Raja Ampat doesn't have a bad season for marine life, but it does have a clear peak season for conditions, visibility, and the specific wildlife encounters most people come for.

The Best Season: October through April

The dry season in Raja Ampat runs from October through April, and this is when most dive operators schedule their liveaboards. During these months, the northwest monsoon brings calmer seas and the clearest visibility of the year, often ranging from 15 to 30 meters depending on location. The marine life doesn't disappear in wet season, but the conditions make the experience significantly better in dry season.

October and November offer an excellent combination of good conditions and slightly lower tourist numbers than December through March. April remains good but you'll start to notice conditions shifting toward the transition months.

Manta Rays: October through April

Manta rays in Raja Ampat are most reliably encountered at cleaning stations and feeding areas during the dry season. The sites around Misool in the south and Dampier Strait in the north both produce consistent manta sightings during these months. The most famous site, Manta Sandy near Arborek, can produce encounters with multiple mantas hovering at the cleaning station simultaneously, year-round but most reliably in dry season.

Wobbegong Sharks and Reef Sharks

Both species are present year-round, but dry season visibility makes encounters more rewarding. Wobbegong sharks, the flat, camouflaged carpet sharks unique to this region, are found resting on the seafloor at multiple sites. Reef sharks, both whitetip and blacktip, patrol the reef edges throughout the area constantly.

Wet Season: May through September

The wet season brings rougher seas, reduced visibility, and some temporary closures by liveaboard operators. That said, parts of Raja Ampat, particularly the southern Misool area, can remain diveable during wet season, and some operators run shorter itineraries during this period. If your only option is wet season travel, it's still worth going, but calibrate expectations accordingly. Visibility might be 8-12 meters rather than 20-25, and some sites may be inaccessible.

Practical Booking Notes

Peak season liveaboards from December through March fill up 6-9 months in advance. October and November are booked 4-6 months ahead. If you're planning a peak season trip, don't wait until a few months before your departure to start looking. The best operators and itineraries go first.