Raja Ampat, Start Your Journey Here !

From Frans Kaisiepo Airport in Biak, the easiest access to the stunning Raja Ampat Islands is by taking a flight to Sorong regency via Jayapura city. In Sorong, you can continue your journey to Raja Ampat Islands by sea or air using a chartered flight.

Raja Ampat Cottage View. Source: Antara

Raja Ampat Islands are a group of four adjacent island clusters located in the western part of the Bird's Head Peninsula (Vogelkoop) of Papua Island. Administratively falling under Raja Ampat regency, West Papua Province, this archipelago has become a sought-after destination for divers, allured by its mesmerizing underwater scenery. The four island clusters are named after their largest islands: Waigeo Island, Misool Island, Salawati Island, and Batanta Island. According to local myths, the name "Raja Ampat" originates from a woman who found seven eggs. Four of them hatched into four princes who became kings ruling over Waigeo, Salawati, East Misool, and West Misool, while the other three eggs turned into ghosts, a woman, and a stone.

Throughout history, the Raja Ampat region has been inhabited by noble communities, practicing the Maluku customary system. Under this system, communities formed groups led by a king in each village. Since the establishment of five Muslim sultanates in Maluku, Raja Ampat became part of the claim by the Sultanate of Tidore. After the Sultanate of Tidore fell under Dutch rule, Raja Ampat became part of the Dutch East Indies claim.

The people of Raja Ampat are mainly traditional fishermen, residing in small villages scattered across different islands. They warmly welcome guests from outside, especially when offered gifts such as betel nuts or candies, acting as a symbol of peace in Raja Ampat. Gathering to chat while chewing betel nuts is also known as "Para-para Pinang," exchanging amusing stories among one another.

Raja Ampat residents practice both Islam and Christianity, fostering harmony despite their diverse beliefs.

Raja Ampat Islands hold great potential as a tourist destination, particularly for diving enthusiasts. Its waters are considered one of the top 10 diving sites globally, and it may even rank as number one in terms of underwater flora and fauna richness.

For instance, Dr. John Veron, a seasoned coral expert from Australia, describes Raja Ampat, situated at the westernmost tip of Papua Island, about 50 miles northwest of Sorong, as having the best coral reefs in Indonesia. During a two-week research in the area, about 450 types of hard corals were identified.

An expert team from Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Oceanography Institute (LON) of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) conducted a rapid assessment in 2001 and 2002. The results showed that the waters were home to more than 540 species of hard corals (75% of the world's total), over 1,000 species of coral fish, 700 species of mollusks, and the highest record of gonodactyloid stomatopod crustaceans. This means that 75% of the world's coral species can be found in Raja Ampat. No other area of the same size has such a high number of coral species.

Some coral reef areas still have excellent conditions, with live coral coverage reaching up to 90%. These areas are found in Dampier Strait (between Waigeo Island and Batanta Island), Kofiau Islands, Southeast Misool Islands, and Wayag Islands. The types of coral reefs in Raja Ampat are generally edge reefs with contours ranging from shallow to steep. However, atolls and shoals can also be found. In some places like Saondarek Village, during the lowest tide, expansive coral reefs can be observed without diving, and these corals can survive even when exposed to open air and direct sunlight.

During diving, unique species that can be encountered include several types of pygmy seahorses, wobbegongs, and Manta rays. There are also endemic fish species in Raja Ampat, such as Eviota raja, a type of goby fish. At Manta Point, located in Arborek, Dampier Strait, you can dive accompanied by several friendly Manta rays, similar to the experience in Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan. If you dive at Cape Kri or Chicken Reef, you'll be surrounded by thousands of fish, sometimes schools of tuna, giant trevallies, and snappers. But it can be thrilling when surrounded by a school of barracuda, although they are not considered dangerous (barracudas are dangerous if encountered solitarily). Reef sharks are also often spotted, and if you're lucky, you might see turtles peacefully munching on sponges or swimming around you. In some areas like Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo, Dugongs or sea cows can also be spotted.

Due to its numerous islands and narrow straits, most diving spots experience strong currents at certain times, allowing for drift diving, where you dive while following strong currents in crystal-clear waters, passing through schools of fish.

Visiting this archipelago is not too difficult, although it does require considerable time and cost. You can use airlines from Jakarta to Sorong via Manado, taking a 6-hour flight. In Sorong, which is a relatively large city with decent facilities, you have two options for exploring Raja Ampat: joining a tour on a pinisi boat or staying at Papua Diving Resort

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