The Complete Atlas · 2026
Raja Ampat
Dive Sites
Raja Ampat contains over 500 mapped dive sites across 40,000 square kilometres. The honest truth — which dive guides know and most travel articles omit — is that 12 to 15 of them account for 90% of the extraordinary experiences. This is the complete index of the sites that matter.
“We have logged over 10,000 dives across these sites through our own fleet operations.”
These are the sites where the world records were set, where the manta cleaning stations operate, and where the soft coral walls look like they were painted by a hallucinating renaissance master.
The information below is not compiled from other websites. It comes from dive guides who are in the water at these locations every week, year-round — including the parts that are less flattering: the currents that catch people out, the months that disappoint, and the sites that are overrated.
500+
Mapped dive sites
40,000
Square kilometres
4
Distinct regions
10,000+
Dives logged by our guides
Region by Region
Every Site Worth Diving
North Raja Ampat
Dampier Strait · core of every itinerary
Six sites form the core of any northern itinerary. Sheltered water makes them diveable year-round, with visibility from 15 metres during the plankton blooms that draw the mantas, to 35 metres-plus on clear days.
374 fish species — the world record
Manta cleaning station, snorkel-accessible
Grey reef sharks and barracuda
Fam Islands
Viewpoints and shallow gardens
The Fam group is where diving gives way to snorkelling and karst scenery. Shallow, gentle, and the reason non-divers never feel like passengers on a dive charter.
The most pristine hard coral garden in Raja Ampat
Iconic karst panorama and lagoon snorkelling
Hidden karst lagoon, rays and baby sharks
Southern Raja Ampat
Misool · 10+ night charters only
Misool sits 10 to 14 hours south of Dampier Strait, which is precisely why it stays extraordinary. Inside a 1,220 square-kilometre marine reserve, diver densities run roughly ten times lower than the north.
30+ nudibranch species and pygmy seahorses
Worth the Extra Sailing
Two Places Off the Standard Map
Wayag
4–6 hours north of Dampier Strait
Not a dive site, but the most photographed location in Raja Ampat: a 300-step climb to the karst viewpoint with turquoise lagoon snorkelling below. Access is subject to periodic closure — check current status before you plan around it.
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Triton Bay
20+ hours dedicated sailing · 11–14 night charters
Southeast of Raja Ampat proper: whale shark aggregations at the bagan fishing platforms peaking February to April, plus world-class soft coral walls and blackwater night diving that photographers plan entire years around.
ExploreHow Long Do You Need
Matching Charter Length to Coverage
01
5–6 nights
10–15 sites
North only — Dampier and Fam
02
7–8 nights
15–20 sites
North plus Wayag, if open
03
10–12 nights
20–30 sites
North plus Misool
04
14+ nights
30+ sites
North, Misool and Triton Bay
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Kri for biodiversity, Manta Sandy for reliable manta encounters, and Misool’s Boo Windows for pure underwater beauty. There is no wrong answer — only different reasons for going.
Yes. Around 60% of the sites suit Open Water divers. Cape Kri and Blue Magic benefit from Advanced certification because of current. Manta Sandy and Arborek are genuinely beginner-friendly.
Three to four on a luxury liveaboard, plus an optional night dive. Twenty-one to twenty-eight dives across a 7-night trip is standard.
November. Peak manta season, calm seas, warm water and excellent visibility — and slightly less crowded than the December to January holiday peak.
Recommended if you are diving three to four times a day. It extends bottom time and reduces nitrogen loading. Included free on several vessels and available on most of the rest.
From the Deck of a Phinisi
Dive Every Site That Matters
Tell us how many nights you have and which sites you refuse to miss. We will build the route around the tide tables, not around a brochure.
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