Snorkeling in Raja Ampat: Best 14 Spots Revealed

Unlock the unparalleled beauty and wonders that await in this underwater paradise with our ultimate guide to the best snorkeling in Raja Ampat. We unveil the top 14 snorkeling spots you will not want to miss.

Raja Ampat is one of the greatest snorkeling destinations in the world, if not the greatest. This area is known for having the highest marine biodiversity on the planet and being one of the best spots for snorkeling with mantas.

Being snorkel addicts we've spent almost 10 months in this gorgeous region of West Papau, Indonesia, exploring the many islands, atolls and reefs throughout the Dampier Strait.

Where to find the best snorkel spots in Raja Ampat?

The sheer marine diversity within this national park is truly remarkable. With an abundance of world-class reefs to choose from, selecting our favorite spots proved to be a challenging task. Here's our curated list, along with the exact snorkel site coordinates, depths, current and a glimpse of what you can expect from each site.

14. Batu Lima

Batu Lima or ‘Five Rocks’ is a small outcrop of rocks located approximately 300 metres or so from the Biodiversity Nature Resort and Yenanas Paradise Homestay on Pulau Gam.

This unusual formation of 5 big rocks, create small under-hangs and nooks which are very fun to explore and snorkel through, especially when schooling fish swoop in-and-out of them.

Surrounding the rocks, there are many coral bommies covered in beautiful gorgonian sea fans.

This site is easily accessible from the beach or Biodiversity Nature Resort's jetty located opposite on Pulau Gam. From there, you can follow the reef eastwards, crossing a small open water channel.

13. Beser Bay

There are several different areas to explore here, which make this beautiful secluded bay an excellent choice for serious snorkel enthusiasts.

The best section of reef runs along the opening to the south western of the bay. Keeping the mangroves to your left, follow the reef for as long as you can. Prestine corals can be found about 100 m along and go on for almost 1.5 km.

If you’re a strong swimmer it's possible to reach the first village Kapisawar. This stretch is full of life and constant surprises. We’ve spotted octopus, mantas, eagle rays, boxfish, puffers, seasnakes, sea turtles, and even dugongs!

Night snorkeling is also fantastic here, with the potential to see crocodile fish, scorpionfish, cuttlefish and the infamous walking shark.

Be aware not to enter and exit the bay at low tide. The corals are incredibly shallow, making it almost impossible to reach the drop-off after a certain point. If you wish to snorkel at this time, it is better to enter from the northern side of the island.

From the northern entry point, you can follow the karst limestone outcrop on the left, it is possible to circle around to the main reef from here, but be careful of currents.

12. Kapisawar Jetty

Technically this could be classed as an extension of Beser Bay, since the drop-off runs from Besar Bay all the way along the mangroves to the village of Kapisawar.

It’s a pretty epic snorkeling session (approx 3 km total, back and forth) so you could get dropped off at either Kapisawar Jetty or Besar Bay and go with the current.

This is not a well-known snorkeling site, with only a couple of homestays hidden in the mangroves. We can confirm that it is definitely worth a look-see, as the reef is mostly intact and breathtakingly beautiful.

The current can be strong, turning into more of a drift in places, but floating above this incredible reef is simply a joy. It’s also worth noting that after a storm or high waves, this area can be susceptible to low vis and a collection of debris on the surface. But don’t let this put you off, keep your head down and enjoy the view.

The marine life is all you could ask for, here we’ve seen mantas, eagle rays, sharks, turtles, cuttlefish and seasnakes, amongst many other species of fish.

11. Yenkoranu Jetty

The reef running from Yenkoranu to Mambetron Homestay on the northern shores of Pulau Kri is wonderful and frequently offers great visibility.

Entry is normally made from the jetty of Yenkoranu. From here, follow the drop-off along the coast to the black and white buoys at Mambetron.

This section of reef has a good mixture of hard and soft corals, along with excellent marine life, including big schools of blue and yellow fusiliers, red-tooth triggerfish, large patterned pufferfish, black-tip reef sharks, turtles and much more.

Clear visibility and unchallenging conditions give this veteran reef its good name. For children and beginner snorkelers, this is a great place to start.

10. Sawinggrai Village

Sawinggrai Village located on Southern Gam, has just as much to explore underwater as it does overwater. This quaint village is famous for being home to West Papua’s iconic bird of paradise.

Being mindful of the current running along the coastline here (it can be strong) enter from the main floating jetty, or approximately 2 km to the right of the village, past Nudibranch Homestay depending on the currents direction.

Floating atop the drop-off you will see an interesting mixture of hard and soft corals plus plenty of colorful reef fish such as butterfly fish, batfish, and blue and yellow boxfish.

Although the shallows will call for your attention, don’t forget to keep your eyes on the blue as the big stuff has a habit of appearing out of nowhere. If you're lucky you might see eagle rays, or maybe even a passing manta.

The jetty itself is a great place to hang out, especially if you like looking for tiny creatures, in this region we found many nudibranch species and pygmy octopuses.

9. Arborek

The tiny island of Arborek, reminiscent of a Maldivian atoll, is famed for its main jetty and the schools of fish swarming around it.

It is true that on a good day, the jetty is impressive for marine life. Unfortunately, being a very popular site for day tours, the corals attached to the jetty have degraded quite severely.

You can avoid the groups of tour boats by snorkeling out to the west of the main jetty. There's a special spot between the second jetty and Barefoot Conservation. Around 100 metres from the shore, during the hour before sunset, we often found this area to contain plenty of hunting fish action.

This sweet spot had shoals of glistening mackerel with tuna and giant trevally hunting them. Manta also frequent this area.

Keep following the reef around past the Barefoot Conservation jetty and be greeted by a beautiful shallow reef of hard and soft corals.

8. Friwen Wall

Friwen Wall is a famous snorkeling and dive site on the northern side of Friwen Bonda. This impressively steep karst island is located near the eastern tip of Pulau Gam... and the snorkeling here is sublime.

Friwen Wall can only be reached by boat, it has a small jetty for entry or exiting your snorkel, this will depend on the direction of the current.

The reef drops off abruptly, but much of the beauty can be seen from just 2 meters.

The unusual coral infrastructure at Friwen Wall is kaleidoscopic. Its huge reddish gorgonian sea fans, black corals, purple pipe corals, orange carnation corals and iridescent sponges make this spot a feast for the eyes!

This pristine reef and healthy topography is also home to an array of strange critters and heaps of impressive macro life such as boxfish, puffers, porcupine fish, pygmy seahorses, nudibranches, crustaceans and more.

7. Yenbuba Jetty

Yenbuba Jetty is located on the eastern tip of Pulau Mansuar, and is probably the second most famous jetty in Raja Ampat's Dampier Strait. There is however much more to this place than just stilts in the water

Gorgeous sea-fans are attached to this simple wooden jetty, and a healthy reef runs either side of it. You can even snorkel across to the island of Kri, passing the tiny in-between islet of Raniswor.

This adventurous crossing is advised for the more active snorkeler, since the current running between the two islands can be strong. But if you make it, expect to see lots of big stuff like reef sharks, barracuda and turtles.

6. Cape Kri

Cape Kri is one of the most famous sites for diving in Raja Ampat, but it is not for the faint hearted! This vast cape reaches across from the eastern tip of of Kri to the island and sandbank of Pasir Timbul, and currents at this point run wild.

For snorkelers, it is important to get the timing right. If the current is too strong, it is easy to get blown off course. Good snorkeling fins are a necessity at this site.

The reef itself is deep, so be prepared to spend a lot of time looking down into the blue. However, your efforts will be compensated by big pelagics and vast schools of fish. This thrilling snorkel will set pulses racing and we love it!

5. Mangrove Reef

Mangrove Reef is located on the southern tip of Pulau Yanggelo, right at the entrance to the mangrove channel, leading up to the more popular dive site "Citrus Ridge".

This rarely visited site stretches along Western Gam for at least 1 km. Depending on the conditions, frequent surge mixed with a strong current can make snorkeling here wild, but definitely rewarding.

This rather extreme snorkel site will reward you with excellent visibility, stunning coral formations and impressive schools of fish. Trevally, jacks, tuna, barracuda, you name it, they are all here. We have even glimpsed an oceanic hammerhead shark in this vacinity.

The reef is untouched, unusual and teeming with life. Mangrove Reef never disappoints, and easily offers some of the best snorkeling in Raja Ampat.

4. Citrus Ridge

Citrus Ridge is a breathtaking dive site, a little further afield from the main Dampier Strait, tucked between a mangrove channel hidden in the most south-western depths of Gam.

The name of this site was given from the impressive amount of citrus colored soft corals, which can be found up to 15 meters deep within the channel.

This spot is fairly well-known to dive liveaboards, so the likelihood is you won’t be the lone boat, but trust when we say that this site will leave you feeling incredibly remote.

Enter on the north-western beach, there is a jetty, follow the reef to the main channel of water whilst keeping the mangroves to your right.

After approximately 500 metres, make the bold crossing (200 meters) over to the opposite side (east side) of the channel. You’ll feel like a small fish in a big ocean, but trust us it's worth the slightly nerve-racking swim.

The best fish action here can be found at the most northern tip on the east side of the channel, the surge and current is super strong, but this attracts the bigger schools and sharks.

3. Otdima Reef

Otdima is a pinnacle reef centered in the middle of the Dampier Strait. Using the village of Yenbekwan on Mansuar and Papua Explorers on Gam as rough landmarks, Otdima lies right in-between.

A reef rarely frequented, especially by snorkelers. For snorkelers, it is recommended to visit at low tide, since the reef is 4-5 metres at its shallowest.

If you freedive, this is heaven. The coral is mostly hard, but it is vast, and smothered in fish action. In fact it is probably one of the single most fishy snorkel spots we’ve ever been to.

Highways of different species drift in between the corals, everything is alive and moving. While all of this action is going on, adult black and white tip sharks advance from the blue. Manta rays occasionally grace their presence, and we've seen oceanic stingrays over 2 meters in diameter here too. It is a reef full of surprises and worth visiting numerous times, to truly appreciate.

The current here is frequently strong so make sure your boat stays close, in case you need assistance.

2. Sauwandarek Village

Sauwandarek Village is located on the southern coast of Pulau Mansuar, nestled in a picture perfect cove, and has probably one of the world’s best beaches for snorkeling.

The house reef of Sauwandarek runs the entire length of a gorgeous white sandy beach. Follow this along and discover a mind-blowing variety of marine life.

There are a number of famous jetties in Raja Ampat, but the jetty at Sauwandarek is easily our favorite. Its beautiful underside is covered in colorful gorgonian sea fans, and shelters a mixing pot of friendly angelfish, groupers and a resident giant napoleon wrasse.

Around 100 metres to the west of the jetty is Sauwandareks 'sweet spot’. Out here in the blue we found ribboned sweetlips, giant groupers, triggerfish, reef shark, turtles and a huge school of yellow and blueback fusiliers.

The warm clear shallows have a lot to offer too. There are young soft corals, pretty anemones and baby black-tip sharks, so don’t forget to check out this area as well.

Once you’re wrinkly from all the snorkeling, dry off on the jetty or wander around the tiny village and play with the local children.

1. Tamaku Reef

Hidden in the depths of Manyaifun Island (en route to Wayag), is Tamaku Reef. You might have trouble finding it, but trust us, it is well worth the wild goose chase.

This long, narrow atoll rises within one metre of the surface, and it really is what coral reef dreams are made of.

Warm, clear waters lap around the outskirts of a pristine reef, offering a variety of eye-popping hard and soft corals and a wide array of fish species.

We were particularly impressed by the volume of colorful anthias and abundance of reef sharks.

If you can picture the ideal reef for snorkeling, Tamuka could well be it!

Best time to snorkel raja ampat

In Raja Ampat, October to April is regarded as the ideal snorkeling season because of the lower humidity, calmer seas, and higher visibility.

Large quantities of manta rays are also visible at cleaning stations from November to March. However these months are also the most visited by divers.

Between June and September, there is typically more rain. Although the currents often remain constant throughout the entire year. Those who are seasick may want to make alternative travel arrangements, as the seas can get much rougher at this time of year.

Raja Ampat experiences a high UV index all year, so it's essential to come prepared with UPF clothing and reef-safe sunscreen.

Snorkeling gear for Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is renowned for its strong and wild currents. A strong current could lead to unpredictable situations for a lone snorkeler, in a place as remote as Raja Ampat, this is potentially very dangerous.

Good snorkeling gear is vital, but will be almost impossible to buy or rent in Raja Ampat. Encountering jellyfish stings, coral rashes, ear infections, and sunburn can be extremely bothersome, and nobody wants to discover that their mask is leaking or their fins are inefficient.

Check out our full snorkel gear checklist for highly rated equipment.