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Ultimate Raja Ampat – The Last Paradise (Part 3 of 3)

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When you visit a place like Raja Ampat over 11 days you really have a lot to talk about. The biodiversity and landscape of the region are inspiring and this is why it’s taken me three blog articles to explain how wonderful this experience was. If you haven’t had the chance already to read the previous two blogs, you can find them here: Part One and Part Two.

The dark weather meant a different take on this clownfish and anemone photo in the day at Anchovy

After a crossing of around 14 hours – quicker due to a southerly current working with the boat – we found ourselves in Farondi diving Razorback Rock, Anchovy, Nudi Rock (yes, it looks like a nudibranch) and a night dive at Yilliet Slope. I have to admit, it was the south and around Misool that I was really looking forward to on the trip, but it didn’t really get off to the best start and never lived up to the high standards further north had set. To be frank, this was more down to the weather really and the visibility wasn’t brilliant.

A storm meant the dives were pretty dark and in fact, the dive at Anchovy in particular was more like a night dive than a day dive. Unfortunately, we can’t control the weather and on other days these sites could have delivered a lot more. The sea fans on each dive were equally as impressive as further north, and I’d probably say more abundant. The dark atmosphere did mean I could try some fun and different shots with clownfish in anemones but I probably should have switched to macro quicker that day. There are always fun critters to find on every dive site and Nudi Rock showed just that, with a few sea fans being infested with skeleton shrimp. While I’ve seen skeleton shrimp before, I’d never seen anything like this; every bit of the fan was covered. There must have been thousands and it was quite fitting that it was actually Halloween as well. 

One of the numerous nudibranch found on the night dive at Yilliet Slope

After a moody day, where I’m guessing the weather gods were celebrating Halloween, I finally switched to macro on the night dive and my photography was rewarded for it. An elusive pygmy squid started the dive but didn’t allow me to get a photo with its tricky movements. Still fun to watch and see, before once again, nudibranch were the stars of the show. A free swimming black and orange flatworm mesmerised mid-water, but it was a super tiny nudibranch of only around a centimetre long that I admired most and took some time to photograph. Then it was the turn of crustaceans once again. A couple of different types of decorator crab, a couple of lobster species and a whip coral shrimp finished off the dive after the sea slug starter.

It was a fun game of dodge the jellyfish on the dive at Four Kings. Such a unique experience for me on a dive

The next day, the wide-angle opportunities improved drastically. Although, rather annoyingly, I stuck with macro on the first dive at Neptune’s Fan Sea. I hadn’t seen a Denise pygmy seahorse before and was desperate to get a shot of one before the trip was over. This site was a great opportunity. It was sea fan heaven, but that does mean there’s a lot more places to look. The topography was incredible on the dive, a cliff of sea fans greeted us and made wide angle a good option. It was such a relaxing dive with a small school of bumphead parrotfish making the occasional pass, and the soft coral formations continued in huge numbers and were so impressive. I did manage a couple of nice nudibranch shots but the seahorse remained elusive for our group.

I decided to switch back to wide angle for Four Kings and that was certainly the right choice. A swarm of jellyfish greeted us on the dive and made it one of the most memorable of the trip. There was so much life around the pinnacles as the fish life danced a merry dance. The game of dodge the jellyfish entertained throughout and it was interesting to see as they’d get trapped on the sea fans. Something I’d never experienced before on such an incredible dive site. Barracuda point finished off the day’s diving in relaxing style, with a stunning top reef. Yes, I saw my first two Denise pygmy seahorses here, but no, I had my wide angle on. It was a great site for photographing lionfish though and there was a small school of barracuda giving the site its name. 

The lionfish on Barracuda Point were happy to pose for photos

Although “The Jellyfish Dive” was an amazing highlight of the day, it wasn’t actually diving that finished the day in style. A sunset cruise in Wayilbatan delivered those feels. You know the ones, when you’re in a beautiful place, at a beautiful time and with only a handful of people. You get that completely content feeling and just forget all your worries and live for that moment. It was a spontaneous trip out as well, as the itinerary was to trek to Love Lagoon. However, the guests on the trip before advised it would probably be best to take it off the itinerary for a bit. Unfortunately, with a forced Covid break and lack of maintenance care, the stairs have become slightly dangerous for trekking. The alternative didn’t disappoint and in fact excelled. An exploratory journey, where even the crew didn’t really know where we were going, took us to some breathtaking views with an amazing sunset backdrop. The glass like sea provided the perfect stage with its mirror like reflections. Then in the shallows we could see every bit of coral and life we passed, before tilting your head and following the cliff face up to amazing limestone islands covered in lush green rainforest. Just beautiful!!

The sunset cruise at Wayilbatan was one of the highlights of the whole trip

With only two days and six dives left, one of my main goals was to photograph a Denise pygmy seahorse. I was in a catch 22 though, there were some memorable wide-angle dives to come. Starting with Boo Window and the arch swim through creating a dramatic image with a diver. I was happy with those wide-angle photos, but guess what? We did see a pygmy again. Still, I wasn’t to be defeated and we also had the friendliest hawksbill turtle on the dive too.

Next up was Shadow Reef (a.k.a Magic Mountain), in the hope to see the majestic Oceanic manta rays. We entered through a concentrated section of bad visibility and then the weather also changed with a storm passing over while we were below. It went dark underwater once more and unfortunately there were no mantas to be seen during the dive. It was still such a special dive site with schooling jackfish, a small school of batfish, another friendly hawksbill, Napoleon wrasse and my first whitetip reef sharks of the trip.

I had to switch to macro and hope for a pygmy at Whale Rock. No such luck unfortunately, but it was an amazing macro dive with numerous crustaceans and my favourite photos of whip coral shrimp. A Pikachu nudibranch was another great nudibranch find by one of my dive buddies. There might have been no seahorse due to skeleton shrimp infesting all the sea fans, but I was really happy with the macro photography success on this dive.

Two whip coral shrimp provided another macro treat at Whale Rock

The night dive at Romeo carried on with the magnificent macro theme. We were there to try and see a walking shark again but unfortunately it remained elusive on this dive. Typical, when I have all my equipment working! However, a friendly cuttlefish, some pygmy squid and more crustaceans made the dive memorable still. Can I get to photograph a Denise pygmy with only two dives left?? I really hope so…

We finished our diving in Raja Ampat at Tank Rock and Boo West. I was advised both dives would be preferably wide angle. I knew I needed to stick to macro though, with seeing three Denise pygmies previously while shooting wide angle. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity before I left Raja Ampat. Then, as the dive started, I began to lose hope once again. Skeleton shrimp filled the sea fans once more and I thought that would be enough to scare any seahorse to another site. BUT!! It wasn’t long before my guide Aghi worked his magic and found a beautiful little Denise pygmy seahorse for me to photograph. Phew!!! The pressure was off for the dive early on, but now I just needed to get a photo of these difficult to photograph critters. Skeleton shrimp were still sharing the sea fan with the seahorse and parts of them tended to get in the way but without a nice composition of both. I did manage to get some decent in focus shots and my diving in Raja Ampat was complete. Mission successful for another new species for me. An orangutan crab and some nice photos of the skeleton shrimp completed the dive before a switch back to wide angle for Boo West.

The arch at Boo Window provided a dramatic scene with my model Chi (@thescubamermaid)

While the visibility wasn’t great (but not terrible) for the final dive, it was another stunning dive in paradise, with once again amazing sea fans littering the reef wall in pristine condition. Then came my favourite schooling fish to see, as what must have been around a hundred batfish/spadefish were seen cruising in the current. Such an amazing sight, with a couple of blacktip reef sharks also coming to say goodbye. The real surprise and the memorable moment of the dive came from a tiny cuttlefish that was just bobbing around in the blue away from the reef. I really wasn’t expecting to see it there, as I caught it in the corner of my eye. It took me a second to confirm I wasn’t seeing things but sure enough it was there. It was super friendly and came right up to my mask and I can only hope it stayed safe away from the protection of the reef once we left. 

Capturing a Denise pygmy seahorse on the last day was a perfect end to the trip

I’d been desperate to visit Raja Ampat for so long and thankfully it didn’t disappoint. La Galigo was the perfect vessel, with the perfect hosts to explore the area with that really made my time extra special. It’s certainly a place I won’t just want to visit once. I could see myself returning again and again and still being amazed by all the things I’d see. I ticked off so many new species in this biodiversity hotspot and took countless photos.

I now had a long journey home of two days, with 22 hours in Jakarta airport. I wasn’t fazed though, as I had so many photos to go through to keep me entertained and those memories kept me smiling throughout the journey. I’d recommend everyone (not just divers) to put Raja Ampat on your travel bucket list. It really is a true paradise and I can perfectly understand where the nickname – “The Last Paradise” comes from.

For more information about diving in Raja Ampat:

sean@greatwhitesean.com

www.lagaligoliveaboard.com

info@lagaligoliveaboard.com

Whatsapp: +62 812 2000 2025

The flat calm water provided a beautiful reflection of the stunning landscape at sunset on the cruise

Sean Chinn’s scuba diving adventure started in a freezing cold quarry back in January 2011. Maybe the reason he wasn't instantly hooked! However, after an amazing trip to Indonesia in 2013, he realised he needed to see more of the underwater world. With no photography background, he enlisted some help in developing both his diving and photo skills. This kickstarted his diving and underwater photography adventure which has become something of an addiction. Seeing and photographing wildlife is Sean’s real passion in diving but he is always keen to try new ideas.

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The ‘Big Scuba Day Out’ – The Ultimate Day for Water Lovers!

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Big Scuba Day Out

Get ready for an unforgettable day of adventure, exploration, and all things scuba and watersports! Oyster Diving’s Big Scuba Day Out is taking place on Sunday, 4th May 2025, at Mercers Park, near London —and best of all, entry is completely FREE!

Whether you’re a seasoned diver, a total beginner, or just looking for a fun day out by the water, this event has something for everyone — including lovely walks around the lake with your four-legged friends!

Come and experience the latest dive gear from some of the world’s leading brands, including Santi, Suex, Apeks, Aqualung, Garmin, GoPro and XDeep. Get hands-on with dive scooters, cutting-edge dive computers, and high-performance gear designed to take your underwater adventures to the next level.

Take part in fun dives with expert guides try out other exclusive demo kit. Whether you’re looking to refine your skills, try out new equipment, or simply enjoy the stunning underwater world of Mercers Park, this is the perfect opportunity.

A special raffle in aid of the Shark Trust will include prizes such as PADI branded goodies, Apeks 30m reel and wet notes, and Shearwater Peregrine TX worth £689!

As a special highlight for those wanting to “live the dream”, Course Director Mark Taylor and PADI Regional Manager Emma Samuelsson will be giving an exclusive talk at 12:00 PM about how to become a PADI Pro, including Divemaster and Instructor pathways. If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your passion for diving into a career, this is the perfect chance to get insider knowledge from one of the best in the industry.

Not just for divers, the Big Scuba Day Out also offers a variety of watersports courtesy of www.aquasports.co.uk. Try your hand at kayaking, paddleboarding, or other exciting water activities.

After all the action, relax on the beautiful lake terrace, where you can enjoy a selection of delicious food and licensed bar while soaking in the breathtaking views.

Don’t miss this incredible day of diving, watersports, and fun for the whole family. For full details and to register your interest, visit Oyster Diving’s website. https://oysterdiving.com/diving-club/uk-diving-trips/the-big-scuba-day-out-4th-may/.

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Experience a night Dive at the West Rock Shipwreck with Euro-Divers

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shipwreck

There’s something magical about night diving— the ocean transforms into a whole new world, alive with mystery and wonder. At Euro-Divers Meeru, we love sharing this unique experience with our guests, and the West Rock Shipwreck is one of our favourite sites for night diving.

Here’s why:

Setting the Scene

The adventure begins at 17:30 as divers gather on the boat. After thoroughly checking our equipment, the boat departs for the dive site. The 15-minute journey is a treat, with the calm sea and the soft glow of the setting sun creating the perfect atmosphere.

Arriving at West Rock, the boat gently moors above the wreck. As our team briefs you on the dive, we will walk you through the special night diving techniques, such as using a torch and maintaining buddy contact, ensuring you feel confident and prepared. While we wait for the sun to set, there is time to relax with a cup of tea or coffee and take in the breathtaking colours of the Maldivian sunset.

shipwreck

The Dive Begins

Once darkness settles, it’s time to dive. The West Rock Shipwreck—a small cargo freighter sunk in 1999—rests at 20 meters on a sandy plateau. Over the years, it has become a vibrant reef, teeming with marine life.

As we descend, the beams of our torches cut through the dark water, revealing the wreck’s coral-covered surfaces. It is always thrilling to see the wreck come to life under the light. Colourful nudibranchs, scorpionfish, frogfish, and shrimps are just a few of the creatures that call this wreck home.

We often find parrotfish and pufferfish inside the wreck settled in for the night, while lionfish and moray eels lurk in the shadows. We frequently spot larger residents, too—Napoleon wrasse or even a resting nurse shark, peacefully tucked away beneath the ship’s hull. Every corner of the wreck offers something new to discover.

Underwater Galaxy

As the dive comes to an end, we have one final highlight to share. During the safety stop at 5 metres, we may ask you to switch off your torch and gently move your hands through the water. This action stirs up bioluminescent plankton, lighting up like tiny stars surrounding you— a magical, otherworldly experience that never fails to amaze.

Post-Dive Bliss

Emerging from the dive, we are welcomed by the cool night air and a canopy of stars. The boat crew helps us as we climb aboard, where hot tea or coffee awaits to warm us up. The journey back to shore is filled with shared stories and a sense of camaraderie that only diving together can create.

Night dives like this one at the West Rock Shipwreck offer more than just an exploration of marine life; they remind us of the beauty and mystery of the underwater world.

For more information, contact the Euro-Divers Meeru team at meeru@euro-divers.com or visit www.euro-divers.com.

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