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Dragonet Divers Raja Ampat
Live sea conditionsDampier Strait
Updated 10:30 WIT
- Weather
- 28°C
- Overcast
- Wind
- 3km/h
- from NE, gusts 7
- Waves
- 0.1m
- Smooth, from NE
- Current
- 0.8kn
- flowing NNE
- Water
- 30°C
- Sea surface
- Sunset
- 18:04
- WIT · mandarin hour
Forecast model data from Open-Meteo, refreshed every 15 minutes. Conditions at each dive site can differ.
Everything we offer in Raja Ampat, in small groups with local guides.
- Fun divesGuided dives on the reefs of the Dampier Strait.FromIDR 400,000per personSee packages
Small groupsDampier Strait - Island tripsIsland days around the Dampier Strait.FromIDR 1,500,000per groupSee packages
Karst islandsLagoons - Dusk divesWatch mandarinfish pairs rise from the rubble at sunset.FromIDR 1,100,000per personSee packages
SunsetMandarinfish
Dive site map
Dive and snorkel sites of the Dampier Strait
15 sites around Kri, Mansuar, Arborek, Gam, Friwen and Piaynemo, from Cape Kri and Blue Magic to Manta Sandy and Melissa's Garden. Tap an island or a marker to zoom in and read about it.
Marker positions are approximate, and conditions on the day decide which sites can be dived.
Dive and snorkel sites
The sites on this map spread across the Dampier Strait around Kri, Mansuar, Arborek, Gam and Friwen, out to Piaynemo in the west. Pick an island to see the sites around it.
Getting here
How to get to Dragonet Divers
Our base is in Kurkapa on Mansuar island, in the heart of the Dampier Strait. Most guests reach Raja Ampat through Sorong and continue by sea.
Fly to Sorong
Land at Domine Eduard Osok Airport (SOQ) in Sorong, the gateway to Raja Ampat. Most international travellers connect through Jakarta or Bali.
Fast ferry to Waisai
From Sorong harbour, the express ferry crosses to Waisai, the capital of Raja Ampat on Waigeo island, in about two hours. Tickets are sold at the harbour counter.
Get your marine park entry card
Every visitor needs a Raja Ampat Marine Park entry card before entering the protected waters. It is sold at the marine park office in Waisai and is valid for 12 months.
Entry card detailsSpeedboat to Kurkapa
Our base is in Kurkapa, a village on the north coast of Mansuar island, about an hour by speedboat from Waisai across the Dampier Strait. Message us before you travel to plan this last leg.
Flight and ferry times change often, so check them close to your travel date.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, GSHHG
Do I need to be a certified diver?
For fun dives you need an entry-level scuba certification, such as Open Water, or an equivalent. If you have never dived before, start with one of our dive courses, or join a snorkeling trip and see the reefs from the surface.
Can non-divers come along?
Yes. Snorkeling and island trips are made for non-divers, and many sites in the Dampier Strait have shallow reefs and jetties that are lovely to snorkel.
When is the best time to visit?
Raja Ampat can be dived all year. October to April usually brings the calmest seas, and December to April is when manta rays gather most often at the cleaning stations in the Dampier Strait. From June to September the wind picks up and the sea can be rougher.
How warm is the water?
Around 27 to 30 °C most of the year, so a 3 mm wetsuit is enough for most divers. The live sea conditions panel at the top of this page shows today's sea surface temperature.
Do I need a permit to dive in Raja Ampat?
Yes. Every visitor needs a Raja Ampat Marine Park entry card before entering the protected waters. It is sold at the marine park office in Waisai and is valid for 12 months.
Entry card detailsWhat should I bring?
Your certification card and logbook if you dive, reef-safe sunscreen, a light jacket for boat rides, and enough cash in Indonesian rupiah. There are very few ATMs in Raja Ampat and most places do not take cards.
Exchange rate: US$1 is about IDR 18,148 (European Central Bank reference rate, Oct 30, 2026).
How long should I wait before flying after diving?
Divers Alert Network recommends at least 12 hours after a single dive and at least 18 hours after several dives a day or several days of diving. Plan a dive-free day before your flight out of Sorong.
DAN guidelinesDo I need dive insurance?
We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers scuba diving, including medical evacuation, since Raja Ampat is remote and getting to a hospital can take a long time.
How do I book?
Bookings are opening soon. Until then, email halo@dragonetdivers.com with your dates and your diving experience, and we will reply.
Email us