Papua, the easternmost province of Indonesia, is a land of amazing natural beauty and cultural richness.
It is home to a myriad of indigenous tribes and is a biodiversity hotspot with numerous species not found anywhere else in the world. Thanks to its green, lush rainforests and geographical location; Indonesia is nicknamed ‘Zamrud Khatulistiwa’ – the Emerald of the Equator.
The region is an incredible place to explore – as is the water that surrounds it! It is part of the so-called “Coral Triangle“, a roughly triangular area in the tropical waters around the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste which is recognized as the global centre of marine biodiversity.
Papua’s Raja Ampat islands in particular are renowned for their amazing waters and vibrant marine life, making them a paradise – a must-visit/bucket-list destination – for every diver.
The lively coral reefs rank among the world’s most untouched and pristine while you will also have the chance to spot mantas, various species of shark, turtles, barracuda, jacks and other pelagic fish, pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, parrotfish, angelfish, butterflyfish…
It is an exceptional experience and one you would never forget.
So, here’s a thought for you. Why not visit in the summer?
It might not be the traditional time for coming to this part of the world but it has some great benefits.
First among those are that there are fewer boats around and therefore dive sites are quiet.
But, more than that, the water visibility is excellent – often exceeding 30 metres (100 feet) it makes every dive a sensory experience and provides a fantastic chance to see the amazing life in front of you.
And the temperatures are pretty good, too.
The water will typically range between 27°C to 30°C (81°F to 86°F), providing comfortable conditions for extended dive sessions, while air temperatures offer a delightful way to explore with it neither being too hot nor too cold.
If any more evidence of the delights you can see is needed, REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) recently proclaimed Misool – one of the four major islands in the Raja Ampat archipelago – as the third in its list of species-rich dive sites worldwide.
Since its launch in 1993, the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project database now has over 250,000 surveys conducted at almost 15,000 sites throughout the world’s oceans.
During their visit to Misool in September last year, they carried out 278 surveys diving at 27 sites – at one alone they noted a total of 601 species.
Our Best of Raja Ampat itinerary offers the perfect chance to explore Misool taking in sites such as Daram, Wayilbatan and Fiabacet.
You also do it onboard Emperor Harmoni, our fantastic phinisi-style liveaboard. She blends perfectly a traditional quality with contemporary style and has every modern convenience needed as you immerse yourself the wonder of your trip.
Want to know more? Just get in touch with our team at [email protected] and we’ll tell you all you need to know about diving this sensational area of Indonesia.
