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I’ve dived all around the world and Indonesia gives a number of the if not the perfect diving you will discover. Raja Ampat and Komodo are the 2 most well-known and probably the most superb dive areas that the nation has to supply. I’ve been to each Nationwide Parks for scuba diving.
I did my divemaster course in Komodo and spent many months diving within the nationwide park. I’ve finished a dive liveaboard visiting the central and southern a part of Raja Ampat which was unbelievable. Earlier than studying this submit, be certain that to learn my different posts to see superb images and get acquainted with these two parks.
This submit will go into element for those who need to go to Indonesia however can’t determine which marine park to go to: Komodo or Raja Ampat?
It’s inconceivable to select a definitive winner between the 2 as a result of they’re each unbelievable dive websites with their very own distinctive traits. All in all, if these are your two choices, you might be already spoiled for riches as a result of these are the perfect dive websites that the world has to supply.
Diving Seasons Komodo vs Raja Ampat
Diving in Komodo and Raja Ampat will be finished yr spherical. There are seasons the place sure issues are “higher” than others however total, Komodo and Raja Ampat don’t expertise extreme wet seasons.
Komodo and Raja Ampat have reverse “dry seasons” the place the diving is taken into account the perfect situations. Komodo’s dry season runs from April to November and Raja Ampat runs from November to April. Lots of the liveaboards in Indonesia dive in Raja Ampat throughout its dry season after which crosses over to Komodo to do the Komodo season from April to October.
Nonetheless, Komodo for instance is a gem throughout wet season months on account of its massive variety of manta rays. One thing in regards to the wet season attracts extra mantas to the favored dive websites like Manta Level and Mawan. I’ve dived in Komodo principally through the wet seasons and have seen mantas galore. The dry season of Komodo imply the situations are higher within the north so extremely widespread websites like Shotgun, Fort Rock, and the Cauldron are potential.
Ease of Visiting
Komodo and Raja Ampat are each locations that you simply’ll must fly from Bali or Jakarta.
Komodo is only one hour away by flight from Bali and there are are a number of flights a day between Bali and Labuan Bajo. From Labuan Bajo, you’re already on the border of the nationwide park. There are many dive retailers in Labuan Bajo that can take you to the park for the day. There are additionally tour operators that can take you for day journeys into the Nationwide Park when you don’t dive.
Raja Ampat is situated within the West Papua province which is Indonesia’s jap most province. From Bali, you’ll must fly by means of Makassar or Jakarta to succeed in the port city of Sorong which is the closest airport to the Nationwide Park. From Sorong, your liveaboard will go away from Sorong to the nationwide park. Should you’re planning to remain in an eco lodge or a homestay, you’ll must take one other speedboat 3 hours to the nationwide park. General, it’s a complete day expertise.
Winner: Komodo Nationwide Park
Certainly, Komodo is far simpler to go to than Raja Ampat. Komodo can virtually be a little bit of an impromptu journey whereas you actually must be dedicated for Raja Ampat.
Value of diving and visiting
This part is fairly clear reduce. Komodo is a simple to succeed in vacation spot and the diving is sort of low cost by world requirements.
Komodo
There are various totally different dive retailers in Labuan Bajo and you may simply have a 3 dive day journey for $100 USD. Labuan Bajo, though not a fantastic metropolis, has many lodging choices of all ranges so that you can select from.
Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat is completely totally different than Komodo. As a result of it’s so removed from Sorong, you possibly can’t keep in Sorong and dive within the nationwide park for the day. You need to both dive by liveaboard or keep within the nationwide park. Throughout the Nationwide Park, it is vitally distant and wild which is a part of the attraction for me. There are only some totally different choices so that you can select from. For the mid stage traveler, there are eco-lodges the place you possibly can keep in good lodging however these don’t come low cost. Due to how distant it’s, all the things needs to be delivered to the islands so you possibly can anticipate costs to be excessive.
If you wish to journey on a finances, you possibly can keep on the quite a few homestays on the native islands in Raja Ampat. These homestays are very low cost ($20-$50 an evening) however they’re extremely primary. A lot of them don’t even have correct working water so don’t anticipate a lot by way of consolation. Even after securing low cost lodging, you’ll nonetheless want to seek out dive operators. Diving is rather more costly in Raja Ampat than Komodo due to how distant issues are, increased petrol costs, and simply usually a extra premium vibe.
Value of liveaboards in Komodo vs Raja Ampat
Liveaboards in Raja Ampat are very costly in comparison with Komodo. Usually, you possibly can anticipate Raja Ampat to be about 50% costlier. I believe a lot of that is due to petrol costs and the way a lot is used. A Raja liveaboard journey will journey rather more than Komodo due to how a lot larger Raja Ampat is.
Winner – Komodo
Certainly, you’ll spend far much less on a visit to Komodo than a visit to Raja Ampat!
Above Water Landscapes and Magnificence
Visiting Komodo and Raja Ampat is not only all in regards to the diving. In fact, diving is the primary draw and what made these locations so well-known but it surely’s additionally a fantastic paradise for these that aren’t diving (or are diving however need to additionally benefit from the nature).
Each areas are completely gorgeous so far as pure magnificence above water is anxious.
Komodo Pure Panorama magnificence
Komodo is a panoramic marine park with the 2 important islands of Komodo Island and Rinca Island making up the area. There are additionally loads of smaller islands in between well-known for its diving and pure magnificence.
Komodo might be some of the distinctive locations I’ve been to so far as seems go. The islands above water seem like arid desert through the dry season. The panorama is a vibrant brown with the occasional tree dotting the panorama. Within the moist season, the islands are fully inexperienced and its rolling hill like design make it look like I’m touring round Eire.
The juxtaposition is extremely fascinating to me as a result of it doesn’t really feel like a spot that ought to supply diving. The waters surrounding the islands are a shocking tropical blue nonetheless which makes the comparability much more putting.
Make certain to hike to the highest of Padar Island for unbelievable views of the nationwide park.
Raja Ampat landscapes
Raja Ampat is named the Final Paradise and it actually feels prefer it. Raja Ampat is a a lot bigger park than Komodo and appears fully totally different. The park is thought for its extremely lush inexperienced islands with quite a few households of timber constructed on spire like islands.
There are various smaller islands of all totally different sizes that pop up out of the ocean making the aerial panorama out of this world. There are additionally many unbelievable seashores and personal islands you will discover to get pleasure from throughout a floor interval or a kayaking journey.
Locations like Piaynemo and the guts formed lagoon will take your breath away.
Raja Ampat simply felt much more mysterious as effectively. The islands are so lush and stuffed with timber that I used to be continually asking myself what’s in there?
Winner – Raja Ampat
For me, it needs to be Raja Ampat. It simply felt such as you have been on the finish of the world with its magnificence and remoteness. Komodo isn’t any slouch both. I completely cherished spending months in Komodo and by no means not in awe of its magnificence. Nonetheless, after visiting Raja Ampat, it’s that rather more stunning that it has to take it.
Scuba Diving Comparability Komodo vs Raja Ampat
Lastly, on to the true stuff. What everybody has come to this submit for. What in regards to the scuba diving itself? Which place is superior between Komodo and Raja Ampat?
The short abstract is that is an extremely troublesome and virtually inconceivable query to reply! For starters, I spent numerous time diving in Komodo doing my divemaster course there, however only one week in Raja Ampat on a liveaboard. If I spent extra time in Raja Ampat, perhaps I might think about it in another way however the next factors are additionally primarily based on my quite a few conversations with people who constantly dive each areas yr spherical.
Corals
Each Raja Ampat and Komodo have insane quantity of wholesome corals. The currents and being within the coral triangle ensures that corals are plentiful and wholesome.
Raja Amapt is legendary for its big swathes of fan corals. Dive websites like Melissa’s Backyard has an enormous laborious coral backyard that appears to go on endlessly. Komodo additionally has loopy stunning coral gardens with vibrant colours of range. Dive websites like Tatawa Kecil and Siaba Besar are a few of my favorites. It’s inconceivable to decide on right here, you might be in good palms with both possibility.
Fish Life
The fish density in Raja Ampat is totally unbelievable. In actual fact, the Cape Kri dive website in Raja Ampat has been famous as having the best quantity of fish in a single dive at 374! It felt like I used to be diving into an underwater aquarium each time I went underwater.
Komodo additionally has insane quantities of fish life in locations like Batu Balong, the Cauldron, and Siaba Besar.
If I needed to decide between the 2 nonetheless, I must give the sting to Raja Ampat. There’s simply a lot fish all over the place and at all times.
Huge Pelagic Life
Raja Ampat and Komodo each supply their justifiable share of huge pelagic life. Mantas will be seen yr spherical in each areas with even oceanic mantas on supply at Raja Ampat. Nonetheless, Komodo is a much bigger attraction for mantas as there are simply extra of them within the park. Dive websites like Karang Makassar and Mawan are manta hotspots with big faculties usually seen in sure instances of yr.
Nothing is a assure in diving, however the probabilities of seeing Mantas and different huge issues are a lot increased in Komodo. Due to this fact, I might take Komodo for giant fish.
Issue of diving
Certainly, Komodo is a more durable place to dive. The currents in Komodo are continually altering and through sure instances of the month, you possibly can expertise unbelievable ripping currents which are tremendous enjoyable for somebody like me, however may be scary for a brand new diver.
Raja Ampat additionally has currents however on common, it’s nowhere close to as excessive as Komodo! Due to this fact, Raja Ampat is simpler for diving however when you like sturdy currents, then Komodo is the place for you.
Water Temperatures
Komodo has insane currents that do all types of issues at any time of yr. The water temperatures is extremely variable starting from 24 to twenty-eight on common. A lot of the instances I dived in Komodo I noticed temperatures beneath 27 which is a bit on the chilly aspect as I don’t dive with a wetsuit.
Raja Ampat nonetheless has very constant temperatures all all through the park and many of the yr. 28-29 levels is regular and to be anticipated. It was close to 29 levels on each dive after I visited in April. The one different place with such heat waters I’ve seen is within the Maldives.
What do dive professionals like between Raja Ampat and Komodo?
So the above comparisons have all been my private opinion with my restricted expertise diving in Raja Ampat. On my liveaboard, I talked about this matter in in depth element with the dive guides that labored on the boat.
If something, these guys are to be trusted as a result of they actually have dived Raja Ampat and Komodo their complete lives (how fortunate). I’m speaking about hundreds of dives yr in and yr out between the 2 nationwide parks.
Raja Ampat is gorgeous however homogenous
The consensus was that Raja Ampat was extremely stunning providing insane quantities of fish on each dive. One thing I’ve already famous within the sections above. Raja Ampat is at all times a crowd pleaser as a result of each dive will impress even probably the most skilled of divers.
Komodo gives extra selection and extra enjoyable if diving by themselves
Komodo gives comparable fish life and underwater magnificence as Raja Ampat however there may be extra selection. There’s extra larger issues to see like fixed Mantas throughout sure instances of yr, unbelievable currents within the Shotgun, and fish pandemonium within the Cauldron.
The dive guides mentioned in the event that they have been fundiving by themselves, they’d select Komodo as a result of it’s extra fascinating and extra enjoyable due to the unpredictable currents.
In the event that they have been guiding clients, Raja Ampat is their alternative as it’s extra constant and steady. There’s much less that may go flawed in Raja Ampat and makes for simpler guiding.
In Conclusion
Hopefully this text has helped you with deciding between Komodo and Raja Ampat in your huge journey. It’s not a simple resolution to make by any means however both possibility will make sure you expertise a number of the finest diving on the earth. It’s probably the most troublesome and most simple resolution you’ll make.
Proceed Studying:
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