Scuba diving in Raja Ampat truly felt like stepping into “the last paradise.” Hidden away in West Papua, this breathtaking archipelago of more than 1,500 jungle covered limestone islands is renowned for having the highest marine biodiversity on Earth, and after spending two unforgettable weeks there, we completely understood why. Photos below are from the first week of our trip, where we joined Scuba Republic’s 7D/6N Dive Safari – an excellent budget friendly alternative to the ultra-expensive liveaboards. We dove the very same world-class sites by day, then returned each evening to rustic but clean and comfortable homestays for delicious home-cooked meals and laid-back evenings with our small group of divers from around the world, who quickly became great friends. Exploring islands like Gam, Fam/Pam, Arborek, Kri, and Waigeo, we were constantly blown away by both the underwater life and the jaw-dropping scenery above the surface, made even more spectacular thanks to one of our new friends capturing incredible aerial drone footage along the way. Every dive felt magical, from encounters with manta rays, sharks, turtles, schools of fish, pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, and even blue-ringed octopus! Raja Ampat exceeded our already sky-high expectations in every possible way, and Scuba Republic’s dive safari proved to be an unforgettable and budget way to experience one of the most extraordinary diving destinations on the planet.
Taking a Batik flight from Jakarta to Sorong
Wall mural of Raja Ampat at Sorong Airport
"I love Sorong" signpost at the Sorong Airport
Standing in line to buy the 2 hour express ferry tickets from Sorong to Waigeo
Scuba Republic's wooden pier
Beach bungalows at Scuba Republic
An epic sunset over Waigeo Island
This stuff was magic to combat the no-see-ums!
We signed up for a week long dive safari through Scuba Republic. It is a fantastic budget alternative to a liveaboard - dive off the boat and sleep in homestays
Our boat captain welcoming us on board
View of a typical homestay in Raja Ampat (simple, rustic accommodation with million dollar views)
Theo and Reymon's dive group heading off for their check dive at Friwen Wall
A pair of Philippine butterflyfish
School of blue-lined snappers
Goniobranchus coi nudibranch
Phyllidia ocellata nudibranch
Approaching our first homestay - Yenenas Paradise Homestay on Gam Island
Robby at our beach bungalow at Yenenas Paradise Homestay
Homestay accommodations in Raja Ampat are spartan but clean. We were thrilled to find out this one had electricity all night long!
Reymon bringing by an afternoon snack
This slow moving, tree dwelling marsupial is a cuscus. It is a nocturnal animal closely related to the possum
Dinner at our homestay was surprisingly good considering how remote they are from resupplies!
Waking up for sunrise over Gam Island
Butterflies roosting together on a branch
The start of another glorious day in Raja Ampat
Female Papuan eclectus parrot
Goodbye Yenenas Paradise Homestay!
Robby is ready for Day 2 of diving with Scuba Republic!
Surface interval at Bat Island
Transporting our lunch to Bat Island
Hungry cat begging for food on Bat Island
Aerial view of Bat Island where we enjoyed a leisurely surface interval
Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel
Overwater bungalows at a homestay on Gam Island
Typical tropical scenery in Raja Ampat
In the late afternoon, we visited a stingless jellyfish bay and got to swim with moon jellyfish!
Stingless jellyfish at Besir Bay, the biggest bay in Gam Island!
Becky swimming with stingless jellyfish
Pulling into Anno Homestay on beautiful Gam Island
We each had overwater bungalows at Anno Homestay!
The friendly owner of Anno Homestay on Gam Island
Robby outside our overwater bungalow
Cute girl from Anno Homestay
Stunning aerial photo of Anno Homestay on Gam Island
We were so happy to make it to our homestay on Gam Island just before sunset so that Chris could take these amazing photos for us
Watching the sun set from Gam Island
Bringing a drone to Raja Ampat is a must to capture amazing photos like this!
Our new dive friends on Scuba Republic's Dive Safari! Such a fun group!
We got to see a "walking shark" (longtailed carpet shark) at night!
Becky with one of the children from Anno Homestay, our Gam Island accommodation
Visiting Ryan and checking out his private overwater bungalow
Megan making friends with the homestay's dogs
A villager paddling a makeshift boat around Gam Island
Bats hanging upside down in a cave near our Gam Island homestay
Chris catching his drone after a successful flight around Gam Island
The result? A gorgeous aerial view of our Gam Island homestay in the bright morning sun
Becky striking a pose in front of our overwater bungalow on Gam Island
Robin giving us a dive briefing on our next dive site at Citrus Ridge
Tasselled wobbegong are characterized by a unique fringe of branching dermal flaps around their heads
Painted Thecacera (a variant of the "Pikachu" nudibranch)
Coryphellina rubrolineata nudibranch
Approaching Raja Ampat Sunrise Homestay on Pam (Fam) Island
Pier leading to Pam Island
Welcome committee on Pam Island
Aerial view of Pam Island's pier
A white cross dominates the hillside on Pam (Fam) Island
Aerial view of Fam Island
Gorgeous sunset over Pam Island
Lush tropical scenery of Fam Island
Mural painted in the dining area of Raja Ampat Sunrise Homestay, our accommodation on Fam/Pam Island
A scruffy dog watches sunrise with us on Fam Island
Becky posing on a coconut tree on Pam Island
Puppy at Raja Ampat Sunrise Homestay on Fam Island
Theo applying ear drops into Taylor's ear so he can hopefully equalize during today's dives!
Young girl showing off her school uniform on Fam Island
Fam Island's pretty white sand beach
Aerial photo of beautiful Fam/Pam Island during the day
Robby, Alessandra and Megan ready for a day of diving!
Reymon giving us a dive briefing before day 4 of our Scuba Republic dive safari
A massive school of chevron barracuda
Chevron barracuda congregate in large formations to protect against predators like sharks
Bargibant's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) perfectly camouflaged on its gorgonian coral host
Desirable flabellina nudibranch
Ryan and Laura show off how to make single slice peanut butter & jelly sandwiches during one of our surface intervals
Juvenile rockmover wrasse
Ornate sea slug (elysia ornata)
One of several liveaboard boats we saw throughout our week cruising around Raja Ampat
After our third dive of the day, we motored over to Pulau Piyainemo which has Raja Ampat's most famous lookout point
After climbing up to the Piaynemo lookout point, we were rewarded with this stunning view over the archipelago
Group photo at Piaynemo lookout point (Alessandra, Laura, Malina, Megan, Ryan, Sam, Chris and Taylor)
Rufas Island (aka "Love Lagoon")
Having our photo taken at the most recognizable spot in Raja Ampat
Piaynemo Lookout Point is so popular that it even made it is immortalized on Indonesia's 100,000 Rupiah banknote!
Piaynemo village children
Friendly vendor on Piaynemo Island
Becky bought virgin coconut oil for 100,000 IDR (about $5.60)
Reymon bringing afternoon snacks (our daily ritual after our 3rd dive while we are waiting for the homestay to prepare dinner)
Red-lined flabellina nudibranch
Tasselled wobbegong shark in a coral
Chromodoris lochi nudibranch
Robby walking on a boardwalk leading to our homestay on Arborek Island
Overwater bungalows on Arborek Island
There are a handful of homestays on Arborek Island
A pile of harvested coconuts on Arborek Island
Arborek Island water tank
A beautiful, white, sandy beach on Arborek Island
Boy on a swing; Arborek Island
Arborek Island village girls
Beer for sale on Arborek Island
Arborek Island was the most built up island that we visited while on our 7D/6N Scuba Republic Dive Safari. This is the "main road"
View of Arborek Island from one of its many piers
Aerial photo over Raja Ampat, aka the "last paradise on earth"
Papua Paradise Eco Resort
Bringing a drone to Raja Ampat gives us a whole new perspective on this untouched paradise
Tugu Injil Marthen Mambraku monument on Arborek Island. The monument honors the arrival of the Gospel to the village in 1936
Taylor playing soccer with Arborek Island villagers
Cheerful murals of school children on a classroom wall at Arborek Island's school
Poor black-capped lory! Its legs are tied to this bucket and a villager is keeping it as a pet
Becky playing with some puppies at Arborek Island
Becky taking a dip beneath our water bungalow at Lalosi Homestay on Arborek Island
Sunset over Lalosi Homestay; Arborek Island
A map with all the dive sites of Raja Ampat
Robby on a boardwalk at Arborek Island
Goodbye pretty Arborek Island!
Two mantas at a cleaning station at Manta Ridge
Anna's magnificent sea slug
Bornella anguilla nudibranch
A thriving marine ecosystem
On the last night of our dive safari, we had to split into two groups at two different homestays. Thankfully we got to join the other group for dinner via this boat shuttle
Robby, Taylor and Chris on smiling as we head to our last group dinner
Waterfront bungalows that the other half of our group is staying on Kri Island
We were a bit jealous of our friends' homestay because it was a lot nicer than ours!
One last night together with our dive friends where we enjoyed dinner and played one last round of Frantic!
A flat-tailed house gecko wiggles its way up our bathroom wall...super cute!
Pikachu nudibranch (Thecacera pacifica)
White-spotted puffer resting on the sea floor
We had the best week diving with this fun group! Scuba Republic dive safari was amazing!!!
We got a nice souvenir card after paying for our Raja Ampat Marine Conservation fee!
