There are many hundreds of dive opportunities in Indonesia, but for many divers Raja Ampat is the ultimate dive destination. The sheer number of species of marine creatures, the health of the reefs and the clarity of the water makes it as near perfect as a dive destination gets. There are more dive sites than
Raja Ampat covers about 46,000 square kilometres and since 2013 sharks are protected throughout the whole area. Shark fishing is now strictly prohibited and punishments for anyone caught are severe. However, punishments are rarely used these days, thanks to community education that has shown locals that live sharks are worth much more than dead ones.
Raja Ampat is one of the most important areas of marine biodiversity in the world and in 2007 the government there decided they needed to take action to keep it that way. They did this by declaring a network of seven Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to ensure the long-term health of the marine ecosystems.
You’ve seen pictures of the stunning overwater bungalows and crystal clear waters of the Maldives…but did you know a paradise like this exists in Indonesia as well?
