MV Tarata

Bird of Paradise

A short trek through a village and small plantation at Yapmanbaba village on Mansuar island, takes us under the canopy of prime forest where we can see these rare and mythical birds.
If you don’t do this it’s like going to Komodo and not seeing the dragons. The sounds alone are worth the effort.

Mansuar Area

This is also the place where Dr. Gerald Allen found those 273 different species —see how many you can count! A great range of dive sites here makes this area stand out as being probably the best dive area in the whole of Indonesia for fish life. And not just for the species diversity; the schooling fish life is also incredible. Most reefs here are vibrant with vast amounts of soft corals covering huge coral outcrops that in turn are surrounded by thousands of small sweepers. There are critters as well, but not as many as in other areas, though for sure there are some great areas with rare and unusual marine life.

Waigeo (Aljui Bay)

A great area to anchor amongst the many small islands that make this area like a huge maze. There is also an interesting pearl farm here. The welcoming staff can show divers some of the processes that go into farming high-end pearls.

Dive sites vary; many feature brilliantly colorful invertebrate-covered walls that are dotted with caverns. These all seem to just fall from the rock faces that rise up above the water, being topped off with incredible tropical scenery. There are dive sites here that are great critter dives, with many kinds nudibranches and crustaceans to keep the macro lovers content. This area probably has the best macro site in the northern Raja Ampat we have come across up to now!

Kawe Area

More small islands here that are home to some incredible dive sites. Amongst these we encounter groups of small islands. Here pelagic fish and many different schooling fish can be seen.

Right on the edge of the Equator there are more impressive islands, some looking like Bonsai trees sitting on a rock base. One very small island has what can only be described as being one the best topographical sites in the area. Walls surround most of the island, which can be circumnavigated easily on one dive.

But there is much more, including a coral-covered seamount with hundreds of schooling fish swimming around it, small plateaus, a small cavern, giant sea fans, and many black coral bushes surrounding a tall pinnacle. Some sites here are open to the seas and often experience strong currents. Swells frequently make safety stops near the reef a little awkward.

Wayag

This has to be as good as it gets for topside scenery, with lagoons and small mushroom shaped islands. A short trek will reveal this island in all its promotional products glory, with great above water views of the lagoons and islands you’ve been diving in. The dive sites are home to great marine life, beautiful reef scenery, some schooling pelagic fish, and great topographical underwater landscapes. Also this is home to a hidden blue lagoon with the only way in being from the ocean. Only us divers will ever see this sight.

Wai Island Area

Surrounded by white sand beaches and reefs that are home now to plane wrecks as well as great marine life. One plane lays on a reef slope covered in an array of beautiful soft corals, with the slope itself sometimes sporting various interesting critters. Reefs here have been impacted in the past, though in places the reef crest is an area where you will want that over-under lens. With a tropical island backdrop, what more could you ask. At times it is possible to see large groups of manta rays cruising by here.

Southern Raja Ampat

Misool

Untouched environments, completely in their natural states. Fish populations and coral are healthy, with an enormous variety of species. Many rare and exotic critters. Local villagers are culturally interesting and friendly.

ALOR

Alor is still pretty much in the middle of nowhere, away from the crowd. Remote and pristine. The masses of swirling, schooling fish and rich concentrations of invertebrates and critters may well make Alor one of the best diving Indonesia has to offer.

Shear drop offs with amazing coral reef scenery and great fish life, giant pinnacles covered in beautiful corals. Shallows are home of anthias and damselfish. Banks and walls reef. At some sites the current is 2 knots or more. Macro sites with all sorts of weirds and rare critters such as rhinopias, leaf scorpion fish, frogfish,and many other cool critters. One famous site here is renowned for large pelagic fish. Night dives usually are rich of interesting surprises.

The diversity and marine life range from beautiful coral reef scenerey and great critters to larger fish.

It is not just the diving that makes Alor special. The fact that the local communities guard their reefs for their future keep all the reef pristine makes Alor even more special. Among the special souvenirs to take home is the handwoeven IKATsarong.

Alor’s friendly inhabitants are the original source of those rolex replica beautiful Ikat fabrics sold in Bali. Remote and pristine, Alor’s waters offer masses of swirling, schooling fish and a comparable diversity of rare and weird critters on the reefs. Alor is a macro photographer’s dream.