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Raja Ampat, off the Bird's Head Peninsula of West Papua in Indonesia, has more marine life than almost anywhere on Earth. It is also remote, expensive to reach and easy to get wrong. The operator you choose decides how much of it you actually see.
This guide compares the main ways to do Raja Ampat, the operators that come up most often, and the practical questions to ask before you commit. It also covers the choice most people struggle with: a big dive liveaboard or a small-group expedition.
The numbers are hard to believe: more than 1,500 species of reef fish and around three quarters of the world's known coral species. Mantas, wobbegong sharks and pygmy seahorses can turn up on the same week of dives.
Getting there takes planning. Most people fly to Sorong via Jakarta or Makassar, then board a boat or a ferry. The best sites are spread over a huge area, and conditions change from one island group to the next. An operator who knows the region, plans around the currents and keeps the group small makes a real difference to what you get out of it.
Purpose-built dive boats that roam the archipelago with a dive-first programme. You sleep, eat and dive on board, often three or four times a day. Groups are usually larger, commonly 12 to 16 divers.
You stay on one island and take day boats to nearby sites. Stable and comfortable, but you see the part of Raja Ampat within reach of your resort.
A smaller boat, a small group and a route that mixes diving with island stops. This is the format of our Sail and Dive Raja Ampat expedition: a traditional pinisi, 8 guests and a full programme in and out of the water.
All established, all respected. They suit different divers.
Ten days on a traditional Indonesian pinisi from Sorong, with 33+ dives, dive gear included and 8 hand-picked guests. Not certified yet? You can do your Open Water course on site. Best for divers and soon-to-be divers who want serious diving and a small group chosen with care.
One of the best-known liveaboards in Raja Ampat, operating in the area for more than 25 years and reaching remote sites on longer itineraries. Dive-focused, with groups of up to 16. Best for experienced divers who want as many sites as possible.
A larger phinisi working in Raja Ampat and Komodo, known for service and food. More polished and comfort-led than expedition-style. Best for travellers who want comfort and diving in equal measure.
A land-based dive resort with strong local knowledge and good guides. No sailing between islands, but a stable base and daily dive boats. Best for divers who prefer one room for the whole stay.
Both formats put you on a boat in remote water. The difference is the size of the group, who is in it and how the days are shaped.
Choose a big liveaboard if you are an experienced diver, you want to log as many remote sites as possible and you are happy sharing the boat with a larger group you have not met.
Choose a small-group expedition if you want plenty of diving but also the islands, the evenings and a group you will actually enjoy spending ten days with.
Many people assume Raja Ampat is only for seasoned divers. Some of the remote sites with strong current are, and the big dive liveaboards often ask for a minimum number of logged dives. But a lot of Raja Ampat's reefs are shallow, colourful and calm enough to learn on.
That is why we offer the Open Water course on site. You learn in sheltered water with an instructor, then keep diving with the group for the rest of the expedition. By the end of ten days, you will have more dives than many people log in their first year.
If you are already certified, ask any operator how they match divers of different levels. On a small boat, the guides can split the group by experience and plan each dive accordingly, so nobody is held back and nobody is pushed beyond what they are ready for.
One thing does not change, whatever your level: you need to be at ease in the ocean. Getting in and out of a tender, swimming on the surface in a bit of chop and staying calm when the current picks up are part of every Raja Ampat dive day.
The Sail and Dive Raja Ampat expedition is 10 days on a traditional Indonesian pinisi, starting from Sorong. You get 33+ dives, all dive gear included, and if you are not certified yet you can complete your Open Water course on site. The marine park fee is paid locally. The price is $6,800.
There are 8 guests on board, all hand-picked. You apply for free, we have a short video call, and a 20% deposit confirms your place. We do not accept guests who cannot swim comfortably in the ocean.
A small group on a pinisi means quieter dives, more time with the guides and evenings that feel like an expedition rather than a dive schedule.
Do you want to dive Raja Ampat, or experience it? The big liveaboards and the dive resorts are excellent at the first. We built our expedition for people who want both: serious diving and everything around it, with a group chosen with care.
Read the full Sail and Dive Raja Ampat itinerary and send us your application if it fits. Applying is free.
