Snorkeling in Raja Ampat

Discover the fabulous dive sites from the surface

Raja Ampat Snorkeling
  • The best biodiversity in the world

    The reputation of Raja Ampat being one of the best places in the world for diving, snorkeling and underwater photography, is a title that is very well deserved. This 50,000sq km paradise is surrounded by over 1500 smaller islands and is home to the world’s highest marine biodiversity, with around 540 types of corals, more than 1,000 types of coral fish and 700 types of mollusks, around 75% of the world's species live here.

    CHOOSE YOUR BEST LEISURE & SNORKELING LIVEABOARD IN RAJA AMPAT!

    The best way to discover the Raja Ampat archipelago is by going on a cruise for at least a week in the region. Effectively, given the extent of this marvellous archipelago and the nautical miles needed to reach the main highlights such as Waigeo, Cape Kri, Pianemo, Arborek, Wayag or Misool, the shortest itinerary lasts for 7 days! The recommended and best itinerary taking you to the Wayag islets taking at least 8 days.
    We selected for you the best Leisure & Snorkeling liveaboards in Raja Ampat, easing your search and providing excellent quality for this amazing adventure!

    Here are our top 3 best recommandations for Snorkeling Cruises, fitting all budgets:

    - The most sustainable option to discover Raja Ampat for $350 USD/day ! Check the boat HERE
    - A full comfort luxury Raja Ampat cruise for a competitive budget of $430 USD/day ! Take a peek HERE
    - A very High-End cruise for some of our most demanding guests is at $565 USD/day ! Book this magnificent Phinisi HERE
    Rates displayed are per person, ALL INCLUDED.

    Raja Ampat Snorkeling Spots

    Raja Ampat and the Wayag islets

    Leisure & Snorkeling Cruise RAJA AMPAT

    | 8 Days / 7 Nights | 2548 € Full Board

    Central & North Raja Ampat, 
    Sorong to Sorong

    Next Departure:

    2024 November 29th to 06th

    319 per day

    Snorkeling sessions,
    Kayaking
    /Paddling
    Activities every day

    Please refer to the FAQ Section

    Boat Rating *

    Global
    9.8
    Vessel
    9.7
    Life Onboard
    9.8
    Activities
    9.8

    Click on the tabs above for more details.

    Click on the tabs above for more details.

    Incredible Fauna & Flora

    Can you imagine all the range of habitats and outstanding marine life you will encounter? Even better, it is possible to witness all this, only in the top few meters from the surface. With crystal clear waters, snorkeling in Raja Ampat will give you endless opportunities and it will be one of the most memorable underwater experiences you will ever have. This wonderful archipelago has it all, an abundance of pristine, shallow reefs, diverse habitats, good visibility, and warm water temperatures.

    While snorkeling in Raja Ampat, you will appreciate the full array of hard and soft corals, in every colour and shape imaginable, supporting huge schools of reef fish and all their associated predators. Just to have an idea of what you will encounter, think of blue spotted stingrays, blacktip reef sharks, scorpion- and crocodile fish, batfish and schools of Jackfish, school of bumphead parrot fish. In some of the favorite snorkel sites, you can see large groups of turtles and the gentle giants Manta Rays, sharks, including the docile Wobbegong, even sometimes dolphins, always happy to interact with those snorkeling amongst them. The list of what you will encounter in this world class snorkelling destination is unlimited, from tiny macro creatures, such as Pygmy Seahorses, to some of the largest animals found in our oceans - including Whales at the correct time of year. You can even do night snorkel, where you will almost always meet the endemic Papuan Bamboo Shark.

    Oceanic Manta Ray Raja Ampat

    Few of the best Snorkeling sites

    Given the amount of phenomenal snorkeling sites in Raja Ampat, we only mention below some of the best, however, keep in mind there are many other sites worth exploring:

    Sauwandarek Jetty in Dampier Strait: Sauwandarek Village is located on the Southern coast of Pulau Mansuar. It might sound strange, but snorkeling between the vertical wood pilings you will see sea fans and amazing healthy pink soft coral clinging to the structure. Fish of all sizes congregate around the jetty and only around 100 meters in front of it, there is a cleaning station where big fish hang out. Some of the mind-blowing variety of marine life you will encounter are: turtles, giant groupers and swirling schools of barracuda, colorful sweet lips, trigger fish, reef sharks, angel fish, napoleon wrasse, school of bright blue and yellow fusiliers. This is one of the most picturesque spots for snorkelling in Raja Ampat.

    Manta Sandy in Dampier Strait: there are a few large cleaning stations where snorkelers can have an amazing view of these majestic giant’s mantas. The underwater topography is ideal for trapping a large concentration plankton on the surface, which attracts the rays for a tasty snack. This means an incredible encounter with mantas right on the surface, sometimes it is even possible to see 20 rays at a time.

    Batu Lima in Pulau Gam: Batu Lima, which means “5 Rocks”, is located 300 meters or so from Yenanas Beach. There are five large rock formations that stick out of the water, sitting towards the end of the peninsula. Around the rocks, there are many coral bommies covered in the huge wonderful pinks and purples gorgonian fans at just a few meters from the surface. There are plenty of colorful fish as well and this unusual formation of nooks and crannies is a fun place to explore and look for the hiding fish.

    Colorful Sweetlips Raja Ampat

    Many Snorkeling options

    What makes Raja Ampat so unique is the impressive diversity of sites, everything from clear blue mangroves to village jetties bursting with colorful life. It owns a variety of shallow reef systems, with an array of corals and reef fish, all seen with outstanding water clarity. Now, if you like to get off the beaten track, in pristine reefs and the idea is to be alone or with few other snorkelers, consider Batanta or West Waigeo. You can also try the amazing sites around Friwen, and at Kri’s West end and Southern shore.

    Raja Ampat Impressive Landscapes and Snorkeling

    Weather conditions & best seasons

    Snorkeling in Raja Ampat is possible all year round, although not all sites are accessible at the same time due to some seasonal changes. The best months are from October till April when conditions allow exploration of most of the snorkel sites in the area, and when you can see more Manta Ray due to the high levels of Plankton.

    Between July and September, the weather and water conditions can be a little less reliable, although it is still very possible to snorkel and can be more appealing for some visitors, given lower numbers of tourists.
    Water temperatures in Raja Ampat are always pleasant, ranging from 27 to 30 Celsius degrees.


    Since there are several snorkel sites, your best option to experience these pristine and untouched reefs with tons of marine life, is to board a liveaboard cruise offering snorkeling trips, giving you the opportunity to visit these stunning islands whilst snorkeling among the world’s best sites.

    Best Season to Snorkeling Raja Ampat

    THE CRUISE OF YOUR DREAMS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

    Whether you're looking for a private charter, or to live an adventure on the sea while discovering new landscapes & meeting new people, We can help you make your dream come true.

    FAQ

    To enter Indonesia your passport must have:
    •  Expiration date of the applicant’s passport must be at least 6 (six) months at the date of entry.
    •  At least one blank visa page
    •  Round-trip airplane ticket

    There is no Visa required for 61 countries and 1 region.
    Maximum length of stay without Visa is 30 Days, if you are planning to stay up to 60 days, you can buy a visa on arrival for 35 US$ at Airports and Seaports.
    For more details about COVID restrictions, please contact the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia.


    We choose to work with people we know for years, all offering a high quality service on perfectly maintained Phinisi.

    All boats, Cabins & on-board furniture's have an authentic and sophisticated design, made with quality materials.


    Spacious and Comfortable
    shared space, Lounge, Sun Deck, Restaurant will grant you a maximum comfort.

    You will also enjoy free access to kayaks and stand-up paddles (SUP) if you wish to explore the surrounding.
    Then it's up to you to chose if you want to enjoy a stunning sunset from the lounge with a fresh drink or from the SUP in the middle of pristine water.

    One of the most, if not the most important part of your cruise, The Crew. They all are experienced, they know when to be discreet and how to treat you well.

    Another important part of your journey, the Food., you will enjoy some great dishes cooked with love by some skilled chef. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, you will be delighted all day long. 


    You can refer to the label on the boat description to have a quick overview about the class of the cruise.
    Luxury
     All cabins are equipped with Air conditioning and Private bathroom (ensuite). 
    Comfort: All cabins are equipped with Air conditioning and some cabins may have shared bathroom (Max 2 cabins).

    You should definitely consider the full charter option especially if you are planning this cruise with your family or friends. It will make the experience even more exceptional. As we offer a large choice of boat, no matter if you are 6, 10 or more than 12 we will find the best vessel according the standing you are expecting. From 1000$ per night in adventure standing, 2000$ per night in Comfort standing and from 3000$ in Luxury standing. Contact us for more informations.

    Not at all, beginners can do discover scuba diving during the cruise (let us know to arrange it)


    Open water certified divers or equivalent will have access to most of the dive sites, but to make the best of the cruise Advanced level and experience in drift dive is recommended. You can spend a few days with us in Bali before starting your cruise, by joining our Safari tour or to get your Advanced certification in one of our four dive centers, it will allow you to dive up to 30m depth, to join night dives and be more confident and comfortable while drift diving.

    For an even better training we recommend you to join the drift specialty in Nusa Lembongan.

    If you are more into Leisure, Yoga or Surfing, we can offer you some great cruise experience while practicing some of your favourite activities. Contact us for more informations.

    Indonesia spread over its more than 5000 km along the Equator which offers a tropical climate with only two season, dry & wet.

    Dry season is mainly from May to October Wet season from November to April.
    Keep in mind that Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago, so you can visit year-round as wet season won’t start in the same time in different places.

    Landscapes are also pretty different due to Tropical rainforest climate and Tropical savannah climate.

    Komodo: All year around
    North Komodo: April to December
    South Komodo: January to march
    Raja Ampat: October to May
    Banda Island: September to November
    Alor: May to November

    We do recommend you to bring your own gears if you already own it. If not it’s not a big deal, you can rent the full set onboard, some of our partners provide rental equipment for free, maximum you can expect another 60$ per day.
    As a reminder, every scuba diver should be equipped with: Wetsuite/BCD/Regulator set/Fins/Weight system/Dive computer/SMB/Torchlight/Compass.


    Nitrox tanks are available on most of the boats, please refer to the boat description.

    Included: Transportation between airport & boat (return)/ Accommodation/ Meals and snacks/ non alcoholic beverage/ 12L tanks and weight system for divers

    Not Included:
    Marine park and Port authority fees / International and domestic flights/ Traveling - Diving Insurance / alcoholic beverage & espresso/ massage/ 15L tanks and dive gears rental for scuba divers

    Most of the time €, Us$ are accepted onboard, but we do recommend you to bring enough cash in local currency IDR. Payement by card are available on some boats, please refer to the boat description.
    Most of electric outlets on board are European type.

    Tipping from 5 to 10% of the cruise amount are expected, it express your satisfaction level. Tips are also an important income part for crew members.