful corals, massive black coral bushes, current dives, as well as the opportunity for searching for unusual critters. Triton Bay has beautiful soft coral gardens.
It is also well worth enjoying the beautiful islands. In between diving days, take time for a birding excursion. A nearby island is still home to birds of paradise that can be admired in the wild via a brisk walk through the jungle. Go kayaking or meet the locals.
Diving season Raja Ampat
Diving and snorkeling can be done year-round. There is no specific season that is particularly dry or rainy. The summer months can be rougher and windier, but do offer the best visibility. A good season is also October to April but then there is less visibility due to plankton. Standard visibility is between 15 to 30 meters. There is a microclimate with occasional tropical rains and high humidity due to its close location to the equator. The water temperature is consistently 28 / 29 degrees. For that, a 3mm suit or a lycra will do. Most resorts are open year-round, except Triton Bay Divers. Because of the eastern monsoon, this resort is closed from mid-June to mid-September.
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