Route Description - Raja Ampat - Best of Central & Dampier Strait (7 nights)
Circular itinerary exploring the very best of Central Raja Ampat and Dampier Strait. Dive some of Raja Ampat’s most iconic sites including Cape Kri, Blue Magic, Sardine Reef, and Manta Ridge. Search for the elusive Pontoh’s pygmy seahorse and rare macro life at Mioskon. Cruise through the spectacular limestone lagoons and karst islands of Penemu. Explore pristine hard and soft coral gardens among the healthiest reefs on Earth. Discover Melissa’s Garden, world-renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity and thriving coral formations. Encounter both reef manta rays and oceanic manta rays at famous cleaning stations and feeding sites. Experience the fish-rich currents of Dampier Strait with massive schools of fusiliers, snapper, barracuda, and trevallies. Chance to encounter wobbegong sharks, reef sharks, turtles, tunas, giant trevallies, and other pelagic species. Enjoy a cultural visit to the traditional Papuan village of Arborek. Dive world-famous sites such as Cape Kri and Sardine Reef, known for record-breaking marine biodiversity. Night dives included throughout the itinerary, offering exceptional macro and critter encounters. Perfect blend of wide-angle action, macro life, reef scenery, and relaxed island cruising.
Day 1: Embarkation & Cruise to Central Raja Ampat – Mioskon Area
Guests are transferred from Sorong Airport or their hotel to KLM Mari, where they are welcomed onboard by the crew. Following a boat and cruise briefing, guests settle into their cabins and assemble their dive equipment as the vessel cruises towards Central Raja Ampat.
A relaxed check dive around Pulau Matan provides the perfect opportunity to fine-tune equipment before the adventure begins. Throughout the journey, guests enjoy freshly prepared meals, tropical fruits, snacks, ice cream, and a selection of Asian, Indonesian and international cuisine served in the spacious outdoor dining area with panoramic ocean views.
(3 dives + 1 night dive)
The first full day introduces the vibrant reefs of Central Raja Ampat, with colourful coral gardens, schooling fish, current-swept pinnacles and excellent night diving.
Dive highlights include:
•Reef sharks and giant trevallies
•Dense schools of fusiliers and snapper
•Exceptional macro life, including pygmy seahorses
•Excellent night diving
Dive sites may include:
•Mioskon
•Blue Magic
•Lao Lao Seamount
•Mioskon (night dive)
Day 2: Penemu Region (3 dives + 1 night dive)
Explore one of Raja Ampat's most spectacular regions, where dramatic limestone islands rise above some of the healthiest coral reefs in the Coral Triangle.
Melissa's Garden is internationally renowned for its dense hard coral formations and extraordinary marine biodiversity.
Dive highlights include:
•Expansive hard coral gardens
•Barracuda, sweetlips and reef sharks
•Gentle drift dives through fish-filled channels
•Outstanding underwater photography opportunities
Dive sites may include:
•Keruo Channel
•Melissa's Garden
•My Reef
•Galaxy (night dive)
Day 3: Gam & Wayag Area (3 dives + 1 night dive)
Discover a beautiful mix of coral slopes, dramatic reef formations and fish-rich currents around Gam Island and the southern Wayag region.
Dive highlights include:
•Vibrant soft coral reefs
•Wobbegong sharks and turtles
•Excellent macro opportunities
•Scenic reef ridges and bommies
Dive sites may include:
•Way Pretty Shallow
•Mayhem
•Citrus Ridge
•Gam Ridge (night dive)
Day 4: Manta Encounters & Arborek (3 dives + 1 night dive)
One of the highlights of the itinerary combines unforgettable manta ray encounters with a visit to the traditional Papuan village of Arborek.
Manta Ridge and Manta Sandy are among Raja Ampat's best-known cleaning stations, where graceful reef manta rays are frequently encountered.
Dive highlights include:
•Reef manta ray encounters
•Shallow coral gardens
•Traditional village visit
•Exceptional jetty night diving
Dive sites may include:
•Manta Ridge
•Arborek Island (village visit)
•Manta Sandyv
•Sawandarek (night dive)
Day 5: Dampier Strait Reefs (3 dives + 1 night dive)
Dampier Strait is famous for its nutrient-rich currents, attracting extraordinary marine life and some of the highest fish biomass found anywhere in the world.
Dive highlights include:
•Massive schools of fusiliers and snapper
•Reef sharks and turtles
•Colourful soft coral-covered reefs
•Excellent macro and night diving
Dive sites may include:
•Yenbuba Island
•Chicken Reef
•Friwin Bonda
•Friwin Bonda (night dive)
Day 6: Classic Dampier Strait Sites (3 dives + 1 night dive)
Experience some of Raja Ampat's most iconic dive sites, featuring exhilarating drift dives, abundant pelagic life and spectacular coral formations.
Mike's Point, once damaged during World War II, has since transformed into a thriving reef rich in marine life.
Dive highlights include:
•Barracuda and giant trevallies
•Tuna and hunting predators
•Dense schools of reef fish
•Vibrant coral formations
Dive sites may include:
•Otodima
•Mike's Point
•Blue Magic
•Saonek Bonde (night dive)
Day 7: Iconic Raja Ampat Finale (2 dives)
The final diving day visits two of Raja Ampat's most legendary sites before the overnight cruise back to Sorong.
Cape Kri holds the world record for the highest number of reef fish species recorded on a single dive, while Sardine Reef offers spectacular coral scenery and impressive fish action.
Dive highlights include:
•Massive schools of reef fish
•Reef sharks and giant trevallies
•Spectacular coral formations
•Exceptional marine biodiversity
Dive sites may include:
•Cape Kri
•Sardine Reef
Overnight cruise to Sorong.
Day 8: Disembarkation – Sorong
After breakfast, guests disembark in Sorong with complimentary transfers to the airport or their hotel. Departure is typically between 05:00 and 11:00, depending on onward travel arrangements.