A Raja Ampat 5 day diving package gives you four diving days and 10-12 guided dives from a Waisai-area base. It covers the Dampier Strait classics plus Arborek Jetty and Sardine Reef, with a lighter half-day for the Piaynemo viewpoint. Komodo Luxury arranges the base, boat, licensed partner dive guides, Sorong-Waisai transfers and permits.
To be clear: Komodo Luxury is a boat and tour operator, not a PADI dive centre. Every dive here is led by a licensed partner dive centre and its dive masters. Komodo Luxury handles the planning, logistics and paperwork.
What does the 5-day package include?
- Base: 4 nights near Waisai in the tier you choose
- Diving: 10-12 guided boat dives with tanks and weights, run by a licensed partner dive centre
- Transfers: ferry or fast boat between Sorong harbour and Waisai, plus local boat days
- Piaynemo half-day: speedboat to the Fam group and the viewpoint climb
- Permits: processing for both 2026 charges (fees paid per guest)
- Quoted separately: flights to Sorong (SOQ), rental gear, dive insurance
How does the day-by-day plan differ for Open Water and Advanced divers?
The route stays the same. Depth, current exposure and site choice change. Open Water divers generally stay within 18-20 m on lower-current sites; Advanced divers get the current-swept ones.
| Day | Open Water version (18-20 m max) | Advanced Open Water version | Dives |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morning boat Sorong to Waisai; check dive on a sheltered reef, then Friwen Wall | Same check dive, then Friwen Wall at full profile | 2 |
| 2 | Manta Sandy cleaning station, Arborek Jetty, Sardine Reef reef-top at slack tide | Cape Kri, Sardine Reef, Manta Sandy; optional dusk dive at Arborek Jetty | 3 / 3-4 |
| 3 | Two gentle dives in the Fam group, then the Piaynemo viewpoint | Same, deeper profiles where conditions allow | 2 |
| 4 | Yenbuba Jetty, Sawandarek Jetty, Arborek Jetty repeat; finish early afternoon | Blue Magic if the current suits, Cape Kri repeat, Mioskon; finish early afternoon | 3 |
| 5 | No diving; boat back to Sorong | Same | 0 |
| Total | 10 (OW) / 11-12 (AOW) |
Day 5 has no dives on purpose: most dive centres apply an 18-24 hour no-fly interval after repeat diving. If you land in Sorong too late for the morning boat, add a Sorong night so you keep the check dive. From July to September, wind and swell make Fam lagoon trips less predictable, so the partner centre may swap Piaynemo for a Dampier Strait day.
Which certification do you need for Cape Kri and Blue Magic?
Operators treat Cape Kri, the signature high-biomass site off Kri Island, and Blue Magic, a current-swept pinnacle for pelagics, as Advanced Open Water territory with drift experience. Some liveaboards now ask for AOW plus about 50 logged dives.
Komodo Luxury recommends AOW plus current experience for the full plan. An Open Water card still gets you Manta Sandy, Arborek Jetty and the jetty reefs, in waters holding the highest recorded reef-fish diversity on earth. The partner dive master makes the final site call on the day, from your logbook and the current.
Which base tier fits your trip?
| Base tier | Setting | Suits | Rate basis (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Island homestay | Family-run rooms in the Kri, Gam or Arborek area, shared boat | Dive-first travellers | Written quote per partner |
| Dive resort | En-suite rooms near Waisai with an in-house or partner dive centre | Couples, Open Water divers wanting a set schedule | Written quote per partner |
| Luxury eco-resort or villa | Higher service, private boat option, non-diver activities | Families, mixed diver and non-diver groups | Written quote per partner |
Rates move with season, room and shared versus private boat, so Komodo Luxury quotes in writing rather than publishing one figure. Raja Ampat luxury dive liveaboards are also quoted on request for the specific vessel, dates, duration, guest count and inclusions.
Is 5 days better value than 3 or 7 days?
Park fees are charged per person however long the stay, so a longer package spreads them across more dives.
| Measure | 3-day | 5-day | 7-day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided dives | 5-6 | 10-12 | 15-18 |
| Sites reached | Dampier Strait near Waisai | Dampier classics, Arborek, Sardine Reef, Fam group and Piaynemo | All of that, repeat current dives, weather-permitting long day towards Wayag |
| Best for | An add-on to another trip | First visits; best dive-to-travel ratio | Photographers and AOW divers chasing pelagics |
A 3-day trip loses much of its time to transfer and no-fly days. Misool sits too far south for these land-based formats and suits a separate stay or a liveaboard.
What do the 2026 permits add per person?
Subject to change; confirm at booking:
- Marine park conservation card: The Raja Ampat marine park fee for foreign tourists is IDR 1,000,000 per person per year, with children under 12 exempt, under Southwest Papua Governor Regulation No. 32 of 2024, as listed by the Raja Ampat MPA Management Authority (checked 2026-09-16).
- Regency entry ticket (Perbup 34/2025, effective 1 January 2026): charged per visit; confirm the amount at booking.
- Indonesian citizens: The Raja Ampat marine park fee for Indonesian tourists is IDR 500,000 per person per year, or IDR 250,000 for Papua-area ID holders from outside Southwest Papua and IDR 150,000 for Southwest Papua ID holders, under Southwest Papua Governor Regulation No. 32 of 2024, as listed by the Raja Ampat MPA Management Authority (checked 2026-09-16).
Every guest pays, diver or not. A return trip within 12 months needs only a new regency ticket.
When should you book?
- October-April: main season; Beaufort 1-3 in the Dampier Strait, 25-30 m visibility, 28-30 C.
- December-February: 30-40 m visibility and manta high season; busiest, priciest weeks.
- May and September: 20-25 m, 27-29 C, stronger currents drawing pelagics.
- June-August: 15-20 m and choppier seas in the north, 26-28 C.
Book 4-6 months ahead for October-April. A 2026 travel-calendar article cites a ceiling of around 5,000 permits per month.
How does booking work?
- Send your brief: dates, guests, certification, logged dives, base tier.
- Get a written plan: itinerary with package rate and fees listed separately.
- Share documents: certification card, logbook summary, dive insurance and medical form for the partner centre.
- Confirm: payment terms follow the written quote.
- Logistics locked: Sorong-Waisai boats booked, permits processed.
- Dive: arrival briefing and check dive; the dive master matches sites to current and level.
> Plan your Raja Ampat 5-day dive package with the Komodo Luxury concierge
> Send your level, dates and base tier on WhatsApp at +62 811-3823-875 (wa.me/628113823875) or email sales@komodoluxury.com. You receive a written quote with package rate and 2026 park fees shown separately, confirmed at booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dives do you get in a Raja Ampat 5 day diving package?
Expect 10-12 guided boat dives over four diving days. Open Water divers typically log 10; Advanced divers can reach 11-12 with an optional dusk dive at Arborek Jetty. Day 5 has no diving, because most partner dive centres apply an 18-24 hour no-fly interval before your flight out of Sorong.
Can an Open Water diver book the 5-day package?
Yes. Open Water divers follow a version limited to about 18-20 m on lower-current sites such as Manta Sandy, Arborek Jetty, Friwen Wall and the jetty reefs. Cape Kri and Blue Magic are generally treated as Advanced Open Water sites, and the partner dive master decides on the day from your logbook.
Are Raja Ampat park fees included in the 5-day package price?
Komodo Luxury processes the permits but lists fees separately, because they are charged per guest. International visitors pay the marine park conservation card, IDR 1,000,000 per person per year, plus the regency entry ticket. Confirm amounts at booking.
Will I see manta rays on a 5-day Raja Ampat dive trip?
The plan includes Manta Sandy, a managed cleaning station in the Dampier Strait dived year-round. Sightings are most reliable October to April, especially December to March, but no one can guarantee wildlife. Rules are strict: no touching, no chasing, and groups stay off the cleaning station while patrols enforce it.
Can I combine a 5-day Raja Ampat dive package with Komodo?
Yes. Labuan Bajo to Sorong flights take about 3.5 hours, so Komodo Luxury can pair a Komodo trip with Raja Ampat diving. A common pattern is 5 days in Komodo followed by 7-10 days in Raja Ampat, enough for this 5-day package plus buffer days.