What is Raja Ampat, Indonesia Famous For?
Raja Ampat is a group of islands including many coral reefs and marine life’s located in the western tip of Papua in Indonesia. Renowned for its one of the world’s best and top scuba diving spots due to its vibrant coral reefs, prosperous marine life and beautiful surrounding underwater landscapes.
Raja Ampat is a place often recognised by its rich natural beauties and numerous biodiversity. So, it is very important to be a part of such a vibrant and unique island in order to enjoy underwater beauties.
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Coral Reef in Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Despite many reasons, Raja Ampat is exclusively known for its vast collections of vibrant and most diverse coral reefs in the world. Home to more than 500 species of coral reefs out of that 1,600 sorts of fishes, 75% of species coral, 17 types of mammals, and 7 sorts of sea turtle.
Often known as ‘The Factory Species’, Raja Ampat is centred on the diversity of biological importance’s for the world. Along with this, the place is also recognised as a nutrition hub which often provides nutrition to local livelihoods. Interestingly Raja Ampat coral fields offer a lot of diverse color like reef coral soft, fan marine, sponges, tunicates, and crinoids. Raj Ampat’s unique coral system, different sorts of water species, and biological importance’s contributes to its status as a one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world.
Scuba Diving in Raja Ampat
Until visitors who are not ready to take any scuba diving opportunities in Raja Ampat surely their journey won’t complete. Such a mesmerising and mind blowing activity offered by the island where visitors catch a close up feeling of the marine life’s and species.
As we said earlier, coral reefs include a variety of fish species, corals and mammals. Scuba Diving is a year round activity in Raja Ampat and accompanied by many expert professionals with proper experience and knowledge. ‘Cape Kri’ is known as the popular dive spot under Raja Ampat, known for its large school of fish, coral gardens and some of the stunning coral formations.
During visitors diving they will come across many sea species such as Black Tip sharks, Turtles, Fusiliers, Batfish, Diamond fish, Big eye Trevally and so on? Adventure seekers can visit at any time in a year and we recommend visiting during May to August when you will experience less crowds and the probability of water visibility and cleanness is more. Make sure that you do not forget to adhere to diving policy and safety measures when you decide to dive.
Snorkelling in Raja Ampat
Like Scuba Diving, Raja Ampat is also a place where backpackers can make famous water adventure activities, such as Snorkelling. Some of the favourite snorkelling sites in Raja Ampat are Friwenbonda, Mike’s Point, Melissa’s Gardens, Sauwandarek jetty, Cape Kri and Yenbuba jetty.
Areas shallow reefs around Misool and Gam islands offer perfect conditions to make snorkelling activities. More importantly island water is clearer and offers more visibility for smokers to explore and enjoy water species. Visitors can float above vibrant coral gardens and observe a variety of marine species close to the surfaces. Not every day is the perfect season to do snorkelling in Raja Ampat like diving, it is done with certain time periods.
Usually between October and April is considered as the ideal time when weather is drier and water is clearer. Snorkelling equipment and guided tours available to visitors, if they wish to take it or leave it (guided tours). Guided tours are led by experienced guides and also they ensure safety measures. Cost is 1000000 or €65 for foreign visitors, and 500000 IDR for local tourists. Children’s those who are less than 12 years and young, they can freely enter.
Raja Ampat Weather
Located 48 km south of the equator and is well within the equatorial belt by tropical climate. On an average day, visitors feel moderate temperatures around 29℃ and water temperature of 28℃ to 29℃ all year round. Due to versatile weather conditions we can expect sun, wind, and waves on a daily basis all year around. Despite any conditions rain showers are usually short and temperatures remain warm every day.
Best Time to Visit
There is no perfect time to visit Raja Ampat, which is a year round destination. But for those who visit especially for scuba diving and snorkelling, September to April is considered the perfect time to step in. During these periods Raja Ampat witnessed less rain, calm sea and clear water visibility to make diving and snorkelling.
How to get to there
To get to Raja Ampat is very easy if, those who are willing to reach this island, they probably book tickets from your airports to any flights that run to the major Indonesian cities like Jakarta, Sorong and Makassar. Once you reach there, good numbers of domestic flights are available to the nearest airport, Waisai (capital of the district Raja Ampat). Apart from that, there is ‘Ferry’ service available to visitors from the “Sorong” to the island.
Marinda Airport in Waisai is a major airport near the island welcomes the majority of flights even from Bali. Established in 2102, receives flights like Susi Air flights, Garuda Indonesia, Nam Air and Batik Air every day.
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