A few years ago mention Raja Ampat and most divers would look at ou wiith a blank stare. Now it is reknowned as perhaps the Holy Grail of diving. This vast unpopulated area contains the greatest marine biodiversity in the world, with more species of fish, coral and invertebrates than anywhere else.

Raja Ampat and its surrounding areas is located at the western end of West Papua, on the Indonesian half of the island of New Guinea. Formerly the province of Irian Jaya, this large area encorporates the Bird's Head Peninsula and the islands of Misool to the south, Waigeo to the north and Salawati and Batanta in the middle. Raja Ampat means "Four Kings", named after the four largest island kingdoms that dominated this area for many centuries. Legend has it that a woman found seven eggs, four of which hatched the kings of the four largest islands of Raja Ampat, while the other three became a ghost, a stone and a woman.

Along the south coast towards Papua New Guinea is found Triton Bay, which has perhaps the most beautiful soft coral formations in the world. On the north coast can be found Cendrawasih Bay, which is festooned with numerous wrecks and is fast becoming well known as a hot spot for whale sharks.

The scenery in Raja Ampat is quite literally stunning. An intricate maze of opver 1500 limestone islands undercut by the waves and fringed by beautiful reefs, channels through which the tide pushes vast quantities of nutrients and marine life, mountains that rise from deep water and topped out with verdant rainforest. Blindingly white beaches shaded by swaying palm trees and cliffs that plunge into the azure sea.

We offer a choice of four resorts and a host of quality liveaboards. Misool Eco Resort, Sorido Bay Resort and Raja4Divers offer all the comforts of home, with excellent accommodation and service, each located in a different part of Raja Ampat. Kri Eco Resort, located near Sorido Bay Resort, offers a slightly more limited range of facilities, but with equally spectacular diving! Please click the links above to see what is on offer!

If you are an officianado of beautiful reefs, stunning topside scenery, incredible fish life and some extraordinary marine encounters then there really is nowhere else on earth that can quite match Raja Ampat!