Raja Ampat South Highlights

• Melissa's Garden dive site is named for its stunning hard coral garden nestled between three small islands.
• We visit Misool, known for one of the most biodiverse underwater landscapes in the world.
• Dive with manta rays, along with giant trevally, Napoleon wrasse, and large snapper.
• Night dives to witness predators in search of food.
• View vibrant sea fans, schools of fusiliers, and the iconic Bumphead Parrot Fish.
• Dive Anchovy for an exhilarating dive where you can view schools of Mobula Rays weaving through the anchovies.
• Visit My Reef to spot barracudas, wobbegongs, and blacktip reef sharks.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1 - Sorong to Waisai

Your adventure with La Galigo kicks off with a crew member greeting you for the transfer from the airport or your Sorong hotel to the harbor between 7:30 A.M. and 8:00 A.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.

After a warm welcome aboard, 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. Afterward, you'll have time to relax and unwind and take in the scenery as we sail toward the clearance point in Waisai.

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, you'll have time to get comfortable, settle into your surroundings, and start looking forward to an exciting full day of diving ahead!

Day 2 - Gam

We start today in Gam Island, a region known for its vibrant reefs with opportunities to spot stunning macro subjects and enjoy colorful underwater scenes. Our first dive site will be Mangrove Ridge, starting and finishing this dive at the amazing roots of the saltwater mangroves. During the dive, expect to see many black corals, small marine life, turtles, and larger fish such as Jacks. Two of the other standout dive sites around Gam that we frequently explore today are Citrus Ridge and Mayhem. Citrus Ridge is famous for its dazzling orange and yellow soft corals that blanket the reef, creating a vibrant, picturesque underwater landscape. Mayhem, on the other hand, lives up to its name, offering the thrilling spectacle of pelagic predators hunting among swirling schools of baitfish atop a submerged seamount. Both dives offer something unique, from dramatic coral beauty to heart-pumping action, making them highlights of any Raja Ampat itinerary. As we prepare to settle in for the night, take a moment to soak in the breathtaking sunset views over the islands of Waigeo and Gam, painting the horizon in stunning colors. It's the perfect way to end a fantastic day of diving!

Day 3 - Piaynemo (a.k.a. Penemu)

Melissa's Garden dive site is the highlight of this area. Named for its stunning hard coral garden nestled between three small islands. It boasts an impressive diversity of coral and fish species packed into this small but vibrant marine habitat.

Another spot we may explore today is the Keruo Channel dive site, where you can enjoy a gentle drift dive along a mini wall and slope on the edge of Keru Island. Additionally, we often visit the Batu Rufus dive site, known for its dramatic 40-meter drop-off wall leading into the blue. The views at 20 meters are breathtaking as you float between the stark underwater landscape, looking up and down at the striking scenery.

The iconic limestone pinnacles are part of the Raja Ampat experience, with the Piaynemo lagoon and lookout being one of the breathtaking formations to discover. If you're up for a hike, the best time is in the late afternoon during golden hours when the temperatures are cooler. The views from the top are absolutely worth the effort!

Day 4 - Piaynemo (a.k.a. Penemu)

We start the day with two more exciting dives near Piaynemo before we move on to our next destination.

While dive sites may vary, we often explore the favorites such as Galaxy and My Reef. Galaxy features a beautiful mini wall teeming with soft corals and black coral, making for an enchanting underwater experience. My Reef is always a highlight, filled with marine life; you might spot barracudas, wobbegongs, and blacktip reef sharks here!

In the afternoon, as you unwind, we'll set sail for the southern islands of Raja Ampat. This will be the longest crossing of our trip, but you'll wake up tomorrow morning in the breathtaking waters of Misool.

Day 5 - Wayil - Misool

Misool is a large island, surrounded by a stunning array of smaller satellite islands, creating a captivating landscape with numerous regions to explore. If the towering limestone pinnacles don't take your breath away, diving at night among these rock formations surely will! Today, we'll dive into the sites around Wayil, where you'll escape from civilization entirely.

Wayil offers a great selection of dive sites, all within easy reach of each other. One standout is the incredible Four Kings dive site, a group of towering pinnacles that are so large you might find it hard to navigate them in a single dive! This spot is also a favorite hangout for giant Manta Rays, along with giant trevally, Napoleon wrasse, and large snapper.

Another favorite is Barracuda Rock dive site, known for its unique underwater cavern and the impressive school of barracuda that patrols the area. We also enjoy diving at Neptune's Sea Fan dive site, named for the stunning gorgonian sea fans that thrive here. Each dive in Misool offers an unforgettable adventure in this vibrant underwater paradise!

Day 6 - Fiabacet/boo - Misool

One of our dives today takes us to the iconic Boo Window dive site. This unique location features fascinating topography with window-like swim-throughs, making it perfect for capturing some stunning wide-angle photos. Keep an eye out for the Pygmy Seahorses hiding in the sea fans.

Another highlight of the visit is the Anchovy dive site, which is one of our personal favorites. It's an exhilarating dive where you can view schools of Mobula Rays weaving through the anchovies, creating a mesmerizing spectacle as they scatter in all directions. You might even catch a glimpse of the circling manta rays feeding just beyond the reef.

We'll also visit the Nudi Rock dive site, a gem of South Raja Ampat. This site features a rock at the surface that strikingly resembles a Nudibranch, and below, you'll find vibrant coral and a wealth of marine life thriving in the currents. Each dive today promises to be an unforgettable adventure!

Day 7 - Warakaraket - Misool

The diving in this part of Misool offers an incredible experience, showcasing pristine coral life and the Giant Manta Rays near the Misool Eco Resort.

We have two fantastic sites to explore: Whale Rock dive site and Tank Rock dive site, which are both known for their soft corals and vibrant schools of fish. Depending on the conditions and logistics at Misool Eco Resort, we'll decide which site we'll dive.

Weather permitting, we aim to dive at the Shadow Reef dive site (also known as Karang Bayangan or Magic Mountain). This location is a true standout in this remote corner of Raja Ampat, situated in the unprotected southern waters of Misool. It's not uncommon to encounter massive Manta Rays gracefully gliding through the water here, making it a hard dive to beat!

Day 8 - Daram

On the penultimate day of our adventure, we'll start the day with a dive at the Andiamo Dive Site, a perfect way to wrap up your Raja Ampat South Misool journey. Here, you'll have the chance to spot pygmy Seahorses, hunting giant trevallies, and plenty of barracuda.

The final dive of your trip will conclude at Warna Berwarna Dive Site, where you can look forward to vibrant sea fans, schools of fusiliers, and the iconic Bumphead Parrot Fish.

Our return journey to Sorong is approximately 18 hours, depending on currents and prevailing weather conditions. To celebrate an incredible trip, our crew prepares a delicious al fresco dinner. Join us for a night of music and dance as we party the night away!

Day 9 - Disembark Sorong

Today, we bid farewell to Raja Ampat as we arrive in Sorong around 5:00 am in plenty of time for a morning flight, or if you prefer a leisurely morning, guests are welcome to stay onboard until 11:00 am, and our crew will be on hand to assist you with transportation to your next destination.

After breakfast, feel free to take some time to exchange photos and swap contact details, ensuring you stay connected with your new friends and dive buddies!

At least 75 percent of all coral species can be found in Raja Ampat. Divers can expect a range of topography from soft corals and sea fans to hard corals, seagrass beds, mangroves, shallow reefs, deep drop-offs, caves, black sand, and white sand. Giant manta rays, sea turtles, sharks, cuttlefish, pipefish, various seahorse species, and massive schools of reef fish are the norm, plus the delightful wobbegong sharks and Epaulette sharks inhabit these waters too.

The last dive will be on the penultimate day of the trip. Divers are recommended to wait for 24 hours before flying after the last dive.

(*) The itinerary description is provided by the boat operator. Sample itineraries and maps are for illustrative purposes only, and the exact route and sites visited may change based on local regulations, guest experience, weather, and logistics, at the Captain’s discretion.