Raja Ampat is a remote Indonesian archipelago off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula in West Papua, this sparsely populated archipelago of 1411 islands over 4.6million hectares, shelters an incredible abundance of life, and forms what is currently thought to be the most biodiverse marine system on the planet. Located just off the coast of West Papua in north-eastern Indonesia, getting to Raja Ampat takes time. A lot of time. Even if you're flying from Jakarta or Bali, you usually have to fly to Makassar (or sometimes Ambon) in Sulawesi, and then catch another flight onto Sarong in West Papua. Raja Ampat has a slight edge in terms of the variety of dive sites, but of course it is a much bigger area. The corals, particularly around Misool, are marvelous. Komodo has more sharks unless you count the Wobbegong sharks, which are very common in Raja Ampat. Raja Ampat also offers different experiences in the north and in the south. Travel tips for visiting Raja Ampat . Raja Ampat's position in the Coral Triangle - comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and New Guinea - is significant.Some 1,320 fish species, 553 varieties of coral and 699 molluscs have been recorded here and the discovery of new species - such as the walking shark - are common. Where is Raja Ampat? Raja Ampat, or the Four Kings, is an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo. Raja Ampat is an archipelago made up of over a thousand islands and an epicenter of global marine biodiversity. Located off New Guinea's North-West, it stretches over an area of 40,000 km 2. Jb4F7.

what is raja ampat