Raja Ampat Casts a Spell on all Those who Visit...

Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat translates as "four kings" and describes the four groups of islands around the Bird's Head Peninsula of West Papua in Indonesia: Waigeo in the North, Batanta, Salawati and Misool to the South. Raja Ampat belongs to the province West Papua which is the most eastern province of Indonesia. The capital Waisai is located on Waigeo.
This area which occupies the extreme end of New Guinea, contains the world's most diverse assemblage of coral reef fishes. 
- Mark V. Erdmann Ph.D and Dr Gerald Allen, 2009
Map of Bird's Head Seascape
The Birds Head and Raja Ampat Map by WWF, The Nature Conservancy & Conservation International

The Bird's Head Peninsula

The Bird's Head Peninsula forms the north-western end of the island of New Guinea. To the east is Cenderawasih Bay and to the south Bintuni Bay. To the west, across the Dampier Strait lies Waigeo island of Raja Ampat, and Batanta island is located just off the northwest tip. The peninsula south is Bomberai Peninsula.
The Bird's Head peninsula measures around 200 by 300 kilometers and is bio-geographically diverse, containing coastal plains to the south. The Arfak Mountains are a 3000 meters high mountain range that is found in the east. Slightly shorter than the Arfak Mountains, the Tamrau Mountains are found in the north. The highest mountain on the Bird's Head Peninsula is Pegunungan Arfak. It is 2920 meters high and is located 24 miles southwest of Manokwari.

Alfred Russel Wallace

"If we look at a globe or a map of the eastern hemisphere, we shall perceive between Asia and Australia a number of large and small islands, forming a connected group distinct from those great masses of land and having little connection with either of them.
Situated upon the Equator, and bathed in the tepid water of the great tropical Oceans, this region enjoys a climate more uniformly hot and moist than almost any other part of the globe, and teems with natural productions which are elsewhere unknown."
Alfred Russel Wallace, 'The Malay Archipelago', 1869
Alfred Russel Wallace
Alfred Russel Wallace by gutenberg.org
So begins Alfred Russel Wallace’s seminal book "The Malay Archipelago", first published in 1869 (Wallace, 1869) and destined to become one of the foundations of modern bio-geography. Wallace, concurrently with Darwin, looked for an interpretation of modern faunal distributions in the light of past evolutionary events.

The Landscape of Raja Ampat

In an area roughly 50'000 sq km, Raja Ampat comprises a unique labyrinth of more than 1'200 islands and rocky outcrops which protrude from calm, turquoise water. The karst topography is characterized by mushroom islands, cones, caves, fissures and ridges, eroded by winds and tides over time. The limestone islands are covered with lush rain forest​ right down to the water's edge. The area is a fascinating melange of natural wonders, both above and below the water.

The Inhabitants of Raja Ampat

Surrounded by tranquility and nourished by fish and sago palms, the people of this remote archipelago have been living apart from the world for half an eternity. It is a world sparsely populated by humans, a mere 35'000 people live in around 120 widely scattered coastal villages. The inhabitants of Raja Ampat speak seven different languages and countless dialects. The majority of the people in Papua are Christians.​

The Marine Life of Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is deemed a species factory for marine life, with scientists proclaiming the bountiful reefs the baseline against which all reefs on Earth should be measured. Raja Ampat's reefs are home to 75% of all known coral species, 1'459 species of reef fish and counting. Continuously discovering new species, including sharks, shrimps and reef building corals, scientists confirm this region as the Earth's richest seascape. Conservation is active in Marine Protected Areas throughout Raja Ampat, and in addition, the area around Pulau Pef specifically is also protected by a no-take zone.
The Raja Ampat is not only about diversity of species, but also of habitats. Colorful soft and hard coral gardens, walls and slopes, sea grass beds, blue water mangroves, caves and caverns, muck critters, adrenaline filled drift dives, glass calm water, wrecks, jelly fish bays and superbly fishy reefs. 
From Giant Manta rays to tiny Pygmy seahorses, Raja Ampat has it all and the dive resort Raja4Divers is the place to stay!

Health

Malaria is present in Papua. The use of mosquito repellent is highly recommended, especially when passing through populous areas such as Sorong. The risk is minimized by wearing long bright clothing, especially at dawn and dusk. Bear in mind that some malarial prophylactics cause adverse reactions in divers e.g. Lariam (Mefloquine), so please discuss your travel plans with your doctor/travel clinic.
Raja4Divers offers mosquito repellent and mosquito nets in all bungalows.
There are no compulsory vaccinations for the area.  For recommended vaccinations and medication, please contact your doctor.