Best time to visit Raja Ampat (2024)

Unlike some parts of Indonesia, the weather in central Raja Ampat is pretty stable, with less distinct dry and rainy seasons.

This is a year round destination, but for divers, the best time to visit Raja Ampat is September to April, when large numbers of manta rays are present at cleaning stations. For the very calmest waters and best visibility, visit in November, December, January, February and March. In July and August, the usually calm seas can get rough so diving may sometimes be limited or suspended. Water temperature, though, is a constant 28°C-30°C, with 10-20m visibility. The windiest months are June to October, which can make jungle walks treacherous. For divers, May to August is low season as it is unusual to find manta rays at the cleaning stations.

Call us for the best time to go to Raja Ampat

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What to do in Raja Ampat…

What not to do in Raja Ampat…

While the diving is exceptional in Raja Ampat, this isn’t the best place to come if you’re a beginner. This remote region attracts experienced divers who are prepared to pay top dollar to travel all the way here and can cope with the strong currents that swirl around some of the best sites. Beginner divers can be catered for, and resorts and volunteering holidays sometimes include PADI Open Water Diving certification, but new divers will miss out on the most thrilling sites and drift dives. Medical support services are extremely limited, too, and all divers need to take out comprehensive insurance which covers evacuation and treatment, in case of an accident.

Raja Ampat’s fragile environment can easily be damaged by products containing harmful agents. So don’t bring toiletries or sunscreens that are heavily perfumed or antibacterial; instead, seek out natural products. Limit the plastic you bring, too, remove excess packaging and don’t bring non rechargeable batteries, since waste disposal is challenging and recycling facilities limited.

Raja Ampat diving project, Indonesia

Dive and conserve the stunning coral reefs of Raja Ampat

From £1095 15 days ex flights

Small group travel:
2024: 27 Mar, 24 Apr, 22 May, 19 Jun, 17 Jul, 14 Aug, 11 Sep, 9 Oct, 6 Nov, 4 Dec, 31 Dec

Call us for a chat about our holidays. We are happy to discuss your holiday and help in any way we can. No bots, queues or awful hold music.

What diving experience is needed?

Who travels to Raja Ampat?

“On our small group diving holidays, clients tend to be 40-plus years old. Diving here is for fanatical and enthusiastic divers who dive for three or four hours a day, every day. You can get trips tailored for families though, as the snorkelling is incredible here. You can see manta rays, amazing coral, baby reef sharks, turtles, all just by snorkelling. The reef comes up very close to the shore, and it’s very shallow, 3-4m. You can also take boat trips to different islands or go sea kayaking. So, there’s snorkelling that might appeal to families, and full on diving for experienced divers. Those are the two groups that enjoy Raja Ampat.”

What to do beyond the water

“Raja Ampat has stunning scenery – it’s a really incredible island paradise – but there’s not a huge amount to do that’s land based. It’s very much a destination for water based holidays. The way the topography works, you can’t really get into the islands, there’s beach then jungle then cliffs and really steep ridges, so there’s not much trekking and you can’t really get into the interior. There are some viewpoints which are lovely, you can do bird watching and there are one or two waterfalls, but really it’s a marine destination.”

Responsible tourism tips

Responsible tourism tips

“We encourage people to be aware of how they use sunscreen, how much they apply, and to buy sunscreen from responsible brands. People are often applying it several times throughout the day because it’s so hot, and it’s not properly absorbed, and all the chemicals wash off and can harm the reef. Also, anything you take with you should have minimal impact, so that’s shampoo, shower gels, that kind of thing. Try to use products without harmful ingredients in them and take away all your rubbish. Some resorts are more environmentally conscious than others, so aim for those that are doing good work.”