What dive certification is required?

We require a minimum certification of Advanced Open Water or equivalent. A logbook showing at least 50 dives is strongly recommended. Due to the depths and currents, certifications in Deep Diver and Enriched Air Nitrox are advantageous for accessing all sites and maximizing bottom time. Our team can provide a full overview in our frequently asked questions.

Are these voyages suitable for beginners?

Our scheduled itineraries are designed for experienced divers comfortable with strong currents and deep profiles. For new or less experienced divers, we recommend a private phinisi charter. This allows our team to design a custom itinerary focused on calmer, shallower sites to match your specific comfort level and training objectives.

How far in advance should I book?

For the peak season (October to April), we recommend booking 9 to 12 months in advance, especially for specific dates or master suite cabins. Our vessels have limited capacity (10-14 guests) and fill quickly. For private charters, a lead time of at least one year is advisable to secure your preferred vessel and dates.

What should I pack besides dive gear?

Pack lightweight clothing, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and any personal medications. A dry bag is essential for protecting electronics in the dive tenders. We provide towels and basic toiletries. A detailed pre-trip packing list will be sent to you upon confirmation of your voyage, along with information on getting to Sorong.

How is the Marine Park fee handled?

The Raja Ampat Marine Park fee is IDR 1,000,000 per person (approximately USD $65, subject to exchange rates). This fee is mandatory for all visitors and is valid for 12 months. It must be paid in cash (Indonesian Rupiah) upon arrival in Sorong. Our ground staff will facilitate the purchase of your permit tag before you board the vessel.

How difficult are the currents?

Currents in Raja Ampat can be formidable and change direction rapidly. They range from non-existent to very strong (3+ knots). Experience with drift diving is essential. Reef hooks are a required piece of equipment and are used on certain sites. Every dive briefing includes a detailed analysis of the expected current, tide, and dive plan.

A dive briefing, not a brochure · as of 2026

Raja Ampat liveaboard diving, briefed by depth, current and certification

We show you exactly where you will dive, how deep, and how hard — matched to your certification — before you ever wire a deposit. No vague “paradise”, no hidden currents.

Start the Descent Briefing Get a Quote

WhatsApp the trade deskWhatsApp +6281139414563 Email[email protected]

Wooden liveaboard dive boat anchored in a calm turquoise Raja Ampat lagoon at golden hour — Anchorage at golden hour — a traditional wooden liveaboard, Raja Ampat.

The Descent Briefing

Current & certification dive-zone matcher

Three honest selectors. We filter real, hardcoded Raja Ampat regional data — and tell you plainly when your certification or chosen month is a poor fit rather than upselling.

0 zones match your descent Filtered from published Raja Ampat regional data, as of 2026 — no live availability.

Send this briefing on WhatsApp

Data column 1

Dive-Zone Depth & Current Ledger

The four real Raja Ampat regions with true depth band, current rating, minimum certification and signature sites. These figures feed and mirror the Descent Briefing above — the interactive and the table can never disagree. As of 2026

Zone	Depth band	Current	Min. cert	Signature sites	Honest note
Dampier Strait	5–30 m	Strong–ripping	AOW	Cape Kri, Blue Magic, Sardine Reef	World-record fish counts, but drift dives in real current — AOW and a reef hook are expected.
Misool South	5–25 m	Moderate	OW	Boo Windows, Magic Mountain, Fiabacet	The soft-coral heartland; gentler than Dampier and the best all-round choice for newer divers.
Wayag & Kawe	8–35 m	Moderate–strong	Deep	Eagle Rock, Black Rock	Remote karst; sparser fish, longer runs, rewards experienced divers.
Cenderawasih Bay	2–20 m	Gentle	OW	Whale-shark bagans	Whale sharks year-round but a separate, longer itinerary — not part of a standard Dampier–Misool loop.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column →

Data column 2

Season & Encounter Calendar

Built only from established Raja Ampat seasonality. The prime dry window runs Oct–Apr; manta aggregation peaks Dec–Mar in Dampier. May–Sep is shoulder season with more variable sea state. As of 2026

Month	Season	Manta & schools	Typical visibility	Sea state / honest note
Oct	Prime	Building	20–30 m	Season opening; conditions settling.
Nov	Prime	Good	20–30 m	Reliable diving across Dampier & Misool.
Dec	Peak	Peak (Dampier)	15–25 m	Manta aggregation; occasional plankton lowers viz.
Jan	Peak	Peak	15–25 m	Green, plankton-rich water feeds the mantas.
Feb	Peak	Peak	15–25 m	Misool cleaning-station season strong.
Mar	Peak	Peak tail	20–30 m	Excellent all-round diving.
Apr	Prime	Good	20–30 m	Season closing; clear water.
May–Sep	Shoulder	Variable	10–20 m	Fewer boats operate; stronger winds & swell possible, especially in the south.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column →

Data column 3

Aboard the Boat — Cabin & Deck Spec

Onboard detail competitors hide, stated plainly: cabin classes, guide-to-diver ratio, dives per day, nitrox, and the camera & rinse-tank setup. As of 2026

Spec	Lower-deck cabin	Main-deck cabin	Master cabin
Occupancy	Twin / double	Twin / double	Double, ensuite
Guide-to-diver ratio	Up to 1:4	Up to 1:4	Up to 1:4
Dives per day	3–4 + night dive	3–4 + night dive	3–4 + night dive
Nitrox	On request (extra)	On request (extra)	On request (extra)
Camera & rinse	Dedicated rinse tanks + charging	Dedicated rinse tanks + charging	Dedicated rinse tanks + charging
Tenders	2–3 dinghies for zone drop-offs, depending on boat

Swipe the table sideways to see every column →

Simple wood-panelled liveaboard cabin with a porthole overlooking the sea

Proof · how it works

How a liveaboard week unfolds

Embark to disembark, honestly. The first dive is always a shakedown check-dive — not a hero site — so guides can verify weighting and trim before the current picks up.

Embark & check-dive

Board in Sorong, gear setup, and an easy check-dive to confirm weighting before anything serious.

02–03

Dampier Strait

Drift the world-record reefs — Cape Kri, Sardine, Blue Magic — with reef hooks in real current.

04–06

Misool South

The soft-coral heartland: Boo Windows, Magic Mountain, Fiabacet. Gentler, macro-rich, manta cleaning stations.

Passage & disembark

Final dawn dive, slow-ascent surface interval before flying, then return passage to Sorong.

Data column 4

Included, Fees & Marine Park

Stated as honest bands, never invented exact quotes. We are a trade desk brokering charters — where a figure varies by boat and season, we say so. As of 2026

Raja Ampat Marine Park PIN entry tag — per diver, valid one year, paid on arrival

Typically covered by the fare

Guided dives across the itinerary (3–4/day + night dives)
Tanks, weights and air fills
Full-board meals, snacks and drinking water
Airport / harbour transfers in Sorong on set days
Cabin accommodation for the trip length

Honest extras (not in the fare)

Raja Ampat Marine Park entry tag (per-diver government fee)
Nitrox fills — on request, priced per trip
Full or partial dive-gear rental
Alcohol, gratuities and personal expenses
Flights to Sorong and any pre/post-trip hotels

Charter routes & trips

Choose your route into the deep

Every route, boat and zone page, one click from here. We broker the charter and brief you honestly on each.

Route

Straight answers

Before you commit — five honest questions

Do I need to be an advanced diver for Raja Ampat?

Not everywhere. Misool South is genuinely OW-friendly with moderate current. Dampier Strait, however, runs strong-to-ripping drift — AOW and comfort with reef hooks are expected there. The Descent Briefing above tells you plainly which zones fit your card.

When is the best time to dive Raja Ampat?

The prime dry window is October to April, with the manta aggregation peaking December to March in Dampier. May to September is shoulder season — fewer boats, more variable wind and swell, especially in the south. All figures as of 2026.

What does a liveaboard fare usually include?

Typically: guided dives (3–4/day plus night dives), tanks, weights, air fills, full-board meals, and set-day transfers in Sorong. Honest extras include the marine-park entry tag, nitrox, gear rental, alcohol and flights. See the Fees column above.

Are your prices and availability shown live?

No. We do not publish live quotes or availability. We are a trade desk that brokers charters and filters real, published regional data. For a real quote, message the desk on WhatsApp or use the form — nothing on this page is submitted automatically.

Can you arrange a whole-boat private charter or group buyout?

Yes. Private charters and group buyouts are among the most common requests we handle. Tell us your dates, group size and target zones and we will brief options honestly — start on the private charter page or message the desk directly.

Talk to the trade desk