Explore The Wonders Of Indonesia
Sorong – Sorong Exploration
Raja Ampat: The Heart of the Coral Triangle
The islands of Raja Ampat invite you to explore, experience, and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Coral Triangle’s crown jewel. From Wayag, Misool, and Batanta to the Fam Islands and the Wagmab Island chain, the region offers a diversity of activities unmatched by any other liveaboard dive destination.
Each day reveals a new and pristine environment. Paddle a sea kayak along the iconic karst islands of Wayag, where limestone cliffs rise like castle walls above sapphire waters. Stop on a secluded beach for a swim before gliding across shallow coral reefs and hidden coves. Further south, the beehive shaped karst formations of Wagmab create a labyrinth of narrow passages ideal for kayaking and diving.
Misool is a dream come true for divers and snorkelers alike. Its legendary sites host an astounding variety of marine creatures, from tiny invertebrates to manta rays and even migrating whales. The islands to the southeast offer excellent snorkeling and opportunities to explore cave systems and underground rivers.
To the north, near Ayau Island, an enormous atoll lies in remote Pacific waters. With so many highlights scattered across isolated locations, The Seven Seas liveaboard provides the perfect platform to experience Raja Ampat in depth.
Every morning begins in a new, breathtaking location. Guests may spend their day diving, trekking in the rainforest, sea kayaking, stand up paddling, or simply enjoying the panoramic views from the upper lounge with a sunset drink or pre dinner snack. Our core itinerary spans fourteen days, allowing enough time to visit the region’s iconic highlights while also exploring lesser visited areas off the typical route.
Raja Ampat: Diving, Wildlife, and Ancient Culture
For most divers, Raja Ampat is the trip of a lifetime. With the greatest marine biodiversity on Earth, diving here often feels like the underwater equivalent of birdwatching: rare species, unique behaviors, and endless surprises.
The region’s underwater environments range from the vibrant reefs of the Fam Islands and the manta ray rich waters of the Dampier Strait to the critter filled macro sites of Batanta and Aljui Bay. The coral gardens and snorkeling sites around Misool are among the most pristine and colorful reefs anywhere in the world.
Raja Ampat is a sanctuary for extraordinary wildlife. More than 1,700 species of reef fish, over 700 species of mollusks and invertebrates, and more than 600 species of hard coral thrive here — nearly 75 percent of all known species on the planet. The region is also home to rare birds of Paradise, whale sharks, dolphins, migratory whales, and the elusive wobbegong shark. Its variety of habitats, blue water seamounts, coral walls, shallow mangroves, rainforests, and cave systems has created a biological treasure trove unique in the world.
Guests aboard Seven Seas can join sunrise jungle hikes to witness the call or courtship dance of the birds of Paradise, or explore dense mangrove forests and the luminous blue water mangroves.
The cultural heritage of Raja Ampat is equally fascinating. Local origin myths tell of a woman who discovered seven magical eggs. Four hatched into kings, giving the region its name, “Four Kings,” while the remaining eggs became a woman, a ghost, and a stone. Historically, the archipelago belonged to the Tidore Sultanate of Maluku, though its remoteness kept many communities isolated. Today, inhabitants live in small fishing villages and some work in renowned pearl farms known for producing exceptional quality pearls. Now part of Indonesia’s West Papua province, many local traditions remain alive, and ancient cave paintings discovered by anthropologists reveal stories of human presence long before recorded history, some of which can be visited on the Seven Seas itinerary.
Come dive into the heart of Raja Ampat and feel the magic of the most biodiverse waters on Earth.
Tentative Itinerary
The itinerary may be adjusted at the discretion of the captain and cruise director based on weather conditions, which can sometimes be unpredictable, as well as the group’s overall experience. The goal is to offer the best possible diving and snorkeling sites according to the group’s interests and skill levels.
DAY 1 – PULAU MATAN (CHECK DIVE)
Arrival in Sorong. The crew will pick up guests at the airport and hotels, assist with transfers to the vessel, prepare dive equipment, conduct the boat briefing, and serve lunch on board. In the afternoon, the first dive of the trip will take place at Pulau Matan.
Roughly an hour from Sorong, this first dive site offers a great introduction to the underwater world of Raja Ampat. It’s an easy and relaxed dive, making it ideal as a check dive before the longer crossings and more challenging sites ahead. Despite its simplicity, the site packs in a little bit of everything you’ll encounter in the days to come: a mix of hard and soft corals, macro life, and schools of reef fish. If you’re lucky, you might spot your first wobbegong shark of the trip. This dive is a solid warm-up before you set off on a full night’s sail south to Misool.
DAY 2 – DARAM ISLANDS
The Daram Islands lie in a remote corner of southeast Misool, known for towering limestone formations and exceptional water clarity. This area is prized for its untouched reefs, dramatic underwater topography, and extraordinary colour. Sites like Andiamo, Candy Store, and Warna Berwarna are among the most vibrant reefs in Raja Ampat, boasting carpets of soft corals, huge sea fans, and bright chromatic contrasts that photographers adore.
This region feels wild and isolated, offering guests a true sense of “end-of-the-world diving.”
DAY 3 and 4 – FIABACET & BOO (MISOOL)
The Fiabacet and Boo area represents the beating heart of Misool’s marine biodiversity, widely considered one of the richest marine ecosystems on Earth.
The Fiabacet chain, with sites such as Nudi Rock, Tank Rock, and Whale Rock, features a thrilling mix of steep ridges, coral-draped pinnacles, shallow gardens, and pelagic activity. Boo Island is home to the iconic Boo Windows, a natural rock formation carved with large swim-through holes that create one of the most photographed underwater scenes in the world.
The crown jewel of the area is Shadow Reef (Magic Mountain), one of the most sought-after dive sites globally. Guests can expect:
• Oceanic manta rays
• Grey reef sharks
• Schools of jacks and snappers
• Giant trevallies
• Batfish clouds
• Incredible reef health
Fiabacet & Boo deliver many guests’ favourite dives of the entire trip.
DAY 5 – WAYILBATAN (MISOOL)
Wayilbatan is where the scenery of Raja Ampat becomes almost surreal. Above the water, limestone cliffs rise sharply from emerald lagoons, forming one of the most visually striking landscapes in the entire archipelago.
Underwater, Wayilbatan offers a collection of world-class sites, each with its own personality:
Wedding Cake
A gentle sloping reef with tiered coral “steps,” giving the site its name. Bright hard corals dominate the shallow terraces, creating a peaceful and photogenic dive.
Gorgonian Passage
A narrow channel framed by huge sea fans and dramatic walls. Light filters beautifully through the passage, making it a perfect site for photographers and macro lovers, especially those seeking pygmy seahorses.
Barracuda Rock
Often dived late in the day, this site reveals a “night shift” of crustaceans, cephalopods, nudibranchs, and possibly the charismatic epaulette shark, known for walking across the seabed.
Four Kings
One of Misool’s signature sites. Four massive underwater pinnacles tower from the sea floor, covered entirely in hard and soft corals. The swim-throughs between them fill with fusiliers, snappers, and batfish, creating a swirling underwater spectacle.
Love Lagoon (Heart Lake)
A stunning heart-shaped lagoon reached by a short but rewarding climb. It is one of the most iconic viewpoints in Raja Ampat and a highlight for guests between dives.
Wayilbatan often becomes the day guests remember as “this is the Raja Ampat I dreamed of.”
DAY 6 – PURI PINNACLE & SAGOF
Puri Pinnacle
A true Misool classic, Puri Pinnacle rises from deep blue water and is swept by nutrient-rich currents. It is an energetic, big-fish dive known for:
• Large schools of jacks, fusiliers, trevallies, and batfish
• Napoleon wrasse and giant trevally
• Occasional encounters with oceanic mantas and mobulas
• Beautiful sea fans, soft corals, and sponge growth
• Excellent visibility
Puri Pinnacle gives guests the exhilarating feeling of being immersed in a high-traffic underwater highway full of life and motion.
Sagof
Sagof offers a calmer contrast to Puri Pinnacle’s intensity. Its coral slopes and bright shallow reefs provide excellent conditions for snorkelers and photographers. Sagof is often described as a relaxed, colourful farewell to southern Misool before the boat turns north toward Batanta.
DAY 7 – SOUTH BATANTA
South Batanta is a paradise for macro lovers, loved by underwater photographers and critter hunters. The area’s sandy slopes, rubble habitats, and mangrove-fringed reefs create ideal conditions for rare species such as:
• Blue-ringed octopus
• Ghost pipefish
• Flamboyant cuttlefish
• Mantis shrimp
• Nudibranchs of every colour
• Pygmy seahorses
It is a day of small treasures and slow exploration, balancing the big scenery of Misool with delicate macro detail.
DAY 8 – PENEMU
Above water, Penemu offers spectacular limestone scenery and a hike to the famous viewpoint overlooking the heart-shaped lagoon. Famous for its iconic limestone lagoons and one of the most stunning viewpoints in Raja Ampat, Penemu blends breathtaking landscapes with spectacular reefs.
Underwater highlights include:
My Reef, Keruo Channel, Fantastic Reef, Galaxy, Batu Rufus, and the legendary Melissa’s Garden, often described as one of the best shallow reefs in the world, filled with enormous displays of living hard corals and clouds of reef fish.
DAY 9 – YANGEFFO
Yangeffo offers a rare mix of mangrove habitats, reefs, and seamounts. The contrast of dark mangrove roots merging with coral gardens makes this one of the most unique environments in Raja Ampat. Key sites include:
• Citrus Ridge – bright yellow-orange soft corals and relaxed drift
• Mangrove Edge – shallow macro-rich area where mangroves meet reef
• Mayhem – thrilling high-current seamount with huge fish schools, sharks, tunas, and trevallies swirling in all directions
It is one of the most dynamic areas for marine life encounters.
DAY 10 – ARBOREK
Arborek combines manta encounters with vibrant community-led conservation. The famous Arborek Jetty is known for easy conditions, colourful coral growth, and photogenic scenes.
Nearby, Lalosi, Manta Sandy, and Manta Ridge provide a mix of schooling fish, cleaning stations, and thrilling manta activity.
DAY 11 & 12 – MANSUAR – KRI – MIOSKON (DAMPIER STRAIT)
One of the most biodiverse diving regions in Raja Ampat. Expect dense fish populations, healthy coral gardens, and regular encounters with reef sharks, barracudas, jacks, and manta rays.
Popular sites include Sawandarek Jetty, Cape Kri, Sardine Reef, Blue Magic, Chicken Reef, Mike’s Point, and Saporkren (great for night diving).
DAY 13 – SORONG (DISEMBARKATION)
Breakfast on board, assisted disembarkation, luggage handling, and transfers to Sorong Airport or guests’ respective resorts or hotels.
