When is the best time to visit Raja Ampat?

  • March 30, 2019

Many are wondering: When is the best time to visit Raja Ampat? What is the best diving season for Raja Ampat? And when is the Manta season?

In fact, Raja Ampat has a lot to offer to scuba divers, snorkelers and bird watchers all year round. However, contrary to many places seasonal differences in Raja Ampat are driven by plankton upwellings and winds rather than weather. Sea and weather temperatures are stable all year round which makes it very easy to plan your journey. The sea temperature is between 28oC and 29oC all year. Historical weather temperature averages are 30 oC during the day and 24oC  during the evening. However it may go up to as high as 34oC at day time.

Two Seasons

Raja Ampat has two seasons and the direction of the wind dominates these rather than the rain. Like many tropical places, Raja Ampat is rainy all year round with tropical showers and sunshine within the same day. Therefore, a holiday in Raja Ampat is possible year round. The best time to visit Raja Ampat depends on your preferences.

Northwest Monsoon –  Some say it is the best time to visit Raja Ampat

Northwest monsoon starts around October and finishes in May. Some call it the Raja Ampat manta season. Deep water upwellings that happen during this season trigger plankton blooms. As a result, plankton eaters like mantas and whales start coming to the area. Since the waters are nutrient rich, many animals reproduce during this period. Respectively, it’s common to observe mating marks on female sharks. Despite the rewarding marine action, visibility can be challenging for underwater photographers. Historically, November to January are the wettest months of the NW monsoon season.

Oceanic Manta at Blue Magic raja ampat
Oceanic Manta at Blue Magic raja ampat

Southeast Trade Winds – Equally a great time to visit Raja Ampat

The Southeast Trade winds start in June and finish in September. These winds may cause waves. They can blow strongly and the areas outside Dampier Strait can be wavy in this period. This season has very little upwellings, and less plankton means amazing visibility. This makes it an equally spectacular Raja Ampat diving season. Crystal clear waters are a highlight for divers and snorkelers alike, making up for fewer encounters with mantas and whales. With all the reef fish and fabulous corals, this period of the year is ideal for underwater photography. Dampier Strait is protected from the waves and bad weather.  

A large school of fish encountered while diving in Raja Ampat near Papua Explorers Dive Resort
Diving in Raja Ampat – Fish Encounters

In summary, the area is accessible to amazing diving all days of the year. Papua Explorers Dive Resort operates for 12 months and welcomes all nature enthusiast year round. Further, our liveaboard Coralia is cruising in Raja Ampat almost year round in 2022 and 2023.

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