Raja Ampat - Feb/March

[Joel_M]

Hi all,

I'm quite a new diver (around 50 dives) and have booked a Liveaboard to Raja Ampat/Triton Bay at the end of this month (12 nights/13 days).

I fell in love with diving from the outset after doing some fun dives in Bali last year, and since then have been diving as much as I'm able to.

My question is a bit simple perhaps - can anyone offer any feedback about diving in Raja right now? My weather app suggests it's storms and rain, and I'm concerned that will impact the dives. I know from experience in the tropics that sometimes rain means 10 minutes and otherwise glorious bright conditions, but it seems like it's been ordinary for the past month or more. Has anyone been diving in RA in the past few weeks and have any up to date perspective? Might be nervous for no reason, but hoping conditions are good.

 

[cozcharlie]

Others have more recent info but I left Triton about a week ago after a combined 4 weeks in RA and Triton. Weather was generally fine. I think we had rain almost every day at some point but it rarely interfered with things. I think it was more than the 10 minutes per day you mentioned as an example, but not a big deal. l certainly wouldn’t even consider canceling or shifting a trip based on the weather I experienced. I think July/Aug is considered the rainy season in RA, but as one resort manager put it—they get rain all year , but July/Aug is rainy and windy so they get worse sea conditions.

 

[Joel_M]

Others have more recent info but I left Triton about a week ago after a combined 4 weeks in RA and Triton. Weather was generally fine. I think we had rain almost every day at some point but it rarely interfered with things. I think it was more than the 10 minutes per day you mentioned as an example, but not a big deal. l certainly wouldn’t even consider canceling or shifting a trip based on the weather I experienced. I think July/Aug is considered the rainy season in RA, but as one resort manager put it—they get rain all year , but July/Aug is rainy and windy so they get worse sea conditions.

Awesome - appreciate the reply and context!

 

[jeremyl]

I just spent 12 days in Dampier Strait. Weather was "OK". Rain almost every day... some fairly big storms that did stop us from going out one day, and changing plans another. LOB has the advantage of being able to go where the weather is good... not all make the effort but the better one's will pick the best spots for all conditions (weather, current, timing, etc). You should have no issues. March is the best time for R4. We did have more cloud cover than you would desire - just to get sunlight on the beautiful soft corals. Overall viz was not ideal, but also not horrible. Have a great trip!