Raja Ampat's incredible fish and coral diversity was discovered by Dr Gerry Allen - a marine expert who has worked with the Aqua-Firma team on reef surveys elsewhere in Indonesia. His surveys at Raja Ampat on behalf of Conservation International, suggested that the marine bio-diversity in the area is the highest recorded on Earth. With 1,459 fish species and around 600 hard coral species, nowhere else can rival these waters for coral reef diversity and health; seemingly resistant to the warming effects of the surrounding sea water.

To put the scale of Raja Ampat's diversity into perspective, the area contains 75% of the world's coral reef species which is more than 10 times the number of coral species found in the Caribbean. These waters are also home to some of the strangest looking fish, including wobbegongs, or carpet sharks, which entice their prey using their front whisker lobes. Other interesting species include pygmy seahorses, manta rays, epaulette sharks, dugongs, whales and dolphins.

There are many advantages to a land based diving or snorkelling option in Raja Ampat. One of these is the size and facilities of your accommodation, which can include options for land-based excursions to explore the history and pristine flora and fauna of the stunning small islands dotted around the coast.

Choosing a resort-based trip can provide excellent value as well as highly rewarding underwater experiences. We can tailor your dive packages to include as much or as little diving as you wish. You can make up to four boat dives per day as well as optional excursions to more remote world-class diving sites, snorkelling and inland trips.

Non-divers can enjoy snorkelling either from the shore on the resort's own house reef, or by boat heading out to shallow reefs well beyond swimming range. Other activities might include kayaking around local lagoons and inlets, bird watching and wildlife watching excursions to nearby islands and visits to villages to meet the locals and learn about their way of life.
 

Northern Raja Ampat

The stunning Northern Raja Ampat landscape is characterised by numerous, dramatic karst islands. These vegetation-covered limestone rocks are scattered along the coast forming a green maze amongst the turquoise lagoons and inlets. Divers and snorkelers here can enjoy plentiful marine life with masses of schooling fish and exciting drift dives at world famous sites such as Manta Sandy and Sardines.

There is some fantastic house reef diving and snorkelling to be done in the north. Regular sightings include blue spotted stingrays, blacktip reef sharks, turtles, scorpionfish, crocodile fish, batfish, schools of jackfish and bumphead parrotfish. You also have the opportunity to experience night snorkelling, where you may meet the endemic Papuan Bamboo Shark (Epaulette Shark).

We offer a choice of two carefully selected locations in Northern Raja Ampat:

Kri Island

Kri Island is home to many birds including Lorikeets, Eclectic parrots and Cockatoos, and is covered with wild orchids, monitor lizards and massive, nocturnal coconut crabs. The cutest inhabitant is probably the cuscus, a furry marsupial that often can be seen walking along the rooftops trying to steal their favourite food, a banana. The waters around the resort are protected by a no-take zone.