Raja Ampat: The most spectacular diving destination on the planet
Diving cruise through Raja Ampat with Blue Dream Phinisi Liveaboard—where your underwater adventure begins. Selamat Datang! Welcome aboard KLM Blue Dream, your home on the water as we explore one of the most spectacular diving destinations on the planet.
Raja Ampat, or the “Four Kings,” is a vast island paradise covering over 9.8 million acres of land and sea, located at the northwestern tip of West Papua. Sitting in the heart of the Coral Triangle, its waters hold the richest marine biodiversity on Earth. Strong ocean currents carry coral larvae across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, helping to replenish reef systems far beyond Raja Ampat. With its incredible coral diversity, resilience, and role in protecting marine life, this region is one of the world’s top priorities for conservation.
Under the surface, a whole new world awaits—vibrant reefs teeming with life, graceful manta rays gliding through the blue, reef sharks patrolling the depths, and an endless variety of fish. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or new to the sport, Raja Ampat offers dive sites for all levels. With visibility often exceeding 30 meters, you’ll feel like you’ve entered another world—one you’ll never want to leave.
7 nights North Raja Ampat
DAY 01: EMBARK – SORONG TO WAISAI
Your adventure with Blue Dream starts with our Ground crew greeting you for the transfer from the airport or your Sorong hotel to the harbuor around 12.00 P.M. For those arriving on the day of departure, please make sure your flight lands before 7:30 A.M., so we can get settled and ready for the journey ahead. We will drop you first to the nearest hotel where you can freshen up or maybe grab a quick breakfast on your own account.
After a welcome drink and canape, you’ll have the chance to meet the Cruise Director and our friendly crew. Once you’ve settled into your cabin, we’ll gather for a brief orientation before enjoying lunch. You’ll have time to relax and unwind. Yes, your holiday starts now.
This afternoon our ‘welcome dive’ is at the nearby island of Saonek Kecil, where the calm waters provide the perfect introduction to your diving experience. After your check-out dive, why not get comfortable, settle your camera or dive equipment as your days of excitement lies ahead.
DAY 02: DAMPIER STRAIT – CAPE KRI
Whilst in the central Dampier Strait expect to do up to 4 dives. This is what we typically aim for in a day throughout the trip, although some days are a little different as the number of dives may be reduced by doing a land tour or having to do a large crossing from one region to another (Raja Ampat is a huge!).
The typical schedule is morning dive, breakfast, mid-morning dive, lunch, afternoon dive, afternoon snack, night dive, and dinner…. Selam, Makan, Tidur is our local expression for eat sleep dive!
We will do the top dive sites such as Blue Magic for Manta Rays, and other large pelagicʼs such as Spanish Mackerel and Bigeye Trevally. Chicken Reef, an amazing dive site filled with fish of all varieties and amazing colorful corals..
Cape Kri, named as one of the top house reef, was made famous by pioneer Max Ammer who is the pioneer of Raja Ampat. And just to top off this (fish) action-packed day, we will take you for a night dive on Kriʼs south coast, in Yenbuba Villageʼs Jetty. Look out for the stunning sunset views with the islands of Waigeo and Gam in the distant. Amazing.
DAY 03: PIANEMO (A.K.A. PENEMU)
Melissa’s Garden Dive Site is undoubtedly the top dive in this area, with a staggering number of coral and fish species packed into this small piece of marine real estate. It gets its name from an amazing hard coral garden situated on a reef between 3 small islands. Its beauty needs to be seen to be believed.
Another one of the places we may visit today is the Keruo Channel Dive Site. A great gentle drift dive down a mini wall and slope on the edge of Keru Island. One of the other favorites we often visit in this area is the Batu Rufus Dive Site. This dramatic dive site has a 40m plus drop-off wall to the blue. Amazing views when you sit at 20 meters depth and look up and down at the stark landscape you are floating between.
The iconic limestone pinnacles have become as much a part of the Raja Am pat experience as the diving has, and Pianemo lagoon/lookout is just one of many such stunning formations. The best time to hike this hill is late afternoon when the temperature has dropped and the lighting starts to turn golden, but the rewards for climbing are well worth it.
DAY 04:WAYAG
Awake bright and early to witness sunrise on the equator, cruising between the limestone formations that make up the island of Wayag, in preparation for the morning hike. These limestone islands and pinnacles have become synonymous with Raja Ampat and the bay is also home to the world’s first confirmed Manta breeding nursery. The best time to hike this hill is early morning before temperatures rise, but the rewards for climbing are well worth it.
The beaches here are also pristine, with fine white sand and turquoise waters surrounding the limestone cliffs of the islands. After trekking, we will endeavor to dive Wayag Corner if the conditions are right, this site is a manta cleaning station so fingers crossed they are in getting a spa treatment and we get to see them.
We will stick around the same area at the western end of the lagoon where we plan to dive another great dive site, which will be dependent on the conditions of the day, it could be Ridge Rock, Two Hump Rock, or Figure 8 Rock, there is quite a few Mantas around this area so we will try to choose whichever site has had the most manta action at the time of your trip.
While you have lunch, the boat will cruise to the eastern side of Wayag. After lunch, we take a short trip to the Wayag Ranger Station, which is also a Black Tip Reef Shark breeding area. Here we will get the chance to chill out on the beach with these baby sharks in the shallows under the ranger jetty. If conditions are right we will conduct a night dive around the Eastern Wayag area too.
DAY 05: KAWE & ALYUI BAY
Kawe is an island located exactly on the equator and is one of our favorite islands to dive in north of Raja Ampat. Dive sites visited here are very heavily dependent on day-to-day unpredictable conditions such as swell, but one of our favorite sites in the area is a very colorful coral reef (somewhat ironically) known as Black Rock.
Eagle Rock (which comprises 3 separate dive sites) is well known for its Pygmy Seahorse as well as its Manta populations, and we will dive these sites late morning and early afternoon. Around 4 pm, La Galigo will move into Alyui Bay, one of the world’s most spectacular bays to watch the sunset, and also do some great muck diving at arguably the best night dive site in all of Raja Ampat, the Cendana Pearl Farm Jetty.
DAY 06: GAM & WESTERN DAMPIER STRAIT
We wake up just off the coast in Garn Island. There are some great dive sites around this area with vibrant fish-covered reefs and plenty of stunning macro subjects. Two sites we regularly visit in Garn are Citrus Ridge and Mayhem.
As we have lunch we will cruise down to the Western Dampier Strait, after lunch, we take a land tour of the peaceful Arborek Island. The village itself is tranquil and surrounded by beautiful beaches. Our 3rd dive of the day will also be here at a dive site named Manta Ridge, for an opportunity to dive with the Manta Ray population often located here.
DAY0 7: EASTERN DAMPIER STRAIT – KALIBIRU
We wake up just off the coast in Garn Island. There are some great dive sites around this area with vibrant fish-covered reefs and plenty of stunning macro subjects. Two sites we regularly visit in Garn are Citrus Ridge and Mayhem.
As we have lunch we will cruise down to the Western Dampier Strait, after lunch, we take a land tour of the peaceful Arborek Island. The village itself is tranquil and surrounded by beautiful beaches. Our 3rd dive of the day will also be here at a dive site named Manta Ridge, for an opportunity to dive with the Manta Ray population often located here.
We require that all divers to have diving-specific insurance (e.g. DiveAssure, DAN, etc.) which covers all scuba diving activities, emergency evacuation and recompression chamber costs. Diving insurance will only cover accidents within the depth limit dictated by your certification level so you are required to remain well within those at all times.
The use of a dive computer, a 6 minute safety stop and an ascent rate of no more than 9metres (30 ft) per minute are mandatory on all dives.
Despite that most of the diving in Raja Ampat is suitable for all certification levels we like to inform that some dives can be challenging for entry-level or inexperienced divers due to depths and varying currents.
Minimum dive certification and experience
You are required to be of Advanced Open Water Divers upon joining our Raja Ampat itinerary or equivalent certification, with a mandatory minimum of 50 logged dives and experience diving in strong currents. We have instructor on board so if there are any Open Water divers with a minimum 60 logged dives, you can complete your Advance Open water. Regular Fee applies.
If you don’t fulfil the recommended minimum requirements, and if our cruise director feel that guest have insufficient experience in certain conditions then guest may be denied participation in some or all dives during the Liveaboard.
Diving Emergencies
The hyperbaric chamber in Waisai is not adequately staffed and therefore cannot be relied upon. The next best places available is in Manado (Sulawesi) Bali, Makassar and Jakarta. Any suspected DCI incident, depending on the boat’s location, transfer from Blue Dream to the next available chamber is likely to require an expensive emergency boat and air evacuation. It is your responsibility to ensure that your insurance will fully cover and reimburse all evacuation costs as well as recompression chamber and hospital treatment.
Water Temperature
Warm tropical waters of Raja Ampat are pleasant throughout the best season with average around 27° to 29°C.
Generally a 3mm wetsuit will suffice and for those prone to feeling cold after prolonged or multiple dives may prefer a 5mm wetsuit, or to use additional additional layers.
Marine Park & Port Fees: (payable on board only)
- 7 nights: 200 USD* per person
- Marine park fees are subject to change without notice. The applicable amount at the time of departure will be added to your onboard extras to be paid before disembarkation.
- Marine Park and Port fees cover the cost of Raja Ampat entry permits* and other local fees and taxes for the areas we visit.
- Raja Ampat entry cards are valid for 1 year (12 months) from the date of purchase. If you already have a card that will be valid for the entire duration of your itinerary, please send us a photocopy of it no less than 7 days before the start of your Trip to avoid being asked to buy an additional one. You will need to bring the card and have it verified on board.
Number of scheduled dives:
- 7 nights: up to 22
- While we endeavour to ensure the number of scheduled dives is fulfilled, these are indicative only and not guaranteed. Various factors can affect the vessel’s ability to reach or remain at specific locations and may impact the number of dives possible.
Included land tours
There are several potential shore excursions which may be included on Raja Ampat itineraries; generally, there will be 2 land visits offered on each itinerary; one is the Pyanemu Viewpoint which is always offered and popular, the other may be one of the following, or an alternative, dependent on itinerary, environmental conditions and logistics. ● Arborek (village visit) ● Alyui (Pearl Farm)● Sawinggrai (Bird Spotting – additional charges apply)
Point of Embarkation: Sorong Marina, West Papua at noon.
Point of Disembarkation: Sorong Marina at 10:00 a.m. or earlier if you are catching an earlier flight
Domestic Arrival & Departure: Domine Eduard Osok (Sorong) Airport (SOQ)
Free Transfers between Sorong Airport or local hotels and the marina on the day of embarkation and disembarkation only.
For Guests staying in Sorong prior their trip with us, you will be picked up from your hotel at a time that will be confirmed by our ground staff. Please provide your Contact especially WhatsApp
For guests arriving in Sorong on departure day you will be met at Airport by Blue Dream staff who will assist with your luggage and transfer to the marina.
For those arriving before 12.00, we will bring you to hotel nearby where you can relax or enjoy breakfast at the hotel on your own account. Journey between Sorong Airport and the marina takes approximately 15 minutes.
Flights to and from Sorong are not included in the liveaboard price.
International Arrival & Departure
You can reach Sorong (SOQ) either by Manado (MDC), Bali (DPS), Makassar (UPG) and Jakarta (CGK). Based on our experience, if Sorong is your Main destination for your holiday, we advise you to enter Indonesia via Jakarta. Garuda will be your best bet to fly into Sorong and they give generous space for your dive gear on top of your regular luggage. Spending one night prior to your domestic flight is always good but if not, do give yourselves a good 6 hours between your international arrival and domestic departure. You may require to move in between the International and domestic terminal.
Our reservations team can help to arrange hotel accommodations, airport transfers and domestic flight connections between your international arrival and departure and the Liveaboard.
Domestic Flights
Please allow 2 Hours prior your Check-in time for domestic flights in Indonesia. Please bear in mind the time difference between Bali / Jakarta with Sorong.
There are several direct flights per day operating between Jakarta/Bali and Sorong; If you are coming into Manado or Makassar there is also direct flight from these cities.
As domestic flights in Indonesia are often subject to delays, schedule changes and Cancellations, we strongly recommend making arrangements to arrive in Sorong the day before embarkationyou’re your arrival to the boat is after the vessel has departed, you may be charged for the cost of arranging a speedboat transfer or for additional fuel required to return to port.
Embarkation Day Arrival: Guests intending to fly into Sorong on embarkation day should arrange flights to arrive no later than 12:00 p.m. (midday).
Departure: We respectfully ask guests not to book flights departing earlier than 08:30 a.m. from Sorong as disembarkation needs to be 2 and a half hours before the flight departure time. If your flight out of Sorong departs later than 10.30 a.m. we will transfer you to a cosy local restaurant near the airport where you can wait for your flight.