Discover Raja Ampat: A premier liveaboard dive experience
Embark on the ultimate underwater expedition in Raja Ampat, the crown jewel of the Coral Triangle. Adelaar offers a premier liveaboard experience, inviting you to traverse the world’s richest marine biodiversity hub. With a staggering array of over 1,500 fish species and 600 types of corals, Raja Ampat stands as a beacon for marine enthusiasts and biodiversity conservationists.
Decades of custom diving expeditions: with 30 years of navigating the cerulean depths of Indonesia, Adelaar Liveaboard specializes in crafting custom diving expeditions. Our intimate knowledge of Raja Ampat’s diving sites ensures a matchless underwater experience tailored to each guest’s preferences and diving proficiency.
Exploring Raja Ampat’s signature dive spots
The Raja Ampat archipelago is segmented into three predominant dive regions, each offering unique underwater experiences:
Misool: Dive into the southern sanctuary of Misool, where the underwater terrain is adorned with extraordinary reef formations and a kaleidoscope of sea creatures.
Dampier Strait: The central heart of Raja Ampat’s diving scene, the Dampier Strait, presents an assortment of dives from exhilarating pinnacles to serene muck dives.
Wayag: We venture north to Wayag, renowned for its iconic limestone karsts and translucent waters, offering both awe-inspiring scenery and rich underwater life.
Adelaar: A liveaboard in Raja Ampat for everyone
Adelaar’s Raja Ampat experience isn’t just for divers. Our trip is for all guests and promises an unforgettable journey through the region’s spectacular marine landscapes. Non-divers can enjoy the surrounding splendor with activities such as snorkeling, kayaking and beach excursions. Our world-class service and luxurious amenities ensure a comfortable and memorable trip for everyone.
Optimal seasons for visiting Raja Ampat
The prime season to indulge in Raja Ampat’s underwater spectacle spans from October to April. This period is marked by drier weather, gentler seas, and optimal underwater clarity, ideal for diving and snorkeling adventures.
Raja Ampat diving: Ideal wetsuit guide for Adelaar guests
For diving in Raja Ampat, we recommend a long 3mm thick wetsuit. This thickness ensures comfort in the warm waters, typically ranging from 27°C to 30°C (81°F to 86°F). A long wetsuit is advisable not only for thermal protection but also as a safeguard against the region’s fire corals, which can cause discomfort upon contact. Ensuring your safety and comfort during your dive is our priority.
Your gateway to Raja Ampat: Sorong
Begin your Raja Ampat adventure by arriving in Sorong, the starting point to this marine paradise. Jakarta serves as the primary international hub to Sorong.
Recommended direct flight options from Jakarta to Sorong and back (Sorong time is 2 hours ahead of Jakarta time):
| Airlines | Flights | Jakarta-Sorong | Flights | Sorong-Jakarta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garuda Indonesia | GA682 | 12:10 am – 6:15 am | GA683 | 8:15 am – 10:10 am |
| Batik Air | ID7797 | 12:30 am – 6:40 am | ID7780 | 11:05 am – 13:00 pm |
| Super Air Jet | IU215 | 03:10 pm – 5:05 pm |
Domestic flight tickets can be purchased with credit card from abroad via Traveloka.com.
Additional connections are available from major Indonesian cities such as Manado, Makassar and Denpasar (Bali) giving you seamless access to the wonders of Raja Ampat.
For travelers from Europe, an option to explore is booking flights directly to Sorong (SOQ) on the Qatar Airways website. Through their partnership with Garuda Indonesia, this allows you to secure a single ticket to your final destination, offering a convenient and seamless travel experience.
Sorong to Raja Ampat Transfer Information
The Adelaar team will organize your pickup from either the airport or your hotel and transfer you directly to the vessel. Sorong Airport is just a 10-minute drive from the harbour.
If you choose to stay overnight before or after your Raja Ampat cruise, there are several good hotels conveniently located, as Sorong is a small town.
Recommended Hotels for Your Raja Ampat Cruise with Adelaar
Transit Hotel in Jakarta: FM7 Resort Hotel
If you need a transit hotel in Jakarta, we highly recommend the FM7 Resort Hotel. This hotel offers a variety of amenities to ensure a comfortable stay. The FM7 Resort Hotel also provides convenient free transfers to and from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, making your transit smooth and hassle-free.
Hotel in Sorong: Aston Hotel and Conference Center Sorong
For a pleasant stay in Sorong before or after your cruise, we suggest the Aston Sorong within walking distance from Domine Eduard Osok Airport.
Total Raja Ampat (Sorong – Sorong)
On Adelaar’s Total Raja trip we propose to visit all three sections of the enormous diver’s playground that is Raja Ampat: the Central, South, and North. As Raja boasts more dive sites than could be done even in multiple trips, no Raja trip will look exactly the same. The following itinerary is just an example to illustrate how your cruise might look like. As with all private charters on Adelaar, everything can be fully customised, including length of the trip and places visited.
Day 1 Sorong
After the airport or hotel pick-up and transfer to Adelaar, the first day is dedicated to getting to know the crew, settling in, and enjoying the first day on the boat while we are sailing toward Raja Ampat. Depending on boarding time, we may already do a check dive.
Day 2 Dampier Strait
This strait between Batanta and Waigeo is the heart of Raja’s central section. During the dives on its seamounts, headlands and village piers you are likely to meet dense schools of fish, turtles, various kinds of sharks, including the iconic Wobbegongs – and maybe already cross paths with the first manta ray of your cruise. With a bit of luck, you may even spot one of the many whale species that inhabit this area. Before the night dive there is a chance to visit one of central Raja Ampat’s friendly villages. (3 day dives, 1 night dive)
Day 3 Batanta
Still part of the central section, Batanta offers superb diving with a wide diversity of options from macro heavens and mandarin fish sites over drift dives along pristine reefs to manta aggregation spots. It is also a spectacular destination for land-based activities such as treks to waterfalls, birds of paradise or hornbill nesting areas. (3 day dives, 1 night dive)
Day 4 Misool – Daram
Daram, one of the many miniature archipelagos off Raja’s southernmost region Misool, keeps divers impressed with coral studded underwater limestone formations that are bathed in fish. Schooling barracudas, Spanish mackerels, batfish and trevallies are common. Daram’s sea fan forests are also home to Raja Ampat’s endemic ‘Santa Claus’ pygmy seahorse. (3 day dives, 1 night dive)
Day 5 Misool – Pele
The ridges, overhangs, and swim-throughs underneath the waves around Pele’s islets are some of the best places to swim in clouds of baitfish and silversides. These huge bait balls of small fish attract predatory fish such as trevallies, tuna, sharks, and squadrons of mobula rays. Pele is also home to some of the largest groupers. (4 day dives)
Day 6 Misool – Wagmab
The overwhelming kaleidoscope of colours created by the dense soft and black coral growth around Wagmab makes it hard to notice the equally colourful critters hiding within, such as nudibranchs, frogfish, boxer crabs, blue ringed octopi and others. They are also amongst the best sites to find Raja’s endemic walking shark on night dives. There are several lagoon and cavern systems waiting to be explored by speedboat, and snorkellers can immerse themselves in marine lakes inhabited by stingless jellyfish. (3 day dives)
Day 7 Piaynemu
Before the late afternoon lagoon tour and walk to an iconic viewpoint, you will dive on sites that include arguably the most beautiful and largest hard coral garden found anywhere. There are also several seamounts in this area that lie between Raja’s central and northern section, surrounded by huge schools of fusiliers, which in turn attract pelagics such as grey reef sharks and giant jacks. (3 day dives, 1 night dive)
Day 8 Kawe
The equator runs through the islands of Kawe, making it possible in the northern area of the park to cross the equator on a dive! Kawe is not only the area with the most reliable manta ray encounters of Raja Ampat but also boasts some of the most spectacular sites when it comes to the sheer mass of fish: big schools of sweetlips merge with yellow snappers, big eyed trevallies, and surgeonfish to create images of rivers of fish. (3 day dives, 1 night dive)
Day 9 Wayag
We explore the underwater treasures of the northern most islands of Raja Ampat, which lie in typically clear waters of the Pacific Ocean and have some of the most impressive topography including big overhangs, caverns and swim-throughs. Then let us take you on a speed boat tour through the out-of-this-world unique wonderland of Raja’s biggest lagoon with its many hidden coves and beaches. The crowning moment will be the ascension on one of Wayag’s tallest peaks which gives you a bird’s eye view of this maze of lush tropical islands. (3 day dives)
Day 10 Yanggefo
The channels between the mangrove studded islands of Yanggefo hide some of central Raja Ampat’s most breath-taking underwater ridges and seamounts. Dominated by brightly coloured soft coral fields and covered by coral bommies, they are a good place not only for larger animals such as schooling barracudas, grey reef sharks and giant trevallies but also for some of Raja’s tiny treasures such as Pontohi, Denise and Bargibanti pygmy seahorses. After the last dive Adelaar will hoist her sails and cruise through the islands of central Raja Ampat. (2 day dives)
Day 11 Sorong
After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye disembark and – until the next time.
(Actual itinerary might vary depending on weather and sea conditions)
Raja Ampat Central & South (Sorong – Sorong)
Day 1 Sorong
After the airport or hotel pick-up and transfer to Adelaar, the first day is dedicated to getting to know the crew, settling in, and enjoying the first day on the boat while we are sailing toward Misool.
Day 2 Misool – Daram
Daram, one of the many miniature archipelagos off the southernmost region of Raja Ampat, Misool, continues to impress divers with its coral-studded underwater limestone formations teeming with fish. Schooling barracudas, Spanish mackerels, batfish, and trevallies are commonly seen. Daram’s sea fan forests are also home to Raja Ampat’s endemic ‘Santa Claus’ pygmy seahorse. The itinerary includes 3-day dives and 1-night dive.
Day 3 Misool – Pele
The ridges, overhangs, and swim-throughs underneath the waves around Pele’s islets are some of the best places to swim in clouds of baitfish and silversides. These huge bait balls of small fish attract predatory fish such as trevallies, tuna, sharks, and squadrons of mobula rays. Pele is also home to some of the largest groupers. 4- day dives
Day 4 Misool – Wagmab
The overwhelming kaleidoscope of colors created by the dense soft and black coral growth around Wagmab makes it hard to notice the equally colorful critters hiding within, such as nudibranchs, frogfish, boxer crabs, blue ringed octopi and others. They are also amongst the best sites to find Raja’s endemic walking shark on night dives. There are several lagoon and cavern systems waiting to be explored by speedboat, and snorkelers can immerse themselves in marine lakes inhabited by stingless jellyfish. 3-day dives
Day 5 FAM Islands
The FAM Islands, situated in central Raja Ampat, offer some of the region’s most breathtaking underwater landscapes. You’ll explore a vibrant coral garden, known for its expansive fields of staghorn coral, where schools of fusiliers, snappers, and trevallies create a mesmerizing display. Another site features impressive coral ridges, frequented by larger marine life such as barracudas, Napoleon wrasse, and even the occasional manta ray. There’s also a stunning coral wall with vibrant macro life, where you may encounter everything from tiny critters to passing pelagics. 3 day dives, 1 night dive
Day 6 Piaynemu
Before the late afternoon lagoon tour and walk to an iconic view- point, you will dive on sites that include arguably the most beautiful and largest hard coral garden found anywhere. There are also several seamounts in this area that lie between Raja’s central and northern section, surrounded by huge schools of fusiliers, which in turn attract pelagic such as grey reef sharks and giant jacks. 3-day dives, 1-night dive
Day 7 Dampier Strait
This strait between Batanta and Waigeo is the heart of Raja’s central section. During the dives on its seamounts, headlands and village piers you are likely to meet dense schools of fish, turtles, various kinds of sharks, including the iconic Wobbegongs – and maybe already cross paths with the first manta ray of your cruise. With a bit of luck, you may even spot one of the many whale species that inhabit this area. Before the night dive there is a chance to visit one of central Raja Ampat’s friendly villages. 3-day dives, 1-night dive
Day 8 Yanggelo
The channels between the mangrove studded islands of Yanggelo hide some of central Raja Ampat’s most breath-taking underwater ridges and seamounts. Dominated by brightly colored soft coral fields and covered by coral bommies, they are a good place not only for larger animals such as schooling barracudas, grey reef sharks and giant trevallies but also for some of Raja’s tiny treasures such as Pontohi, Denise and Bargibanti pygmy seahorses. After the last dive Adelaar will hoist her sails and cruise through the islands of central Raja Ampat. 2-day dives
Day 9 Sorong
After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye. Disembarkation and assistance to check-in at the airport – until the next time.
(Itinerary might vary depending on weather and sea conditions)
Raja Ampat Central & South (Sorong – Sorong)
Day 1 Sorong
After the airport or hotel pick-up and transfer to Adelaar, the first day is dedicated to getting to know the crew, settling in, and enjoying the first day on the boat while we are sailing toward Raja Ampat. Depending on boarding time, we may already do a check dive.
Day 2 Dampier Strait
This strait between Batanta and Waigeo is the heart of Raja’s central section. During the dives on its seamounts, headlands and village piers you are likely to meet dense schools of fish, turtles, various kinds of sharks, including the iconic Wobbegongs – and maybe already cross paths with the first manta ray of your cruise. With a bit of luck, you may even spot one of the many whale species that inhabit this area. Before the night dive there is a chance to visit one of central Raja Ampat’s friendly villages. (3 day dives, 1 night dive)
Day 3 Batanta
Still part of the central section, Batanta offers superb diving with a wide diversity of options from macro heavens and mandarin fish sites over drift dives along pristine reefs to manta aggregation spots. It is also a spectacular destination for land-based activities such as treks to waterfalls, birds of paradise or hornbill nesting areas. (3 day dives, 1 night dive)
Day 4 Misool – Daram
Daram, one of the many miniature archipelagos off Raja’s southernmost region Misool, keeps divers impressed with coral studded underwater limestone formations that are bathed in fish. Schooling barracudas, Spanish mackerels, batfish and trevallies are common. Daram’s sea fan forests are also home to Raja Ampat’s endemic ‘Santa Claus’ pygmy seahorse (3-day dives, 1-night dive).
Day 5 Misool – Pele
The ridges, overhangs, and swim-throughs underneath the waves around Pele’s islets are some of the best places to swim in clouds of baitfish and silversides. These huge bait balls of small fish attract predatory fish such as trevallies, tuna, sharks, and squadrons of mobula rays. Pele is also home to some of the largest groupers (4-day dives).
Day 6 Misool – Wagmab
The overwhelming kaleidoscope of colours created by the dense soft and black coral growth around Wagmab makes it hard to notice the equally colourful critters hiding within, such as nudibranchs, frogfish, boxer crabs, blue ringed octopi and others. They are also amongst the best sites to find Raja’s endemic walking shark on night dives. There are several lagoon and cavern systems waiting to be explored by speedboat, and snorkellers can immerse themselves in marine lakes inhabited by stingless jellyfish (2-day dives).
Day 7 Sorong
After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye disembark and – until the next time.
(Itinerary might vary depending on weather and sea conditions)
Raja Ampat & Banda Sea (Sorong – Ambon)
Day 1 Sorong
After the airport or hotel pick-up and transfer to Adelaar, the first day is dedicated to getting to know the crew, settling in, and enjoying the first day on the boat while we are sailing toward Raja Ampat. Depending on boarding time, we may already do a check dive.
Day 2 Dampier Strait
This strait between Batanta and Waigeo is the heart of Raja’s central section. During the dives on its seamounts, headlands, and village piers you are likely to meet dense schools of fish, turtles, various kinds of sharks, including the iconic Wobbegongs. You may also cross paths with the first manta ray of your cruise. With a bit of luck, you may even spot one of the many whale species that inhabit this area. 3-day dives
Day 3 Misool – Wagmab
It is difficult not to be too overwhelmed by the kaleidoscope of colours created by the dense soft and black coral growth around Wagmab to notice the equally colourful critters hiding within, such as nudibranchs, frogfish, boxer crabs, blue ringed octopi and others. They are also amongst the best sites to find Raja’s endemic walking shark on night dives. There are several lagoon and cavern systems waiting to be explored by speedboat, and snorkellers can immerse themselves in marine lakes inhabited by stingless jellyfish. 3-day dives, 1-night dive
Day 4 Misool – Fiabacet
The healthy reef systems beneath the karst islands of Fiabacet have often been described as the world’s most complex and richest. A place where it is possible to see a bit of ‘everything’ from small to large. Several sites are reliable for sightings of mantas at cleaning stations. From time to time the stunning reefs are completely invaded by huge bait-balls of silversides, tiny fish that in turn attract squadrons of mobula rays, as well as hunting trevallies and barracudas. 3-day dives, 1 night dive
Day 5 Misool – Wayilbatan
Wayilbatan’s seamounts and limestone outcroppings count amongst Raja ’s finest and most diverse dive sites. Already spectacular from both a topographical as well as coral coverage point of view, they are also rich in fish life as well as smaller critters. Larger pelagic animals are attracted to its more oceanic sites. 3-day dives
Day 6 Koon
Do you like diving with a lot of fish? In that case Koon is the place for you. Apart from having too many fish to list, there is also a spectacular land – or rather surface – activity nearby. Depending on the tide we can enter a hidden system of marine lakes and canals for a snorkel and swim trek unlike any other! Typically, at the end of the trail you will be greeted by enthusiastic local village children. 3-day dives
Day 7 Watubela
The sites around the Watubela archipelago are as remote as it gets. However, this is not the only charm of these remote islands located at the border between the Banda and Seram Sea. Spectacular white sandy beaches offer perfect locations for those postcard sunset drinks after a day’s diving surrounded by schooling fish. 3-day dives
Day 8 Manuk
Manuk is an old, lonely volcano rising from the depths of the Banda Sea. It attracts a huge colony of resident seabirds above the waves, while beneath the surface we will find schools of jacks, surgeonfish, tunas, barracudas and other pelagic fish species, as well as an abundance of sea snakes. These reptiles, venomous but absolutely unaggressive, can be encountered on every dive around Manuk, often in vast numbers, making these dives absolutely unique. 4-day dives
DAY 9 Banda & Sjahrir
On the menu today is a dive on a spectacular submerged pinnacle covered in dense schools of fish, followed by a couple of drift dives. The unique location of the Banda archipelago enhances chances of close encounters with pelagics such as big tunas, Spanish mackerels, giant jacks or even thresher sharks. In the evening we will dive at dusk to try to catch a glimpse of the ever-romantic mandarin fish. Then it is off to the town of Banda Neira for dinner in the tropical gardens of a beautiful house from the colonial period. 3-day dives, 1-dusk dive
Day 10 Banda Neira & Manukang
We spend the morning on a guided tour through the historic town of Banda Neira, taking in the fort, the museum as well as spice plantations. We take time to enjoy a traditional Bandanes breakfast before strolling back to port, passing through the bustling market of this lovely town. Then it is off to dive on a new reef that has been growing naturally on the spur of the lava from Gunung Api’s 1988 eruption – it is a fantastic example of nature’s ability to recover from natural disaster. The other two dives today will be along a volcanic outcrop off Manukang, that is according to Moluccan lore known to be haunted. This we cannot judge, but what we do know, is that it attracts its fair share of pelagic visitors. Schooling hammerhead sharks swim along the underwater ridges that are covered in huge barrel sponges. 3-day dives
Day 11 Nusa Laut
Nusa Laut is the smallest and easternmost of the Lease Islands east of Ambon. This historically fascinating little island will host the final dives of the trip. The local villages here are proud of the way they were able to conserve their beautiful coral reefs off their famous white beaches. Nusa Laut’s stunning coral gardens are a worthy final chapter of the underwater part off the trip. After the dives we will hoist the sails to start heading toward Ambon, passing the islands of Sarapua and Haruku. 2-day dives
Day 12 Ambon
After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and disembark – until the next time.
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