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November is the month the Raja Ampat season really gets going. The monsoon winds ease, the sea flattens out and the liveaboards fill up. If you are weighing a Raja Ampat trip in November, here is what to expect from the weather, the visibility and the water, and what a typical day on a liveaboard looks like.
Raja Ampat sits close to the equator, so temperatures barely move through the year. Expect air temperatures around 28 to 31 degrees Celsius, strong sun and warm nights. The main season runs from about October to April, and November is early in that window. The seas are usually calm and the winds are light, which makes the long crossings between Dampier Strait, Wayag and the northern islands more comfortable.
Rain does not disappear. Short tropical showers are common, and you may get a grey afternoon or two. They usually pass within an hour. The upside is that the rain often arrives with cooler air, and the sunsets after a shower can be spectacular. Our month-by-month guide to Raja Ampat shows how November compares with the rest of the year.
The water sits at around 28 to 30 degrees Celsius, so a 3 millimetre wetsuit or even a shorty is enough for most divers. Many people dive in a rash guard and shorts for the shallow sites. Visibility varies by site and tide, but 15 to 30 metres is typical, and on good days on the outer reefs you can see further. Plankton blooms and tidal currents can cut visibility at some sites, which is part of the reason the area is so rich in life.
Raja Ampat sits in the heart of the Coral Triangle, and the biodiversity is the reason people travel this far. Soft corals cover the walls, and reef fish come in clouds. Expect schooling barracuda and jacks, reef sharks, turtles, eagle rays and manta rays at cleaning stations. At night, the critters come out: pygmy seahorses, walking epaulette sharks, wobbegongs and tiny nudibranchs. Our post on the Coral Triangle explains why this corner of Indonesia is so rich.
Currents can be strong at the best sites. Drift dives through channels are a highlight, and guides brief each dive carefully. If you have never dived in current, tell the guide, and expect to start with easier sites. Beginners are welcome on a well-run liveaboard, and our Raja Ampat liveaboard guide for beginners explains what to expect.
Each area has its own character. Dampier Strait has the highest fish counts and the manta cleaning stations. Misool in the south has pristine soft coral and calmer water. Wayag in the north is the postcard: karst islands rising from a turquoise lagoon, with a viewpoint hike that takes about thirty minutes. In November the northern route is more accessible because of the calmer seas. If you want to compare the areas in more detail, read Wayag vs Misool vs Dampier Strait.
A typical day starts with an early coffee and a first dive before breakfast. After a hearty breakfast, there is a second dive, then lunch and a rest while the boat moves to the next site. The afternoon has another dive or a snorkel, and a sunset on deck. Some evenings include a night dive or a beach barbecue on a deserted island. In between, you can kayak, swim off the boat or walk through a village. Meals are made on board with fresh fish and local ingredients. If you are comparing styles of trip, our post on liveaboard vs small-group expedition in Raja Ampat goes into the differences, and what you actually pay for a liveaboard explains the budget.
Bring a reef-safe sunscreen, a long-sleeve rash guard, a light rain jacket, mosquito repellent and a dry bag. If you dive, bring your own mask and computer. Most trips start in Sorong, in West Papua, which means flying via Jakarta or Makassar. Arrive a day early, because delays are common, and book a hotel in Sorong for the night before the boat leaves.
Our Sail and Dive Raja Ampat expedition runs from 20 to 29 November 2027 on a traditional Indonesian sailing boat. It includes nine nights on board, all meals, more than 33 dives, dive gear and hotel pick-up in Sorong, with a group of eight. Please note that the departure is still being confirmed, so wait before booking flights. The Sail and Dive Raja Ampat page has the current status and the full day-by-day plan.
