Yenatar Resort, Raja Ampat
Family-friendly dive resort in the heart of the Dampier Strait, close to iconic dive sites
per person, full board
Overview
- Secluded beachfront resort in the heart of the Dampier Strait
Sleep soundly in one of eight spacious, two-story villas
Scuba dive world-renowned sites with partner operators
Colourful house reef for snorkelling, paddleboarding and diving
Nestled between pristine beaches and verdant forests, Yenatar Resort is a secluded beachfront hideaway offering an enchanting escape for the senses in the heart of the Dampier Strait. Delivering down-to-earth luxury and environmentally-friendly comfort, this exquisitely-designed property could well be considered the epitome of hospitality in the region. And, thanks to its enviable location, guests opting to stay here have access to a wealth of renowned experiences – from wildlife spotting and lagoon swimming, to scuba diving some of the world’s very best sites.
Rooms
The villa
1 x Double bed, sleeps 2
Air conditioning, Ensuite bathroom, Private terrace...from $304 /night
Resort checklist
Meal plans:
- Full Board
Diving in Raja Ampat
WobbegongNot frequently
Manta RaysYear round
Schooling reef fishYear round
Pygmy seahorseYear round
Healthy coralsYear round
Plentiful reef lifeYear round
Soft coralsYear round
TrevallyYear round
The diving in Raja Ampat can be broadly divided into two main areas. The north with its nutrient-rich currents, denser fish life and better hard corals. While Misool Island in the south offers divers better visibility and more plentiful soft corals.Â
Mansuar Island and the Dampier Strait
Mansuar Island and the Dampier Strait are the heart of Raja Ampat’s northern diving. This area is home to Raja Ampat’s original dive resorts and many of the famous dive sites. Here, divers can explore sites such as Chicken Reef, Sardine Reef, Batu Lima, Blue Magic and Cape Kri in the east, and Manta Ridge, Manta Sandy and Arborek Jetty in the west. Raja Ampat’s northern dive sites feature fantastic biodiversity, large numbers of schooling fish and plenty of action when the currents are running. Due to the popularity of the Dampier Strait, there is now a ranger station at Manta Sandy to ensure divers follow the correct rules when diving with manta rays.
North of the Dampier Strait
North of the Dampier Strait are the islands of Waigeo and Gam. This area is home to the aptly named Mayhem dive site and the famous Passage - a narrow channel that cuts between the two islands. The tidal flow through the Passage creates the ideal conditions for filter feeders. Divers can drift between huge soft corals and sea fans which reach for the surface beneath the overhanging mangroves.
Misool Island
Located to the south of the main islands, Misool’s diving is characterised by dramatic underwater landscapes, stunning reefs and manta rays. Divers will find lots of pinnacles and ridges carpeted in beautiful fans, soft corals and sponges. Dive sites such as Boo and Fiabacet have become famous for glorious reef diving, whilst Magic Mountain attracts divers in search of giant oceanic manta rays. A large number of the dive sites around Misool Island now lie within the Misool Marine Reserve, a protected area twice the size of Singapore! And the results of this protection are clear, with fish populations booming and the number of sharks increasing every year.
