What's on in Raja Ampat (Waisai), Indonesia through the year

Peak crowds — Calm season on the straits, Christmas and New Year peak

• Rule

  Marine park entry permit

  1 Jan – 31 Dec

  Every visitor buys an entry tag valid for a calendar year, either online beforehand or at the authority office in Waisai. It funds the patrols, and it is checked on the boats. Source ↗

Still on: Calm season on the straits (15 Oct – 30 Apr (usually)), Manta season (1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)), Christmas and New Year peak (18 Dec – 5 Jan)

Busy — Calm season on the straits, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Marine park entry permit (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Calm season on the straits (15 Oct – 30 Apr (usually)), Manta season (1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually))

Peak crowds — Lebaran domestic peak, Calm season on the straits

• Holiday

  Lebaran domestic peak

  5 Mar – 15 Apr · usuallyRamadan & EidCrowdedBook early

  Flights into Sorong and the ferry to Waisai fill with Indonesian holidaymakers for about ten days, and the homestays that stay open are booked out well before it. Source ↗

Still on: Marine park entry permit (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Calm season on the straits (15 Oct – 30 Apr (usually)), Manta season (1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually))

Peak crowds — Lebaran domestic peak, Calm season on the straits

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Marine park entry permit (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Lebaran domestic peak (5 Mar – 15 Apr (usually)), Calm season on the straits (15 Oct – 30 Apr (usually)), Manta season (1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Marine park entry permit (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Mid-year break in Indonesia, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Windy season

  15 Jun – 30 Sep · usuallyWind seasonRisk

  The southeast wind builds a short steep chop across the open crossings and the small boats stop running on the worst days. A number of homestays simply close for it.

Still on: Marine park entry permit (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Mid-year break in Indonesia, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Marine park entry permit (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Windy season (15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Marine park entry permit (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Windy season (15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Marine park entry permit (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Windy season (15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — Calm season on the straits, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Calm season on the straits

  15 Oct – 30 Apr · usuallyDry seasonCrowded

  The settled months for both liveaboards and homestays, when the crossings between the big islands are comfortable and the currents are workable. Book the boats a year out for the peak weeks.

Still on: Marine park entry permit (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Calm season on the straits

• Nature

  Manta season

  1 Nov – 30 Apr · usuallyDive season

  Plankton in the straits brings reef mantas onto the cleaning stations around Dampier and Arborek, densest in the first months of the year. The same water that feeds them cuts the visibility.

Still on: Marine park entry permit (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Calm season on the straits (15 Oct – 30 Apr (usually))

Peak crowds — Calm season on the straits, Christmas and New Year peak

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year peak

  18 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The one fortnight everything here sells out, on liveaboards and in the village homestays alike. Getting to Sorong on the right day is the harder half of the trip. Source ↗

Still on: Marine park entry permit (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Calm season on the straits (15 Oct – 30 Apr (usually)), Manta season (1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually))