Raja Ampat Islands archipelago is located in the western of Papua in the province of West Papua, Indonesia. It is exactly positioned at the head of the Papua birds head peninsula (because the Papua peninsula looks like a bird!). This archipelago is a divers top destination who are very interested in the beauty of Indonesia diving spot and also the biological diversity found in an underwater scenery. Some people also says that Raja Ampat is the richest place to find marine biodiversity!

Four of the Raja Ampat Islands are Waigeo Island, Misool Island Misool, Salawati Island and Batanta Island. The origin of the Raja Ampat name itself is a myth that was developed through many years and different stories exists in different communities. The myth says that there was a woman who found 7 eggs, 4 eggs hatched into four princes who became separated and each became a powerful king in Waigeo, Salawati, Misool Misool East and West. The other 3 eggs turned into a ghost, a woman and a rock. Well a strage myth indeed but besides that Raja Ampat is a very exotic place to visit in Indonesia!

Raja Ampat Islands society is generally traditional fishermens who live in small villages, located far apart and origin from different islands. They are a friendly community who often receive visitors from outside. It is nice to bring gifts for them such as nuts or candy. These items become a kind of indian peace pipe in Raja Ampat. 

People in Raja Ampat are religious society with high tolerance. They are Muslims and Christians, and often in one clan there are two religions.This makes the Raja Ampat people harmonious though having different beliefs.

The archipelago is a place of great potential to serve as an objects of touris, especially diving. Raja Ampat Islands waters according to various sources, is one of top 10 diving spot in the world. In fact, it may also be recognized as the number one diving spot for the richness of  underwater flora and fauna.

Approximately 450 species of coral had been identified during the two weeks of research in the area. Team of experts from Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Oceanographic Institutions (LON) Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has made rapid assessment in 2001 and 2002.  The result, they recorded in these waters there are more than 540 hard coral species (75% of the total species in the world), more than 1,000 species of reef fish, 700 types of molluscs, and the highest record for gonodactyloid stomatopod crustaceans. This makes 75% of the world's coral species in Raja Ampat. No other place in the world has the same condition in terms of these coral species.

There are several preserved areas of coral reefs that are still in very good condition with the percentage of live corals up to 90%. It is found at the Dampier Strait (the strait between P. and P. Waigeo Batanta), Kofiau Islands, Islands and South East Misool Wayag Islands. Types of coral reefs in Raja Ampat are coral reefs which generally have a steep edge contour but also  atols was also found. In some places like the village Saondarek, when the lowest tides happen, we can see a stretch of coral reefs still being alive despite being in the open air and direct sunlight.

Unique species that can be found underwater are pigmy seahorses. manta rays and wobbegong. There's also an endemic gooby fish called the Eviota king.

There is a place called Manta point in supernal Arborek Dampier straits, where you can dive an be accompined by several tame Manta Ray similar to a diving experience in Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan. If you dive at Cape Kri or Chicken Reef, you can be surrounded by thousands of fish. Sometimes a school of tuna, giant trevallies and snappers. But a dangerous diving experience is when you get surrounded by a school of barracuda fish. Reef sharks are also frequently seen, and if lucky you can see the turtles eating coral sponge or even you can have turtles swimming around you. In some places like the Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo we cound often find the Dugong or sea cow.

Because the area has many islands and narrow straits, you must be careful while diving because at particular times, fast current occur. There are also relics of ship wrecks from the Second World War that can be found in some dive sites and this make a good place to enjoy your dive. There are also diving spots that have never been explored so you can make your dive trip and diving in Raja Ampat more challenging.

Visiting these islands is not too difficult although it takes time and considerable cost. We can use airlines from Jakarta to Sorong via Manado for a 6 hour flight.

Most tourists who come to Raja Ampat currently are divers but this place is also an interesting location for non-divers because we can enjoy sandy beaches of beautiful white, group of karst islands and fascinating unique flora and fauna endemic to these place like paradise red, paradise Wilson, maleo Waigeo, various parrots, Waigeo posum, and various types of orchids.