Spring Festival Raja Ampat Liveaboard: Ultimate Dive Trip Guide

Raja Ampat, known as the Four Kings, is a diver’s paradise and one of the top ten diving destinations globally. It is home to an astounding 2,650 species of fish and approximately 300 types of coral, representing 75% of the world’s coral varieties. This makes it an ultimate dream for every diving enthusiast.

[PlaneR] Transportation: [CouponR] The journey from Chengdu to Raja Ampat involves multiple flights: Chengdu—Guangzhou—Jakarta—Sorong, and then Sorong—Manado—Singapore—Chengdu. We highly recommend flying with Garuda Airlines, which offers a generous 30kg luggage allowance, ensuring you can bring all your essential diving gear.

🛥 Our vessel, Jelajahi Laut, is an all-wooden boat launched in 2021, offering an 8-day, 7-night itinerary (January 28 – February 4, 2025), perfectly timed to coincide with the Chinese New Year holiday. The boat accommodates up to 12 people, and we stayed in the lower deck cabin, which was surprisingly comfortable.

The cabin was quiet, free from pests, and remained dry even during heavy midnight rains. Daily cleaning and towel changes were provided, though there was a slight odor when the boat encountered rough waters.
🍱 The onboard cuisine was a highlight, with a sumptuous BBQ feast and karaoke night on the final evening.

Each day, we were treated to delicious meals, and all non-alcoholic drinks were complimentary.
💰 An additional 3.5 million Indonesian Rupiah is required for the Raja Ampat National Park and port fees. Before disembarking, an envelope will be provided for tips. My dive buddy and I also gave a separate tip to our dive guide, with a suggested amount of 5%, although this is not mandatory.

🏷 Interestingly, this boat is relatively unknown in China, and my buddy and I were the only two Chinese passengers during the Chinese New Year, with no Chinese-speaking staff available.
‼️ On the boarding day, we gathered at 07:30 for two dives, and there are also dives scheduled for the last day. After disembarking, you’ll need to stay at a transit hotel in Sorong.

📍 About the itinerary: We completed a total of 23 dives on the Central-North route, including four land excursions. While this route doesn’t include Misool or Jellyfish Lake, which are part of the Central-South route, I found the Central-North route equally breathtaking. This experience has only strengthened my resolve to explore the Central-South route of Raja Ampat in the future.

👍 I have separately edited videos of the dive sites that left a deep impression on me, please see the previous post.
[OneR] Melissa’s Garden, Bat Refuse, and My Reef, three dive sites visited in one day, were the highlight moments of Raja Ampat. The stunning corals, including rose corals, staghorn corals, and various colored soft corals, along with schools of fish so dense they could be called “fish porridge,” were truly unforgettable.

[TwoR] At Blue Magic, we had the incredible experience of two manta rays swimming close by, providing a magical and intimate encounter.
[ThreeR] Cape Kri, known as the “big fish factory,” did not disappoint. At a depth of 35 meters, we witnessed a massive school of sweetlips, a sight that left us in awe.

[FourR] Yefnabi offered a surprise encounter with a black warrior, adding an unexpected thrill to our dive.
[FiveR] Black Rock was a visual spectacle, with vast areas of soft corals swaying with the current, resembling golden wheat fields in the wind.
[SixR] Night diving in Raja Ampat is a must, with seahorses, boxfish, angelfish, pufferfish, many small nudibranchs, and the unique walking shark of Raja Ampat making each dive a thrilling adventure.

[SevenR] Calm wobbegongs, or carpet sharks, can be seen everywhere, adding to the rich marine life diversity of Raja Ampat.

🏜 Four thrilling land tours, including:

[OneR] Shark Beach, where the waters teem with reef sharks. Snorkeling here is an adrenaline rush; I even had a close encounter when one of these majestic creatures brushed right past me!

[TwoR] The exhilarating climb to the summit of Wayag Mountain for a breathtaking sunrise. The nearly vertical ascent, complete with climbing ropes, tested my limits. Sharp rocks left my knees scratched, and my shoes were punctured with holes, but the view from the top was worth every step.

[ThreeR] An early 5 am departure to Waisai Island, where we ventured into the jungle in search of the elusive and colorful birds of paradise. A telescope is essential for spotting these vibrant creatures. The rugged cement road through the forest was a challenge, but our local guide, who walked barefoot at an incredible pace, pulled me along with such strength and determination, making the journey both touching and unforgettable.

[FourR] The iconic climb to Piaynemo, where you can witness the same stunning scenery featured on the 100,000 Indonesian Rupiah note. The panoramic views are nothing short of spectacular.

[StarR] The best time to visit is from November to April of the following year. The currents are strong, so a reef hook is a must. It’s recommended to have more than 50 dives under your belt, with each dive lasting about 60 minutes. The water temperature hovers around 27°C, making a 2mm short wetsuit perfectly adequate.