Compare Wakatobi and Raja Ampat--for snorkelers? Please?

[FishCity]

Hi, I and my 2 new knees (and husband, lol) just got back from a brief snorkeling visit to Wakatobi Dive Resort. It was just amazing for snorkeling...myriad reef fish and corals, bright colors, healthy, vibrant. No "big stuff" but that is fine. Frankly, I prefer the small-medium reef fishes going about their fishy pursuits in the reef. Coral is a big draw for me, even more than fish.

So all the divers say "go to Raja Ampat." Well, OK, BUT (a big BUT) it is really a lot harder to get to, requires a more lengthy trip. I know there is "big stuff" there but are the corals and reef fishes noticeably different from what we see at Wakatobi? I know there are MORE species, but does a snorkeler really notice significant differences in the first 5-10-20 feet of water, compared to a diver deeper down focusing close up on particular species?

Any observations or feedback will be much appreciated. I think I would just as soon return to Wakatobi, where resort food/water safety was great, as was the snorkeling, but could be persuaded to leap farther.... I have snorkeled with sharks and mantas in Hawaii and that would not necessarily be the deciding factor for me.

Many thanks.

 

[Dan]

Raja Ampat is harder to get to than Wakatobi, but to me it's worthwhile. I've been to Wakatobi Resort once and to Raja Ampat 5 times since. The 6th time is next month. Does that tell you something?

Check out this video of Misool Eco Resort and compare it to what you experience in Wakatobi:

 

[highdesert]

As a diver, I'm drawn to brightly lit, busy reef tops as much or even more so than deeper dives. I've often thought, after diving at Wakatobi, that it would be absolutely prime for snorkeling. Your experiences seem to back that up. After four trips to Raja Ampat, I have no doubt you could find similar sites there, but they would be scattered. The edge of the house reef alone at Wakatobi could keep one busy for weeks, not to mention going along on the boat to many of the dive sites which would also be suitable. If I had the resources to travel to either location strictly for snorkeling, I think I'd choose the convenience and concentration of sites at Wakatobi over Raja Ampat.

 

[Dan]

If you like to see some of the colorful corals in Raja Ampat. Here are some of the pictures I took when I was there:

 

[Slamfire]

What is the price comparison of Wakatobi vs Misool (or other equivalent in Raja Ampat), including transportation from North America?

 

[FishCity]

Keep it coming! Great pictures, Dan! I have seen the Misool video; it looks to be a more interesting island albeit buggier. Wakatobi has a video, too.
Wakatobi was excellent at accommodating my medical/dietary issues.
My husband probably has the cost numbers, but my impression is Misool is more expensive itself per stay and in airfar and much longer to get to for us.
For Wakatobi, you get to Denpasar then their charter flight gets you to Wakatobi in under 3 hours, then back the same way. Misool, you get to Jakarta, then fly to Sorong overnight with a connection, then a 5 ish hourboat ride...returning seems you have to overnite in Sorong...

 

[Dan]

What is the price comparison of Wakatobi vs Misool (or other equivalent in Raja Ampat), including transportation from North America?

I was in Wakatobi Resort (WR) back in 2009 & in Misool Eco Resort (MER) back in 2013. At the time Wakatobi was more expensive. Today may be different, may be about the same if you look at their websites:
MER - rates
Wakatobi: Prices

As far as accommodating your medical/ dietary issues, WR wins. Food in WR also more tasty than in MER, based on my visit. Things may change now.

If you are looking for good snorkeling, canoeing & bird of paradise watching at more value for your money, I'm referring to less than half of what you would spend for WR or MER, I would go to Raja Ampat Dive Lodge (RADL), about 2 hour speedboat ride from So wrong, I meant Sorong. Their food just as good as the fancy ones cooked by WR chefs to my taste and their house reef more pristine than that of WR house reef. I was there in 2010. The bungalow was not as pretty & fancy as that of WR & MER, but they are clean & have AC & I slept well every night. You can check their price here: Raja Ampat Dive Lodge | Dive Resor

I'm flying from Houston, so 27 hr flight to WR or 30hr flight & $200 more flight cost to MER do not make too much of a difference. However, that 4.5 hr speedboat ride to MER was pain in the rear. That's why I prefer liveaboard nowadays. 2 hr speedboat ride to RADL was sweet!

 

[FishCity]

Will take a look. Would RADL be good for snorkelers?
The boat ride for Misool Dive Lodge is not appealing.
We had thought of Coral Expeditions' two week Raja Ampat trip (good for snorkeling) but they are not offering it in 2018, apparently. That was how I first heard about Raja Ampat; we went with them to GBR in 2014 and it was a good setup for me, drinking water-wise. (I have to be very careful due to low stomach acid from PPIs.)
Appreciate all the good info!

 

[Dan]

Will take a look. Would RADL be good for snorkelers? ....

I took a snorkeler (wife of my dive buddy who had hip replacement also) to Wakatobi in 2009 & to RADL in 2010, she enjoyed the RADL snorkeling better. She also a bird watcher & thrilled to be able to watch the Cendrawasih bird mating. You won't see those birds anywhere else other than there or in a zoo.

 

[billt4sf]

If you like to see some of the colorful corals in Raja Ampat. Here are some of the pictures I took when I was there:
View attachment 428940 View attachment 428941 View attachment 428942 View attachment 428943 View attachment 428944

Crappy pictures Dan. Is that all you could get?

- Bill