Trip Report Raja Ampat in December 2022

[Dan]

I was in Raja Ampat in December 2022 on Mermaid 2 liveaboard. I saw no manta in the famous Magic Mountain. We saw one in unexpected place, in Black Rock, Kawe, North Raja Ampat.

Here’s the trip video:



The trip was not as good as the one I went on Amira before Covid, in January 2020, as you see, below:



I’ll be back to Raja Ampat next week on Blue Manta. I hope it’ll be as good as the diving in January 2020 (fingers crossed).

 

[Dan]

Here’s a BugDreamer’s version of the same trip filmed by Marcelo Johan Ogata, the photographer of Mermaid Liveaboard, showing some of the drone view of Raja Ampat after Covid.

He had a footage of me shooting schooling of yellow & blue fusiliers and I had a footage of him getting ready to enter the water at 00:25-00:28 period of my video.

 

[DazedAndConfuzed]

I was there in Dec 2022 on Mermaid, which I booked a couple of days before we were to board the Indo Siren, where it was cancelled due to engine problem. It was the first sailing for Raja Ampat since covid restriction was lifted.

We did not see alot of things, even sending the drones to spot the mantas were not successful. We did still see some mantas though. I was told by our guide that lots of things must have moved, including the mantas. There use to be pygmy seahorse everywhere, but we might have only seen maybe 10. They probably have to re-find them and now they are able to take diver to where the critters are. I thought the first dive after a few years without people, the sea life would have been pristine.

 

[divedrewsf]

i know i'm terribly late to this thread, but i'm planning a RA trip for Dec '25 and curious about the following:

1) how did you find the boats you've used? any to particularly shoot for/avoid?
2) how was the weather? (ofc I know this is always variable)
3) in your experience diving there, any months better than others? again, i know there are seasons for critters so feel free to include that colour in any replies.

thank you!

 

[Catito]

We are going Dec 26 and using a boat based on glowing (face to face) reviews by divers: Gaia Love.

Looking forward to your report.

 

[Dan]

i know i'm terribly late to this thread, but i'm planning a RA trip for Dec '25 and curious about the following:

1) how did you find the boats you've used? any to particularly shoot for/avoid?
2) how was the weather? (ofc I know this is always variable)
3) in your experience diving there, any months better than others? again, i know there are seasons for critters so feel free to include that colour in any replies.

thank you!

1) You can check out Liveaboard.com, or directly at individual operators, such as:
1a) White Manta Diving - Home
1b) Mermaid Liveaboards - Official Website - Indonesia Liveaboards
1C) Home
Those 3 boats are my favorites

2) I was there in January, February, April, May, November & December. Mostly dry with very little rain in November, December, January & February. Some windy & more rains in April & May.

3) December, January & February.

 

[Dan]

Here’s my most recent RA trip report:

Trip Report - Raja Ampat 2024

I just came back from Raja Ampat on Blue Manta for 19-29 February 2024 trip. It’s my 10th time there and the best one, so far. The route for the 11 day trip is as shown, below. Table 1, below, shows the daily activities. And here’s the trip video: About Blue Manta You can check...

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