Holiday in Raja Ampat (Underwater World)

About Raja Ampat (Underwater World)

Raja Ampat is the marine epicenter of the planet — it sounds like marketing, but it is scientifically proven: This archipelago of over 1,500 small islands at the northwest tip of New Guinea hosts the highest marine biodiversity on Earth. 75% of all known coral species and over 1,700 fish species have been counted here — more than anywhere else in the world. What divers and snorkelers can expect in Raja Ampat exceeds all imagination: Huge schools of barracuda form silver tornadoes, manta rays with a wingspan of four meters glide like ghosts through the current, and the coral gardens in the shallow lagoons shine in a kaleidoscope of colors that one would think impossible if they hadn't seen it with their own eyes. At the "Cleaning Stations," manta rays are serviced by cleaner fish — one can hover just meters away and watch the spectacle for minutes. Above water, Raja Ampat is no less impressive: The Mushroom Islands — mushroom-shaped limestone islands, whose bases have been eroded by the sea — rise like surreal sculptures from the emerald green water. Hidden lagoons, accessible only through narrow crevices in the rock, open up to turquoise pools surrounded by dense rainforest. The viewpoints at Pianemo and Wayag offer panoramas over the island labyrinth that are among the most famous natural images in Southeast Asia. Getting to Raja Ampat is long and not entirely easy — and that's exactly its protection. The low number of visitors, the strict nature conservation zones, and the annual environmental fee (which goes directly to the protection of the reefs) have contributed to Raja Ampat remaining one of the best-protected marine areas on Earth. A visit here is not just a vacation, but an audience with the most biodiverse ocean on our planet.