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August 10, 2019

Above and Beneath the Water’s Surface: Exploring Raja Ampat

Pacific Snorkeling & Kayaking Wildlife & Natural History Small Ship Cruising

I was told by many people before joining Wilderness Travel’s Snorkeling Raja Ampat trip that it would “ruin” snorkeling for me because the area is renowned for harboring one of the most pristine reef ecosystems in the world. The adventure definitely set a high bar for future snorkeling excursions, but it was beyond worth it! As someone who studied Marine Biology with a focus on coral, I was in heaven! Here are just a few of my favorite memories from the trip.

A diverse underwater coral reef in Raja Ampat showcases various types and colors of coral formations, surrounded by small fish swimming just below the clear blue water's surface.

The sheer number of coral species and the vast fields of healthy coral colonies was mind blowing. Raja Ampat lies in the direct center of the Coral Triangle, and has the highest diversity of coral species of anywhere else in the world, with over 650 species of hard coral. For reference, the Great Barrier Reef has about 400 and the Caribbean has around 60.

An underwater close-up view of a vibrant coral reef with various types of corals in shades of brown, yellow, and purple, as if exploring the colorful depths beneath Raja Ampat's water's surface.
Close-up underwater view of a vibrant coral reef in Raja Ampat with various corals and numerous small fish swimming just below the water's surface.

Our group encountered many unique species that I hadn’t seen before, like the extraordinarily colorful nudibranchs (also known as sea slugs or Spanish dancers), archerfish, which live in the mangroves and hunt insects on the leaves by spitting water at them, and tunicates, also called sea squirts, which of all the invertebrates, are actually the organism most closely related to humans.

A pair of colorful nudibranchs with blue, orange, and yellow patterns crawl over a rocky underwater surface, exploring the vibrant marine life of Raja Ampat.
Underwater scene with four yellow and black striped fish swimming near mangrove roots, surrounded by aquatic plants and a sandy substrate, exploring the vibrant waters of Raja Ampat.
A vibrant underwater scene in Raja Ampat featuring colorful sea squirts attached to a coral reef, surrounded by various marine organisms and algae, showcases the beauty of exploring beneath the water's surface.

Being off the grid was also one of the highlights for me. It’s so rare to be away from any kind of internet connection for almost 12 days, and it’s amazing how that can make one more present in their surroundings.

A scenic view of several small, forest-covered islands surrounded by clear blue water's surface under a partly cloudy sky, seen from a higher vantage point. Lush vegetation is in the foreground.
A person kayaks on a clear, turquoise body of water's surface surrounded by lush, green hills under a partly cloudy sky, exploring the natural beauty of Raja Ampat.
A sailboat is anchored on the water's surface with the silhouette of an island in the background during sunset, casting a gradient of orange to blue in the sky, evoking dreams of exploring places like Raja Ampat.

Sailing past stunning limestone islands, kayaking in remote lagoons, and enjoying the sunsets and stars at night was such a mesmerizing and rejuvenating experience.

A scuba diver explores near a large, rocky coral formation on the ocean floor in Raja Ampat, surrounded by various smaller corals and vibrant marine life.

I also encountered the biggest coral colony I have ever seen! Corals like this one only grow a couple centimeters a year, at most, so this colony is probably over 1,000 years old. Coral colonies of this growth form actually have rings that can be used as indicators of past oceanic conditions, similar to how tree rings are indicators of past climactic conditions.

And finally, just a few more coral and anemone photos since I couldn’t get enough. Enjoy!

—Text by WT staff Sydney Dillon, photos by Sydney Dillon and Sam Maurer, Snorkeling Raja Ampat. Check out Sydney’s other blogs about Palau and 5 Ways to Help Protect Our Oceans.

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