August/September in Raja Ampat - worth it?

[Liberty01]

End of March 2017, I did a liveaboard to Raja Ampat Central and South including Misool. Misool was great, the dive sites in Central Raja Ampat were crowded and less exciting.

This year, I only get enough holiday for such a trip from end of August till the first 2 weeks of September.
I got a special offer for a trip to Central and Northern Raja Ampat on Raja Ampat Explorer with an option of spending a few days in Raja Ampat dive Lodge afterwarrds.

Low season means less divers on the sites. But how about diving conditions, waves, currents etc.?

How about diving in Northern Raja Amapt?

Best regards,

Liberty

 

[reubencahn]

In 2015, I did back to back two week cruises in Central and Northern RA. Conditions were fantastic, with blue water and great vis. Conditions allowed us to get to and past Wayag/Wajag which is not always possible during the high season. Saw no other boats through most of the trip. This was one of my best trips every and I would recommend it highly.

 

[reubencahn]

Forgot to mention this was late July and August

 

[chillyinCanada]

In 2015, I did back to back two week cruises in Central and Northern RA. Conditions were fantastic, with blue water and great vis. Conditions allowed us to get to and past Wayag/Wajag which is not always possible during the high season. Saw no other boats through most of the trip. This was one of my best trips every and I would recommend it highly. View attachment 562334 View attachment 562335 View attachment 562336 View attachment 562337 View attachment 562338 View attachment 562339 View attachment 562340 View attachment 562341 View attachment 562343

Oh my gosh, why is it considered low season? That's amazing and wonderful to have almost completely to yourselves.

 

[paolobl65]

In 2015, I did back to back two week cruises in Central and Northern RA. Conditions were fantastic, with blue water and great vis. Conditions allowed us to get to and past Wayag/Wajag which is not always possible during the high season. Saw no other boats through most of the trip. This was one of my best trips every and I would recommend it highly.

did you see manta in August ?
I ask you because the owner of Papua Explorer Resort told me that August in North RA is excellent for visibility and fish life ( even if some waves can be ) but zero mantas .
thanks
Paolo

 

[Liberty01]

I found a reiview of the that trip from September. They couldn´t go up North because of the wind. The reviewer was still quite happy seeing 2 manta rays and some sharks on an 11-nights trip (among other stuff).

And for me, I can only get three weeks for a big trip in summer. Last year, I did Komodo, in earlier years North Sulawesi, Bali, Alor, Cenderawasih Bay etc. It is rainy season in the Philippines and off season in Palau. I heard bad reports about Fiji in terms of numbers of sharks etc.

 

[reubencahn]

did you see manta in August ?
I ask you because the owner of Papua Explorer Resort told me that August in North RA is excellent for visibility and fish life ( even if some waves can be ) but zero mantas .
thanks
Paolo

Yes, but it wasn't at one of the typical sites for mantas. Just a random sighting.