Limestone karst islets dot the calm turquoise sea, seen from the Piaynemo viewpoint in Raja Ampat.
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Diving Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat and Misool: sharks, storms & a whole lotta manta magic

Let me tell you about one of the wildest and most wonderful adventures we’ve had— diving Raja Ampat, baby! 🌊🐠

Arriving in West Papua

Our journey kicked off with a Garuda flight from Bali, transiting through Jakarta to Sorong, the entrance to a wild adventure in Raja Ampat. Sounds easy, right? Well… enter tropical thunderstorm. We ended up being rerouted to Sumatra (yep, the other side of the country) and spent a few nerve-wracking hours in the air before finally landing safely in Sorong. Big sigh of relief.

We spent one night at the Aston Hotel to rest our travel-weary bones before boarding our floating home for the next 8 days and 9 nights: the New White Manta liveaboard. And let me tell you—this boat? Pure bliss.

  • A porthole reveals blue sea, small islands and a sky dotted with clouds in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
  • Ropes on the White Manta liveaboard pull tender boats as it travels through Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
  • A portrait of a dive guide sitting on a ship with the ocean and limestone karsts in the background.
  • Dive equipment and accessories sit on a steel workbench aboard the White Manta in Raja Ampat.
  • Diving equipment on scuba tanks aboard the White Manta liveaboard in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
  • A colorful BCD on a scuba tank on the White Manta scuba diving liveaboard in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.

Embarking on the White Manta liveaboard

From day one, the crew treated us like royalty. Impeccable food, gear set up just how we like it, relaxing massages, and a boat crew that made getting in and out of the water feel like a breeze. We didn’t lift a finger unless it was to adjust our masks or grab another cookie.

Want to know what a typical day onboard looked like? Here’s the dreamy rhythm:

  • 6:15 AM – Wake-up call with coffee and sea breeze
  • 7:00 AM – First dive of the day
  • 8:00 AM-ish – Hearty breakfast and chill time
  • 10:30 AM – Second dive
  • 12:30 PM – Lunch (and yes, we always went back for seconds)
  • 2:30 PM – Third dive
  • 4:00 PM – Snack o’clock and a well-deserved lounge break
  • 6:30 PM – Night dive (hello, glowing critters!)
  • 8:00 PM – Dinner under the stars, followed by dive tales and laughter

Rinse and repeat. And somehow, it never got old.

A white board marked with dive sites, area, dive teams, the date, a list of activities and times, and crew rotation sits on a wooden desk under a tv on the White Manta liveaboard in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.

Epic underwater encounters

And underwater? Raja Ampat absolutely delivered. We had manta encounters so epic, I had to pinch myself mid-dive. Giant oceanic mantas gliding gracefully above us, sharks cruising in and out of view, and fish—so many fish—that I actually got dizzy spinning around trying to take it all in. (Seriously, fish overload is a real thing.)

  • Two manta rays glide through blue water in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
  • A school of silver jackfish shine in the blue water near a reef in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
  • A green turtle glides along a healthy coral reef at Menjangan Island in Bali, Indonesia.
  • Scuba divers watch a school of yellowtail fusiliers swimming along a reef in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
  • An Indonesian dive guide hovers above a coral reef, watching a bubble ring rise to the surface.
  • A close-up of a tasselled wobbegong shark as it rests on a coral reef in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.

We explored the iconic Misool region, with its dramatic limestone formations, secret swim-throughs, and vibrant reefs that just don’t quit. Every dive felt like dropping into a dream.

Magical memories

The vibe on board was just as magical. Sunset hangouts, salty laughs, and dive log stories that’ll last a lifetime.

  • A man at the side of a boat gazes at an orange sunset over the sea in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
  • Clouds dot the pink sky during sunset over the dark sea on a liveaboard in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
  • A phinisi and small green islands create a stunning sunrise landscape in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
  • A pink, orange, and yellow sky over a dark but calm sea as the sun sets in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.

We had the best of times, and honestly? We’re already counting down the days until we can hop back aboard the New White Manta.

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