There is no doubt about it – the best snorkeling and diving in the world is in Raja Ampat.
This west Indonesian archipelago contains more marine bio-diversity than anywhere else in the world – more fish, more corals.
In 2002, The Nature Conservancy conducted a scientific survey of the Raja Ampat Islands to collect information on its marine ecosystems, mangroves and forests. The survey brought Raja Ampat’s total number of confirmed corals to 537 species — an incredible 75 percent of all known coral species.
In addition, an amazing 1,074 fish species were found. (One source has recently upped that to nearly 1,300.)
My wife and I have snorkeled all around the globe. Previously, we thought the best was in Palau. Raja Ampat, we decided, was even better.
One of the reasons is the area’s isolation. During our 10-day boat, live-aboard, trip, we saw no other tourists – no divers, no snorkelers, no anybody. The only other humans seen were natives in the few villages.
Located off the northwest tip of the island of New Guinea, Raja Ampat (translated, Four Kings) is an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, cays and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo.
Most islands are limestone, pock-marked with caves and undercut with wave action. Some are volcanic. All are covered with green growth and small trees and are part of the newly named West Papua province of Indonesia.
The Shakti is designed after traditional Indonesian boats.
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On the Shakti Boat
We went there in late May on a
Wilderness Travel snorkeling expedition. With 11 in our group, we stayed aboard the Shakti, a double-masted traditional Indonesian craft. It is 36 yards long and 8 yards wide.
Our room, though cramped, was comfortable. Captain and builder is Scotsman David Pagliari, raised in Hong Kong, who maintains a crew of seven.
Most important, our guide was Ethan Daniels, a marine biologist. He is an expert on the flora and fauna of the area and has led several expeditions to Raja Ampat.
During cocktail hour on top deck, he would gather us daily for a lecture on the marine life and geography of the places we would visit, with slides to illustrate his talks. During our snorkels when something was spotted, he wold make sure everyone had seen it.
Our routine was two morning snorkels and three afternoon. This was supplemented by hikes – hiking up to vistas, exploring caves, bird watching. First snorkel was around 8:30. So we got up early, seeing brilliant red sunrises, before breakfast at 7.
Our group leader Ethan Daniels gave daily talks on board about marine life.
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In the Water Snorkeling
Boarding a dinghy, we were taken to spots with colorful descriptive names – Zen Coral Garden West, Monitor Lizard Beach, Guitar Island. We snorkeled along walls with every imaginable type coral and fish.
In deeper water, we would see large bump-head parrot fish go by in schools and solitary black-tip reef sharks. One memorable sight – a school of hundreds of bait fish glided by with several two-foot, yellow and black-spotted oriental sweetlips swimming under them, probably trying to grab a snack.
On shallow reefs, we would see incredible coral gardens below us. Huge plate corals and sweeping soft corals were among every possible kind in greater abundance and colors than we had ever seen. Living among them were yellow, orange and purple sponges. Like eager students, we were able to identify them from Ethan’s lectures.
There were several types anemone on the reef; each had its anemone fish, commonly called clown fish. Mostly orange with white stripes, here we also saw brown with blue stripes and pink anemone fish with a stripe down the back.
We visited many of the islands in the Raja Ampat Archipelago.
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Going With the Flow
At times we would take drift dives. Our dinghy would let us off at the beginning of a tidal passage, and the swift water would carry us through – an amusement park ride in the midst of an aquarium. We just let ourselves go with the flow.
A couple times we entered strange worlds – mangrove swamps where cardinal fish lurked in tangled roots, and tiny shrimp dug holes on sandy bottoms while goby fish (their roommates) stood watch for predators.
In one grove, we took off fins and stealthily walked through the shallows to a deserted beach. Close to shore was a “nursery” for baby stingrays and reef sharks. Disturbed, the babies fled at our approach. One ray nearly bumped into my shocked wife’s leg.
While leaving the grove, we spotted the shaggy woebbegong shark under a ledge. It looked more like “Cookie Monster” than a fish.
Adventures and Revelations
Each day brought more surprising adventures. None more so than the day we took our “field trip” to the pearl farm on Waigeo Island. The tour was most interesting as we saw how oysters were seeded and shucked for pearls.
The rare wobbegong shark crouches, waiting for prey.
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This was also our only shopping stop with pearl jewelry on display at the end of the tour. A plus here – our boat was given a bag of oyster meat, a delicious treat for dinner.
Following the tour came one of our trip highlights – snorkeling off the dock in front of the farm. No dazzling coral here. It was rocky reefs and sandy bottoms but amazing creatures to behold.
Without our guides, we would have swum past most of them. The cuttle fish, for example, takes on the color of its surroundings. Its skin even becomes spiky to mimic jagged surfaces. The craggy scorpion and stone fish are difficult to detect.
The spotted epaulet shark was here, its coloring, too, blending amazingly with the background. When startled, it walked away on two lower fins, as it uniquely does.
Particularly good at spotting was our Indonesian guide from the Shakti, Robert Lahenko. For example, he would dive and, coming up, would say “crocodile fish.” We would shrug, saying, “Where?” He would go down again and trace its outline with his fingers. And, “Voila!” There it was.
The cuttlefish is a master of camouflage.
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After everyone saw it, he would sometimes nudge it, letting us see it slithering away. He, along with Daniels, is what made this trip so rewarding.
Something new to us, but readily seen here were beautiful nudibranches. Diver friends have gone deep to see them, but here they were in shallow waters. Mollusks without shells, these are sometimes called sea snails. We were constantly on the lookout for theme – one- to two-inch creatures, decorated in all ranges of blues, oranges, yellows, reds
Snacks and Meals
When we came in from our afternoon snorkel, we had delicious fresh-from-the-galley baked goods: cinnamon rolls, apple cake, cookies, all made from German recipes of first mate Diana “Din” Himmelspach. Conversant in English and the local Indonesian dialect as well as German, Din translated directions to the crew and cooks.
Shakti had two Indonesian cooks who prepared local foods. While the curry-like dishes were tasty and hearty, they did get a bit monotonous. Lunch and dinner always consisted of white rice, a vegetable, meat and fish or shellfish. All were sauce-based with ginger and local spices. Dessert was fresh fruit.
Village children greeted us on our visit.
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Breakfast consisted of crepes and/or eggs and freshly baked bread. A few times corn flakes were a welcome option. A cooler on deck was open 24 hours a day and was filled with local beer, juices and soft drinks.
Our next-to-last day, we anchored off South Gam Island which is home for the spectacular Red Bird of Paradise.
We went ashore for a short hike to a “bird blind,” erected by islanders to view the birds above. We heard their calls, and there they were, high in the tree tops. Silhouetted against the sun, the birds were difficult to photograph. But we saw them go through their mating display.
Villagers we met were living much the same way they always had. We could hear the whir of a generator, however, and saw a TV satellite dish on top of a meeting hall.
The people were very friendly, especially the children. Some in our group joined in a pickup soccer game on the field in the middle of the village. This was our introduction back into civilization before we headed home the next day.
Tired but happy, we were definitely ready to stretch out in a full-size bed and luxuriate in our large bedroom.
Quintilis was the former name of July. Then the name was changed by August to honor Julius Caesar. July in most countries in the northern hemisphere is the warmest weather. Summer usually begins in the mid or end of July and during summer students spend the long long holiday. July in Tanah Lot will be so colorful with the various events. So come to Tanah Lot on Quintilis.
All visitors to the Bunaken National Park (divers and non-divers) are required to pay an entrance fee, in accordance with North Sulawesi Provincial Government Provincial Law Number 9/2002. The entrance fee for foreign visitors is Rp 50,000 per daily ticket (approximately US$6), or Rp 150,000 (approximately US$17) for a waterproof plastic entrance tag valid for the full calendar year.
The public boats from Manado to Bunaken are leaving daily around 2 p.m (depending on tide), except Sundays, from Pasar Jengki near Manado harbour. Back from Bunaken to Manado usually early in the morning, around 7-8 a.m. Even on Sundays there might be boats, just go to the harbour and ask people there. To charter a boat is about Rp. 150,000 - 200,000 OW. If you want to go to Siladen it is better to inquire first at the harbour, but usually there are several boats as well. The fare to Siladen is also Rp. 15 000. 
In general diving standards in North Sulawesi are high, as is environmental awareness among the dive operators, especially the ones who have formed the 
The bungalows accommodate two people. They are equipped with a double or two single beds, fan, mosquito net, bamboo, coconut and rattan furniture, and western bathroom with running water. Our well-appointed kitchen serves Indonesian and western dishes three times a day. Barbeques on the beach-front are a must! Coffee and tea are available all day long.
