Coral Reef in Raja Ampat Archipelago

From late September to early October, I had an opportunity to visit important islands in Raja Ampat regency from Misool, and Kepulauan Sembian to Kofiau islands and north-east coast of Waigeo.
In general coral reef of this archipelago is still in very good condition. Raja Ampat has not suffered from massive bleaching on its corals like what happened in Okinawa and Great Barrier Reef. The regency is very far from big industrial cities of Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya or Makassar. So, coral reef is still healthy and the density of marine life is very high.

Coral Reef and Fish in Warduwer beach of Waigeo island

That's why a lot of scuba divers and snorkelers as well as freedivers continue to come to visit Raja Ampat. Coral reef with big fish can be seen in north-east region of Waigeo. It is the one that directly faces the open sea or the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately because of its remoteness, very few people go there.
The best months to explore the north-east reef of Waigeo island is from June to November. The sea is relatively calm.

Entering the month of December, strong north-east Wind from the Pacific brings in big waves on to the beach. From December to May the weather in North-east coast of Waigeo is in high waves. In the contrary, the central and southern region of Raja Ampat islands are relatively in more favorable weather. The sea is quite calm and is good for snorkeling, sightseeing, and even bird and wildlife watching.

White sandy beach in southern region of Waigeo island

In areas where human activities are high, I could see significant damages. For instances, the coral reefs under the jetties of Sawondarek in Mansuar island (also called Mansuar eiland by Dutch tourists), Yellu in Misool island, and Arborek.
Because Raja Ampat islands are close to Sorong city and Waisai town, the floating plastic and metal wastes can reach the beaches and the reefs on daily basis. This has to be stopped through education. Massive campaigns to city dwellers and coastal islanders about the importance of not throwing plastics and other domestic and industrial wastes into the sea have become important priorities.

Underwater picture of Coral Reef in 

As a tourist guide, I often organize snorkeling, sightseeing and birdwatching tours for visitors who plan to visit Raja Ampat. The cost of the tour will depend on the number of participants, the number of islands that are visited, the duration of the tour and types of activities.
If you are interested in visiting Raja Ampat and want me (Charles Roring) to be your guide, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.
Also read:

• Raja Ampat Snorkeling Adventure
• Raja Ampat Snorkeling and Birding Tour