Diving Liveaboard Raja Ampat — Dive Sites, Routes & Marine Life

Cape Kri is a sloping reef off the eastern tip of Kri Island, renowned for its staggering fish biomass. It was here in 2012 that Dr. Gerald Allen documented a world-record 374 fish species on a single 90-minute dive. The dive plan typically involves a negative entry at the point, hooking into the current to observe the action, and then drifting along the protected side of the reef.

• Depth Range: 5 – 40 meters
• Current: Moderate to very strong
• Key Species: Schools of bigeye trevally, chevron barracuda, dogtooth tuna, spanish mackerel, and multiple species of reef sharks including grey reef, whitetip, and blacktip. The endemic wobbegong shark (Eucrossorhinus dasypogon) is frequently found sheltering under table corals.

Blue Magic is a submerged pinnacle in the middle of the Dampier Strait, a true pelagic magnet. The top of the reef sits at 7 meters, quickly dropping off to beyond 30 meters on all sides. This is an advanced dive, often requiring a rapid descent to the reef crest to avoid being swept over the top. The site is a known aggregation point for large oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) during their feeding season.

• Depth Range: 7 – 30+ meters
• Current: Strong to extreme
• Key Species: Oceanic manta rays, giant trevally, Napoleon wrasse, dense schools of fusiliers and surgeonfish. The strong currents attract predators, making it a reliable site for observing hunting behavior.

Manta Sandy is a designated cleaning station for reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi). Located in a protected channel, the site is a shallow, sandy bowl at approximately 18 meters, with several large coral bommies that serve as the cleaning posts. Divers position themselves on the sand, remaining stationary to observe the mantas as they hover over the reef to be serviced by cleaner wrasse. Strict observation protocols are enforced to protect this critical habitat.

• Depth Range: 15 – 20 meters
• Current: Mild to moderate
• Key Species: Primarily reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi), often seen in trains of 5 to 10 individuals. The site is also home to bamboo sharks and various macro life in the surrounding rubble.

Magic Mountain is arguably the most famous dive site in Misool. This large seamount rises from deep water to within 5 meters of the surface and serves as a cleaning station for both reef mantas (Mobula alfredi) and the larger, seasonal oceanic mantas (Mobula birostris). The sheer density and variety of life, from pelagics at the peak to pygmy seahorses on the deeper fans, make this a globally significant site.

• Depth Range: 5 – 40 meters
• Current: Moderate to strong
• Key Species: Both manta ray species, Napoleon wrasse, schools of jacks, and whitetip reef sharks. The gorgonian sea fans at 24 meters are a reliable location for finding Bargibant's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti).

Boo Windows is named for two large, swim-through holes eroded through the surface rock of Boo Island, creating a stunning visual reference. The underwater landscape is a continuation of this topography, with sloping reefs covered in a kaleidoscope of soft corals and sea fans. The dive typically follows a path around the island, exploring the vibrant shallows and deeper bommies.

• Depth Range: 3 – 30 meters
• Current: Mild to moderate
• Key Species: Enormous schools of yellowtail fusiliers and schooling bannerfish flow through the "windows." The site is excellent for wide-angle photography, capturing the interplay of light and color on the soft corals.

Melissa's Garden is a sprawling, submerged reef system that covers an area of several square kilometers. The site is an immense plateau of staghorn and table corals, interspersed with coral bommies draped in glassfish. Its sheer size and health make it one of the most impressive hard coral reefs on the planet. This is a shallow, bright dive, perfect for extended, multi-level profiles.

• Depth Range: 3 – 25 meters
• Current: Mild
• Key Species: Unrivaled hard coral diversity. On night dives, this is a prime location to search for the endemic Raja Ampat walking shark (Hemiscyllium freycineti), which uses its pectoral fins to "walk" across the reef.