Scuba diving in Raja Ampat – from a dive resort or liveaboard?

Raja Ampat is one of the planet's best scuba diving destinations and visitors now have a wide selection of resorts and liveaboard vessels to choose from. The question is, which of these is the right choice for your trip?

Of course, personal preference will play a huge part in your decision making, and there’s never a right way when it comes to scuba diving holidays. But to help you decide between booking a dive resort or liveaboard in Raja Ampat, our travel experts have identified a few key considerations.

And don't forget, many of ZuBlu's dive travel experts have lived and worked in Indonesia, exploring destinations including Raja Ampat. Send the team an enquiry today if you need help planning your dive trip to this exceptional destination.

• Pros: Beachside setting, overwater rooms, and a wider range of facilities and activities.
• Cons: Few options in more remote areas and access to a limited number of sites.

Despite its size and popularity, much of Raja Ampat remains largely undeveloped thanks to its challenging geography – with many of the islands looking exactly as they have done for decades. But today, a few of these rugged, jungle-covered islands are home to secluded dive resorts. Complete with beautiful beaches, blissful tropical gardens, and even stylish overwater bungalows, these resorts are perfect for divers looking to carve out their own slice of paradise in Raja Ampat.

Raja Ampat’s resorts are mostly concentrated in the north, with the vast majority of resorts and guesthouses found in and around the Dampier Strait, particularly on the islands of Gam, Waiego, Kri and Batanta. While each resort might offer access to a number of unique dive sites, their similar locations means that you'll be exploring much of the same sites wherever you stay - Raja Ampat’s iconic underwater experience in the Dampier Strait!

So what does this mean if you are intent on exploring more of Raja Ampat? Well apart from the exceptional Misool Eco Resort, there are no resorts in the south, and the only way to explore this vast area's exceptional scuba diving is to join a liveaboard heading to Misool.

Booking a dive resort holiday in Raja Ampat is the best option for guests who want to relax and enjoy the islands, as well as enjoy the classic scuba diving in the Dampier Strait - given that Misool Eco Resort is actually booked years in advance! A resort stay might also be the best bet for divers travelling with snorkelers or non-divers, as well as guests who are planning on enjoying Raja Ampat’s other activities as well – such as kayaking, or spotting the endemic Birds of Paradise.

If a dive resort vacation in Raja Ampat sounds right for you, you now have a range of options to choose from that includes environmentally-friendly resorts, affordable resorts, luxurious dive resorts boasting plenty of creature comforts, and even a modern resort with a pool. Overall, Raja Ampat’s northern islands are better-suited to shorter stays of around a week, thanks to easy access from the airport using scheduled resort transfers or the daily ferry between Sorong and Waisai. Transfers to Misool Eco Resort are longer in comparison. For more information on resort transfers in Raja Ampat, check out our advice on getting to remote dive destinations in Indonesia.

• Pros: More dives at a wider range of sites and itineraries for the best experience.
• Cons: Often require a minimum experience level and offer much less space for guests.

Liveaboards in Raja Ampat offer the distinct advantage of being able to travel much further and explore a wider area within this vast region, making them the ideal for guests who want to see as much of Raja Ampat as possible in a single trip. In fact, Raja Ampat's top liveaboards have multi-destination itineraries down to an exact science, often featuring ‘Best of…’ itineraries, designed to deliver the ultimate overall experience. 

Covering large distances overnight and during surface intervals, these itineraries incorporate more diving at more dive sites than would ever be possible from a resort. You'll likely spend each day diving three or four times in one area, then sail onwards at night to the next incredible island group. This strategy allows dive boats to traverse Raja Ampat's huge geographical area, stopping at the best dive sites along their chosen route. It also means guests can visit many islands that would otherwise be difficult to access – perfect for hiking Raja Ampat's iconic viewpoints, spotting rare endemic birds, and snorkelling some of Indonesia's most perfectly preserved reefs.

Raja Ampat’s vast geographical area covers a range of different island groups, which can be divided into two quite distinct regions. With its nutrient rich currents, the diving in and around the Dampier Strait is markedly different to that on offer around Misool - a real north and south divide!

And unlike resorts, liveaboards offer divers the chance to combine these two contrasting regions in a single itinerary. Typically 7 or 8 nights at a minimum, these itineraries can explore the best sites of the Dampier Strait, as well as those of Misool in a single exceptional trip.

Liveaboards in Raja Ampat can also move to different regions depending on the season or conditions, search for interesting marine species, or head to known spots where seasonal gatherings take place. Marine research and citizen science trips are also offered, allowing guests to get hands-on, working alongside scientists to conduct population surveys and identify specific individuals.

To make sure itineraries run as smoothly as possible for all guests on board, liveaboards will normally impose a minimum level of scuba experience to join a trip – unless, of course, the trip also welcomes snorkelers. This requirement can vary greatly depending on the itinerary, ranging from Open Water with five logged dives, to Advanced Open Water with at least 50 dives under their belt, but many liveaboards will request higher experience levels for itineraries that travel to areas with more challenging conditions.

A liveaboard trip in Raja Ampat is typically better suited to dedicated scuba divers who want to eat, sleep, dive, and repeat, plus they allow visitors to explore as many of Raja Ampat’s marine habitats as possible in one trip. It may sound obvious, but it’s also important to remember that you’ll be living on a boat, so if you struggle with sea sickness, a liveaboard might not be for you. And, while Indonesia’s waters are usually calm, the traditionally-designed phinisi vessels typically have none of the sophisticated stabilisation features found on more modern yacht designs.

Thankfully, if you're planning to book a Raja Ampat diving holiday, you have a fantastic selection of accommodation to choose from, including options suited to every budget and personal style. In fact, there’s so many options on offer, it can often be difficult to choose. But don’t worry if you need a little help, just check out these articles where we’ve selected and reviewed the best liveaboards in Raja Ampat and Raja Ampat’s top dive resorts.

Backpackers and budget travellers can choose from several affordable Raja Ampat liveaboards with shared dorm rooms and family-style meals, or quaint and quiet island guesthouses that are perfect for outgoing and intrepid visitors. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you'll find luxurious boutique resorts and perfectly appointed yachts with top of the line facilities. These experiences include all the comforts of a five-star hotel, including indulgent extras like fine dining, Jacuzzi tubs, and spa services.

Best of all, divers can have the most stunning sites all to themselves on board a private Raja Ampat liveaboard charter. These intimate adventures allow you and your guests to customise each day’s diving activities, and schedule outings to avoid other groups entirely. Perfect for families travelling with children, you can ensure that even the youngest explorers in your group enjoy the trip of a lifetime!